News Stories

Mobile Tech Firm Movidius Launches Accessible Mobile 3D Platform

Mobile 3D is on the way

So, we’ve now got solid, solid products in the world of 3D TV, 3D cameras, and 3D computers. The next place for industry-wide adoption is in the mobile space, and a company called Movidius has just launched what it thinks will be the solution to that.

The company has launched a new platform called Myriad 3D today. Movidius calls it “the world’s first out-of-the-box HD 3D platform for mobile devices, with a range of unique 3D features enabling a whole new level of 3D experience for users.”

The mobile market is obviously a very different animal. People aren’t going to wear 3D glasses when they use their phone. And to replace mobile displays to get everyone to adopt to the same kind of technology would create a massive headache.

So the industry is turning to sophisticated softwaresolutions. Movidius’s package allows graphics to appear as though they have depth, on existing mobile display technology, though the end result is still somewhat limited.

If the market of autostereoscopic 3D, glasses-free 3D technology that’s currently being used in 3D photo frames and Nintendo’s 3DS system, takes off then mobile phones would be the next big logical step for a hardware overhaul.

But for now, companies like Movidius are doing all they can to bring the 3D mania to mobile phones. Check out a video of Movidius technology below:  (PhilNote:  The video doesn’t contain any useful info, but it is an extremely over-the-top ad for the mobile 3D experience.)

by Jordan Cressman

original post: http://www.i4u.com/40169/mobile-tech-firm-movidius-launches-accessible-mobile-3d-platform

ETC 3D at Los Angeles 3D Film Festival


The USC ETC has co-produced the 3D Lounge at the 3D Film Festival (www.3DFF.org) taking place this Thursday thru Sunday at the Los Angeles Film School and nearby clubs and spaces.  The festival includes workshops, filmmaking challenges/contests, a large number of 3D feature screenings, and “3D” parties.  The USC ETC is a Supporting Sponsor of the event.

Here are some photo’s of the ETC’s 3D installation.  The 3D Lounge is right next to the registration area, so everyone attending the festival will see our installation.

The festival program guide is here: http://www.3dff.org/PROGRAM_GUIDE.html .  Many of the events are free and open to the public.

3D FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINE UP FOR 2010

Festival opens with US Premiere of STREETDANCE 3D

Hollywood, CA, September 24, 2010 — The Dream Factory has announced the films selected to screen at the inaugural 3D Film Festival, Hollywood.  Hosted by Thomas Jane, the festival runs September 30 thru October 3, showcasing a mix of studio 3D films as well as independent 3D shorts and features.  The festival’s opening film is the US Premiere of STREETDANCE 3D from Vertigo Films.  The festival closes on October 3 with Joe Dante’s critically acclaimed film, THE HOLE.

“Since its inception in 2007, 3DFF has been dedicated to driving innovations in the 3D stereoscopic Industry and with the advent of our new RealD 3D theater at the Los Angeles Film School, we can now share our home with pioneering indie 3D filmmakers all over the world who have long since needed a place to showcase their creative vision to a global audience,” said Christopher Crescitelli, Festival Co-Director.  “3DFF is committed to supporting both studio fare and independent filmmakers, thus the programming mix,” said Karen Annarino, Festival Co-Director.  All screenings at the 3D Film Festival will take place in the theatre at The Los Angeles Film School (LAFS), which is sponsoring the Festival.

The LAFS theater will also function as a classroom for 3DFF’s 3D Academy educational programs offering intensive training classes for 3D stereoscopic filmmakers and technicians. The highlight of the 3D Academy program will be the “72 Hour 3DFF Short Film Festival” in which LAFS students will be given 72 hours to create a 3D short film.

3D Film Festival Premiere sponsors are Sony Electronics, which is providing its digital cinema projector, RealD – the exclusive 3D technology provider for the festival screenings and Marchon 3D Eyewear.  Other sponsors include Oasis Imagery, Avalon, Stella Artois, Artesa Wineries and PAMA Liqueur.

FEATURE SCREENINGS:

STREETDANCE 3D (Directed by Max Giwa & Dania Pasquini) – US Premiere & Opening Night film. In order to win the street dance competition, a dance crew is forced to work with the Royal dance school in exchange for rehearsal space. Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Rachel McDowell and Nichola Burley.  Screening Thursday September 30th at 7pm.

DARK COUNTRY (Directed by Thomas Jane) – LA Premiere.  A couple, en route from Las Vegas, are forced to deal with a body out in the desert, making their honeymoon one hellish ride. Starring: Thomas Jane, Lauren German and Ron Perlman. Directed by Thomas Jane.Screening Saturday October 2nd at 10pm.

IRON DOORS (Directed by Steven Manuel) – World Premiere.  A young man must escape from a mysterious locked vault before he dies of dehydration. Starring: Axel Wedekind, Aungano Nyoni.  Screening Friday October 1st at 6pm.

THE HOLE (Directed by Joe Dante) – Closing Night film. THE HOLE was named the best 3D film at the Venice Film Festival in 2009. Two brothers stumble upon a mysterious hole in their basement which leads to the darkest corridors of their nightmares. Starring: Teri Polo, Nathan Gamble & Chris Massoglia. Screening Sunday October 3rd at 6pm.

KIDS AND FAMILY FILMS:

Despicable Me (Directed by: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud) – When a criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphan girls as pawns for a grand scheme, he finds himself profoundly changed by the growing love between them. Screening Saturday October 2nd at 12pm.

How to Train Your Dragon (Directed by: Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders) – A hapless young Viking, who aspires to hunt dragons, becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed. Screening Sunday October 3rd at 12pm.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (Directed by Zack Snyder) – Soren, a young barn owl, is kidnapped by owls of St. Aggie’s, ostensibly an orphanage, where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. He and his new friends escape to the island of Ga’Hoole, to assist its noble, wise owls who fight the army being created by the wicked rulers of St. Aggie’s. The film is based on the first three books in the series. Screening Sunday October 3rd at 4pm.

MIDNIGHT HORROR FILMS:

My Bloody Valentine (Directed by: Patrick Lussier) – Tom returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine’s night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people. Instead of a homecoming, however, Tom finds himself suspected of committing the murders, and it seems like his old flame is the only one will believe he’s innocent. Screening Friday October 1st at MIDNIGHT

Piranha 3D (Directed by: Alexandre Aja) – After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to prevent themselves from becoming fish food for the area’s new razor-toothed residents. Screening Saturday October 2nd at 7pm and MIDNIGHT.

SHORT FILMS:

3D Sun (Directed by: Melissa Butts) – Stand above the artic circle and witness the most brilliant auroras on Earth. Take a ride on a solar blast from Sun’s surface to Earth’s Magnetosphere. Witness the most powerful explosions in the solar system – equal to the force of a billion megaton nuclear bombs. Screening Saturday October 2nd at 11am.

African Adventure (Produced by: nWave) – Join zoologist Liesl Eichenberger and wildlife filmmaker Tim Liversedge as they explore the Okavango Delta, one of the most spectacular wildlife reserves on earth. Screening Saturday October 2nd at 10am.

The Butler’s in Love (Director: David Arquette) – The love story between a butler and a guest during a fancy party one night in 1912. Screening Saturday October 2nd at 5pm.

Extreme Nature of Bats (Director: Greg Passmore)- The Extreme Nature of Bats explores not only the truths, but the myths and dark legends that have been associated with bats for hundreds of years. Bats.  The film contains never-before-seen footage of some of the largest bat caves in the world and explores Central Texas, Romania, Transylvania, and the deep jungles of Mexico to capture footage of the infamous vampire bat and expose vampire lore. Screening Thursday September 30th at 9pm.

Microworlds (Director: Greg Passmore) – An educational exploration of the micro-worlds around us. Produced in 3D with specialty microscopes, the viewer discovers the hidden world of snails, ladybugs, worms and butterflies. Screening Thursday September 30th at 9pm.

Monsters of the Deep (Produced by: nWave) – If you think that the great white shark is the scariest creature in the sea, you’re in for a serious reality check! Screening Saturday October 2nd at 10am.

Natural Mystic (Directed by: Joseph A. Zaki) – Screening Friday October 1st at 4pm.

Physics of Surfing (Director: Greg Passmore)- Through the magic of 3D technology, audiences will explore the science of ocean waves and learn about surfing’s deep influence on modern culture. While following professional surfers Julie Cox and Kyla Langen as they surf around the world.  Locations include Hawaii’s breathtaking North Shore and California’s greatest surf spots.Screening Thursday September 30th at 9pm.

Safety Geeks (Directed by: Roger Tonry) – The comic adventures of a semi-elite force of safety experts; the P.O.S.H. (Professional Occupational Safety Hazard) team. Obsessed with making the world safer, the CSI-like team investigates accidents. Their involvement causes far more damage than they prevent, leaving a trail of chaos and destruction in their wake. Screening Sunday October 3rd at 2pm.

SOS Planet (Director: Ben Stassen ) – Deforestation, the green house effect, shrinking polar ice caps, polluted air, overfishing – SOS Planet lists the standard crimes committed by humans against our fragile planet. Screening Saturday October 2nd at 10am.

Turtlevision (Produced by: nWave) – Experience the ups and downs of life on land and sea in this coming-of-age story starring the cutest sea turtle on the big screen. Screening Saturday October 2nd at 10am.

The Viewer (Directed by: Graham Reznick) – Participate as an observer in the telepathic interrogation of a murder suspect. New technology allows you to see through the eyes of the prisoner – but be warned: higher levels of telepathic viewing can cause unpredictable psychological damage. Screening Friday October 1st at 4pm.

MUSIC VIDEOS:

By The Sword – The 5-minute rock music video, “By The Sword,” is the first single off the album and the first video ever from Slash to be released in 3D. It features the vocals of Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother, and the ever-present blistering guitar work from Slash. Screening Friday October 1st at 10pm.

We are the World – Stars came out to re-record the powerful song to help relief efforts in Haiti. Artists include Tony Bennett, Justin Bieber, Toni Braxton, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Pink, Barbra Streisand, Kanye West, The Jonas Brothers and many more. Screening Thursday September 30th at MIDNIGHT and Friday October 1st at 4pm.

For tickets to the festival, please log on to the Facebook page or twitter and sign up. Tickets are free for people who register online. For more information on the 3D Film Festival, please go to:www.3dff.org.

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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