News Stories

Createasphere's 3D Road Show

(Philip Lelyveld comment: Oct. 6th Chicago 3D production workshop for $15.)

[Press Release]

Createasphere – bringing together the best of the creative, production and technologycommunities in dynamic experiences – is demystifying 3D stereoscopic capture, post and delivery by bringing educational presentations, exhibits and hands-on demonstrations to Chicago. These one-day workshops offer attendees the chance to talk one on one with experts from such companies as AJA, Assimilate, Manfrotto and Panasonic.  Chicago is considered one of the most vibrant creative and filmmaking centers in the U.S. and interest in 3D filmmaking is high.
Presented by Createasphere, the 3D Road Show is led by 3D guru Keith Collea – a versatile and highly knowledgeable stereographer who has constructed 3D landscapes across a gamut of independent and studio features. He has worked on indies such as The Gene Generation and The Mortician 3D, as well as big-budget productions like Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 3D and The Monkey King 3D (Asia’s largest 3D production to date).  The workshop will help attendees improve their skills and knowledge, and understand the choices in twin lens cameras, rigs and tools, post production workflows, visual effects creation and assembly, storage, projection, and delivery.
  • Learn the tips of creating 3D and how to avoid the pitfalls
  • Understand 3D workflow and budgeting
  • Learn from the experts & get your questions answered
  • Get your hands on the gear while improving your 3D skills & knowledge
  • See first hand the options in choosing to produce in 3D:
    • Twin lens cameras
    • Rigs & tools
    • Post
    • VFX
    • Storage
    • Display & Projection
The cost to attend is only $15.  For more information, and to register, visit http://createasphere.com/En/3d-road-show.html.
About Createasphere
Createasphere is a global community builder for the entertainment technology industry, advancing technologies and careers through Expos, Conferences, and online offerings.
Createasphere was founded in 2001 as HD EXPO, and over the past decade has grown into a global company that develops and presents influential events for the content creation community, on line and face to face. Founded by Kristin Petrovich Kennedy in Los Angeles, Createasphere became part of Diversified Business Communications in 2009, now driving their entertainment strategies and properties division. Currently Createasphere is presenting the Entertainment Technology Expos in New York and LA; the Digital Asset Management Conference in New York, Los Angeles, and Europe; The DAMMY Awards in New York; Cinema India Expo in Mumbai; the online news and content portal CreativeProCoalition.com; 3D Road Shows; and Post

Read the original press release here: http://facilities.broadcastnewsroom.com/article/Createaspheres-3D-Road-Show-Comes-to-Chicago-1700899

Is it possible for the arts to push digital media?

[Excerpt from The Beacon Herald (UK)]

We hear a lot about how digital media is affecting newspapers, television, even movies. Is digital media also affecting the performing arts? Or are the performing arts pushing digital media?

Artists and academics are pushing technology in new ways to augment their performances. As early as 2008, the drama department at the University of Waterloo was undertaking a couple such experiments.

In partnership with the University of Central Florida and Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., the University of Waterloo produced a new show with an old story — Alice Experiments in Wonderland. The show featured a high-speed connection (as much as 150Mbit/s), 2D and 3D sets, and simultaneous live theatre in three locations.

Thirty-three cast members in three different locations with different sets and audiences presented a few challenges including DVTS (digital video transport systems) connectivity, echo compression, sound and video transfer issues. But the three universities’ networking departments worked together to use more bandwidth and computing power to successfully broadcast at peak sustained broadband usage during the entire length of the show. Using existing video conferencing technology in a novel way created an opportunity for theatres all around the world to affordably replicate the experience. …

This September, an international community of cultural enthusiasts — including artists, academics, creators and developers — is coming to Stratford to explore how the performing arts are pushing the uses of digital technologies and shaping innovative artistic experiences. Through workshops, seminars and performances integrating digital media technologies, sessions will explore the limitations and challenges of arts and media, but also the opportunities.

The Challenging Digital Media: The Performing Arts conference is presented by the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus Sept. 28-30, 2011, in partnership with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and the National Arts Centre. For more information, go to challenging digitalmedia.zerista.com.

NEXT ARTICLES >

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.

Oops, something went wrong.