News Stories

Johnny Depp reveals he can’t see 3D

5.6.2011

 

[by Mark Raby, TG Daily]

The Pirates of the Caribbean star won’t be able to appreciate the technology of his latest flick.

Johnny Depp has revealed in an interview that he suffers from what he calls a “weird eye,” and like a small chunk of the population he is physically incapable of seeing 3D effects in movies.

“I’m unable to see in 3D. My eyes don’t see in 3D. I have a weird eye… It just doesn’t work. It may come as a surprise to you, but I’ve never seen normally,” he told the TV show Access Hollywood.

Depp’s latest film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, is his first 3D movie. It’s sure to bring in a lot of dough because of the additional price for 3D movie tickets, but Depp, who may not even attend the film’s global premier tomorrow, won’t be able to appreciate it.

Filming a movie in 3D requires a lot of extra effort not only from the technical crew but from the entire cast as well, since shots need to be perfectly coordinated and filmed with multiple cameras, making the entire process a huge ordeal.

There’s no statistic on how many Americans suffer from eye conditions making them incapable of experiencing 3D movie effects, but it is not an extremely rare condition. There are many viewers who suffer from a similar fate as Mr. Depp.

For those who can enjoy the 3D revolution, however, On Stranger Tides will be released nationwide on May 20.

See the original story here:  http://www.tgdaily.com/games-and-entertainment-brief/55788-johnny-depp-reveals-he-cant-see-3d

Samsung Cuts Prices On More 3D Eyewear

5.6.2011

[by Greg Tarr, TWICE]

Samsung Thursday cut pricing on additional models in its active-shutter glasses lineup.

Models SSG-3300CR and SSG-3300GR were reduced by $50 to a $130 suggested retail price, and the SSG-3700CF was cut $70 to $150.

The latest price moves follow the 3DTV market leader’s price cut last month on the entry-level SSG-3100GB, which was reduced by half to a $50 suggested retail. The entry-level glasses are battery operated, while the just-reduced models feature sleeker styling and are rechargeable.

The new prices make the cost difference between passive 3D glasses used by new sets from LG, Vizio, Toshiba and others somewhat more competitive, although passive glasses, which in some cases are nearly free if you bring home a pair from the movie theater, are hard to beat on price alone.

Samsung and other active-shutter glasses supporters, however, are able to boast of the ability to view full resolution 1080p 3D images, while passive glasses technologies generally present half that or worse.

See the original story here: http://www.twice.com/article/467872-Samsung_Cuts_Prices_On_More_3D_Eyewear.php

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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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