News Stories

RWC 3D screenings suffer lack of interest (New Zealand)

7.13.2011

(by staff)

 

Plans for giant 3D screenings of Rugby World Cup matches are under threat, because hardly anyone is buying tickets.

Several cinemas and seven arenas had signed up to show the final four matches, but only 15 percent of tickets have been sold despite prices being slashed.

3DLIVE, the company filming the footage, says it may now have to cancel the bigger shows.

It has asked Rugby World Cup organisers for financial help but it also hopes that, like tickets to actual games, there will be a last minute surge in interest.

3D broadcasts on Sky are still likely to go ahead, and if any screenings here are cancelled people would be reimbursed.

See the original post here: http://www.3news.co.nz/RWC-3D-screenings-suffer-lack-of-interest/tabid/415/articleID/218620/Default.aspx

ESPN 3D Adds Live Coverage of a Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinal Friday

6.30.2011

[Philip Lelyveld note: ESPN responds quickly to unexpected turns in the lineup.]

[by TV Technology]

ESPN 3D has added a live telecast of the Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Novak Djokovic Gentlemen’s semifinal at Wimbledon on Friday, July 1, at 7:45 a.m. ET to its schedule, the network’s first tennis programming. Later that day, ESPN 3D, which launched last year, will reair that semifinal and televise the other Gentlemen’s semifinal on a delayed basis.  The network will also present the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Finals twice each on a delayed basis Monday, July 4.

Tsonga, the no. 12 seed, upset six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.  Djokovic, the no. 2 seed, sports a 46-1 match record in 2011. In the other men’s semifinal, no. 1 seed and defending title holder Rafael Nadal will face no. 4 seed Andy Murray. Cliff Drysdale—who worked ESPN’s first-ever tennis telecast September 14, 1979, will call the match on ESPN 3D with analyst Brad Gilbert.

See the original post here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/122182

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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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