Recently I
was watching a promotional video of palatial hotel from YouTube video
server. That video clip had 3D viewing option. It stirred my
curiosity and selected the option. All I was able to see was a
blurred video as I did not possess required 3D glass. I searched in
Google and I found that YouTube automatically converts short video
clips that have a resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080 progressive mode)
from 2012 onwards [1]. If I had watched with 3D glass I would have
virtually visited the hotel rather than seeing. Depth perceivable in
3D creates a new experience. The right technical word for 3D movie is
stereographic movie.
The YouTube
video clip made me nostalgic. My first stereoscopic experience was
way back in 1984. As a boy I had an opportunity to view “My
Dear Kuttichaathan” (in Tamil language 'kutti' means small,
'chathan' means shaitan or genie) movie. Exhibitors collected extra
fee for 3D glasses and at the end of the movie they got back the eye
glass. I was really shocked when arrows from silver screen tried to
poke my eyes and pleasantly surprised when bunch of roses and cone
ice-cream popped out of screen. No doubt the movie was a block
buster. After a gap of 25 years I watched a 3D movie. It was none
other than James Cameron's Avatar movie and my children were my
fellow viewers. My children enjoyed to the core. I liked the theme of
the movie but the 3D effects did not create an 'awe' in me. I
realized I have become old.
After 'My
Dear Kuttichaathan' few 3D movies came to tap the emerging 3D market.
I saw one or two. I was not impressed and public too shared my
opinion. Slowly 3D popularity declined. Production cost of
stereographic movies were high compared to normal movies and
production work-flow has to be modified to suit 3D movies [2].
Stereographic movies required two projectors instead of one and both
of them have to be synchronized. Directors were not able to
effectively use the 'depth' to convey their story to audience.
Consumers required to wear an eyeglass and safe return of the
eyeglass was their duty. Whole lot of extra efforts among stake
holders for few pop-ups was not worthy. After a lull period of 25
years Avatar movie created the frenzy. One may be perplexed why there
was a long gap of quarter century and why there is a 3D frenzy now?
Answers to these questions will come out when we dwell into past and
do some reasoning.
As for as
India is concerned before the color TV penetration, 'movie going' was
the prime pass time activity. Entire family went to movie halls and
films are also produced to cater the needs of entire family. In late
1990s TV and satellite broadcasting glued the family to the drawing
room. Youth (15 to 30 years of age) become major customer base for
films. Automatically movie content were made to suit the audience.
Youngsters like stunning visuals. Thus 3D become a apt to tool to
make youth to come to theatres.
The next threat for theatre came in the form of VCD (Video Compact Disk). Prior to VCD Video Home Systems (VHS) was the norm. It used magnetic tape to store the analogue signals. VHS player had lot of mechanical components and regular maintenance was required. Copying from Master tape to another was cumbersome. The quality of copied content quality were inferior to the Master. Thus piracy was kept at a bay. Thus VHS never challenged the dominance of theatres. In contrast, the VCD carried digital signals and VCD player had more electronics and less mechanical components. As VCD market expanded prices of VCD player started falling. Pirated VCD making was a simple task. Thus just released movies were available in pirated VCD and family watched in their television. This was death blow to theater owners and in turn to movie industry.
The VCD
threat was countered by producing movies with spectacular visuals
(ex. Matrix movie fight scenes were talk of the down) and with
surround sound systems like Dolby. This discouraged movie patrons to
view movies on their Television sets. Stereoscopy produces stunning
visuals to draw the crowd to the theatres and curtails piracy.
 |
| A still from the movie 'Avatar' |
Avatar
movie grossed box office collection of two billion dollars, which is
a huge sum in even in Hollywood [3]. Right technology and sizable
market emerged in late 2000 and arrival of Avatar movie ushered a new
chapter in stereoscopic movie industry. Cinema producers realized 3D
is a untapped potential and started releasing animation movies. The
number of 3D theaters started exploding after 2000. In the year 2007
it was 1300, in the year 2009 it reached 9000 and at present 45000.
Most of the theaters are constructed in China. In the year 2005
Hollywood produced only five 3D movies, in 2009 it was 20 and in 2012
it almost doubled [4].
In the year 2012, out of 15 highest-grossing films nine were
stereoscopic movies. Quarter of the revenue is generated from USA
and three quarters comes from rest of the world. Rising economies
like China, India contributes a lot. As movie industry falls
under 'high risk – high reward' category and 3D technology becomes
a safe bet.
Seven reasons for rise for 3D
- It introduces a illusion of depth which produces a new experience. In normal movies shadow acts as surrogate for depth.
- It suits well with youngsters, who prefer stunning visuals than a emotional roller-coaster. Next they are experience conscious. So price is not a barrier.
- Amount of money grossed from a stereoscopic movie is huge. The failure rate is less. Thus 3D movie is a safe bet for film producers.
- Cost of stereoscopic movie ticket is 30 percent higher than normal movies. This makes a hole in movie patrons but helps theatre owners to fill their coffers.
- Stereoscopic movies curtails piracy.
- Digital projection technology go well with 3D movies.
- Digital production is very cost effective for 3D movies.
Film is a visual art that helps to tell a story. A good story will make the
audience get hooked to the characters of the movie. That is why
classical movies like Ben Hur, Five Men Army, Mackenna's Gold and Bridge
on the river Kwai are still touches our hearts. A good movie should
have a judicious mix of stunning visuals and emotions (ex. valour,
sacrifice). Yesteryear directors were not sure of 3D medium's
effectiveness in story telling and simply avoided the medium.
Sometimes
the presence of depth of field may become a source of distraction.
For example in nude photography, there are photographers who still
use B&W (Black and White) film stock instead of colour film
stock. They claim B&W medium helps to appreciate the shape of
female body. The faithful reproduction of flesh tone by color film
really distracts the viewers and photographers are unable to convey
their intention. Once visual effects artist commented in a public
meeting that “When Science gets in Art goes out (from movies)”.
Over indulgence on technology may actually spoil story telling
capability.
3D movies favours themes that are based on mythology, magic (ex. Harry Potter), adult, horror and cartoons. Thus movie goers are transported away from reality for 90 minutes. Thus 3D can be regarded as entertainment medium than a visual art medium.
Our eyes
has to focus properly on screen to feel the depth. Those who fail to
focus get head ache and other related ailments. Visual discomfort
and visual fatigue are studied extensively by scientists to improve
the 3D movie going experience [5].
Summary
- It is a visual rich medium and toning down may be necessary to tell a story compelling way.
- It is genre limited. It is well suited for mythology, magic, horror and cartoons.
- Visual fatigue and visual discomfort has to be studied well for wide acceptance among public.
[1] Official Blog: How we’re making even more 3D video available on YouTube [Online] http://youtube-global.blogspot.in/2012/04/how-were-making-even-more-3d-video.html
[2] Casting a magic spell, [Online] http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/15/stories /2003051500260100.htm
[3] Avatar (2009 film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, [Online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(2009_film)
[4] 3 Signs That 3D Movies Are The Way Of The Future | Business Insider India [Online] http://readbi.in/st9nJY
[5] M. Lambooij and W. IJsselsteijn , “Visual Discomfort and Visual Fatigue of Stereoscopic Displays: A Review,” Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, vol. 53, no. 3 pp. 030201–030201-14, Mar. 2009. [Download]
http://www.cs.sfu.ca/CourseCentral/820/li/material/source/papers/Visual-discomfort-09.pdf
