Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

As developments in 3D technologies and digital projection continue to advance, filmmakers are expanding their use of 3D into a wider range of movies.

“Getting Perspective III” took an in-depth look at 3D techniques for animated and live action motion pictures.

Night One: Virtual 3D (Animation/MoCap/Conversion)

Tuesday, June 22, 8 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater

This evening focused on movies in which the 3D experience is created using digital techniques, including CG key-frame animation, performance capture and 2D to 3D conversion. These techniques were further explored through onstage conversations with 3D filmmakers and clips from such movies as “G-Force” (2009) and “Monsters vs Aliens” (2009).

Panelists

• Director Hoyt Yeatman (“G-Force”)
• Visual effects producer Matt DeJohn (“G-Force”)
• Stereoscopic supervisor Phil McNally (“Monsters vs Aliens”)

Night Two: Photographed 3D (Live-Action/Stop-Motion)

Tuesday, June 29, 8 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater

The second night of “Getting Perspective III” highlighted movies in which the 3D experience is captured using stereoscopic photography of real-world scenes. Live-action narrative, documentary and stop-motion animated techniques were examined as well as the postproduction tools used to finish a modern 3D motion picture. These concepts were augmented with clips from such movies as “Avatar” (2009), “Coraline” (2009), and “X Games 3D: The Movie” (2009). An onstage panel of filmmakers discussed the challenges of working in 3D and the future of live-action stereoscopic filmmaking.

Panelists

• Producer Jon Landau (“Avatar”)
• Director Eric Brevig (“Journey to the Center of the Earth”)
• Director of photography Pete Kozachik (“Coraline”)
• Stereoscopic engineer Pierre (Pete) Routhier (“X Games 3D: The Movie”)
• Science and Technology Council member Rob Hummel

Night Three: U2 3D (2008)

Tuesday, July 6, 8 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater

The final night of the series included a screening of the concert movie “U2 3D,” which was filmed with the largest collection of 3D technology ever used in a single project. The digital live action 3D motion picture captures the Irish rock band performing in Latin America during their “Vertigo” tour in 2006. Directed by Catherine Owens, Mark Pellington. Produced by Jon Shapiro, Peter Shapiro, John Modell, Owens. Cinematography Peter Anderson (Director of 3D Photography), Tom Krueger. 3D and Digital Image Producer Steve Schklair. Film editing Olivier Wicki. 3ality Digital Productions, National Geographic Entertainment. 2008. 85 mins.

With special guests Catherine Owens, Peter Anderson and Olivier Wicki.

Program host Rob Engle, senior stereographer and 3D visual effects supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks, has served as stereographer and supervised the 3D releases of numerous movies including “The Polar Express” (2004), “Beowulf” (2007), “G-Force” (2009) and the Academy Award®-nominated animated feature “Monster House” (2006).