Element Technica / SI-2K 3D Camera Operating Demo

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Element Technica / SI-2K 3D Camera Operating Demo

http://www.freshdv.com/2010/04/freshdv-nab-2010-si2k-3d.html

Fresh DV posted this vid of Stereographer, Bruce Austen, demo-ing a prototype Element Technica 3D rig during NAB and I think it's a great resource for a couple of reasons. I know some of you have been working in stereo for years but for the rest of us, consumer 3D TV's and cost effective one-piece 3D camcorders no doubt mean this technology will soon be encountered in the workplace far more often.

There is some good discussion in this video on effective 3D camera operation and how the different viewer experience requires a different approach to operating. Additionally, Bruce goes into how the inter-axial distance between the lenses alters the 3 Dimensionality and I really liked seeing how he used the Anaglyph viewing mode to monitor and control the stereo effect.

Beyond a good demonstration, it's also very cool to see the small, prototype Element Technica rig in action. This setup utilizes the SI-2K Mini camera heads which are obviously very well suited to this sort of application. Altogether, the rig is not much bigger than an Arricam and is extremely versatile in that it can be adapted to use both as a beamsplitter, so that the cameras can get closer to the subject, and side-by-side configuration for applications such as sports. This rig also employs the recently announced CineDeck to record both left and right eye images in a single, frame accurate Cineform Neo3D file. If you haven't looked into the CineDeck yet, check it out because it's pretty incredible.

 

 

 

Digital Motion Picture Sweeps The Oscars

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Digital Motion Picture Sweeps The Oscars

The lovely Slumdog Millionaire found the same success at The Oscars as it did at The Bafta's and Golden Globes, taking home the top honors - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. This is the first (mostly) digitally acquired feature film in the history of The Oscars to win Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Not bad for a small independent shot with a relatively new and radically different digital cinema camera. I think this is the greatest possible success for next generation digital cinema companies like RED and Silicon Imaging - makers of the SI-2K Mini with which Slumdog was mostly photographed with. It is a massive confirmation that film isn't the end all be all in quality and that digital imaging is not going to get in the way of audiences recognizing a wonderful story. It's very cool to be working in the business during this paradigm shift. There is a lot of great energy and excitement as the tools of the trade are becoming more accessible and affordable to people with big ideas. When a film like Slumdog Millionaire can win the highest American industry accolades it should give independents and people working outside the mainstream a lot of hope that their work can find its audience and earn worldwide recognition.

Regarding the film's cinematography; when I first saw the film I noticed what I thought was sensor noise in the game show scenes. Since then, I've heard from numerous folks that this was an intentional look done in the grading process to match the grain of some other materials (mostly Day Ext's) originating on film. I also read Anthony Dod Mantle saying that the SI-2K images picked up a lot of noise as they traveled through the post pipeline. I'm still looking into this but if it's the case that it was done in the grade, the effect might have been pushed a little too hard. Don't get me wrong, it didn't wreck the scenes but one of the points of this blog is to evaluate the quality of digital images and if there are noticeable issues in a widely seen film such as this, they will be commented on. Other than that, I think what's really strong about the film's cinematography are the great angles and fluid movement that are only possible with a tiny, discrete camera like the SI-2K. The film's camera language has this great "fly on the wall" observational quality that I think is the most successful aspect of its storytelling.

Another aspect of the cinematography that I really like is the slightly rough around the edges, almost handmade quality of the images. In an era where "perfection" is the norm in motion pictures, it's really refreshing to see something so different than what we're used to seeing be so successful. It just goes to show you at the end of the day audiences want a great story more than they want perfect hair and makeup and perfectly consistent exposures and prefect camera moves. I don't want my movies to look like they were made by highly skilled robots. I want the human touch and Slumdog has it!

Go read this on ProLost >>> I failed to mention the film's very effective use of 12fps material. Stu has some great points about cinematic motion and some current industry trends that are a little disheartening.

In the news

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In the news

By now everyone knows that Slumdog Millionaire is a massive success. Clearly, a little image noise didn't get in the way of a truly wonderful story. If it wins Best Picture, that will really be something. It will be the first digitally acquired motion picture to ever achieve that accolade. Can't forget Benjamin Button either. Shot on the now seemingly antiquated (unfairly so) Viper FilmStream. 2 out of 5 nominees this year are digital films. Every feature that has won best picture thus far was shot on good old celluloid. And truthfully, there still is nothing like it. BUT I'm a digital devotee. I absolutely love film but I don't really want to shoot on it. I just really like the digital workflow and all the challenges that go with it. It's such an immediately malleable medium. I love being able to paint with light and camera settings at the monitor. By now everyone knows that this is where the business is going. But is it...?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/gop.stimulus.worries/

Take a look - 2nd  one down. The Republican Party has gone through the stimulus plan and pulled out line items that it deems wasteful. According to the CNN report one of them to be singled out was:

"A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film."

246m to buy film stock. Hollywood had a great year but apparently they can't afford celluloid anymore so they're about to get a massive tax break so they continue the practice. How many Hollywood features can be shot with 246 million dollars worth of film? I don't know but I'd like to. This is extremely interesting to me. Features acquired digitally have proven themselves at this point. There isn't nearly the resistance there was 5 years ago. I think if Button or Slumdog (fingers crossed) takes the prize this year it will mean even more features will go digital. That is unless they get free film.

more on Slumdog.. Not only is this a mostly digital feature but it was acquired with a somewhat experimental camera system. I think the SI-2k Mini is very very cool but you've got to admit, it's a pretty radical departure from your typical cinema camera. It looks like an SLR with a cable hanging off it leading to a drive in your backpack. Seriously, that's a pretty unique way to shoot your feature film. When I saw the film, I couldn't help but notice the sensor noise. This is what I do for a living. I can't turn my eyes off. It didn't really take me out of the story but I still felt it was a shame that such great images were tarnished by it. I don't know if this was a problem that was compounded in the film out or what... Maybe it didn't. Maybe it was intentional.  If anyone knows, let me know!