Not up to Cameron’s standards but grab
yourself a pair of 3D glasses nonetheless.
yourself a pair of 3D glasses nonetheless.
“3D offers a powerful experience which you can only have in the movie theatre.”
James Cameron
The third dimension
It all started way back in the 1890’s when British film pioneer William Friese-Greene filed for a patent for a revolutionary 3D movie process. Back then two images were shown side by side and a stereoscope was used to converge the two images for viewing.
In 1900 Frederick Eugene Ives patented his stereo camera rig.
The camera had two lenses coupled together 1 3/4 inches apart.
In 1915 Edwin S. Porter and William E. Waddell presented test footage to an audience in New York using red-green anaglyph. The test included footage of Niagra Falls, made a moderate impression but failed to spark a new era, nothing was made in this format again,
In 1900 Frederick Eugene Ives patented his stereo camera rig.
The camera had two lenses coupled together 1 3/4 inches apart.
In 1915 Edwin S. Porter and William E. Waddell presented test footage to an audience in New York using red-green anaglyph. The test included footage of Niagra Falls, made a moderate impression but failed to spark a new era, nothing was made in this format again,
It wasn’t until 1922 that a paying audience was to view a 3D movie - The Power of Love. It was projected dual-strip in the red/green anaglyph format, making it both the earliest known film that utilised dual strip projection and the earliest known film in which anaglyph glasses were used. Due to the great depression interest in 3D moving pictures died, along with it some long lost classics.
It wasn’t until the golden era of 3D (1952-55) that stereo movies became interesting again. Arch Oboler’s 3D colour film Bwana Devil, which claimed to be the worlds first feature length 3D film, sparked off a whole era of innovation.
Man in the Dark, House of Wax (the first 3D film to have stereoscopic sound), Disney’s Melody, It Came from Outer Space, Kiss Me, Kate and Robot Monster were just a few of the classic films that became hits and cult classics.
The Golden Era drew to a close towards the end of ’55, a fate induced by expense. The cost of having two projectors per viewing, two projectionists, double the developing cost, it used to strain the eyes and cause head aches, and CinemaScope was just starting to make an impact.
The sixties had only sparse releases in 3D, The Mask, The Bubble and most notably The Stewardess, a 3D soft-core sex comedy that became the most profitable 3D movie to date.
Various incarnations of the 3D system came and went, SpaceVision 3D and StereoVision being the two most popular.
In 1980 IMAX started making short twenty minute films for the National Film Board of Canada, all shot on IMAX format 70mm.
Using a process pioneered by SpaceVision Hollywood hit another craze during the eighties and released some old classics like Dial M for Murder and House of Wax along with some more modern attempts; Jaws 3D, Friday the 13th Part 3, Amityville 3D and Silent Madness. However when making these films the studios didn't consider the fact they were in fact crap. Once again the world of 3D cinema faded to black.
In 1996 James Cameron, effects genius’s John Bruno and Stan Winston collaborated to bring to life a third Terminator film, T2-3D Battle Across Time. By this time theme park rides had become very popular and Disney were leading the way. Captain EO made in 1986, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring the planets biggest mega star at the time Michael Jackson became hugely popular. It what was the most expensive film to date (one million dollars per minute of film) but made excellent use of the 3D special effects supplied by everyone's favourite effects house ILM.
Terminator 2-3D was a huge success, mixing live action stage performers with 3D footage spread across three giant screens, there were even some water squirters in there and hydraulic chairs.
Mainstream cinema still had an absence of 3D films until just after the Millennium. The first feature to be released was Cameron’s Ghost of the Abyss (2003) using his HD Reality Camera System, a system later used on Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids 3D and Shark Boy and Lava Girl films.
Cameron later used the same technology in 2005 to film his excellent Aliens of the Deep documentary, again for IMAX 3D.
Cameron later used the same technology in 2005 to film his excellent Aliens of the Deep documentary, again for IMAX 3D.
Another 3D pioneer is Robert Zemeckis whose feature The Polar Express released in 3D IMAX went on to gross more than its 2D counterpart, prompting much interest in new 3D movies. Zemeckis later went on to make Monster House and the upcoming Beowulf both in 3D.
In 2005 Chicken Little was released in 3D to massive box office results prompting the fast track of Meet the Robinson’s, one of a number of 3D animations due to be released this year.
In 2005 Chicken Little was released in 3D to massive box office results prompting the fast track of Meet the Robinson’s, one of a number of 3D animations due to be released this year.
The conversion of 2D into 3D films is something that will soon take cinemas by storm. Last years Superman Returns featured 20 minutes of 3D footage, released only in IMAX theatres. Although still not as effective as true 3D the conversion it has been popular enough to prompt film makers into converting existing classics,
Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Aliens are all due for future
3D conversion.
Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Aliens are all due for future
3D conversion.
The big 3D film however will be Avatar. Cameron has spent years pioneering the camera systems and technology to film it, by 2009 enough cinemas should be kited out in order to screen it, a few million people will be passing through it’s door to see it and 3D cinema will once again be the talk of town.
Notable 3D films:
The Power of Love
Nat G. Deverich
Harry K. Fairall
1922
Creature From the Black Lagoon
Jack Arnold
1954
Dial M for Murder
Alfred Hitchcock
1954
Released in 3D
and 2D.
and 2D.
Friday 13th Part 3
Steve Miner
1982
Parasite
Charles Brand
1982
Jaws 3D
Joe Alves
1983
Silent Madness
Simon Nuchtern
1984
Ghosts of
the Abyss
the Abyss
James Cameron
IMAX 3D
2003
The Polar Express
Robert Zemeckis
2004
Shark Boy
and Lava Girl
and Lava Girl
Robert Rodriguez
2005
Aliens of the Deep
James Cameron
2005
