The debut of Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS in Disney Digital 3-D on Oct. 20, 2006, comes on the heels of the long run of SUPERMAN RETURNS, which had scenes converted to IMAX 3-D. With word that STAR WARS, enhanced by similar conversion perhaps for next year in honor of the 30th anniversary, this trend gains real momentum.
Along with the recent success of 3D-animated films, from POLAR EXPRESS to OPEN SEASON, 3-D has captured the viewers imagination.
However, it is conversion of existing library films that first sparked the imagination of inventor and computer graphics pioneer David M. Geshwind, president of Three-Dimensional Media Group Ltd. 3DMG licensed two U.S. patents to IMAX to enable their conversion of films to 3-D.
Geshwind believes 3-D conversion offers a unique opportunity to bring blockbusters back into theaters with something new to offer. Consider the box-office that a relatively low-cost re-release in 3-D of E.T., INDIANA JONES, HARRY POTTER, LORD OF THE RINGS, THE MATRIX or even THE TEN COMMENCEMENTS would bring to theaters.
However, for new live-action films, with only a few weeks between the completion of a 2-D film and its release, there is not enough time to economically convert a two-hour film to 3-D using our original process. IMAX converted only 20 minutes of SUPERMAN RETURNS. We have worked hard to solve that problem, and developed advanced patent-pending technology to convert an entire film to 3-D for simultaneous day-and-date release with the 2-D version.
Library films can be converted at leisure, but what excites me now is the ability to show an entire new live-action film in 3-D on the same day as its 2-D release. We look forward to licensing the first such production with our new technology soon."
While SUPERMAN RETURNS was the first widespread public use of Geshwind's patented StereoSynthesis process, he first demonstrated it in the early 1990s to add 3-D depth to a segment of the original, 1933 KING KONG.
Geshwind, who holds eight other patents, developed StereoSynthesis as a low-cost form of virtual reality, and to "adapt the huge resource of existing 2-D media for 3-D systems. The advent of 3-D has taken longer than anticipated, but the effective use of 3-D adds greatly to the 'suspension of disbelief' that is key to entertainment. We will bring this same realism to enhance medical imaging, educational materials, scientific visualization, TV, games, the desktop, advertising and to other fields as 3-D digital displays become ubiquitous."
3DMG (www.3dmg.com) licensed IMAX through UNIPAT.ORG. Geshwind conducts independent R&D in media technology through Digital Media Group, Ltd. (an affiliate of 3DMG). His other technologies, available for licensing through UNIPAT, include: ChromaSynthesis, Internet protocols, intelligent search, interactive video, bandwidth compression, educational technology, 3D paint, improved HDTV and personalized video.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
