The public packs into VIEW 09.

The VIEW Conference 2009 [http://www.viewconference.it/] is the 10th International Computer Graphics Conference, which started on November 4^th and will last until the 7^th of November 2009. It's held in the beautiful city of Turin, in the north of Italy, where I had the pleasure of attending this event, now for the fourth time.

Previously I have had the opportunity to tell the wonderful series of events happening at the Torino Incontra Conference Center to a magazine, a blog, and a CG portal. This year I have the great honour to talk to Animation World Network's readers.

The sparkling energy behind VIEW is Maria Elena Gutierrez who is driving a group of partner institutions, private and public sector, in investing in innovation and knowledge-sharing in the field of Technology and Creativity.

How much do we need new opportunities for business and innovation with an international breadth in a difficult moment like this?

The most important Italian event on computer graphics, animation and visual effects is a gathering of the best professionals and researchers in the filmmaking, videogame, design, architecture and education industries.

I feel like a baby at the Luna Park. I have been involved in computer graphics for 15 years through teaching, advocating, mentoring, writing, producing and even programming. For me, being here is an absolute pleasure.

In this first day of the four I attended so many sessions that were so interesting and information packed that the quick notes I jotted down are taking more than 10 pages.

At 9:00 a.m sharp Maria Elena introduced the sponsors and the partners to a very crowded Sala Cavour. People were already standing without a seat. The non-profit goals of the organization have been explained very clearly. VIEW Conference is free, for all, because the local institutions believe in a return on investment based more on increased employment and business opportunities rather than direct profit.

At 10:00 people remained standing for Bob Whitehill, 3-D Stereoscopic Supervisor at Pixar Animation Studios, took the stage and gave a brilliant presentation. Well structured. Well communicated. Logical. Interesting. Clear. I liked it because it gave an overview of the movie production process and the visual elements of storytelling focusing on the 3-D stereoscopic technology. Bob explained beautifully where, in the production pipeline, the 3-D element is designed and how it is produced. Without any technical language he was able to explain even to non-technical people the mechanism behind the eye converging or diverging on stereoscopic images giving the illusion of depth. But the most precious aspect in the session was the detailed and thoughtful analysis of the visual storytelling elements and the explanation of how, why, where and how the 3-D contribution could be made. The Pixar presenter made practical examples by citing Up first. And then illustrating how Toy Story 2 and the original Toy Story have been added with the 3D.

With clear and useful content, great visual aids, timing and presentation skills I consider this one of the best sessions of the day. To remember the conclusions: “clarity is your master” and ”3-D is not the enemy, but it's also not the answer."