I.E. Effects Making Movies Work for Michigan
Press Release from I.E. Effects
Traverse City, MI: June 30, 2011… Since opening its Traverse City, Michigan location in the fall of 2010 I.E. Effects has drawn high-profile projects to the facility, including stereoscopic conversion work on big-budget Hollywood films such as Fox’s Gulliver’s Travels and, more recently, Warner Brothers’ Green Lantern. As a postproduction facility, I.E. Effects is in a position to provide permanent high-tech jobs in the region, benefitting from Michigan’s generous film tax credits – currently the subject of debate in the state legislature.
“I.E. Effects is a great example of how the Michigan incentive program goes well beyond film,” said Ken Droz, cofounder of the Amend Don’t End entertainment industry coalition. “This kind of long-term high-technology investment is exactly what we all want to see in Michigan. Without opportunities like this, young people are forced to leave the state to find these types of well-paying jobs. Along with all the residual financial benefits, the efforts of companies like I.E. Effects will create an infrastructure of equipment and facilities, as well as an infrastructure of local talent.”
With the growth in 3D theatrical films, demand for facilities and artists skilled in crafting stereoscopic content has grown dramatically. The core team at I.E. Effects, lead by founder David Kenneth, includes pioneers in modern stereo 3D who worked on seminal projects such as the Star Trek: The Experience – Borg Invasion 4D – a major attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton for years. When Michael Jackson began preparing for his This Is It tour in 2009, I.E. Effects was tapped to create dramatic 3D content for the show – shots which were later incorporated in the film.
When done well, stereoscopic 3D provides a stunning, immersive experience for the audience. However there are numerous technical challenges in creating good-looking images and edits that flow smoothly from one shot to the next. While 3D starts on set with the cameras, it inevitably involves extensive digital work by skilled artists in postproduction facilities.
“There are basically two ways to create the 3D effect,” explained Kenneth. “The most obvious way to create 3D is to shoot with two cameras, as was done on Borg Invasion and Michael Jackson’s This Is It. It is also possible to manipulate single-camera images to create the effect of depth perception. This process is called stereo conversion.”
This second approach was the path taken on Gulliver’s Travels – the Jack Black comedy which was released last Christmas. For that film I.E. Effects provided stereo conversion for over 70 shots, including the opening sequence in which miniature characters were tying down Jack Black’s character on the beach using dozens of tiny 3D ropes.
For Green Lantern, I.E. Effects did stereo conversion on a number of shots, including portions of Hal Jordan’s dogfight sequence. The smooth, seamless stereo 3D work on Green Lantern has been well received by audiences and critics alike. “You can see in a project like this that the craft is evolving,” commented Kenneth. “Good 3D is possible and it's worth going to the theater for.”
High Tech in Michigan
I.E. Effects opened its Michigan facility in 2010 following years of planning by David Kenneth and his team. A Michigan native, Kenneth moved to Los Angeles in 1995 to pursue a career in filmmaking. I.E. Effects has since made a name for itself providing visual effects on box-office successes such as Drag Me to Hell, as well as advanced stereo 3D for theme park rides at the World Fair in Shanghai, and commercial projects for clients such as Motorola, Honda, and many others.
“The first time I saw stereo 3D, I knew this was the future of entertainment,” said Kenneth. “I have always wanted to set up a facility to do this type of work in Michigan. It’s just such a beautiful place to live and work.”
Traverse City, MI: June 30, 2011… Since opening its Traverse City, Michigan location in the fall of 2010 I.E. Effects has drawn high-profile projects to the facility, including stereoscopic conversion work on big-budget Hollywood films such as Fox’s Gulliver’s Travels and, more recently, Warner Brothers’ Green Lantern. As a postproduction facility, I.E. Effects is in a position to provide permanent high-tech jobs in the region, benefitting from Michigan’s generous film tax credits – currently the subject of debate in the state legislature.
“I.E. Effects is a great example of how the Michigan incentive program goes well beyond film,” said Ken Droz, cofounder of the Amend Don’t End entertainment industry coalition. “This kind of long-term high-technology investment is exactly what we all want to see in Michigan. Without opportunities like this, young people are forced to leave the state to find these types of well-paying jobs. Along with all the residual financial benefits, the efforts of companies like I.E. Effects will create an infrastructure of equipment and facilities, as well as an infrastructure of local talent.”
With the growth in 3D theatrical films, demand for facilities and artists skilled in crafting stereoscopic content has grown dramatically. The core team at I.E. Effects, lead by founder David Kenneth, includes pioneers in modern stereo 3D who worked on seminal projects such as the Star Trek: The Experience – Borg Invasion 4D – a major attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton for years. When Michael Jackson began preparing for his This Is It tour in 2009, I.E. Effects was tapped to create dramatic 3D content for the show – shots which were later incorporated in the film.
When done well, stereoscopic 3D provides a stunning, immersive experience for the audience. However there are numerous technical challenges in creating good-looking images and edits that flow smoothly from one shot to the next. While 3D starts on set with the cameras, it inevitably involves extensive digital work by skilled artists in postproduction facilities.
“There are basically two ways to create the 3D effect,” explained Kenneth. “The most obvious way to create 3D is to shoot with two cameras, as was done on Borg Invasion and Michael Jackson’s This Is It. It is also possible to manipulate single-camera images to create the effect of depth perception. This process is called stereo conversion.”
This second approach was the path taken on Gulliver’s Travels – the Jack Black comedy which was released last Christmas. For that film I.E. Effects provided stereo conversion for over 70 shots, including the opening sequence in which miniature characters were tying down Jack Black’s character on the beach using dozens of tiny 3D ropes.
For Green Lantern, I.E. Effects did stereo conversion on a number of shots, including portions of Hal Jordan’s dogfight sequence. The smooth, seamless stereo 3D work on Green Lantern has been well received by audiences and critics alike. “You can see in a project like this that the craft is evolving,” commented Kenneth. “Good 3D is possible and it's worth going to the theater for.”
High Tech in Michigan
I.E. Effects opened its Michigan facility in 2010 following years of planning by David Kenneth and his team. A Michigan native, Kenneth moved to Los Angeles in 1995 to pursue a career in filmmaking. I.E. Effects has since made a name for itself providing visual effects on box-office successes such as Drag Me to Hell, as well as advanced stereo 3D for theme park rides at the World Fair in Shanghai, and commercial projects for clients such as Motorola, Honda, and many others.
“The first time I saw stereo 3D, I knew this was the future of entertainment,” said Kenneth. “I have always wanted to set up a facility to do this type of work in Michigan. It’s just such a beautiful place to live and work.”
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