Culver City, Calif. - Zoic Studios hosted an exclusive salon event, featuring an open discussion of the
history of and trends in 3D entertainment, as well as an exhibition of stereoscopic (3D) art.
Leslie Ekker,
Zoic’s commercial creative director, hosted the informal,
free-of-charge event, which attracted roughly 60 entertainment industry
professionals. Electronic stereoscopy pioneer Lenny Lipton discussed the history of
stereoscopy in film. Lipton, considered by some to be the father of the
electronic stereoscopic display industry, has invented many of the
current state-of-the-art 3D technologies.
Johnathan Banta, digital supervisor at Sassoon Film Design, discussed the conversion of 2D moving images to 3D. His most recent
work includes the films The Brothers Bloom, Quarantine, Milk, and Public
Enemies.
Digital effects
animator Franklin Londin spoke about new autostereoscopic displays,
which do not require the polarized or anaglyph (red and blue) glasses
formerly necessary for 3D. Londin brought to the event his brand new
digital stereo camera from Fuji, soon-to-be-available om the US,
accompanied by a stereo picture frame.
Londin also brought a collection of his sculptures, integrating 3D photographs displayed through illuminated viewers. A number of 3D books and stereoscopes were on hand, for attendees to attempt to ruin their vision trying out.
Ray
Zone, film historian, author, artist, and stereoscopy pioneer (the “3D
King of Hollywood”), explained the functioning of a 1950s-era 3D slide
projector. Franklin Londin used the projector to show stereo slides
from his collection.
Based on the success
of this first attempt, the VFX and digital production firm intends to
host future salons, although no specific plans have been announced.