When shooting a 3D movie, there are many considerations to be looked into when on location. A lot that has been taught and learnt in conventional Cinematography has to be supplemented with new paradigms, because at the very basic level we are shooting with a true bi-nocular capture system.

This is way different that shooting with two cameras in the traditional sense, and feel of cinematography.  Much has been written already about the do’s and don’ts when shooting with 3D Cameras.

However, as with normal movies, pre-planning does save a lot of time and virtually eliminates any undesirable consequences.
When planning a regular 2D movie, there is always location scouting, and this is as simple as digital snapshots of a location, to even a digital HD shoot of the location.

So why not “previs” in stereo 3D when shooting for a 3D movie?. Previously, it was expensive to actually do previs in 3D, due to cost and bulkiness of equipment. But technology changes at a rapid pace and it is now completely cost-effective and possible to have lightweight stereo3D rigs to do shot pre planning on location.  Even final shoots are now being done with portable and high quality 3D Camera rigs such as those from Silcon Imaging – the Si2K

The footage can be viewed later with cheaper anaglyph 3D systems or even projected in full color polarized or shutter 3D systems in the edit studio or Directors office. Real Vision is one such solutions provider for high fidelity portable preview equipment and solutions.

Planning and even script writing could take a new turn as added insights become available, during  scene previews when sifting through a previz capture of a location, and prior to film shooting. This opens up a range of possibilities that were previsously not available to movie making.

There is resistance to learning new techniques in story telling, after-all story telling and movie making is now a multi billion dollar industry, and as such has become close to assembly line production. This leads to short cuts such as shooting in 2D and converting to 3D later. There is a whole new art-form in story telling and immersion waiting to be presented to a new breed of audiences who are growing up on 3D movies (first phase these audiences being kids watching all the stereoscopic CG movies coming out). Sooner or later this new generation of audiences will be used to viewing movies/stories in 3D and will expect the same out of live action films.

So, back from the philosophising and more on to the options for 3D movie previsualizing!

Below is a video with a few of the notes tacked on the video in the form of annotations for an up-coming PSA on Dubai Metro and its facilities for Special Needs Passengers.

Many such notes and insights were possible after just a day’s shoot, that were very important considerations to bear in mind when final shooting of this film will commence. This will save time, energy and costs and more importantly minimize the need to correct the stereo footage later in post production.

Watch in fullscreen or click the video to watch on youtube site, as embedded player does not display annotations. For Stereo purists: The video was shot un-synchronized and handheld due to security restrictions.

Previs Software for Stereo 3D movies:

Current Software allows you to create a Virtual Scene of a proposed movie with easy to use and place props and cameras and lights etc. One such excellent software is FrameForge Previz Studio. Already being used for conventional film pre-planning and previz, this software now has can’t-do-without tools for planning and previsualizing a 3D movie project.

Some higlights that it offers:

Powerful Real-Time Stereographic Tools in FrameForge Previz Studio:

Work On-Screen in Real-Time Stereographic 3D using anaglyph glasses on any computer monitor (even laptops) or passive or active polarized glasses using most stereographic display technology.

Fully Customizable Beam-Splitter (Mirror) & Side-by-Side Rigs that can be set to exactly mimic the parameters of whatever equipment you’re actually using.

Target any Screen Size from as small as an iPod® all the way up to IMAX®

Innovative 3D Control Panel puts all your stereographic controls and information in one place, allowing you to control your stereographic depth with the same ease as you’d control any other facet of your film-making.

There’s a lot more than you could ever need, in this very powerful previz package for Stereo 3D shooting.

A new dimension in Story telling has arrived, and these few paragraphs have hopefully touched on a few important points. Real Vision Consultancy can assist and recommend best practices, stereoscopic equipment and software to pre, production and post production houses and independent film makers in the Middle East, and Indian Subcontinent who are venturing into 3D film.