In 1983, an elderly man walked into the screen while
watching ‘Jaws 3-D’ at the cinema. He claimed he couldn’t tell the difference
between the auditorium and the open seas. Fair enough, but surely the 10ft face
of Dennis Quaid should have tipped him off?
This man is not alive today (we can safely say that he
wasn’t eaten by a giant shark) but, if he were, his seat might need fitting
with a restraining device. Stereoscopic 3D technology has become more
impressive and immersive than ever; the red and blue tint has gone and cinema
audiences are now experiencing high definition, polarised 3D.
Of course, 3D film isn’t confined to the silver screen; the
technology is starting to take hold in television too – especially in the world
of sport. Polarised 3D could be making the move into our living rooms as early
as next year and, while we’ll have to wait to watch television in this new HD
format, the technology is ready to enter the classroom now. With the right
tools and a bit of help from experts, schools can use 3D to impress, inform and
entertain. Students love it, not only because of the novelty value but also
because of the huge buzz in the media world. With James Cameron’s upcoming
spectacular, ‘Avatar’, and 3D versions of films such as ‘Coraline’ being a
massive hit,
Making 3D films in the classroom isn’t as difficult as you
might think; we’ve developed a unique stereoscopic workflow to make the whole
process simple, no matter how much videomaking experience you have. In fact,
after a little help from us, you and your students can start creating your own
high-quality 3D films in no time – and it can be applied to any subject! If you
can do it in 2D, you can improve it with 3D. What’s more, studies have shown that the
immersive quality of 3D can change the way students learn. Our brains absorb 3D
information in a very different way to 2D. The potential for revision with 3D
is immense, especially for visual learners. Reliving a past chemistry
experiment in 3D, for example, can be a far better reminder than relying on old
notes.
As stereoscopy grows in commercial popularity, more and more
production companies are jumping on board and trying their hand at 3D. While
only a handful of people are doing it really well (and we’re working with most
of them!), soon 3D will be a standard technique for both film and TV. Careers
in 3D film are, at the moment, easier to get into than 2D film, so getting
experience of making professional-quality 3D now will put your students ahead
of the pack. And it’s not just film and
television that will be using stereoscopy; just like 2D videomaking, the 3D
technique will soon be used by every kind of business to promote themselves and
communicate with customers. Whatever your students want to do in later life,
learning about 3D film will undoubtedly come in handy!
There are already competitions for 3D filmmakers – Channel 4
are asking for amateurs to send in their 3D creations for judging, and there
are numerous other contests running right across Europe.
Getting your students together and entering these kinds of competitions with their
own films can really boost your school’s profile, showing that you’re at the
forefront of the latest technology (nobody likes to get left behind!). Even
non-competitive projects are fantastic for showing parents and the wider
community that your school is a leader, not a follower, as well as how creative
your students can be! You can show off their videos over the web, on digital
signage systems onsite or even on your local TV channel – the possibilities are
endless.
Whether you’re a newcomer to video or have some 2D
experience, stereoscopic 3D is pretty easy to learn. Don’t believe us? Well, to
prove how simple it can be, we put together a small team of Jigsaw guinea-pigs (kidnapped
from the Marketing department) and set them the challenge of making their own
3D film… in one day. Our stereoscopic experts talked them through the basics –
including a few key 3D filmmaking rules – and then sent them on their way.
After a quick brainstorming session, the group of novices signed up a few wannabe-actors
from around the office, scavenged for makeup and props, and got to work. Using
a pair of cameras, a couple of lights and their ghoulish imaginations, they filmed
and edited ‘Trouble At Old Mill’ – Jigsaw’s very first Halloween zombie movie!
With a few nudges in the right direction from our experts,
even novice filmmakers can soon be using the technology with confidence. Once
you’ve learned the basics, it’s simply a case of trying it for yourself.
Top Tip:
To see Anaglyph 3D,
you’ll need red and cyan or green and magenta glasses. Images are made up of
two layers of colour, superimposed but offset to produce a depth effect.
For Polarised 3D,
you’ll need polarised specs (which look like sunglasses) and a special screen.
The glasses restrict the light that reaches each eye; with opposing
polarisation, one lens lets through only horizontal information while the other
allows only vertical.
We’re world leaders in stereoscopic 3D, so our experts can
give you all the advice you need to bring 3D content creation into your school.
We can even come to your school to give you a demonstration of how it all works
– just give our experts a call on 03332 409 333 or email education@jigsaw24.com.