Definition:

depthsploitation
[depth-sploi-tey-shuhn]

As pertaining to motion pictures, describes any film that exploits, in its marketing or promotion, the use of stereoscopic (3-dimensional) filmmaking techniques.

This blog is my notepad as I research a nonfiction book spotlighting 3-D genre films of the last century. While the book will focus primarily on films from the 60's, 70's and 80's this blog has no restrictions.

All articles on this blog are copyright 2010-13 of its author,
Jason Pichonsky, unless otherwise stated.

Images are used for information purposes and remain the rights of their respective owners.


Based on a layout by: 16thday

Hanging Out at the Toronto International Stereoscopic 3D Conference


This was intended to be posted yesterday, but do to complications it wasn't. Here it is now:

I’ve been granted the privilege to attend the Toronto International Stereoscopic 3D Convention. Happening this week, the gathering is a stellar display of the current state of the 3D with a definite Canadian bent. So far the conference has been very densely packed with presenters and information, so this is my first chance to share my thoughts on things so far. It’s late so I’ll try to keep things brief.

A definite draw to the conference was the opening night speaker, Wim Wenders, a filmmaker whose work has left a lasting impression on me. Wenders is a filmmaker who is not afraid to explore new technical innovations. His 1999 film Buena Vista Social Club utilized digital video for a theatrical production before it became commonplace. Now he has directed the 3-D film, Pina, highlighting the dance theatre of German choreographer Pina Bausch. Taking the podium Wenders described the deeply personally project both emotionally and technically. Though it had been discussed as collaboration with Bausch for years, Wenders was reluctant to make the film until 2008 when he saw U2 3D at Cannes. It was in that moment that he realized that 3D could break the wall that he perceived between dance and film. When Bausch passed away late in pre-production Wenders needed to be persuaded by both Bausch’s son and her dance troupe to continue on with the film lest Busch’s choreography would be lost to time. The clips that were shown revealed a use of 3D that is both technically sound and artistically unique. It will take artists like Wenders to explore what 3D can become.

That was yesterday. Today was a full twelve hours of the current state of things 3D. Very briefly my highlights:

Peter Anderson, a stereographer who’s worked on numerous attraction films (T2-3D, Magic Journeys, The Muppets 4D, U2 3D) presented a simple yet effective course on Stereoscopy 101, utilizing a set of chopsticks. It’s a presentation that anyone new to the understanding of 3D should see.

A great number of footage was screened, but of particular interest to me were clips of the Russian Stereo 70mm 3D system presented by Aleksander Melkumov. The system has been around since at least the mid seventies so it is of historical interest to me. We got to see a bit of footage converted to digital projection originally shot on 65mm film and new tests of this historic 3D lens system shot on a digital camera.

Real D Chief Scientific Officer Matt Cowan gave a highly scientific demonstration of how the eyes and brain perceive colour in reduced light settings, a problem for audiences and presenters alike. His mini keynote explains some real world experiences I’ve had setting up both my 3DTV and my older based CRT field sequential system at home.


There's been so much more but I'll have to save that for later.


International Stereoscopic 3D Conference in Canada

For a country who's major public broadcaster the CBC premiered 3-D for the first time in its history just last year (and in anaglyph no less), a 3-D meeting of the minds would seem unimpressive. But this is also a country who created IMAX a name almost synonymous with 3-D and who's earliest flirtations with the medium go back to the 1951 with Norman McLaren's animated shorts Now is the Time (To Put on Your Glasses) and Around is Around, a full year before Bwana Devil premiered in Hollywood and started the first major 3-D boom.

So, in only a few short days Canada will be hosting its first 3-D conference.


The Toronto International Stereoscopic 3D Conference is set to run from June 11 to the 14th in Toronto. Organized by 3D FLIC (the 3D Film Innovation Consortium) and researchers from York University the event is bringing together filmmakers and stereoscopic researchers from around the world.

Some highlights?

The event kicks of Saturday night with a keynote address by world renowned German director Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire). His latest film Pina which incorporates dance pieces composed by Pina Bausch and photographed by a 3D camera.
production still from Pina
And on Monday the conference will host a screening of Resident Evil: Afterlife featuring Q & A with the film’s producer and its post-production team.

All the details can be found at their website:

Resident Evil 3D reviewed

I've been doings some reviews of 3D Bluray discs for the Rue Morgue Magazine's blog. This time around I took a look at the newest Resident Evil film.



You can check it out here:

The best 3-D sequence in the film.