REAL 3D VIDEO FROM A FLAT PANEL DISPLAY WITHOUT GLASSES
This is just too cool – 3D from a flat panel display without weird glasses or dimmed lights, or any other special requirements. The technology is being used for medical applications and you may have already seen some of these special monitors at trade shows displaying impressive 3D animations. It is a huge traffic draw and the display frequently attracts large crowds just because of the impressiveness of the three-dimensional effect.
Most of the trade show applications for this technology have been to demonstrate animated versions of different products or services. It is an extremely captivating way to show a client what happens downhole or inside a complex tool, or to explain some theoretical concept. We’ve developed special techniques to create dynamic, photorealistic 3D animation that is ideally suited for this unique kind of display. We’ve also worked extensively with the folks at Data Display (who rent this display technology) to develop an effective way to produce high definition video in 3D. Imagine the impact high definition 3D video combined with animation could have at a trade show.
The system we’ve developed uses two matched HD cameras. The kit is compact, easy to transport anywhere in the world, and usually only requires a two-person crew – just like a typical video shoot. Time on location is a bit longer than for a standard shoot because the equipment requires extra calibration time and because there are additional considerations for a 3D set. Also, there are a few limitations to shooting in 3D, which are common to any system to shoot video or film in 3D, that require that the lenses to be set at wider focal lengths and zooming isn’t possible.
WINNERS AWARDED FOR TEEN ANTI DWI PSA PRODUCTION CONTEST
On May 20th, final judging was held for the Casualties of Fun PSA production contest sponsored by Texas Pictures and the Houston Police Department. The panel of judges included Jose Grinan from Fox26, Dana Tyson from Sunny 99.1, Harris County Criminal Court Judge W. Harmon, DWI Task Force police officers, and representatives from MADD and the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
The contest was open to more than 50 area high schools. Winners received HD camcorders, tickets to concerts, sporting events and other prizes. Winners and other entries can be seen here. The contest was part of the Traffic Crime campaign created by Texas Pictures that has been underway for over a year now.
PREVIOUS UPDATES AND NEW PHOTOS POSTED
We’ve made a few minor changes to our site. We’ve added an additional link to our RESOURCES page to include previous editions of these updates. You can check them out here. Also, we’ve replaced a few photos in the GALLERY that you might find interesting.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF BID BURN? (we’ve shared this before but is worth repeating)
Have you ever had the joy of completing a big project destroyed when that final invoice from the vendor you worked with turns out to be much higher than the original proposal? You find yourself thinking, “Where did all these line items come from? What are all these extra charges? Why did minor revisions add so much to my bill? I spent all this money and they’re adding fees for lunches while I was babysitting their editor? This doesn’t look anything like what the original bid promised.” If these questions sound familiar, then you’ve been burned by the bid.
Being burned by a bid can be an expensive lesson to learn. Based on the most common horror stories we hear from some clients, we’ve prepared some simple guidelines to help you make a more informed decision when you compare proposals.
Ask if the proposal allows for revisions, and how extensive revisions can be before additional charges apply. Some companies make unrealistically low bids to win the project, and then charge inflated fees each time the client makes even a minor change. The final cost can turn out to be much higher than even the highest of the original competing bids. Changes always happen, so be sure you have some room to accommodate tweaks.
Ask what you own when the project is finished. Paying a vendor to create a custom project for your company doesn’t necessarily mean that you own what they create. Some vendors consider the material they create for you to be their property even though you paid them to create it. When you need to revise or update your project, they may actually charge you for access to the material you already paid for, or they may require that you hire them to make the changes.
Beware of the “offline” edit. An offline edit is a type of rough edit that was common in the old days of linear, tape-based editing as a way to minimize time required in the more expensive "online" edit suite. However, computers have made the offline edit and online edit suites completely unnecessary. Any company that claims an offline edit is necessary is probably either inexperienced or is trying to exploit your ignorance and pad your bill. It is possible that the vendor has redefined the term “offline edit” to mean something unique to their operation, but if the term shows up in your bid you should definitely consider it a flag worth investigating further.
Ask what type of additional charges could apply. Bids should be comprehensive, but sometimes they lack specific details. Some vendors charge separately for every piece of equipment used on a video shoot or edit session, or every graphics application used during programming. This is a fairly common practice, and isn’t necessarily an underhanded way to increase your bill. Some vendors use this billing technique as a way to track the revenue generated by each piece of equipment and software they invest in. Find out if additional charges like this are possible. If the vendor suggests some improvement over the original plan, ask if it will add to the cost.
Ask about the people who will actually be creating your project. What kind of experience and training do they have? How long have they been in the business? Will they understand the goals and objectives of your project or are they just technicians and button-clickers? An attractive bid doesn’t mean much if the quality or effectiveness of the work is questionable.
There are plenty of reputable vendors out there who don’t play these games. However, if the vendor is new to you, how can you be sure? Ask questions and be direct. Make sure you feel confident about their answers to these questions.
UPCOMING LOCATION SHOOTS
We have video and/or photo shoots tentatively scheduled for the summer or early fall in the following locations:
Los Angeles, CA
London, England (rescheduled)
Denver, CO
If you have anything in the same area you need footage or photographs of, this may be an opportunity to save some travel expenses by sharing the trip.