Lauren Selig, Peter Martin and Roy Taylor Speaking At ON THE LOT AR/VR Conference October 13-14

Very cool upcoming conference for virtual and augmented reality in Los Angeles this month! I highly recommend attending based on the content and experts present here. Great job organizing this Jim Chabin and all involved!

Oscar Nominated Producers, Lauren Selig and Peter Martin To Give Creative Keynote At This Years “On The Lot” AR/VR Conference And AMD’s Roy Taylor To Present Opening Keynote Address

Additional Speakers Set For This Years Conference Include Aaron Luber (Google), Rick Champagne (NVIDIA), Ravi Velhal (Intel), Marcie Jastrow (Technicolor),
Wim Buyens (Barco), Bruce Vaughn (Dreamscape), Ted Schilowitz (Paramount Pictures), John Canning (PGA/NBC) and Mia Tramz (LIFE VR)

HOLLYWOOD, CA – Oscar nominated producers, Lauren Selig (American Made, Hacksaw Ridge), one of Hollywood’s most prolific creators along with producing partner Peter Martin (Waste Land) both early adopters of AR/VR media will give this years Creative Keynote: “Seeing Your Creative Become Reality” at “On The Lot.” Additionally, Selig and Martin’s joint venture V.A.L.I.S. Studios is a leader in creating immersive, experiential and holographic content. It was recently announced that Selig will be the new head of the VR Fund for IMAX. John Moon (Honda) to open “On The Lot’s” AR seminar with “Driving AR Forward.” The conference is set for Friday and Saturday, October 13-14 at The Lot studios in Hollywood.

Roy Taylor (AMD Studios) who serves as the VR Society’s Committee Chairman will present the opening keynote for the conference. Taylor is an industry-leading proponent for VR and manages VR partnerships with film, broadcast, gaming, academia, industry as well with Oculus, HTC/Vive and others. Taylor has had a multi-faceted career as a technology evangelist, content strategist and entrepreneur in both start-ups and established companies.

“Los Angeles has emerged as the worldwide home of Virtual and Augmented Reality. Hollywood has led the way in developing location-based experiences which have wowed audiences around the world,” said Roy Taylor, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Head of Media and Entertainment, AMD Studios “So AMD Studios is delighted to once again act as a title sponsor of ‘On The Lot,’ VR’s most prestigious and important event.”

Aaron Luber (Google), Rick Champagne (NVIDIA), Ravi Velhal (Intel), Marcie Jastrow (Technicolor), Wim Buyens (Barco), Bruce Vaughn (Dreamscape), Tech Shilowitz (Paramount Pictures), John Canning (PGA/NBC) and Mia Tramz (LIFE VR) join the prestigious list of previously announced speakers Robert Stromberg (Maleficent), Jerry Zucker (Airplane!, Ghost), Tony Parisi (Unity), and Gary Radburn (Dell).

In addition to the aforementioned speakers, VR panels for this years “On The Lot” include “Creating Original Content in VR,” “VR Franchises,” “Discovering the Key to Monetization in VR, AR and Beyond,” “VR Education: Chapman University and University of Southern California,” and “Consumer Research with Magid Research.” Key panels for the AR track include “AR: Mixing Media with Reality,” “AR’s Growth Roadmap: Solving Real World Problems for Industry,” “The Studio View – Paramount Pictures Studios,” “Investing in AR: How to Power Your Growth,” “Making AR: Production, Process and Costs,” and “Monetization Models for AR.”

As part of the AR track, “On The Lot” has created “Meet The Investors,” a block of time on Saturday afternoon for guests with companies in their first year of business to prearrange one-on-one meetings with Venture Capitalists and top-level executives. This is a chance to pitch your business and get invaluable guidance.

“Our goal is to accelerate the business of AR and VR content in these incredibly exciting days,” said Advanced Imaging and AR/VR Society president Jim Chabin. “We know that financing will be as critical to success as great content, so this meeting brings both the investment and creative communities together to help activate new business relationships.”

For tickets and additional information about VR On The Lot please go to VROnTheLot.com. Discount tickets available for Oculus Connect attendees, all entertainment guild members (PGA, DGA, WGA, etc.), students (with student ID) and seniors (62+).
• Premier Pass - Professional Conference & Exhibitions: $569.
• Daily Pass $315.
• Saturday AR Program Track: $259.

About AMD
For more than 45 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies ― the building blocks for entertainment, immersive platforms, and the datacenter. Hundreds of millions of consumers, leading Fortune 500 businesses, and cutting-edge scientific research facilities around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work, and play. AMD employees around the world are focused on building great products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

About The Advanced Imaging Society and The VR Society
The Advanced Imaging Society and The VR Society were founded as a non-profit organization by major Hollywood studios and top technology companies to advance the arts and technologies of 3D, HDR, VR, AR and 360-degree content for professionals active in entertainment, media and marketing. Members include 20th Century Fox, AMD Studios, Barco, Cause Play/360 Ad Spots, Create VR, Dell, Dolby Laboratories, DreamWorks Animation, Factory 42, Fathom Events, Fraunhofer, Global 3D Media Holding, HP, Intel, Koncept VR, Legend, LIFE VR, LOOT Interactive, Lucid Dreams Productions, Lytro, MGM, Marvel Studios, Nokia Technologies, Oculus, Pixar Animation Studios, Royole Corp., Sony Entertainment, Sony Music, Stereo D, StoryTech, StreamTV Networks, Technicolor, Unity Technologies, Universal Studios, V-Nova, Virtual Reality Company, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., and Xperi.

In addition, The Advanced Imaging Society and The VR Society have international chapters in the U.K., Belgium, China (Beijing and Hong Kong), Japan, New Zealand, and Canada.

# # #
VROnTheLot
TheVRSociety.com
Facebook: VR Society
Twitter: @TheVRSociety -- #VR
OnTheLot, #VRSociety, #VR, #AR

THE FORCE AWAKENS - And Yours Truly - Among Winners At This Weeks Advanced Imagining Society Creative Arts Awards!

Yes, this year's Advanced Imaging Society's Creative Arts Awards was an exciting event for many, many reasons including our own 40 BELOW AND FALLING which I had the pleasure of helping produce along with a truly exceptional team. We won the 3D Feature Jury Prize and are deeply honored with the Lumiere.

Here's the official press release:
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Advanced Imaging Society bestowed 20 honors for “distinguished achievement” at the Creative Arts Awards on Wednesday night, at Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (Disney/Lucasfilm) was honored with two Lumiere statuettes, for Best 3D Live Action Feature and Best 2D to 3D Conversion (StereoD). “The Martian” (20th Century Fox) was also honored with two awards, for Best Live Action Stereography and Best Use of Native 3D. “The Walk” (Sony/Legend3D) won 3D Scene of the Year for its Act 3 high wire walk by actor Joseph Gordon Levitt. Pixar was honored with 3 Lumieres, including: Best 3D Animated Feature and Best Animated Stereography for “Inside Out” (Disney/Pixar) and Best 3D Short for “Lava” (Disney/Pixar).

“Conquest of the Skies” (Colossus Productions), hosted by Sir David Attenborough, won Best 3D Documentary. The Russian cinema commercial, “Schvabe” (StereoTec) won for Best 3D Advertising. The 3D short “Hard Reset” (Buk Films) won for Best Live Action Short. “Emma” (Pannon Entertainment) was awarded for Best use of High Dynamic Range. “Great Barrier Reef,” (Atlantic Productions) also hosted by Sir David Attenborough, won in the Best Ultra HD content category. The Best Virtual Reality Experience was awarded to “The Walk: Virtual Reality Experience” (Sony/Create Design LA).

Marvel’s Victoria Alonso, who heads the Studio’s Physical Production Unit and serves as Executive Producer on many of the Studio's blockbuster hits, was presented with the Harold Lloyd Award for filmmaking.

BBC and BBC Earth were awarded the annual Sir Charles Wheatstone Award for excellence in natural history documentaries.

“With movies like ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ ‘The Martian,’ and ‘Inside Out’ competing for our top honors, we had an extraordinary awards process this year. 3D has never had a better year at the box office, or a better year in terms of brilliant creative work,” said Society President Jim Chabin. “With the addition of Virtual Reality, High Dynamic Range, and Ultra HD entries, our members are clearly working at the very cutting edge of our industry’s future,” he added.

Several Jury Prizes were presented for special achievement. Director Raman Hui was awarded a Lumiere for 2015’s “Monster Hunt,” (Edko Films Limited) the biggest box office hit in Chinese history. The romantic comedy “40 Below And Falling” (Avatar Media), the 3D Short “Coda” (National Film Board of Canada), and the Japanese animated children’s film “Gamba” (Shirogumi) were also honored with jury prizes.

“Our honorees this year came from all over the globe, from China to the UK, to Europe, Canada, and of course Hollywood, 3D has truly come of age,” said Society Awards Chairman Buzz Hays. “Both the high level of quality and the quantity of 3D, HDR, and VR production is impressive,” he added.

Here are the night's winners in detail:

HAROLD LLOYD AWARD
VICTORIA ALONSO
MARVEL

SIR CHARLES WHEATSTONE
BBC EARTH

3D LIVE ACTION FEATURE
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
DISNEY/LUCASFILM

3D ANIMATED FEATURE
INSIDE OUT
PIXAR

STEREOGRAPHY LIVE ACTION
THE MARTIAN
20TH CENTURY FOX

STEREOGRAPHY ANIMATED
INSIDE OUT
PIXAR

3D SHORT ANIMATED
LAVA
PIXAR

3D SHORT LIVE ACTION
HARD RESET
BUK FILMS

3D DOCUMENTARY
CONQUEST OF THE SKIES
COLOSSUS PRODUCTIONS

UHD
GREAT BARRIER REEF
ATLANTIC PRODUCTIONS

BEST USE OF NATIVE 3D
THE MARTIAN
20TH CENTURY FOX

HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE
EMMA
PANNON ENTERTAINMENT

BEST USE OF 2D TO 3D CONVERSION
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
DISNEY/LUCASFILM

3D SCENE OF THE YEAR
THE WALK
(SCENE: TIGHT ROPE WALK BETWEEN WTC TWIN TOWERS)
SONY/LEGEND 3D

VR
THE WALK: VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE
SONY/CREATE DESIGN LA

3D ADVERTISEMENT
SCHVABE
STEREOTEC

3D FEATURE JURY PRIZE
40 BELOW AND FALLING
AVATAR MEDIA
CANADA

3D SHORT ANIMATED JURY PRIZE
CODA
NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA
CANADA

3D FEATURE JURY PRIZE
MONSTER HUNT
EDKO FILMS LTD
CHINA

3D ANIMATED FEATURE JURY PRIZE
GAMBA
SHIROGUMI
JAPAN

On behalf of our director Dylan Pearce, producer Andy Scholotiuk and everyone else involved with 40 BELOW AND FALLING, I'd like to thank everyone involved with the Advanced Imaging Society for the honor, and the continuing passion for our industry. It was a tremendous year again for 3D highlighted with STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS dominating the box office and setting records and the top 4 movies of the year being in 3D.

2016 looks to be another amazing year!!

More Trade Coverage: Variety | THR

World's First 4D Film Festival Kicks Off This Weekend

3D FILM FESTIVAL AND LEADING TECHNOLOGY PURVEYORS TO DEBUT TWO NEW GROUNDBREAKING EVENTS AT 7th ANNUAL PROGRAM INCLUDING WORLD’S FIRST 4D FILM FESTIVAL AND NEW VR FEST LINEUP

HOSTED BY:
Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE and The Hotel Figueroa
DECEMBER 6TH, 2014

3DFF, the worlds first and largest all digital 3D Film Festival presented by 3opolis and RealD will hold its 7th annual event on Saturday, December 6th, 2014 at Regal Cinemas L.A LIVE and The Hotel Figueroa in Downtown Los Angeles between the hours of 10am to 2am. The newly revamped and more immersive festival will feature the advent of two new cutting edge technology programs including a first-of-its-kind 4D Film Festival line up including Dreamworks Animation S.K.G’s 20th Century Fox release of “Penguins of Madagascar in 4D” and Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 in 4D”. Both films will be screened in Regal Cinemas new 4DX enabled movie theater, the first in the United States to feature 4D technology pioneered by CJ 4D Plex.

In addition to its 3D and 4D screenings, parties and panels, 3DFF will also launch a new Virtual Reality Festival initiative that will feature a variety of VR technology displays and content demonstrations provided by leading purveyors. 3DFF Pioneer Award winners Havas Worldwide and Dos Equis will showcase their award winning “Dos Equis Masquerade”, a revolutionary new VR Ad campaign for the Oculus Rift featuring The Most Interesting Man in the World, who stars in this first-ever live action 3D cinematic virtual reality film directed by Jordan Fish and Patrick Sherman in partnership with Montreal based filmmakers Felix & Paul. Note: This exhibit will also be shown at the official 3DFF Costume Masquerade Ball and After Party.

Additional award winning VR displays will be provided including: “11:57” (the first interactive short horror film for VR) presented by Sid Lee with VR technology by Wemersive. This groundbreaking short film will be presented in 3DFF’s very first VR Fright Room, which will demonstrate a fully immersive VR experience for a limited amount of attendees presented by ImmersiON-VRelia on their smartphone powered VR HMD “the GO”. Also, “Collider” presented by Edward Lee (an interactive audiovisual VR experience with motion controls), WemoLab (VR content and software creators); Otherworld Interactive (A VR Content Studio that will be showing off their Mobile and Oculus Experiences); “Freevi” featuring the Flight Deck 3D Android Tablet; Specular Theory (VR content creators) plus other great exhibits.

This special edition one-day 3D Film Festival will open on Saturday December 6th at 10:00am with three back-to-back 4D feature film screenings presented in 4DX followed by a panel discussion entitled “The Evolution of Cinema Panel featuring 3D, 4D and Virtual Reality”, which will take place from 5:00pm to 6:30pm featuring top speakers from the 3D, 4D and Virtual Reality Industries. Moderated by 3DFF Founder Christopher Crescitelli and Head of Post Production Jonathan Shaw this expansive panel will include 3DFF Pioneer Award Winners: Jim Hord (Executive Creative Director for Havas Worldwide/Dos Equis Masquerade); Blair Erickson (Jamwix Founder/ Director of Banshee Chapter 1st VR Feature Film); Theodore Kim (CJ 4D Plex/4DX); Catherine Yi (CJ 4D Plex/4DX ); (Aaron Latham-James (Tech Producer, Stereographer/Guns and Roses Appetite for Democracy 3D); Eric Deren (Creative Director/3DM Music Festival); Ethan Schur (ImmersiON-VRelia) and Stuart Warren Hill (3D Content Creator/Inventor of Holo-gauze).

Also at 5:00pm in theater number five the 3ology Shorts program will be serving up a selection of the best 3D short films, music videos, and experimental content from around the world all presented in RealD 3D. 3DFF is proud to host the big screen debut of NASA’s two amazing 3D short films entitled “International Space Station Tour” and “Astronauts Grow a Water Bubble in Space”. Other world premieres include: from Italy, “Vice Versa 3D”, a 3D short documentary presented by 3DFF alumni Francesco Rotunno and Alessandra Vinotto also “The Whitewashing of 5 Points” directed by Ben Schwartz of Queens, NY; “Carta de la Muerte a Frida” directed by Ana Leticia Reyes & Diego Sandoval of Mexico; “Situation Vacant” directed by Andrew Murchie from the U.K.; “Holotronica” directed by Stuart Warren Hill from the U.K.; “Sunday Morning Drive” directed by Ole Schell of USA; “The Silver Ghosts” directed by 3DFF alumni Caroline Orme from the U.K.; “Airground” directed by Sylvia Nicolaides from Cyprus); “Lost in Reverei” directed by Tom Gifford from USA; “Love Lift Me” directed by Hanspeter Aliesh of Switzerland. “The Art of Diving” directed by Helmut GoerZitz of Germany; among other amazing short films.

Later in the evening at 8:00pm, the festival will world premiere its official Best 3D Documentary Award Winner entitled “Cosplay Dreams 3D” directed by Gulliver Parascandolo. The highly anticipated part live action/part CGI film is the first to tell the story behind the magical world of Cosplay. "As filmmakers, we were immediately captivated by the idea of Cosplay even through we had no idea how popular it was when we started", commented the film's Director Gulliver Parascandolo, "We decided to shoot this film in 3D from the project's inception because the colors, craftsmanship, and art form really immerses you into the fun of Cosplay. Each Cosplayer featured in the film is like a living walking sculpture. Many people are empowered to be, finally, who they WANT to be...though this hobby. That's a very powerful and positive thing. There was no better medium than 3D to bring this world-wide phenomenon to life.”

At 10:00pm 3DFF After Dark will world premiere “Hackin’ Jack vs. The Chainsaw Chick”. This comedic horror film by veteran horror film director Norm de Plume is sure to entertain in Splatter Rama 3D and Thunder Rama Sound. Must be 18 years old to enter.

Directly following a full day of screenings, panels and technology displays, the festival will debut its first all-ages “Cosplay Dreams 3D Costume Masquerade Ball and After Party” which will take place from 9:30pm to 2:00am inside the Hotel Figueroa located across the street from Regal Cinemas. The premiere screening and after party for Cosplay Dreams 3D will be attended by cosplay superstars including YouTube sensation Traci Hines who will appear along with veteran actress Tracy Reiner (League of Their Own/ Apollo 13) who will open the show as Celebrity Host for the evening. Additionally, hundreds of Cosplayers from the Southern California Comic Con Community will be on display at the event in full costume regalia.

Event Information:
The 7th Annual 3D Film Festival will take place on Saturday, December 6th, 2014 at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live and the Hotel Figueroa from 10am to 2am. Please note that all 4D screenings will take place in theater number 6. All 3D screenings will take place in theater 5. All Virtual Reality Lounge demos will be on display in Gala A and B Event Rooms just down the hall from theater 5, with additional activations located on the Mezzanine Level of the theater. The Costume Masquerade Ball and After Party will be located at the Hotel Fig located a short walk down Olympic at the corner of Figueroa.

Tickets and Information:
For tickets please visit http://www.partyearth.com/3dff and for a complete program of events please visit http://www.3DFF.org

Seating:
All seats are filled by 3DFF Badge Holders on a first come first serve basis. If you are a badge holder and wish to RSVP in advance for a particular movie on the day of the event, you can do so by visiting the check in table located in the main lobby of the theater.

Event Location #1:
Regal Cinemas L.A. Live: 1000 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90015. Festival Hours of Operation are from 10:00am to 12:00am at this location.


Event Location #2:
The Hotel Figueroa: 939 S. Figueroa Street #930, Los Angeles CA 90015. Festival After Party Hours of Operation are from 9:30pm to 2:00am at this location.

Parking:
Regal Cinemas will validate 4 hours for $6.00 in any L.A. LIVE Parking Structure. Please bring your parking ticket with you to the theater for validation stamp. Additional parking located just outside L.A. LIVE. Save time and money by taking the Metro and only walk a few short blocks to L.A. LIVE.

Congratulations Chris on the continued success of the festivals! Hope you all can make it.

3D Museum In The Works For Los Angeles!

An exciting new 3D museum is in the works for Los Angeles and I'm thrilled to announce the fundraising campaign for the initiative. Check out the link to the project at the bottom of the post and consider supporting the cause. A very worthwhile endeavor!

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 - Award winning 3-D filmmaker Eric Kurland has announced the launch of a new non-profit arts organization, 3-D SPACE: The Center For Stereoscopic Photography, Art, Cinema, and Education. 3-D SPACE will operate a museum, gallery, theater, library and classroom dedicated to both the preservation of the history of stereoscopic imaging, and the advancement of current and future 3-D arts and sciences.

“Thanks to recent advances in digital technologies, there is a renewed enthusiasm for 3-D content. From the record-breaking box office returns of 3-D movies such as TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY to the new public interest in virtual reality due to the upcoming Oculus Rift device, 3-D seems to be back in the spotlight,” says 3-D SPACE founder Eric Kurland. “But most people aren't aware that stereoscopic imaging has a very rich history that dates back to the 19th century. We want to create a center to celebrate the work of talented artists, photographers and filmmakers who have used the medium of 3-D as their creative tool, and to educate the public on the art and science of stereography, from it's analog beginnings in the 1830s to the immersive digital realms of the future.”

Kurland has over ten years experience in connecting the public to the 3-D community. “My work as President of the LA 3-D Club, the most active organization in the country for 3-D enthusiasts, as well as my professional stereoscopic credits (including 3-D Director for the Grammy nominated OK Go music video ALL IS NOT LOST, and Lead Stereographer for the Oscar nominated animated short MAGGIE SIMPSON IN THE LONGEST DAYCARE) puts me in a position to be able to bring all aspects of the 3-D spectrum together, from the fans, to the independent artists, to professionals working in the entertainment industry. I have assembled an expert advisory group that includes 3-D author, photographer and legendary guitarist for the rock band Queen, Dr. Brian May, Actor/Director Thomas Jane, and movie archivist and historian Bob Burns, among others.”

“Just as successful institutions such as the Paley Center for Media or the Cartoon Art Museum are respectively focused on television and radio, and comics and animation as areas of historical discussion and study, 3-D SPACE recognizes stereoscopy as an important part of our cultural heritage. Sadly, many of the photos, motion pictures and technical artifacts from the birth and development of 3-D are deteriorating and need to be preserved...and that takes skill, dedication and money.”

3-D SPACE has begun an internet-based fundraising campaign at www.3-DSPACE.org to support the initial preservation of the more rare and fragile materials in its growing collection and to secure a building to house the museum and educational center. 3-D SPACE plans to open to the public in 2015.

I wish the project and Eric the best of luck in this exciting effort!

6TH Annual 3D Film Festival Opens With Short Film Competition, Closes With LA Premiere Of Argento’s DRACULA 3D

Los Angeles, CA –– 3DFF, the world’s largest all digital 3D Film Festival, celebrates its sixth anniversary inside Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14, with additional activities taking place at the JW Marriott, Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. The three-day festival, presented by 3opolis, and sponsored by RealD, DLP and NVIDIA, opens Thursday, September 19th with “3ology: The Art and Science of the 3rd Dimension”, a first-of-its-kind Opening Night 3D Shorts and Sneak Preview Program which will start at 7pm inside Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14’s luxurious 800-seat Premiere House Theater. The exciting new program will feature 15 short films from around the globe with a preview trailer of “Gravity” (from Warner Bros. Pictures) and an extended clip from “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” (presented by Sony Pictures Imageworks with introduction by stereographer Von Williams). The 3opolis 3D Experience, a free and open to the public event, will take place at the “Mixing Room” inside JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE from 9pm to 1am on both Thursday and Friday night during the festival featuring L.A. artist J.B. Ghuman Jr. (Director/Spork) and DJ Orion.

“This year’s program was designed to embrace the dreams and aspirations of the international 3D community and to honor the independent creative spirit of these amazing artists, who have proven time and time again that they are the beating hearts on the forefront of the Hollywood trenches, each one of them making their way down the road less traveled in pursuit of a dream to become the next generation of technologically advanced filmmaker,” stated 3DFF’s program founder, Christopher Crescitelli.

During the multi-day event, 3DFF will honor film legend Dario Argento, with its Digital Stars of Hollywood Lifetime Achievement Award presented by DLP Texas Instruments. Argento’s latest film, “Dracula 3D,” will make its Los Angeles debut as 3DFF’s Closing Night Film, which will be presented by IFC Midnight, on Saturday, September 21st at 8pm, a few weeks before the film begins a one month run at the Downtown Independent Theater starting on October 4th. “IFC Midnight is excited to present Dario Argento’s first 3D film at the 3D Film Festival. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect venue to Premiere Argento’s depth-defying, eye-popping, fang filled vision,” stated Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment.

As part of its 3D Week promotion held in cooperation with World 3-D Film Expo III and the International 3D and Advanced Imaging Society, 3DFF will host a series of free 3D Academy panels, which will take place inside Regal Cinemas theater number six on Saturday, September 21st. At 3pm, Neo3Do, an autostereo 3D tablet PC company, will present an informative panel entitled “Neo3Do Tablet PC: A 3D Filmmakers Guide to Autostereo Handheld Devices.” Speakers include Neo3Do’s Co-Founders Nick Spriggs and David Briggs, who will share the 3D Academy Stage with Tom Gifford (1tompo1 Youtube Star), Jeff Olm (Colorist/Turbo) and Christopher Crescitelli (Experience Montruex).

At 5pm, also in theater number six, Legend3D, an innovative stereoscopic and visual effects company committed to advancing the 3D medium globally, will present its “2D to 3D Conversion: Animation Challenges” panel, which will be moderated by Legend3D founder, CCO and CTO, Barry Sandrew, Ph.D. and will feature panelists Phil 'Captain 3D' McNally (Stereographer/Shrek 1,2 and 3), Rob Engle (Stereographer/ The Smurfs), Michelle Mazzano (Line Producer/The Little Mermaid) and Jill Hunt (Stereographer/The Little Mermaid).

“Post conversion of animation poses special, unique challenges to the stereographer and conversion vendor. We hope to show how these challenges have been overcome and how new technology specifically targeted toward the conversion of animation is now producing exceptionally high quality 3D content from the top conversion stereographers in the industry,” stated Dr. Sandrew.

3D Film Festival has again joined forces with the Boys and Girls Club of America to present a free screening program for its members and their families. The program will feature several of 2013’s most beloved 3D movies released by Warner Bros. Pictures including: “Pacific Rim” directed by Guillermo del Toro (Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim); and “The Great Gatsby” directed by Baz Luhrmann. The Kids and Family program also welcomes Sony Pictures Imageworks, who will present a special encore screening of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller featuring a sneak preview of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn.

3D game enthusiasts will want to be sure to stop by the 3D Lounge which will be located on the second floor Mezzanine Level of Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 from the hours of 6pm to 10pm on Thursday and Friday nights, with extended hours on Saturday from 10am to 10pm.

The complete slate of all fifty 3DFF films will be published in the coming days.

Additional Sponsors and Content Partners include Simple DCP. Neo3Do, Legend3D, Warner Brothers, IFC, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Dreamworks Animation, AEG, Network Live, Regal Cinemas, Marketsaw.com, Dream Factory 3D, 3DContentHub.com, MTBS3D.com, Insight Media, Out in 3D, Gen Audio, LA Metro, INGRI:DAHL , 3D Academy of Stereoscopic Arts & Sciences, International 3D Society & Advanced Imaging Society, World 3D Film Expo III and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Festival Hours of Operation:
Thursday, September 19th 6:00pm to 1:00am
Friday, September 20st 6pm to 2:30am
Saturday, September 21st 10:00am to 10:00pm

L.A. LIVE discounted parking rate of $5 for 4 hours with Regal Validation. Best parking for 3DFF attendees is located in the West Garage. Save time and money plus get special 3DFF discounts when you take the LA METRO transit system. Bring your L.A. Metro Card to the 3DFF Box Office to learn more.

Ticket prices range from $12.50 to $25 and can be purchased in advance online at www.3DFF.org. For additional information please visit us online at www.3DFF.org or contact a representative at the number provided below.

For Festival Sponsorship, Media Contact and Partnership Opportunities
Christopher Crescitelli | Festival Director, 3D Film Festival
T: 415-871-1707 E: chris@dreamfactory3d.com

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Sneak Previews Hit February 6!

Well only in select cities and only in Los Angeles and New York in the US. Sony has decided to reveal some clips from THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN on February 6 to whet the appetites of the comic characters rabid fans - myself included. However, I don't live anywhere near these locations so I'm out of luck.

You can see where the previews will be held and hopefully obtain tickets right here: TheUntoldStoryBegins.com.

The only other material from the movie to be publicly shown was at Comic-Con last year.

Here's the official storyline:
One of the world’s most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

So good luck getting tickets if you live in one of those few selected cities! Be sure to pass on your thoughts...

Sources: AICN | Collider

Marvel's THE AVENGERS To Shoot In LA And Relativity Media's SNOW WHITE To Shoot In Montreal

Just some shooting location updates for you: Marvel is apparently changing their plans to shoot THE AVENGERS in New York City (via Bleeding Cool) and will move the lion's share of the production to Los Angeles.

That's it. Move along. Nothing more to see here. Just don't mess this thing up guys! I am sooo invested in seeing a quality product with this ensemble movie.

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Speaking of production location news, Relativity Media's SNOW WHITE will be shot in Montreal at Mel's Studios where they will be building a 100,000 square foot village just for the movie.

Shooting for director Tarsem Singh (IMMORTALS) will take place from April to June, 2011 and it seems that the production will faithfully follow the darker Brother's Grimm fairy tale rather than other lighter versions. Release window is in 2012.

More details on these stereoscopic 3D productions when I get them!