3D / LARGE FORMAT FILM
(Right) NSC Creative’s Black Rhino from its fulldome fi lm 4DVenture, which was created specially for Our Dynamic Earth’s 4D theatre in the UK
BEN SMITH
creative director, Red Star
“T
he question of whether or not to use fulldome or fl at screen depends on what story you want to tell. Sometimes that
story will be better told in a dome environ- ment, but often the subject matter is better dealt with on a fl at screen in 3D. The main factor holding back any sup-
plier keen on providing content for a dome environment is the use of a dome theatre to test the experience! Without the huge investment of building a dome so you can watch the fi lm, it’s impossible to know what the visitor’s experience will be like. Producing dome content is far more
expensive than content for fl at screens. It’s almost impossible to fi lm live action for a dome environment, so pretty much everything has to be done with CGI anima- tion. It’s a highly specialised business and the end result is only really useable on a dome, whereas content for fl at screens has value in other kinds of media. As a result, there are far more fi lms to license onto fl at screens than domes. Domes tend to be used for narrated, documentary-style pro- ductions, while on fl at screens, action and adventure stories dominate. Domes are here to stay, but whether the
content will break out of the museums/ planetaria niche and expand into general entertainment fi lms has yet to be seen. The economics of dome theatre in terms of the size of the auditorium versus the number of visitors per hour isn’t great, which is where fl at screens and 3D/4D really wins. At the moment, fulldomes and fl at
screens within the 3D sector are largely separate, but we’re going to see some convergence in the future. Domes will have 4D effects and 3D screens will be curved into funny shapes. On the content side, we’re about to see a lot more brands and licensed properties enter the marketplace, which will be very compelling for venues.”
62
RUTH HARVEY business manager, NSC Creative
the process ensures that the images work in that medium. However, when fi lm is converted to 3D in post-, the result can be disappointing and lead to some audience members being put off 3D as a medium because of a lacklustre experience. For operators who are unsure of which
“F
ulldome is one of the last remaining audiovisual experi- ences that can’t be re-created at home. As with fl at screen,
the experience you have can entirely depend on the quality of the content and the motivation for the experience, whether it’s for an educational purpose or purely for entertainment. Putting fl at screen and fulldome on an equal footing with the same content in a format that is appropriate for the screen, fulldome inevitably beats fl at screen hands-down for the immersive nature of the experience. Fulldome has the unique quality of being able to make you feel you’re moving about without the use of rumble seats or any other physical effects. The key question when deciding to cre-
ate a fulldome fi lm is: ‘Will this work in dome?’ It’s essential to make the most of any medium and not just convert it because you can. An audience will often recognise a fi lm that hasn’t been created for fulldome, as conversion images can be too stretched or just too overwhelming. A comparable problem is often remarked on regarding 3D cinema; when fi lms are made using 3D cameras, everything about
option to choose, I’d advise them not to compromise on content. Fulldome is defi nitely the more niche market and an experience like no other, whereas fl at screen is basically a simpler option. If you haven’t built the building yet, go dome and maybe throw in a fl at screen small theatre for good measure. As a space, a dome is an unusual environment that can add something special to an event without much effort. Even without 3D, fulldome is essentially a 3D experience. The image surrounds you – it’s an inescapable view of whatever environment can be imagined. There are a growing number of uber- domes being built with 3D projector capabilities, so 3D is certainly going to be a more integral part of dome experiences in the future. Maybe in the industry of full- dome content 3D will survive, whereas in the numerous offerings for fl at screen it’ll get overtaken by other presentations. Domes have a fi xed place in space cen-
tres and science museums throughout the world and, as such, will be around for years. As to whether they stay popular with mainstream Hollywood productions being shown on them, who knows?”
“Even without 3D, fulldome is a 3D experience. The image surrounds you – it’s an inescapable view of whatever environment can be imagined“
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital AM 2 2011 ©cybertrek 2011
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