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:THE FAR DARK SHORE::

:BLOG::

:5/10::

• Animating going very well. I am having numerous lighting and materials issues, but they don't seem insurmountable at this point.

• I am currently trying to address flickering and ghosting I am getting when I test footage on small DepthQ system. I think it is a compression issue, but I'm not certain. The DepthQ has issues with interlaced stereo files, so I am going to test progressive encoding---not sure if that will work with interlaced footage.

:4/29::

• Began post-processing for video aspect of project.

--Logged footage from Canon XH-G1.
--Used Final Cut Pro, with Easy Setup for HDV 1080i60 via firewire.
(found in FCP under Final Cut Pro>Easy SetUp>HDV--1080i60)
--Log and capture process was similar to an SD log and capture.
--In the absence of HD decks with which to log, I batch captured all of my footage at once to preserve the heads on the XH-G1.

--Since I am using 4:3 instead of 16:9 and 800X600 rather than 1440X1080, I am using a different workflow in After Effects. I am basically utilizing the anchor point in AE to center the homologous images side-by-side in a 1600X600 composition, then matting them individually to 800X600. This is not the ideal procedure--if you can work in the original HD resolution it will save a great deal of post-processing.

--Color correction was simpler than I had expected, very little mid-tone and high-light red/green correction was necessary to match the left and right side fairly well. A matching filter for the right camera would eliminate this extra post-processing step.

--I have noticed a large amount of dust on the mirror that was picked up by a poorly positioned rim light---this was an amateur mistake, but it does point to a need of a easy way to clean the mirror during the shoot (with the appropriate material)

:4/21::

• First shoot with stereoscopic camera rig last night. I had many generous people come out and offer technical and stylistic advice and help. We encountered several technical issues, some of which we solved:
--found "sweet spot" in which one can place the remote to start both cameras nearly simultaneously. It is at a 45 degree angle to the sensor located next to the on-board microphones which are at the top front of the cameras.
--we thought the Blackburst sync generator (which allows both cameras to be in sync) was malfunctioning, but that was due to a lack of understanding as to what exactly the device is doing: it is not syncing timecode, it is syncing within a frame.

• Due to the bulk of the rig, many typical concepts and techniques present in traditional video are difficult to implement with the stereoscopic rig:
--Certain shots (over the shoulder, low shots shooting upward) are difficult because of the weight of the rig (once the rig is tilted more than 45 degrees downward, one needs an extra pair of hands to keep the rig from tipping completely over). The tripod has a minimum height of approximately four feet, so low shots are difficult.
--the overall amount of gear necessary just to accomplish the basics is quite large.

• Monitoring is a major issue at this time. Without any way to monitor in 3D, there is a larger-than-ideal amount of measuring and guessing that must occur. Results cannot be seen until some post-processing has been done and the footage viewed in a 3D projected format.

• The lack of options to zoom greatly limit stylistic choices.

:4/15::

• I am planning my first stereo shoot with the stereoscopic camera rig this Sunday. If everything works out, I will have at least five additional people to help as a crew. I have been rehearsing frequently with Heather and we have been experimenting quite a bit with various fabrics and fans in an attempt to find the right combination for the shoot.
• I have made a lot of progress with the skull model in Maya.
• I have finished the titles--I may need to alter font/color after I am able to view it stereoscopically.

:4/10::

• Met for rehearsal with dancer, completed shot diagrams for shoot. Waiting to hear about reservation system for stereo video rig.
• Completed title sequence...won't render so I need to check with Stephanie and Max about that issue.
• Completed orchid blossom model, not totally satisfied with color or texture, will try to get feedback Monday.
• Meeting for another rehearsal with dancer on Sunday.
• Worked out new presentation system with Alex that will make more sense and maximize exposure of work, and serve to separate them as two different pieces.
• I have 6 confirmed people interested in being on the production crew for the first shoot.
• Experimenting this weekend with making a basic stereo rig out of two Sanyo VPC-HD2s.