Questionnaire

I have created an online questionnaire about 3D films for people to carry out, which I will share on social media and to other college students to receive responses from a variety of age ranges. This will allow me to receive many views on 3D films to help with my SSRP.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MJC5XXY

3D cinema screen without the need for glasses

This Guardian article tells us that researchers have now developed technology that allows audiences to watch 3D films without the need to wear any kind of glasses. Unlike other glasses free devices coming available, limited to one person using them at a time, this screen would allow many people to be viewing 3D at once. A YouTube video has been released to explain the technology it uses:

This breakthrough could eradicate the problem many people have with 3D, and create a more fluid and clear viewing experience. Many people claim to have experienced headaches and other problems through the use of 3D glasses. Dr. Roger Phelps, a VSP Vision Care doctor in Ojai, California claimed many people experience problems with these various types of glasses. "I really enjoyed watching Avatar in 3D, but some of my patients did express fatigue or had a headache after seeing it," he said. "Some even said they felt nauseous during the movie." This article highlights the impact of 3D entertainment on your eyes, also explaining how "Children are using devices much, much earlier in life" nowadays. "The younger the child, the less mature their visual system and the less capable they are to handle visual stress in general." This report highlights the dangers of excessive exposure to digital imagery for children, which is often only worsened by 3D technology as it has potential to put an additional strain on spectators eyes. Could this 'Cinema 3D' glasses free technology be the answer to some of these problems?

The health issue of children watching 3D films poses a question about why 3D children's films are so successful at the box office, and whether enough precautions are taken to keep children's eyes as healthy as possible.

Avatar key sequences initial analysis

Key scene 1:

Jake’s first outing outside base

Spectators are introduced into the outside world parallel to him, with the journey over showing Pandora’s landscape and creatures, which immerses spectators in a 3D flight. When the avatar group lands, plants, trees, insects and monkey like creatures (Prolemuris) go way back and in front of the screen to emphasise depth unseen in other films, gives an idea of what it’s like to really be there. 3D emphasises how much danger they’re in and shows how close they are to Jake as he points his gun which is especially threatening due to way it comes out of screen. 

The clear introduction to this setting through 3D makes us worry more as we see Jake wander off and explore, as we have seen the scale of some of these creatures in 3D. The monsters which then follow are incredibly intimidating as shown through low angles which are aided by the 3D depth to show how large and deadly they are. The chase is more intense thanks to 3D which immerses us in the chase along with tracking shots to make it out as if we are alongside Jake.

Key scene 2:

Jake’s first flight

After Jake finds his own Mountain Banshee, a type of flying creature on Pandora, Neytiri joins him for a flight. The 3D used adds depth to the flight which emphasises the emotions he is feeling, showing both nerves and excitement as he soars high above the ground as shown by the depth in 3D with extreme high angle tracking shots used. These shots include fast movements through the air to generate a feeling of flight for spectators. This immersion is intensified through the use of 3D, as we see their excitement extra close up, with their faces coming out of the screen to show every detail of their expressions.

This close up with another dimension also allows spectators to begin understanding the feelings Jake and Neytiri have for each other, as we can see clearly the way they look into each others eyes in a loving way whilst flying. In this case, this technology makes it possible to grasp a greater understanding of the characters and their surroundings.

Key scene 3:

Tree destruction

When the humans are invading the N’avi’s main habitat of a massive tree, 3D helps to position spectators to empathise with them. This surprising narrative twist of spectators being against the human race is heightened through 3D as we see destruction and debris close up, making us feel like we are in this position of being fired at, often shown at low angles of the human aircrafts making the missiles feel as though they're aimed at us. We also feel a greater intimidation in shots such as the close up of Miles as he gives these horrendous orders.

POV shots are used within these shots with high frequency cutting to make us feel part of this devastation and chaos the humans have inflicted on the N’avi. 3D then enriches the scale of the giant tree as it collapses slowly, with ELS’s of human aircraft shown next to it in comparison, with the 3D effect greatly emphasising the level of cruelty as the humans destroy this essential part of the N’avi’s massive home.

My context

For my SSRP, my context is technology. This was obvious to me as I will be exploring the way that 3D technologies have influenced the film industry in recent years. This is a technology which has changed production, distribution and exhibition for both producers and spectators.

Mark Kermode's hatrid for 3D

Mark Kermode is an English film critic, presenter, writer, and musician with many strong views about all aspects of film. One of his many hates within the film industry is 3D, as he claims "it is, was and always will be the past".

Back when 3D technology was just being reintroduced into the media industry, Kermode immediately predicted it would be a flop, due to it being a "gimmick" and just another way of selling expensive TV's in his view. Mark Kermode believes that 3D doesn't add anything worthwhile to the narrative of a film, and instead can ruin the whole experience. Back when the film industry was taking to the idea of 3D, Kermode wrote this article for the Guardian which calls 3D a "con".



One of Kermode's main points in the article is that 3D is just a money making technique, and not to benefit the audience, but instead the conglomerates producing these blockbuster films. Whilst many films were being shot in 3D just 5 years ago, this year only two films have used actual 3D cameras for their production. The remaining dozens of 3D films still being released have opted for the cheap option of editing the film to have another dimension within post production.