Steve Phillips

"Medium" goes 3-D in November

TV GUIDE reports that NBC will air a 2 hour episode of "Medium" with several 3-D sequences in November.

The article has a picture which shows anaglyph (red/blue) glasses but I have a feeling the actual show will use the Pulfrich Illusion instead, which isn't really 3-D at all, but simply a trick that is accomplished with an ordinary moving camera. I hope not, though, as I'd rather see an attempt at real 3-D content, even in anaglyph format. Also, 99% of the time anyone tries to harness the Pulfrich thing it fails miserably because they don't know how to do it. Anyone remember the hilariously bad attempt at Super Bowl Halftime 3-D or "3rd Rock"? Pathetic.

I guess the character's psychic visions will be the 3-D sequences?

Glasses are to be included in an issue of TV GUIDE.

Jeff_Standley

Has 3-D ever done well in anything it has been put in?
This is a horrible idea and I hope they do not do it.

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Steve Phillips

Of course. There were several excellent examples of stereoscopic cimema in the 1950's period. Those films used the process to enhance and were for the most part expertly photographed, unlike most of the stuff that's come since then.

More recently, POLAR EXPRESS was astonishing in IMAX 3-D, and it made $50 million dollars on just 60+ screens!

It's just a technology, and 3-D photography goes back to the 1850's! Look beyond the schlock and porn and you'll see it has and will continue to be used with excellent results as well as the low budget eye-straining junk. There is quite a wave of new polarized 3-D coming, using both digital projection and IMAX. It seems the projection difficulties that have always plagued good 3-D projection are finally going to be solved. Look beyond the idea of pointing sticks at the camera, even if many producers in the past have not.

In any case, "Medium" is happenning. If the glasses are the red/blue type, the 3-D is real but of course only as effective as that inferior process allows.

It's all a plot to sell issues of TV Guide anyway; and NBC will do anything to boost ratings!

Those looking to experience good 3-D are advised to check out CHICKEN LITTLE in digital polarized 3-D (in 100 select theatres) or the IMAX 3-D re-issue of POLAR EXPRESS.

Jesse Skeen

Will they have the NBC Turkey bug in 3-D too?

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Steve Phillips

Having seen the glasses, we can now confirm that NBC is using the anaglyph red/blue process for the "Medium" episode airing November 21st.

While I'm not a big fan of the anaglyph format, at least it is real 3-D, and the HDTV version should prove interesting.

Glasses will be enclosed in TV Guide, and also available through retail outlets. Any pair of red/blue glasses will do.

mattCR

I think it's the other format.. polarized? Anyway, that thing that they use at Disneyworld and places.. I could stare at that for a while.. that is wild compared to Red/Green 3D attempts. Amazingly watchable.

Roger_R

So there will be a regular version too then for broadcasting abroad?

Steve Phillips

No, it's red/blue anaglyph presentation for "Medium" for sure. (You can't even do polarized format over TV.)

Of course a 2-D version can be prepared and will likely be used for syndication use eventually. (I'm sure the eventual DVD set would offer a 3-D option.)

I'd be very surprised if the 3-D format is dropped for overseas broadcasts, though, as there have been tons of 3-D TV experiments outside the U.S. over the past 20 years. Most likely they'd do a similar glasses promotion in many other countries where the series airs.

Understand the "Medium" footage isn't being *shot* in the red/blue anaglyph format, it will simply be presented that way on NBC. They could take that footage and release it in a higher quality format (such as field sequential) if they wanted to later on.

Kevin M

I still have that 3rd Rock episode taped and I think the Pulfrich technique that they used in the various 3D segments worked fairly well...for a while, but it can give you a headache before too long.

-Kevin M.


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Steve Phillips

Pulfrich isn't a 3-D technique. Nothing is actually shot in 3-D; it's all an illusion based on camera movement. I can't really see how you could get a headache from watching flat moving footage through a dark lens for a few seconds? The Super Bowl Halftime and the 3rd Rock thing is all ordinary flat 2-D footage.

Those stupid fireworks rainbow glasses they handed out to promote the VH-1 80s show though, can drive your eyes crazy in seconds. I hope no one out there actually tried to wear them during the show!

Anaglyph however, can be an issue because of the retital rivarly and the distorted color. But at the very least it is real 3-D!