Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!sanders
From: sanders@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Steve Anderson)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Showscan
Keywords: Big Picture, 70MM, 2001 : A Space Odyssey
Message-ID: <33335@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 1 Feb 89 14:41:22 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Ohio State Univ Computer & Info Science
Lines: 56


Having just returned from a tour of the Showscan studios in Culver City
California, here is my 2 cents:

The Showscan process, developed by special effects god Douglas Trumbull
(2001:A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters, Blade Runner, Brainstrorm,...)
features 60 different frames/second using 70MM film, compared with the 
ususal 24 different frames (each imaged twice) on 35MM film.

The technicians explained that 60 fps was chosen because they felt it
was a number which would provide them some degree of 'compatibility' with
techniques that do or will exist. (HDTV for example.) They also said that
they could do up to 72 fps, but the difference between 60 and 72 was not 
noticable. Another factor they said contributed to the 60 fps decision was 
it made the modifications to the camera/projector systems 'easier', with 
respect to gear drive changes.

The Showscan process is actually a complete projection environment, with
carefully planned seat placement, a big screen, and awesome sound systems.
They even installed a system in France with seats that moved around on
hydraulics, capable of some incredible g-forces.

I think I remember them saying they had about 20-30 sites installed around
the world, and are of course working on a few more. They had a recently
announced 10-movie deal signed with a major studio to produce featrue
films using Showscan. They are then planning on 'converting' some number
of theaters in major markets which will show those films. They have a chicken-
egg problem; no one wants to be the first to film using Showscan because there
are no theaters to show it, and no theaters want to convert untill there are
some movies. The conversion process wasn't really that difficult, they
exchange some gears in the projector, and add a "little more hardware"
I forget what they said it cost, but I remember thinking it wasn't all
that much given the big business of the movies. (and the $5 tickets :-) )

Speaking of the movies, they don't have that many, but I saw two of them
and they were pretty awesome. The 3D quality was pretty impressive. I
won't address the idiotic issue of viewing movies through stupid plastic
glasses. The crispness and clarity of the images were truly breathtaking.
Besides the usual gratuitous roller coaster, mountain flying, motorcycle, etc.
shots, things like close ups of people were amazing. Many of the scenes
seemed so real you'd swear you were there.

For anybody that wants to get more information from the real source
here is there address:

		Showscan Film Corporation
		3939 Landmark St.
		Culver City, CA 90232-2315
		(213) 558-0150
		(213) 559-7984 (FAX)

-- 
H. Stephen Anderson			|  e-mail:
The Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project |      steve@hobbes.cgrg.ohio-state.edu
1224 Kinnear Rd.			|  phone:
Columbus OH  43212			|         (614) 292-3416