3D-News Posted: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 (22:13 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Phil Roman Entertainment Inc. (PRE) has entered into a three-year, non-exclusive strategic alliance with the C-3D Television Network and the 3D.COM Virtual Reality Portal(TM) Web site, divisions of Chequemate International (d/b/a/C-3D Digital)(AMEX:DDD). Phil Roman (left) cements the agreement with Fernando Gomez, C-3D's vice president, Affiliate Relations. The agreement, effective immediately, follows on the heels of famed animation producer/executive Phil Roman, PRE president, being named last week to C-3D's advisory board. The alliance calls for both companies jointly to seek, develop, produce, promote, market and distribute animation and live-action programming for the C-3D Television Network and the 3D.COM Virtual Reality Portal (www.3d.com) Web site. PRE has agreed to use its best efforts from among its vast entertainment industry contacts to bring in high-caliber talents and properties for the development of quality programming that the two companies will produce together. Decisions to green light or go forth on projects will be by mutual consent. "All of us at Phil Roman Entertainment are excited about our new association with the young and energetic management team at C-3D," said Roman. "It is important for an independent producer to be aligned with a broadcaster such as C-3D, who is capable of giving us a home for our shows. We see this alliance as a new way of creating content that is unique and distinctive, a new way of using the latest technology to push the limits of animation and live action. C-3D's ability to deliver three-dimensional images brings an entirely new set of possibilities to the creative process. And animation especially lends itself beautifully to this 3D stereoscopic technology. We are dedicated to creating distinctive and fun animation and live-action programming that families can enjoy together." "Our new association with Phil Roman Entertainment and the presence of the highly respected and talented Phil Roman on our advisory board is yet another stride in delivering the most unique and entertaining television and Internet programming to millions of families around the world," said J. Michael Heil, chairman and CEO of C-3D Digital. "The real value in C-3D comes from our ability to blend cutting-edge technology with content that is unavailable anywhere else. Phil Roman's expertise will enable us to deliver more of the creative programming that will increase the value of C-3D to our cable affiliates and our television and online viewers." Roman, a six-time Emmy winner, formed PRE last year, after departing Film Roman, a company he founded 14 years earlier. He began his career in 1955 at the Walt Disney Studios. Afterwards, he worked for Warner Bros. cartoons, and this was followed by stints with a string of other major animation companies including MGM Animation, UPA Film, Bill Melendez' production company, and Ralph Bakshi's company. He has served as executive producer of "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill," and the Garfield series and specials, and has directed numerous Charlie Brown features and TV specials. Roman also produced and directed the full-length animation feature, "Tom and Jerry: The Movie," for Miramax and Turner. Phil Roman Entertainment has just completed work on a Warner Home Video Christmas video, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." In addition, the Roman company has recently delivered "Christmas in Gaudinia" and is working on the animated segments of "Cyber Quest," a live action/animation theatrical feature, and "Soap On The Range," a new prime time 26-episode animation series. Three classic RKO films, "Sinbad the Sailor," "Blackbeard the Pirate" and "The Fourth Musketeer," as well as three other films to be selected from RKO's vast library, will be jointly developed and produced by PRE and RKO as feature-length animated films. C-3D Television utilizes cutting-edge technology to deliver three-dimensional images. Viewing these three-dimensional images requires a synchronous driver, such as the C-3D Channel Player, and a pair of LCD glasses. C-3D Digital is a leading innovator in media content creation and technology for 3D imagery and virtual reality entertainment for television and the Internet. The company operates several synergistic divisions including the C3D Television Network, the world's first and only broadcast network to offer 24-hour, seven-day-a-week stereoscopic 3D programming; 3D.COM, its Internet subsidiary and home to the virtual reality/3D portal/e-commerce community center on the Web; Strata Software, a leading producer of 3D graphic design software; and the Hotel Movie Network, a private broadcast network focused on the hospitality industry. The company's Strata and Internet division combined to form the world's first 3D virtual reality portal. The 3D.COM Virtual Reality Portal(TM) features streaming video over the Internet, real-time online gaming and e-commerce solutions in stereoscopic 3D. For more information, visit http://www.3d.com.

	IMAGICA Corp./Tokyo Offers Subsidiary, IMAGICA USA INC., for Sale
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 (21:58 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
IMAGICA Corporation/Tokyo announced on September 11th that it is offering for sale its wholly-owned subsidiary, IMAGICA USA INC., Los Angeles. IMAGICA USA INC. is a pioneering visual effects company and a prominent leader in serving the 70mm large format film industry with digital and optical services. Since its 1993 founding, IMAGICA USA INC. operations have been directed by Christopher Reyna, as company president. "The decision to sell IMAGICA USA INC. is one based on geography and corporate policy," said Fumio Nagase, president and CEO of IMAGICA Corp./Tokyo. "We have put the company on the market because of a fundamental corporate decision to concentrate on our core businesses in Japan and Asia." Continued Nagase, "From the day it first opened for business seven years ago in Los Angeles, IMAGICA USA INC. has been an important and valued member of the IMAGICA family. This is largely due to the tireless dedication of IMAGICA USA INC. president Christopher Reyna, his intimacy with the large format film community, his thorough understanding of the medium and his keen business sense. Reyna's enterprising spirit, sense of responsibility and uncompromising devotion to quality and customer service have done honor to the IMAGICA name and the confidence we entrusted in him." IMAGICA USA INC. president Christopher Reyna stated, "We are greatly indebted to IMAGICA Corp./Tokyo for the opportunity created seven years ago, to form this financially successful and highly respected company. By providing access to the best technology, equipment and services, IMAGICA USA INC. has been instrumental in enabling large format filmmakers to produce better films, and to get wider distribution of those films, during a key growth period for the industry. We view the prospect of new ownership as a fertile, new opportunity that will allow the company to further increase customer services, to pursue aggressive growth in several new markets and to further promote new technological advances for the large format filmmaking community." IMAGICA Corp./Tokyo has retained the Los Angeles-based investment banking firm, R.E. Foy & Company, Inc., to handle the divestiture. Background Information The term "large format" refers to a film exhibition medium using a giant screen and a 70mm film print, in 2D or stereoscopic 3D. Flat screens in large format theaters range from about 60 feet x 80 feet to 90 feet x 120 feet. Hemispherical dome screens can have diameters between 70 feet and 90 feet. Individual 70mm formats are defined by the number of perforations ("perfs") per frame: five, eight, ten or fifteen -- commonly termed as 5/70, 8/70, 10/70 and 15/70. Most large format theaters are either 8/70 or 15/70. Films may be crossprinted from one format to another. Considered to be the premiere visual effects house for giant screen 65/70mm cinema, IMAGICA USA INC. provides optical effects as well as fully integrated digital processing -- including digital scanning, film recording, image manipulation and digital effects. IMAGICA USA INC. possesses the highly rated, proprietary "Bigfoot" digital 65mm film scanner. The company is also the primary source for cross- platforming of large format films, offering format conversions between 15/70, 8/70, 10/70 and 5/70. "Our digital image processing has gone beyond '911' repairs to creation of quality greenscreen composites and more complex composites and visual effects," says IMAGICA USA INC. president Christopher Reyna. "The results are there to see in the latest giant-screen film releases, such as 'Solarmax,' 'Loch Lomond: Legend of the Loch,' 'Dolphins,' 'Adventures in Wild California' and 'Everest.' As large format cinema continues to gain acceptance as a mainstream medium, the bar is being raised on production values. We supply the tools and services essential to creating, improving and distributing our industry's core product: the films." The emergence of stereoscopic 3D has helped large format film move quickly into new commercial markets and differentiate it from mainstream cinema. IMAGICA USA INC. provided services on four recent 3D giant screen releases: "Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Box"; "Cirque du Soleil(TM)" "Journey of Man"; "Ultimate Gs: Zac's Flying Dream" and "3D Mania: Encounter in the Third Dimension." Filmmakers make use of the company's 65/70mm digital and optical services to perfect, correct and manipulate their 3D shots. IMAGICA USA INC. was instrumental in developing Dynamic Digital Depth's (DDD) innovative, patented DeepSee technology, to convert 65mm shots from 2D to 3D stereo. IMAGICA USA INC. provides the DDD conversion process on an exclusive basis to the large format industry. For 26 years, IMAGICA USA INC. president Christopher Reyna has promoted the advancement of large format cinema. Specializing in production, post production and theater and projection design, he has fostered high standards of quality and innovation through the use of appropriate technology, creative experimentation, and the application of 70mm film to urban attractions. He is a founding member and charter president of the Large Format Cinema Association, formed in 1996. In 1998, the Telluride Film Festival honored him with the Silver Medallion, its highest award. The Tokyo-based parent company of IMAGICA USA INC., IMAGICA Corporation is the largest, oldest and most respected advanced film laboratory service facility in Japan. From the early 1980s to the present, IMAGICA Corp./Tokyo pioneered large format post-production services in addition to operating in 16/35mm film, video, and HDTV formats. IMAGICA Corp./Tokyo has been a constant provider of new innovations in the large format film and the digital industry. In 1993, IMAGICA Corp./Tokyo founded IMAGICA USA INC. in Los Angeles to service the specialty film industry in the western hemisphere.

	DDD Appoints New Board Member to Aid 3D Growth in Internet and Television
3D-News Posted: Wednesday, September 6, 2000 (23:35 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Dynamic Digital Depth Inc. (CDNX:DDE) has appointed Geoffrey Roman of Motorola, Inc. to its board of directors to provide strategic guidance in bringing 3D to the internet broadcast market. In addition, the company has promoted Chris Yewdall to president and CEO of DDD, expanding his role to oversee the global operations of the company. He previously headed up DDD in North America. Neil Speakman will remain Chairman, but has stepped down as CEO. As corporate vice president and director, Advanced Technology and chief technology officer of Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector, Communications Enterprise, Roman is responsible for the strategic business and technology direction for the sector, a global leader serving the cable television industry. "Geoff will be a great asset to DDD. He is one of the most highly respected broadband professionals in the world, and he has tremendous technical knowledge and status in the industry," said Yewdall. "His background and expertise will help DDD on its mission to bring 3D to mainstream entertainment." The relationship between DDD and Motorola dates back to June, 1999, when Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector (then General Instrument Corporation) made an investment in DDD and entered into a development agreement aimed at bringing 3D programming to cable television. In January, 2000, Motorola increased its stake in DDD and became its second largest shareholder. "I'm excited to be working with DDD to help transform the visual experience," said Roman. "DDD is an innovator in the 3D space, and I'm looking forward to participating in their growth." Roman fills a Board position vacated by the resignation of Jim Alford. Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1999 were $33.1 billion. For more information, visit Motorola on the Web at www.motorola.com. DDD's patented DeepSee(TM) technologies provide solutions for converting 2D material to stereo 3D, and transmitting 2D compatible 3D(TM) content via the internet, television, CD and DVD. The company is publicly traded on The Canadian Venture Exchange under the symbol CDNX:DDE. More information is available at www.ddd.com.

	Isee3d Announces Results for the First Half of 2000
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, September 5, 2000 (21:54 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Isee3d announced on August 29th its results for the six months ended June 30, 2000. For the period, with all figures in Canadian Dollars, a Net Loss of $3,183,494 or $0.05 per share was recorded compared with a Net Loss of $1,056,182 or $0.03 per share for the six months ended June 30, 1999. During the year 1999 the Company changed its principal business activity from the development, research and marketing of a single lens/single camera stereoscopic system for use in medicine, to the development, research and marketing of the distribution of three dimensional stereoscopic streaming video to be distributed over the Internet and via other local media formats. Isee3d had $2,138,935 (Cdn) in cash at June 30, 2000 as compared to $4,085,160 (Cdn) in cash at the end of June in 1999. During the first half of the year the Company raised a net of $1,188,000 (Cdn) by the issuance of common shares via the conversion of debentures and stock options. During the first half $2,627,176 (Cdn) was used in operations and $607,206 (Cdn) was used for the purchase of capital assets. Chairman Morden C. Lazarus stated, "We are still in the process of trying to generate revenues from our internet transport technology while pursuing technology partnerships for our Virtual Movie Maker project. We look forward to reporting our progress to our Shareholders in the third quarter of this year."

	FREE Anaglpyh Software: Z-Anaglyph (Version 1.3.0)
3D-News Posted: Monday, September 4, 2000 (0:22 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Z-Anaglyph (Version 1.3.0) is now available from Stereoscopy.com's Downloads page. It's a great Freeware program to make color and black & white anaglpyhs. Images can be saved as TIFF or JPG. Requires Windows™ 95, 98, 2000 or NT. Program is in French, but can also be started with english menues. Z-Anaglyph was written by Georges Rosset, Geneva, Switzerland. Go to http://www.stereoscopy.com/downloads for more information.
Comment here! - 1 Comments for this story.

	IS-900 Motion Tracker Serves As Integral Component for 3D Interactive Display
3D-News Posted: Sunday, September 3, 2000 (8:09 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
InterSense Inc., a market leader in precision motion tracking technology that allows people to easily interact with 3D computer- generated environments, has been selected as the key motion tracking technology for Trimension Systems 'V-Desk 6' virtual reality workbench. The V-Desk 6 displays impressive high-resolution images providing engineers, scientists, and researchers the ability to view and manipulate data in 3D. "The combination of InterSense's precision motion tracking technology and Trimension's immersive displays offer users in a variety of markets the ability to improve design, development, research and in some cases, reduce costly prototyping resulting in higher quality products and faster time to market cycles," said Mike Donfrancesco, InterSense's sales director for the Americas. At the recent Siggraph 2000 computer graphics trade show in New Orleans, Trimension unveiled its V-Desk 6 complete with built-in stereo viewing, full motion tracking, and an advanced audio system. Viewed on two perpendicular (L-shaped) screens, users can interact with data through the fully integrated InterSense IS-900 tracking system that provides the ability to pick up and manipulate virtual objects from various angles. Designed as a powerful visualization tool for an individual, the V-Desk 6 can also accommodate small groups working collaboratively. "By partnering with InterSense and other leading component suppliers we have been able to produce a fully integrated 'plug & play' workbench which can be deployed into most office environments," said Natalie White, marketing manager at Trimension Systems. "The outstanding display performance enables users to view their data in incredible stereo 3D, and with the use of InterSense's accurate tracking system, individuals can actually interact, manipulate and change their data all in real-time. This technology is already being adopted by the automotive industry for mechanical and component design and the oil and gas industry for geophysical interpretation."

Stereoscopy.com 3D-News (ISSN: 1612-6823) is published irregularly by Stereoscopy.com, P.O. Box 102634, 70022 Stuttgart, Germany. Editor-in-Chief: Alexander Klein. Worldwide subscriptions to the electronic version of the Stereoscopy.com 3D-News are provided free of charge. A printed version is available at a subscription price of 30.00 US-$ per year, including airmail postage. Material in this publication is copyrighted © by Stereoscopy.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.