Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Footage to be Shown In 3D

When I was told that there was unseen footage of the Queen’s coronation in 3D I didn’t really believe it at first. – David Glover, Channel 4 Specialist Factual Commissioning Editor

A great find for Channel 4 – unseen footage of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation from 1953 in 3D. I suppose it goes to show how long a desire for 3D television has been present in the broadcast arena.

Word is that Channel 4’s “3D Week” will feature the coronation footage as well as other programs including Derren Brown’s 3D Magic Spectacular along with greatest 3D moments from the history of 3D television film and pop video.

You’ll need 3d glasses for this week so where can you get them?

Sainsbury’s.

Channel 4 to beat Sky to 3D with it’s own 3D TV Week

Channel 4 has announced it will host a “3D Week” sometime this Autumn, beating SKY’s 2010 launch of their 3D TV Channel.

The move is little more than a gimmick, however, since Channel 4 plans to use a very simple implementation of 3D: ColorCode Technology. This basically enables Channel 4 to broadcast a vaguely altered picture which when viewed through the amber and blue filters on the cardboard glasses will give a vague 3D effect.

Channel 4 plans to air “The Queen in 3D” and Derren Brown’s “3D Magic Spectacular” during the 3D fest.

While viewers will still need some kind of glasses for SKY’s offering they will also need a particular type of television to support the new technology. Keep your eyes open for 3D ready television’s to start popping up everywhere.

Avatar Day - 3D IMAX 15 Minute Teaser Trailer

James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ has been described by directors as "the future." It’s said to be an equivalent leap in experience to the first movie with sound or the first in technicolour. Whether viewers will agree remains to be seen but the team are certainly performing well in generating hype around the feature.

These outlandish claims will be put to the test in this week’s 15 minute IMAX preview teaser of the new Avatar movie.

"Neurologists at the screening wondered if the movie had activated parts of the brain that were previously untouched by conventional, two-dimensional films."

Many believe the attraction for studios to the realm of the 3D lies cynically in the belief that 3D movies are more difficult to copy and thus the technology provides a glimmer of hope for an industry ravaged by digital piracy.

The new camera technology James Cameron invented to shoot the movie is known as "fusion camera system 3-d technology" combining hi definition camera tech with special, motion capture techniques that can pick up high levels of detail including almost all subtle features of an actors face.

Polarised 3d glasses will still be required to watch the movie, however the old school 2-colour specs are now safely considered a thing of the past.

"…it felt as if you were not just watching something but immersed within it. You felt as if it surrounded you."

The studio has reportedly invested $200,000,000 into the project, so there is surely determination to say anything to ensure the film is successful at the box office, as with no proven home 3d television market yet visible DVD sales cannot be relied on to bolster revenue.

Be prepared for the hype machine to snap into high gear in the run up to the release date this christmas.