my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Digital Cinema Forum   » Can a digital 3D movie be played in 2D? (Page 2)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Can a digital 3D movie be played in 2D? Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-26-2010 12:04 PM                        quote: Mark Gulbrandsen I believe that some distributors require it in their contract that ALL shows be played in 3-D... Disney and Pixar in particuluar. This is an area where I would hope they'd have some flexibility. Since I have a single screen I would be very interested in scheduling a few 2-D shows for the people who don't like/can't afford/can't tolerate 3-D.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 03-26-2010 12:16 PM                     On the HD that comes in, there are two files - a 2D file and a 3D file. You injest both in the server and you have your choice to play either with no problems on what you tell the server what to play. But if the file is 3D only, you can't play it 2D since it's formatted for 3D viewing. But, most of the 3D films that I've seen come in, there are the two files for DCI presentation. ..at least you got that choice. -Monte  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 03-26-2010 01:27 PM                    I think you have to have a key that matches the content that you want to play. If you are booked to play the 3-D content and not the 2-D content then you will only get a key for the 3-D content. If you are booked to play both content files then you will get a key for both. Not all drives have both formats on it. It is up to the film companies if they want to have both versions on the drive. If you are using the Real-D XL unit you can cover one of the out ports for the left or right eye image but you will have some light loss. I have not experimented with this so I am not sure if you would have any strange things happening.  |  IP: Logged Kurt Zupin Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 989 From: Maricopa, Arizona Registered: Oct 2004 posted 03-26-2010 01:52 PM                     Correct you can not "just" play the 2D file on the drive. You need a key to "unlock" the content. However like a few have already stated, you can play 3D content in 2D by only playing one eye. At my previous location we had a Dual Stack system consisting of two Barco units and you can play any 3D film in 2D from either projector. Although you'd use the bottom one in that situation.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-26-2010 06:13 PM                     Just select 2D on the Dolby player. It'll play the 3D version in 2D. Nothing is easier.  |  IP: Logged Peter Castle Expert Film Handler Posts: 220 From: Wollongong University, NSW ,Australia Registered: Oct 2003 posted 03-27-2010 04:12 AM                     How do you do it on a GDC - it seems to automatically opt for 3D output ?  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 03-27-2010 12:45 PM                     On the GDC, the 2D file must be in there along with the 3D file along with a separate playlist and title per each format. We had both "AVATAR" DCI prints and only needed one key in the server so we could play both when needed.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.