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MOTION CONTROL THEATER
Digital Domain had the contract from Paul Allen to design A CINERAMA digital theater for the museum. They spent more than 11 million to do this Cinerama Theater and then lost the contract. It is really impossible without a laser projector that can match colors and also automatically curve on the screen. We were asked by Digital Domain to put a proposal together right as they were losing the contract. The money had all been spent and the EXPERIENCE museum with a curved screen is not used.
TIMOTHY LEARY SAID THAT THE PSYCHEDELIC TRIP OF THE 21st CENTURY WOULD BE EXPERIENCING THE NEW TECHNOLOGICAL INTERFACE, WHICH WILL TAKE THE PARTICIPANT TO NEW DIMENSIONS WITHOUT DRUGS.
130-180 degree curved screen, which is 20 feet high and 70 feet wide
40 – 60 motion controlled seats with a 6-axis motion
60 feet throw for front projection
First row of seats close to screen
GOAL: to create the ultimate experience: to wow the participants by exceeding any themed environment they have experienced so far.
Ability to project on curved screen with no manipulation of content
Ability to sit close to screen with no scan lines or pixels or artifact
Alignment of projector and keeping color matched for seamless screen
Having each showing with no flaws (worst flaw projectors color miss-matched)
Strong expectation from audience: Not disappointing them with experience
Integration of content, movement, and experience in an immersive space
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE:
Each show lasts 20 minutes. The audience is moved in and out, so there is a showing every 30 minutes. Audiences are now very disappointed if they don’t become absorbed. Ten minutes is not enough to give a total immersive experience.
The show must be immersive. The staging of the theater is set up for audience immersion because of the motion-controlled seats, the curved screen and the closeness of the seating to the screens. In order for the audience to feel immersed, all the experience needs to be coordinated and happen in dimensional space.
We suggest that in order for complete immersion of the audience, the show should be stereo 3D. It can be decided if this 3D immersion should be with or without glasses (depends on 3D wanted). Glasses will be needed if images are to be darted out into the audience, old style. We suggest both dimensional images and also old style 3D. This can be done with laser projected autostereo imagery and two projectors on the screen 3D.
THE EXPERIENCE (OUR CONCEPT)
THE THEME: The three J’s--- Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison decide to deliver a concert from the 5th dimensional space for those of us who are about to experience the 21st century. This piece will be put together with massaged digitized footage from different time sequences in their lives. Jimi, Janis, and Jim, who left this dimension all before they were 30, have a message for the world now. The laser-imaged experience opens the door to the audience participants to 5th dimensional space through the technological interface. This is a gift for the audience. Of course the visuals are the ultimate in psychedelic, reminiscent of the time, combined with our time, because of course in the 5th dimension, there is no time, as we know it. All three have their physical images built in 3D so they can perform in psychedelic realities (also so they can project into the audience).
The artists appear to the audience in specially created dimensional nature vistas. When Janis approaches Jimi and Jim and demands to do a performance and sing a song, she rides in on a beautiful peacock, immersed into the audience, the eyes of the peacock feathers darting out, floating in space. Janis is dressed in peacock feathers. The female archetype is definitely making her statement. The white doves fly out into the audience from Jimi’s guitar, and we go into the Indian trance with the soaring archetype birdman as Jim Morrison chants his poetry. Our famous personalities are very recognizable, but they are now 5th dimensional beings. Their costumes are depictions of what their personalities were when they were alive, but also are very stylized. Janis at one point is an Egyptian Queen, who soars through the air on her golden bird chariot, but she is always really Janis, the passionate flower child.
The art of this show will be the music track, which gives just due to each performer and still is a continuous piece. The mastering of the sound track is designed to move through the entire compass of the theater in pulse with the visuals and movement of the chairs.
After the audience is seated and the room darkens, a haze cloud hovers above the audience from ceiling to five feet above. Streams of vector colored laser light streak above the audience and onto the screen, taking the audience deeper and deeper into the experience until they are pulled into the black hole. There is a switch to the laser raster (one second – done by computer) and we are in the 5th dimension and are introduced to the passion and intensity of these great performers. Jim Morrison sings, Go through he door to the other side. We see a Waterfall: Hendrix’s sings Waterfall, gently. Jimi is in fire images (reminiscent of the guitar on fire and back stage at the Monterey Pop Festival).
One of the reasons this is such an intense experience is that the dimensional images are enhanced by the infinite focus of the laser light and because of the broader range of saturated colors created by the laser projector. We see the deep purples in the peacock, the black eyes hovering in space. We suggest using the 180-degree screen so intensity of the dimensional experience is more pronounced for those not wearing glasses.
MECHANICS:
Projector seam matching
Not having to manipulate material for curved screens
Dimensional; realities with or without glasses
PROJECTION:
Two laser projectors: The dimensional stereo images are projected on the huge screen. The projectors are perfectly matched for color and keep this match without an expert projectionist. The images do not have to be manipulated for curves, because laser light adjusts automatically. The overlapping is done optically and electronically. Arc lamps used in other projectors, fade unevenly and true color matching is almost impossible, unless the arc lamps are adjusted and changed often.
GLASSES:
Inexpensive give away glasses (the polarizing glasses do not need to be used with laser projectors, because the light is all ready polarized). Polarizing glasses take away much of the brightness of the projection and diminish the experience.
FILM-LIKE IMAGE:
We use the Hughes/JVC high-resolution contrast light valves for the highest resolution available. These light valves and lasers work with polarization so are the best vehicle for 3D imaging. The image is projected with no pixels, scan lines or artifacts. The liquid crystal spatial light modulators allow a smooth film like image. The broadband color spectrum allows more colors than are in film. A new cinema experience is created.
DELIVERY:
We suggest that the images be shown with a digital high definition format. If at some point, however, there is a plan to put interactive sensors on the moving chairs for audience participation, an image generator can be used with enough digital storage for the many options. Also if wished the other shows can be down loaded from satellite from other venues. These would be shown through one projector, unless they are shot for a stereo effect. Material can be shown that is not high-definition. We use our image enhanced and line doubling equipment to produce a psuedo high definition effect. This also looks fine on a huge screen. Very few people can see the difference between high definition and this method. Money would be saved; the presentation would be more user friendly, in that the laser discs can be played over and over with no loss of image quality. It would be best that the DVD is encrypted, however, so it can't be copied.
PROGRAMMING:
Every thing is done digitally. No new footage to be shot. The artwork is created and scanned into the computer. The experience is planned with the motion control seats to immerse the audience completely. In the production, Jimi, Janis, and Jim are digitally imaged from footage and remotely controlled by humans for realistic movements. That process is then captured with the DIGITRON method for the most Immersive dimensional effect.
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS:
Dean Lyon: coordinator of the visual project. He has been computer graphics specialist on many movies, including Airforce One and the dome ceiling in Devil’s Advocate. Lyon worked with Colorgraphics, helping them design their hardware and software. He has been a consultant for many other software projects. He has worked with many video music clips and on a Jimmi Hendrix show. Tom Kane: the artist. Kane spent many years at Complete Post and worked with clients such as Streisand, David Copperfield, and Neil Diamond. He graduated from the Boston Art Institute and is a fine artist who has honed his abilities with graphics. Both these people have been hired to fix graphics for many projects as well as create their own visuals. After seeing so many mistakes, which had to be “fixed” and the expense, that not planning from the beginning entails, a new model for graphics has been designed.
There is much excitement about creating images for the new canvas—laser projection. Also there is excitement about the dimensional reality that is obtained using this platform. Different artists will be assigned to deliver the graphics for specific areas. Brad Nelson will be consultant for 3D imaging. Work will be compiled on a high-end graphics computer.
PROCESS AND TIME TABLES:
The imaging will be shown first in our Prototype Cinerama Theater. The 20-minute piece will have been partially put together with the dimensional experience and the motion control in mind. With the actual testing in the theater, the experience will be designed for the most effective visuals and motion control. The client judges the effectiveness of the graphics. At the client’s suggestions, we will again refine the visuals with the systems integration programming.
TEST PROCESS:
After the technology is tested and when the show refinement is processed, another show (Show Two) can be developed for the theater. Much can be learned from the first production in the massaging of images for the maximum effect and also in the systems integration of the lasers projectors, motion control, and a user-friendly technical environment for maintenance. Time will be saved, because the 3D sound, and motion control programs will be in place. Also Show Two needs to use the format in a different creative way, so the audience will want to enjoy both shows, bringing more revenue for the theater.
Each 20-minute auto stereo experience costs approximately $1,000,000 including coordination of the motion control, music, and images (Music/artists rights extra)
EQUIPMENT:
Non-stereo: $30,000 a month for 36 months
Stereo: $45,000 (two overlapping projectors)
This includes all equipment, maintenance contract, and on sight technician. A five-year lease will be less costly. We will also integrate the sound into the show for the most effective presentation.
SYSTEMS INSTALLATION:
Cost depends if the client wishes a prototype system built before approval for the permanent installation. Cost depends on if motion control seats are to be installed. Software will be created for the motion control movement that is synced to the experience. Also integrated with the system are the specially rerecorded dimensional sounds through the specially designed speakers.
Laser light projects differently than arc lamps. The laser light does not loose its crispness of color as a bigger picture is projected. Because of these qualities, the picture appears brighter and more film like. Because of the infinite focus, the picture hovers in space, especially in a dark curved screen space.
RESOLUTION:
We are using the highest contrast and high-resolution Hughes/JVC light valves. This gives the best quality picture available in image digital projection today. The resolution is 2000 lines. The image is smooth with no pixels artifacts.
COLORS:
Our projector produces the full color spectrum, so the many hues in the purple and honey ranges are available. This is the only projector that can display the many colors available from the digital world. Laser light covers the complete visual spectrum. Laser light is coherent and polarized. This allows deep saturated images and the image is always focused on any surface.
VECTOR AND RASTER:
The laser projector has the capacity of projecting both vector and raster graphics. More vector graphics can be inserted in future shows or the combination thereof.
NOTE: The projectors will be guaranteed to keep the specifications promised in the installation for the length of the lease.