Emily Carr's S3D Centre Creates First Variable High Frame Rate (HFR) Live Action Film

The following Press Release was issued today by Emily Carr University of Art + Design:

Emily Carr’s S3D Centre Creates First Variable High Frame Rate (HFR) Live Action Film

Vancouver, BC, October 24, 2012 | Research conducted at Emily Carr University of Art + Design’s Stereoscopic 3D (S3D) Centre investigates the use of variable frame rates with the production of “L’ AÌ‚ME SOEUR (SOULMATES) 3D”. The short film incorporates scenes at 24, 48, and 60 fps to demonstrate the creative potential of using variable frame rates within a narrative context.”As the film and broadcast industries move toward higher frame rate 3D productions, it is important that researchers look at the implications both on a technical and perceptual level,” says Dr. Maria Lantin, Director of Emily Carr’s Stereoscopic 3D Centre. “With this research we specifically address the notion of using frame rate as an additional component to storytelling and audience engagement.”

The S3D Centre’s variable HFR research offers the creative community a valuable exploration of how variable frame rates can be used to tell compelling stories. Motion artifacts such as judder and blur are often visible at standard frame rates like the 24fps of traditional cinema. Productions shot at higher frame rates create a different viewing experience by showing fine movement detail — instead of more resolution in the image there is more resolution in time. The Centre’s research into variable frame rates suggests that the choice of frame rate can influence viewer comfort and become another cue in the perception of narrative in live action films. A video overview of the research is available here or at http://vimeo.com/s3dcentre/abouthfrresearch.

The S3D Centre’s footage was captured using RED Epic cameras, capable of capturing images at up to 60 uncompressed frames per second. Each scene was filmed at 24fps, 48fps, and 60fps with the intent of delivering a final product that incorporates these three frame rates. The use of a particular frame rate in a given shot is derived from creative observation and experimentation into variable frame rates as a storytelling tool. The final short film “L’ AÌ‚ME SOEUR (SOULMATES) 3D” will be delivered for both projection and broadcast television.

With the upcoming release of The Hobbit trilogy filmed at 48 fps, a wide audience will become aware of the look and feel of higher frame rates. The goal of the Emily Carr S3D Centre is to increase the knowledge base in the proper application of HFR in production and post-production. At the forefront of HFR research, the Centre is part of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) working group on HFR and a member of the GRAND Network Centre of Excellence linking Canadian universities who are active in stereoscopic 3D research.

This research is made possible by generous contributions from TELUS, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program, and the GRAND Network Centre of Excellence. The S3D Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of Western Economic Diversification, the Industrial Research Assistance Program, and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.

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About Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Emily Carr University of Art + Design, established in 1925, is a world leader in education and research. Encouraging experimentation at the intersection of art, design, media and technology, our learning community merges research, critical theory and studio practice in an interdisciplinary environment. Alumni and faculty are internationally recognized as award-winning creators and thought leaders who have enormous impact on both the cultural sector and economy. We engage students, industry, and society to continuously explore and think differently about creativity and how it shapes our world. Find out more at ecuad.ca.

About The S3D Centre
A National Centre of Excellence, the S3D Centre at Emily Carr University of Art + Design’s mission is to advance the art of Stereoscopic 3D. Our applied research programs and training activities focus on the creative applications made possible by experimenting with S3D production technologies and processes. With the support of our partners and students, we aim to teach, train and discover the aesthetic possibilities of Stereoscopic 3D.

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