A Small Showcase of Experimental 3D Cinema

A professor at Carnegie Mellon and an artist exhibited in top new media art galleries around the world, Golan Levin is definitely someone at the forefront of technology, and thus a fitting person to have do an AMA for Reddit. For the same reason, there is no way that the artist-hacker would do a traditional tread interview; of course he's going to showcase some of the crazy things they're doing up there in his STUDIO for Creative Inquiry.

One of the big things in interactive media seems to be the rise of the depth-sensing camera as a way to sense the user. As they are cheap and available, the cameras make for an ideal piece of modifiable equipment. In this video James George and Jonathan Minard have been working with depth cameras at Levin's STUDIO on what they refer to as "virtual cinematography" or "re-photography" in which a recording of the speaker is taken as a 3D image and, in post, editors go back and select different angles. I cannot believe what detail they were able to get from this camera! If you look closely, you'll notice that the image is made up of a lattice, but each part of the lattice is not one definite color. Each line is made up of several colors and, as he moves, the colors change accordingly. It is pretty amazing that you are also able to tell the depth, say from his nose, from angles other than direct side or top.

I am glad that Levin chose questions from users that really are about learning and less about his works. Since he is a teacher, and not all of us can get into or afford Carnegie Mellon, it is nice to hear what the artist thinks computer tinkerers like myself should know and whether or not a top-school education is really the most important thing, as professions such as doctors and lawyers like to believe.

Read the article on how James George and Jonathan Minard made the video here.

Video Art Reviews

Catherine - Good idea to do the time capsule video to yourself, and there was a very positive message, but I was really missing the 'art' part of the assignment.

Michelle - I really like the effects you got from the degradation of re-recording the videos! The way it blurred the motions together made it like 'artistic.'

Juan - Your video expresses a lot of what you think about yourself, which is what an artist should be doing. Like the cool text effects at the beginning and wish this had been throughout!

Lauren - Your piece was more akin to a slideshow than video art, but I can tell you put a lot of effort into the timing. Knowing the context of the assignment, your message is definitely present.

James - Loved it! I immediately got your message, so you were successful at that. By using the 8-bit images with that music, it helped make it even more cohesive. The credit were great!

Maria - Wish I was able to understand the meaning behind the video better, but having lived only in the US, I am ignorant. I know that it means a lot to you and that is most important.


Kim - Excellent job at telling a story without words. The video definitely conveys that this was an important event in your life. Cool outline filter effect!

Nakota - The clips you took were really good; interesting camera angles and sort of misty effect. Your credits and music were also great!

Erin - Good use of color with both the Photobooth filters and abstract art pieces.

Chris - Love that you wrote your own lyrics! Definitely above and beyond. Kind of felt that using a third-party software that created the backgrounds was cheating.

Arielle - By capturing a once in a lifetime event, you will always be able to remember how much fun you used to have.

Brian - Cool combination of sounds that you mixed in order to create the music. You did a great job of de-contextualizing voices that we all know immediately.

Sabrina - I liked your idea of making a digital letter to yourself. By putting it online, it will live forever unlike actual paper.

Cody - From what we saw in class, I am so intrigued! Not only was it a good idea to use 3D animation, but the images you are using, changing yourself to be different character, are just cool.

Video Art