LIVE concerts and sporting events will soon be shown in 3D in cinemas

ANDREW FENTON, FILM WRITER
ADELAIDE NOW

November 15, 2007 09:45am

LIVE concerts and sporting events will soon be shown in 3D in cinemas, with the technology due to be demonstrated to the public for the first time next year.

Major musical acts like U2 and big sporting events such as the AFL Grand Final are contenders for live 3D broadcasts.

The world’s biggest provider of digital 3D technology, Real D, is negotiating with parties including Irish supergroup U2 and 3ality Digital Systems to broadcast the first ever live 3D concert.

“You will see it very shortly,” Real D president Joshua Greer told AdelaideNow.

“We’ll start Beta testing some of this technology early in 2008.”

Live 3D broadcasts require theatres to be equipped with a digital projector upgraded for 3D as well as a satellite dish.

There are 19 digital theatres in Australia capable of 3D projection, including one at Marion Megaplex, although few are currently believed to have satellite dish capabilities.

“This gives you the most up-close, intimate view, so it’s actually better than going to the concert in a lot of ways," Greer said.

"For audiences it’s a really interesting way to get closer to your favourite bands than you could ever get before and I think for the bands, the possibility of being able to play a venue and suddenly turn on another million seats is a pretty powerful (incentive) as well.”

Greer hinted the first such live 3D broadcast could be by U2 to promote the forthcoming release of U2 3D, a 92-minute concert film shot over seven dates in South America in 2006.

It’s billed as the first live action film to be shot, edited and shown entirely in 3D.

“Say U2 decided to do a one night show to kick off the movie and they wanted to broadcast a live concert,” he said.

“That may be in one venue that could be broadcast to any one of our theatres and patrons (would pay) for a special one-night live (experience) kind of like what they’re doing with opera.”

The New York Metropolitan Opera has been pioneering the use of digital projection and transmission and have broadcast numerous performances live in high definition to a number of countries.

Palace Nova will screen a series of Met Opera performances in high definition (not 3D) throughout December to March, although time differences mean the screenings will be on delay.

On December 7, Cinema Augusta in Port Augusta will screen a live broadcast The Australian Ballet’s opulent production of The Nutcracker.

Greer said Real D was examining a number of sporting and theatrical events to determine which ones were the most suitable for broadcasting live in 3D.

“We’ve looked at sports and alternative content and we’re working very closely to work out what the most appropriate first test of that will be,” he said.