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Mr Stink in 3D

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Andy Quested Andy Quested | 10:30 UK time, Wednesday, 19 December 2012

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Just for any new readers, I am head of technology for ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD & 3D and this is an update on the next phase of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ 3D trial. We have now moved from sport, music and animation to drama!

Mr Stink is a TV adaptation of the by . I won't give anything away in the post for those who love the book and for those who have never heard of it - just watch!

In this post I want to give you an overview of some the technology and processes used during the making of Mr Stink with comments from a few of the people involved.

Mr Stink transmits in 2D on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One & ´óÏó´«Ã½ One HD on Sunday 23 December at 6.30 and is repeated on Boxing Day at 12.40. The 3D transmission is on ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD on Sunday 23 December at 6.30 and shortly after on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer for seven days

Mr Stink (Hugh Bonneville) and Chloe (Nell Toger-Free) in Mr Stink

Mr Stink is the first programme we've done during the trial where the 2D and 3D versions were shot at the same time with the 2D being taken from one of the 3D cameras. The cameras were mounted on mirror rigs and for those interested in the details, these were a and a , each fitted with two and Angenieux Optimo matched lenses.

This is what , the director of photography (DoP) working on Mr Stink, thought of idea to shoot in 3D:

It was a great opportunity for me to shoot a film that has been specifically designed for 3D. As a cinematographer it is a very different approach both logistically and creatively, and it was important in preproduction to work out the do's and don'ts. Having a close collaboration with the stereographer and the director meant we really embraced the strengths of 3D and found a visual style that works especially for this comedy genre. We liked slightly cartoonish and quirky compositions, like in the films of Wes Anderson or the Coen Brothers, and the fact that 3D works particularly well with wide angles even for close ups suited the style we were after perfectly.

One of the camera rigs with DoP Philipp Blaubach!

from was the stereo supervisor on the programme and also commented;

The choice of rigs and cameras was determined by a number of factors. We wanted to be able to change setups quickly so we chose to use zooms as variable primes. We also wanted a reasonably small and light rig so we could be more mobile and wasn't too off-putting to actors. We also wanted it to be cost effective so that on certain days we could afford to bring in a second unit. The Atom allowed us to put on a larger mirror box so the DoP could use a 16mm lens with the Epic at five thousand. For monitoring we used a 46in JVC as we felt it was important for the director and DoP to be able to see the playback in as near to a real world situation as possible.

Mr Stink was framed for a wider aspect ratio than the normal 16:9. Philipp shot in the cinema aspect ratio that's sometimes referred to as 21:9 but more accurately it was actually 2.35:1. This gives black bars at the top and bottom that effectively become a new screen boundary. However as it's only an electronic boundary that allowed us to try some interesting effects.

Philipp said;

We composed the film for a 2.35 aspect ratio and during the depth grade there were a couple of instances where we could move the action into negative space and virtually make it overlap the letterbox. The 3D is especially effective in those moments as you feel the objects literally coming into your living room.

Framing for 2.35:1 (3D is displayed using anaglyph if anyone wants a quick preview but, the programme will not be transmitted in anaglyph).

As I said earlier the programme was shot using a single camera rig with an occasional second rig. This is different to the multi-camera set-ups we've used for the studio and live programmes that have been in the trail so far. This meant that instead of the stereographer adjusting each camera to match the 3D depth during the shoot, a 'depth grade' process was added to the final post-production stage.

Just like a colour matching or grading session that adjusts the colour and exposure of each shot to make them match, the depth grade matches the amount of 3D in each shot so there are no sudden jumps on shot changes.

Again for interest, the programme used the company ONSIGHT's '' equipment to carry out the colour and depth grade with colourist David Gonzalez Lozano and Philipp Blaubach (the DoP) along with Matthew Smith who was the stereographer on the project working under Chris.

Matthew was responsible for the on-set Stereo 3D decisions working closely with the director and DoP and followed this through to the depth grading session during the final post-production.

The two TX lines

Mistika screen shot (3D is displayed as anaglyph if anyone wants a quick preview but remember the programme will not be transmitted in anaglyph).

The last time I saw the programme was just before the final colour and depth grading sessions, so I won't see the final results until it's transmitted.

As usual I am really keen to get your reactions to the programme and what you thought of the 3D but I will be away over Christmas and for a week in the New Year so replies to comments may not be prompt until I'm back around 8 or 9 January. In the mean time I wish you all a very, very merry Christmas and a happy new year - in advance!

Andy Quested is chief technologist HD & 3D, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Technology.

3D transmissions over the Christmas period:

Mr Stink 23 December 6.30pm
Killer Dinosaurs 25 December 2.05pm
The Queen 25th December 3.00pm

Remember to set your TV to Side by Side mode on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD Channel:

Freeview Channel 102
Freesat Channel 109
Sky Channel 169
YouView Channel 102
Virgin Channel 187

Read more about the making of Mr Stink in 3D on the About the ´óÏó´«Ã½ blog.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Thanks Andy - looking forward to looking at it..... and the Dinosaurs!

  • Comment number 2.

    Mistika, nothing better.

  • Comment number 3.

    Hi Andy, long time no see!
    I hope the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is being careful with young people's eyes, my biggest worry for 3D is the stress placed on the vision by the use of un-natural object positioning, un-natural focal points and fast depth changes. We don't want a generation of children with stressed ocular muscles!

  • Comment number 4.

    Dear Bob_ Thanks and it has been very busy! Actually the research about 3D and young people is quite interesting as there is some suggestion that discomfort caused through watching reasonably well made stereoscopic 3D could be an indication of undiagnosed eye sight problems. Hope you enjoy the programme anyway

    Andy

  • Comment number 5.

    That's great Andy. I hope it's well advertised. I really enjoyed the Olympics in 3D but my favourite 3 D would be films and drama such as the 'the stink' you are proposing to transmit. I also have surround sound but don't turn it on for Eastenders or Coronation Street but do for films or great tv drama. I suspect 3D would be used in a similar vein until glassless 3D is available. Bottom line though is 'I love 3D' . Regards and happy Christmas.

  • Comment number 6.

    Looking forward to Mr Stink and the Dinosaur program. I hope the ´óÏó´«Ã½ are planning to show more 3D content as, at the moment, it's few and far between.

  • Comment number 7.

    Good to see the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is going to simulcast the Sky produced Queen's Christmas message in 3D. Hopefully, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will continue when it's their turn to do it.

  • Comment number 8.

    Hi everyone thanks for your comments so far

    New times have been announced for 3D transmissions over the Christmas period which have been updated in the footnote to this post:

    Mr Stink 23 December 6.30pm
    Killer Dinosaurs 25 December 2.05pm
    The Queen 25th December 3.00pm

    Thanks

    Eliza

  • Comment number 9.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 10.

    Sorry ´óÏó´«Ã½ sat down to watch Mr Stink in 3D and felt it really missed an opportunity. Kids wanted to watch it, in fact we all put the glasses on - but it wasn't very 3D.

    Why was it so lacking in 3D? It had a few moments could have been a lot more 3D! If I'm going to make the family put the glasses on, I want to have 3D off the screen all the time!

  • Comment number 11.

    I watched this program via a Virgin Media HD Tivo box into an LG-HD-3D-670 TV and it wasn't 3D for me. Am I missing something?

  • Comment number 12.

    @10 & 11. Were you watching the 3D version on ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD, or the regular version on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 1 HD?

    Haven't seen it yet, but Twitter is full of praise of the 3D.

  • Comment number 13.

    Dear JamesE81 & massagorgo - as derek500 says - were you watching ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD or ´óÏó´«Ã½ One? Assuming you both have a 3D TV, are they connected to the internet? The programme is on iPlayer so you can catch it again. Listed under ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD

    Andy

  • Comment number 14.

    Hi Andy, we watched on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channel - it was in side by side and I set my 3D TV to that mode. My point is not that we couldn't watch it I'm 3D - it was that it just wasn't very 3D... It could have been far more 3D.

  • Comment number 15.

    Dear JamesE81 - something very wrong, either TV or glasses - it had really string 3D

    Andy

  • Comment number 16.

    My family and I were blown away by the 3d, well done ´óÏó´«Ã½. Please let's have more!

  • Comment number 17.

    #15 - that will teach me not to use auto suggest - for "string" read "strong"

    Many thanks Zortonthedestroyer

  • Comment number 18.

    I downloaded Mr Stink from Iplayer and watched it using on my computer using Nvidia 3D.

    First thing to say is that it was a great improvement on the Strickly broadcast. The Strickly 3D was the most awfull I have ever seen. I can understand the previous comments about the "lack of 3D effect" in Mr Stink. I have been using a Sony TD10 3D camcorder for about 18 months now and that produces a much greater depth by default.

    The big issue here is the lack of a ´óÏó´«Ã½ 3D channel. Sky 3D has now been on air for more than 2 years now and there is still no sign of a ´óÏó´«Ã½ 3D channel or even regional HD. Of course the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will claim a lack of money but this wears very thin in light of the very public way the ´óÏó´«Ã½ waists licence payers cash.

    My Christmas list includes the Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" 3D blu-ray. It will be interesting to see how things have advanced from 1954 if at all.

  • Comment number 19.

    The overnight ratings are in 12,000. If we believe that, we'll believe anything. I can't believe there would be so much activity on social media, if only 12,000 were watching in 3D.

    Hope the ´óÏó´«Ã½ don't look at these figures and drop 3D as a consequence.

    Still think continuity didn't do enough to direct viewers to the correct channel. Many still think that ´óÏó´«Ã½ One HD and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channel are one and the same.

    Last night the continuity announcer said "now on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 1 and in 3D on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channel", not "now on ´óÏó´«Ã½1 and ´óÏó´«Ã½1 HD and in 3D on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channel.

    Even David Walliams Tweeted that the 3D version was on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 1 HD!! And that was subsequently re-Tweeted.

    There was a tweet from someone who had watched the whole programme on ´óÏó´«Ã½1 HD with their 3D glasses on!!

    Very disappointing figures, which will lead to more of the 'fad', 'gimmick' comments.

  • Comment number 20.

    Superb broadcast. I was pleased that the 3d was used intelligently to add depth and reality to to the world of Mr Stink, and the eye popping stuff was used sparingly to add to the effect.

    I also have a Sony TD10 and found the 3D on Mr Stink to be much nicer, and subtle than the TD10 which is a little ott and looks like cardboard cut-outs.

    Personally, I'd like to see something like Luther or Eastenders in 3D.. The real magic of 3D is to bring you in to a scene.

    Keep it up, great stuff!

  • Comment number 21.

    15. It appears we actually watched ´óÏó´«Ã½ 1 HD and turned on Auto3D... why... oh... why... do TV makers think its needed... Have now downloaded from iplayer and much better! Keep up the good work ´óÏó´«Ã½...

    19. Shame so few viewers though, think it should be advertised better - made no mention of being in 3D in our Christmas TV guide.

    Not sure we will bother with Queen 3D, but whats next for us from ´óÏó´«Ã½? We don't have Sky.

  • Comment number 22.

    I agree with JamesE81 about the poor advertising. The impression is that the HD channel is showing something completely different.

    Is there a web page or email notification service where the ´óÏó´«Ã½ shows advance information about 3D programming? If not, should there be?

  • Comment number 23.

    Beautifully done ´óÏó´«Ã½ and the 3d was excellent!

  • Comment number 24.

    Think a lot of people dont understand 3d it is more about the depth than objects flying out of the screen. ´óÏó´«Ã½ done a great job with this film it was brilliant but here is ´óÏó´«Ã½ downside it did not advertise this enough only heard it mentioned twice when advertising christmas programs. I missed killer dinasaurse as didnt know it was on until reading this blog today hope they repeat it as i think it will be good. But they have missed their biggest opertunity as HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is one of the best 3d films

  • Comment number 25.

    Again another poorly advertised 3D prog from the ´óÏó´«Ã½. I did however watch the Queen's Christmas message in 3D. Come on Beeb, put some more 3D content out and please replay the Olympic ceremonies in 3D without the commentaries. I'd buy the Bluray of them but they're only in 2D. At the moment you're showing 11 hours of HD preview content on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channel, surely playing the Olympic ceremonies in 3D would be preferable.

  • Comment number 26.

    Just watched Mr Stink 3D on iplayer. I found the 3D experience very good indeed and the overall pictures quality excellent to the point I forgot I was viewing via iplayer. The choice of 2:35:1 aspect ratio seemed to somehow enhance the visual depth. First rate, it would be nice to have some more programming though.

  • Comment number 27.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 28.

    I wish if ´óÏó´«Ã½ website was redesigned in 3D what do you think?

  • Comment number 29.

    Hi Andy, I wanted to ask you a couple of questions re 4k, is there a way to get in touch with you?

    Cheers

  • Comment number 30.

    Finally watched last night. Not my sort of thing, but technically excellent stuff. Watched via Sky and excellent quality.

    The only 'dodgy' part was the long shot of the 'panel' in the TV studio, which appeared quite blurred. The rest was clear and crisp.

    Also had a look at the iPlayer version via Sky and the quality was also very good, but the streamed iPlayer version on my LG smart TV was pretty poor.

    Interestingly, this time the iPlayer versions were side-by-side, am i right thinking that last year's Strictly was top and bottom?

  • Comment number 31.

    Having purchased a Samsung 3d tv on the 27th and picked up the 3d glasses today I was very excited to try and watch mr Stink in 3d whilst its still available. Imagine my disappointment when I could only watch the side by side pictures and couldn't access the menu button to convert to one picture. Having spent some time on two calls to Samsung support I was told the I couldn't convert the side by side picture as it wasn't "pure" 3d and that I would only be able to watch 3d via the 3d blueray or at the time of original transmission.

    Surely that can't be the case? Surely I can watch iplayer 3d programmes on my samsung? How do others manage? Are there any workarounds?

  • Comment number 32.

    I watched it last night - thought the 3D was excellent! It worked really well with that aspect ratio and was certainly of a Hollywood standard - great to see the ´óÏó´«Ã½ are not only 'experimenting' with the technology, but doing it properly! Hope to see more 3D content in future.

    Must agree with the lack of advertising though - I only found out about it on this blog, as with the Dino-documentary... I'm sure many more potential viewers are left unaware and sadly miss out completely!

  • Comment number 33.

    @Charlie1882 I doubt there'll be much more 3D programming from the ´óÏó´«Ã½. For the amount of time that it's been possible to transmit 3D progs, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ have given us literally a handful of shows and nothing, other than the Olympic ceremonies, that have been well publicised enough. I get the feeling that The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is doing the very least it can to promote 3DTV so it can say "we tried but nobody wanted it". They haven't even released the Olympic ceremonies in 3D on Blu Ray! Only in 2D. Unbelievable. Glastonbury in 3D would pull in the viewers as would a Christmas Dr Who. I'm not holding my breath for either.

  • Comment number 34.

    @Andy Quested. On a technical note, Last night I went to a friend's house where he'd just bought a shiny new Smart TV with Iplayer and 3D. So I suggested we try out the Mr Stinky on Iplayer. He has superfast internet speeds, so no problem there, but we weren't able to either get the TV to manually or automatically register the 3D image. I'm quite well versed in the Panasonic interface and still could not get the two side by side images to merge. All other 3D sources work fine. His Panasonic TV is tx-l42dt50b. Do you think this is a problem with the Iplayer or the TV? My TV, Panasonic Viera TX-P46GT30, worked well with both live and Iplayer viewings in 3d.

  • Comment number 35.

    Another technical question. If I watch the Sky 3D channel and press the info button I get the full banner. If I do the same when Mr Stink 3D is playing on ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD, I get it L&R superimposed and I have to close my right eye to read the left hand side and vice-versa.

    Why is this?

  • Comment number 36.

    I myself was at a difficult period in my life. An therefore missed both the queens speech and Mr Stink. But would love it if they could be repeated. Please bbc create more and more 3d shows. 3d is the way forward!!

  • Comment number 37.

    Can't believe I missed it, now I've missed it on iplayer too.... :-(
    Will it be shown again?

  • Comment number 38.

    I watched the Queen's speech in 3D as it was advertised but I missed Mr. stink and killer Dinosaurs broadcast. Will these be repeated?
    I live in a rural area where the broadband is not up to speed for iplayer streaming or large file downloads so repeating the broadcasts will be much appreciated.
    Are there anymore planned 3D broadcasts or tests?

    I did suffer with sound drop out on the HD channel lasting only a couple of seconds at a time but very annoying. The TV sound is set to "auto" for external speakers. Is there a better setting for ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD.?

  • Comment number 39.

    Where do the ´óÏó´«Ã½ intent to show their 3D content when the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channel shuts down ?.

  • Comment number 40.

    Judging by social media I would say that more people watched David Attenborough's Africa in 2D > 3D than watched Mr Stink 3D in true 3D!!

    Here's a few typical Tweets.

    Watching Africa in 3D so cool.

    Africa 3D HD was magic. Didn't expect anything less tbh

    Watching #Africa on ´óÏó´«Ã½ in 3D. Them crickets weren't so pretty in 3D I tell you that!

    Just watched Africa on ´óÏó´«Ã½1 HD in 3d, amazing!! #Africa

  • Comment number 41.

    derek500 - didn't think it was on! - Assume they were watching Galapagos 3D that was on Sky's 3D channel.

  • Comment number 42.

    Ah - Sorry, it was Wednesday

  • Comment number 43.

    Wow bbc HD closing down?!? When?? why?? An can you please tell us when the next 3d broadcast will be on?
    Thanks.

  • Comment number 44.

    Hi everyone

    I've spoken to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Press Office about the future of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channels and they have supplied the following info:

    Simon Smith, head of TV Operations has replied: There will be an announcement soon confirming the date when the DQF decision to close the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD channel and create instead a HD version of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two will be implemented. After that date, there will be a period of time when the only way to view programmes made for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Three and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four in HD will be to do so via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer.
    ´óÏó´«Ã½ Vision and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Distribution are currently working on options for extending our HD channel portfolio and securing the future delivery to audiences of all the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s HD and 3D programmes. These have yet to go through the normal financial and governance processes, but as soon as there is any news we will share it.

    We will update when we have more news.

    Thanks

    Eliza Kessler
    Content producer
    ´óÏó´«Ã½ Internet blog

  • Comment number 45.

    Eliza, if ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD is to close down in favour of ´óÏó´«Ã½ 2 then I think that's a mistake. However, if it must close down then a better choice of an alternative HD channel would be ´óÏó´«Ã½ 4 which generally has better programming than ´óÏó´«Ã½ 2 and certainly has programs that are more suited to delivery in HD and/or 5.1 sound. That's just my opinion but shouldn't the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Trust do some sort of survey of your HD viewer's programme preferences before making this change?

    Andy, on the subject of 5.1 sound, I've noticed this morning that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD preview loop is not switching to 5.1. I first noticed when the sound test card came on at about 0815 and it wasn't playing the LFE channel but it's also quite apparent when the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD Ident plays; it has much less impact than usual. Is there a technical issue today or has it been like this for a while? I'm viewing on freesat HD in the UK - I'm sure it was working fine before Xmas.

  • Comment number 46.

    Dear all - I'm back and it's snowing too! Thank you all for the comments. I was very pleased with the 3D for the programme and it looks like most of the comments here are elsewhere suggest you were too.

    Also welcome back Paul - I can't add anything to the comment from Eliza about other HD channels but I can say iPlayer will still show as many programmes as we can in HD no matter what channel - this is only subject to some of the current limits we have to get the programmes through.

    Re the HD preview - I didn't see your post until Sunday and it was OK on satellite Sunday morning - is it back in surround on Freeview now?

    Andy

  • Comment number 47.

    Is the comment in Broadcast "....everyone has finally accepted that 3D TV is dead." from ´óÏó´«Ã½ North Controller, Mark Harrison, corporate or personal?

    Doesn't bode well for the future of 3D on the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

  • Comment number 48.

    Dear derek500 - thanks for the post. It was as far as all but LG were concerned at CES however lots of autosteroscopic development happening in the U-HD arena. We will have to see!

    Andy

  • Comment number 49.

    Hi Andy, I'm still not getting 5.1 Surround on my freesat. I've still got the same Yamaha A/V amp I took to Portugal in 2008 but it's working fine for all other sources of 5.1 (except AAC). For the ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD soundcheck, Wimbledon, etc. the Amp always used to switch-over automatically but it seems to be stuck on stereo now; just checked on the testcard again - still no joy. Thinking back, I can't remember the last time that I'm certain that it was coming out on my freesat in 5.1 although I'm sure it wasn't too long ago, has there been a recent change of codec?

  • Comment number 50.

    Oops ignore my last, someone's dusted round the back and knocked out the optical cable. It's coming through in 5.1 loud and clear now I've put it back in! Cheers, Paul

  • Comment number 51.

    As there are not many blogs on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ on 3D, could you please make sure this post is kept open for comments and will not be subject to the new 1 week rule of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Internet Blog

  • Comment number 52.

    Derek500, did you see this?

  • Comment number 53.

    Yes, Paul, thanks. But mainly US posters who don't get the range and depth of broadcast 3D that is available in the UK and are relying on buying/renting blu-rays.

    Still Twitter is full of people watching Africa in 3D. As bad as all those watching SD on an HD TV and think they're watching in HD!!

  • Comment number 54.

    Ah, at last I've found a thread on 3D!
    I was posting on the Points of View board.
    Trying to find out what the future policy is of the ´óÏó´«Ã½
    Their efforts so far have been excellent & really enjoyed the Summer Olympics & tennis & Last Night. Didn't watch Mr Stink as the Radio Times did not mention the 3D bit!! Shame.
    Could do with a re-run?
    Are there any more programmes in the pipeline?

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