Star Trek TV Series To 3-D - CBS possible Conversion

[jefferiestubes8]

Reuters has a report from the Milken Institute Global Conference, and the "The Business Behind the Show: Outlook for the Entertainment Industry" panel which had a number of industry executives participating, including CBS President and Chief Executive Les Moonves. One of the subjects was the future of 3-D TV and converting shows to 3-D. Moonves revealed that CBS has been experimenting, here is an excerpt:

[Moonves] said he has seen prototype conversions to 3-D of old episodes of "Star Trek" — and that they did not "knock him out" or convince him there was a market for such shows.
"Does the experience get good enough on television to work? I’m not sure it’s going to be economically viable for the near future," the media executive said.

It was only four years ago that CBS began its work to digitally remaster the entire original Star Trek Series in HD, with all three seasons now available on Blu-ray. Now 3-D TV technology is the hot new thing. Although 3-D is dominating in the movie theaters, it is just a tiny fraction of the TV market for now, mostly due to the cost of the equipment and the lack of content.

already 53 comments at Trekmovie on this with some of them mentioning that 3-D TV technology is a fad. There they said it.
http://trekmovie.com/2010/04/29/cbs...-3-d-moonves-not-convinced-there-is-a-market/
via
CBS chief voices 3D-TV doubt, News Corp upbeat

While we're on the topic of 3-D and Trek TV what about series 6 of Trek TV

What about shooting just the 2-hour pilot in 3-D that would get a limited release in digital 3D cinemas?

The rest of the series could be in 2D but if they do a pilot and possibly a season finale in 3-D it could be an event for Trek as well as some extra revenue for $12.-15./ticket.

For all of the people that don't own a 3-D HDTV when the show starts why not

with the proliferation of digital projection by 2011 that CBS Home video would try something with the pilot in advance like they did with TOS "The Menagerie" in 2007 in cinemas for 2 nights only to paying cinemagoeers.

It was just last week I wrote:

There is the possibility that scripted narrative episodic shows could come to 3-D HDTV channels just as sports 3-D HDTV channels will be growing in the next few years.

Also

DirecTV is starting up

a linear 3D channel dubbed "N3D."The satellite operator's N3D channel will include programming from partners AEG/AEG Digital Media, CBS, Fox Sports/FSN, Golden Boy Promotions, HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal and Turner Broadcasting System.

That did say CBS.
Since CBS Television owns Star Trek series it is possible to premiere the next Trek TV series in 3-D HD.

Could Trek work on a 3-D channel similar to N3D that would be on DirecTV and also cable networks?

If Star Trek TNG Remastered? were to be done there is the possibility that it would be done for 3-D at the time and also CBS Television could then syndicate it in 2-D HD as well as sell the seasons on Blu-ray first sold in 2-D HD of course...for the standard Paramount/CBS Television Trek home video double er...triple dip.

I've titled this thread as 'possible conversion' and this doesn't need to turn into another Leslie Moonves bashing thread. Not the feature films but let's discuss the possibility of any Trek TV series in 3-D.

 

[AviTrek]

1) I agree with people who think 3D tv is a fad. It may work for movies, but I just don't see people sitting down on a couch at home and putting on glasses to watch TV. Maybe once parallax technology advances to the point of requiring no glasses. But not until then.
2) The cost of doing a live action show in 3D is still too prohibitive. Especially for a show like Star Trek where we've been arguing about how to trim budgets to work with smaller audiences.
3) The first scripted TV shows to go 3D will be CGI. It's just so much cheaper/easier to produce 3D shows in CGI than with traditional actors/cameras. So I expect to see Lucas jump on the bandwagon with Clones Wars or his post-ROTJ CGI series before I see any Trek TV in 3D.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

3D is not viable yet, for one simple reason: There's no standard. Just a bunch of incompatible systems battling it out. Given this, what's the point of getting into it now?

 

[StarshipDefiant]

You have to have a special TV for it to work> Blah. I can't see it working anyway, 3D trek they'd probably have to yet again, redo the effects for the series and honestly, as impressive as the effects look, some of the ships could have looked better (IMD I&II has proven a Constitution can look amazing properly done), but the cost...oh, the cost. Seriously, the ratings probably wouldn't be worth anything either, the last updating of TOS aired in many, many markets at like 3AM.

Would be cool, but not worth it.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

I can't see it working anyway, 3D trek they'd probably have to yet again, redo the effects for the series

TOS-R is done in HD.
Think TNG [which would require a lot of visual effects to be redone]:

If Star Trek TNG Remastered? were to be done there is the possibility that it would be done for 3-D at the time and also CBS Television could then syndicate it in 2-D HD as well as sell the seasons on Blu-ray

If they were telecining from the original camera negative (just like TOS-R) the quality would be top notch and give them as much as possible to work with to create CGI visual effects from scratch for TNG-R in 3-D.

[Moonves] said he has seen prototype conversions to 3-D of old episodes of "Star Trek"

I wonder what type of 3-D work was done on these TOS episodes? Surely the visual effects CGI work done in 2006 were not created in stereoscopic 3-D by CBS Digital at that time...

 

[Aike]

Can we be sure that they are actually talking about TOS. "Older episodes of Star Trek" could bascially be any of the shows, couldn´t it?

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Can we be sure that they are actually talking about TOS. "Older episodes of Star Trek" could bascially be any of the shows, couldn´t it?

Aike the Reuters report from the "The Business Behind the Show: Outlook for the Entertainment Industry" panel did not specify.
As far as business it probably would only be worth doing TNG (instead of DS9, VOY, ENT) since they would probably do a TNG-R down the road for HD anyway...

Aike what is your opinion on TOS and TNG separately?

 

[Hober Mallow]

On the one hand, I really like what they're doing with 3D now. On the other hand, my dad, who's been a Trek fan since the first episode in 1966, wouldn't be able to come on board because he can't see out of one eye, hence no 3D experience for him. A part of me thinks 3D is only going to be viable once it can be seen with your own eyes and not by wearing special gear like goofy looking glasses. How that would be possible, I don't know.

The other problem with 3D is that the camera is still doing a lot of the work for your eyes, which I've noticed kinda confuses my eyes at times in the theater. For instance, while watching Clash of the Titans, I noticed during scenes where the action is quick and things are darting in front of the camera, the camera is automatically focusing on the image I'm supposed to be looking at. If, however, my eye happens to wander to the wrong image, my eyes, thinking I'm looking at the three dimensional surface, try to focus on that blurry object instead. When the action moves too quickly, my eyes aren't sure where to focus, and I end up with a minor headache.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

A part of me thinks 3D is only going to be viable once it can be seen with your own eyes and not by wearing special gear like goofy looking glasses.

Holosuite.

3D is a mediocre substitute.

 

[Lord Garth]

I'd like to see them attempt Series VI in 3-D. It's what I'd rather they do.

If they wanted to do a pre-existing series in 3-D, I'm trying to imagine how they would do that. How do you take something that was shot for 2-D and make it 3-D effectively?

 

[Starbreaker]

You don't. It's all gimmicky crap when it's converted.

 

[DonnyBaker]

Id be more than happy if they went back to the original negatives or whatever and just did them up in HD with all new Special effects. But dont use the people who did the TOS-R effects. I think my 3rd grade special-ED class could do better than some of that crap. I swear to god they could...

 

[Training]

HD hasn't even killed of SD. Why fuss over 3-D? It will be atleast a few years off.

 

[Aike]

Can we be sure that they are actually talking about TOS. "Older episodes of Star Trek" could bascially be any of the shows, couldn´t it?

Aike the Reuters report from the "The Business Behind the Show: Outlook for the Entertainment Industry" panel did not specify.
As far as business it probably would only be worth doing TNG (instead of DS9, VOY, ENT) since they would probably do a TNG-R down the road for HD anyway...

Aike what is your opinion on TOS and TNG separately?

I like both shows. They´re two of the greatest shows ever made. But I wouldn´t wanna see them in 3D. I don´t think it would improve them one iota.

 

[Vanyel]

On the one hand, I really like what they're doing with 3D now. On the other hand, my dad, who's been a Trek fan since the first episode in 1966, wouldn't be able to come on board because he can't see out of one eye, hence no 3D experience for him. A part of me thinks 3D is only going to be viable once it can be seen with your own eyes and not by wearing special gear like goofy looking glasses. How that would be possible, I don't know.

The other problem with 3D is that the camera is still doing a lot of the work for your eyes, which I've noticed kinda confuses my eyes at times in the theater. For instance, while watching Clash of the Titans, I noticed during scenes where the action is quick and things are darting in front of the camera, the camera is automatically focusing on the image I'm supposed to be looking at. If, however, my eye happens to wander to the wrong image, my eyes, thinking I'm looking at the three dimensional surface, try to focus on that blurry object instead. When the action moves too quickly, my eyes aren't sure where to focus, and I end up with a minor headache.

Clash of the Titans was originally filmed in 2D. It was remastered into 3D. I never saw the new version, because I still think Medusa from the original CotT, just can't be beat. Friends who did see it in 3D didn't like it, they gave complaints similar to yours, while those who saw it in 2D thought better of it.

 

[Admiral Pike]

One of the advantages with 3D Star Trek is seeing interstellar vistas, spaceship battles, alien planets, and awesome aliens all in full-fledged 3D. Imo 3D doesn't really serve that much point for regular tv dramas or comedies. 3D has much more potential for films and series with exotic environments and creatures, like Scifi and fantasy. So in this regard I think 3D trek would definitely be interesting to watch, if nothing else then perhaps as a mini feature. Maybe something that ties in with the next trek movie.

Or, if live action 3D is too costly, then why not go all the way and make a full-fledged CGI Trek series in 3D?

 

[jefferiestubes8]

new Star Trek TV Series To 3-D

One of the advantages with 3D Star Trek is seeing interstellar vistas, spaceship battles, alien planets, and awesome aliens all in full-fledged 3D.

I agree. The possible conversion that this thread is about for older Trek series is not really going to look good similar to Clash of the Titans conversion after the film was shot & edited.
A live-action film shot in stereoscopic 3-D like Avatar must use a stereoscopic camera during production. There is a poll for the next film & discussion:
Poll: Star Trek 2012 in 3D, Yes or No?

if live action 3D is too costly, then why not go all the way and make a full-fledged CGI Trek series in 3D?

Again a poll has been created & discussion within:
Poll: A Star trek CGI series

3-D in the home is going to be a niche for 5-10 years if it ever goes mainstream. I think though if things were shot in 3-D they could have people at the cinema to watch them as limited engagement events such as a pilot for a new series. CBS Television though holds the key to unlocking that box.

 

[irunthis]

Star Trek in 3-D = Awesome

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Since there's been a lot of talk this early Summer about TNG-Remastered and CBS Television has already been mentioned as looking into converting TNG to 3-D today it was in the news that

According to DDD president and CEO Chris Yewdall, the company is able to convert 2D video into 3D for $10,000 per hour of content using a combination of an automated process with a human stereoscopic engineer.

CBS may be bringing 3D versions of its shows to a 24-hour cable network, and it has already demonstrated 2D-to-3D converted programming privately to several operators, according to industry sources familiar with the project.

The broadcast network is considering a strategy to gain distribution for the 3D channel through its retransmission-consent negotiations with cable, satellite and telco TV operators, according to one source.

However, another executive familiar with CBS's 3D tests said the network has not made a definitive decision on whether to move forward. "It is all very preliminary," this source said. "There are no solid plans to launch a network."

While nothing certain the fact that CBS owns star trek this would be an ideal place to launch a new trek series in 3-D say in 2016.

CBS Testing Waters For 3D Cable Net: Sources
Broadcaster Has Shown Private Demos of 2D-to-3D Converted Material

If they are testing new 2010s TV series for 3-D conversion or possibly older properties such as TNG-R that would be required to be retelecine'd to HD and go through the entire post process it is possible although a lot more investment on CBS's behalf for the new visual FX they would have to create in 3-D.

I still think if the next Trek on TV were animated 3-D would really make it better.

As far as their other high rated properties in the last 10 years:
Only season 1 of CSI was released on Blu-ray. It's possible CSI was selected as a possible 3-D conversion series and that's why they have held off on releasing the older seasons on Blu-ray for 2 years now.

 

[Captain Robert April]

As pointed out upthread, SD is still holding on strong in the face of a continual onslaught of HD (for the simple fact that most folks are not going to toss out a perfectly good tv for the sake of the newest flashy gadget, only to turn around and toss out that one for the next flashy gadget). So for the foreseeable future, if it ain't compatible with a standard definition television, it's not gonna get much traction with a mainstream audience.