Ravensbourne 3D Storytelling Conference You Would be Mad to Miss

Dec 03, 2010 1 Comment by Jonathan Tustain

Ravensbourne’s 3D Storytelling Event Shaping Up to be 3D Event of 2011

ARTICLE UPDATE! - Here is an interview with the organisers of the Ravensbourne 3D Storytelling event, James Uren and Carie Wooten …

I returned to my academic routes on November 26th after being invited to the new state-of-the-art £70 million Ravensbourne College to discover more about its upcoming two day 3D conference – 3D Storytelling, in January 2011.

Situated right next to the O2 (former Millennium Dome), Ravensbourne is a world class digital media and design University College boasting facilities that would be the envy of many global broadcasters.

ravensbourne montage Ravensbourne 3D Storytelling Conference You Would be Mad to Miss

This was very a different Ravensbourne to the one I left in 2003 after completing a HND in Professional Broadcasting. Opened this summer after a major relocation from Chislehurst, the new and improved Ravensbourne is a stunningly designed giant cube bursting with tech and creativity.

I toured the digital production areas and was blown away by the facilities which included three HD TV studios, a HD virtual studio and Dolby Surround Sound Studio. These were surrounded by 60 Final Cut and Avid work stations, a grading suite, Dolby Mastering studio, automated playout system all connected through a render and transcode farm.

James Uren Quote1 Ravensbourne 3D Storytelling Conference You Would be Mad to Miss

Before I start sounding like a company brochure I will move on to why I was there.

3D Focus TV will be attending Ravensbourne’s first 3D conference on January 6^th and 7th and I spoke to Ravensbourne’s resident 3D guru and 3D Storytelling Co-Director, James Uren and Carrie Wooten, the Digital Creative Industries Network Manager.

Within a few minutes of speaking to them it was clear how committed Ravensbourne is to 3D. Some of the current 3D projects sound fascinating. I believe that Ravensbourne is in a unique position. Creativity, talent and fresh ideas can come to fruition due to the production tools on offer meaning innovative 3D content is bound to flourish. It would not surprise me if Ravensbourne becomes the world’s premier destination for 3D training (oops - I sound like a company brochure again!)

The 3D Storytelling conference in January will be a chance for people to visit Ravensbourne and enjoy 3D workshops, panel discussions and talks by some highly regarded companies including Inition, BSkyB, BBC R&D, Vertigo Films and Prime Focus.

I have attended several 3D events in the past but what most interests me about the Ravensbourne 3D Storytelling event is its unique approach. The overall theme is how 3D can be used to enhance and contribute to a story’s narrative, just as colour grading has been used since the advent of colour.

The event will be split into three strands – Edit, Script and Shoot and each session will fit into one category or all three. This is a really interesting angle as very often 3D events can focus too much on 3D technology rather than how 3D technology can be used creatively.

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For example, Kate Leys, a feature film script editor, will be speaking about screenwriting for 3D. In my opinion, good scripts and screenwriting will be essential for the success of 3D and it is refreshing that this aspect of 3D production is being covered.

There will be a lot happening over the two days. 3D Storytelling has pathways for pre-production, production and post so delegates can pick their way through a wide variety of seminars, panels and hands-on workshops and get the most out of this event.

Highlights from the schedule include…

Chris Parks, Founding Director of relativey new 3D production company Vision3 will kick it off with a half an hour talk about how 3D can be used for storytelling in film.
Andy Millns from Inition will be speaking about stereo fundamentals as well as holding all day drop in sessions for people to get to grips with 3D rigs.
James Richardson, co-founder of Vertigo Films, will be talking about what it was like to film Streetdance 3D.
2D – 3D conversion will be discussed and shown by Visual effects company Prime Focus who will be showing off their proprietary 2D – 3D conversion system, View D.
Celia Taylor, Commissioning Editor of factual and features for Sky 1, 2 and 3, will be doing the keynote speech on Friday – ’3D Storytelling in Broadcast’ plus another speech called the longtail of 3D.

Another interesting space will be one of the TV studios which will be hosting a 3D gaming exhibition.

This is just a fraction of what is going on. For the full 3D Storytelling schedule click here.

Finally, this is shaping up to be the premier 3D event of 2011 and the fact that it is free means, if you are into 3D, you would be mad not to get those two days off work. The event ends with a networking and drinks session on Friday too.

Ravensbourne Logo Ravensbourne 3D Storytelling Conference You Would be Mad to Miss The 3D Storytelling event starts 0900 Thursday January 6^th and ends 1700 on Friday January 7^th. The conference is a FREE event supported by the European Regional Development Fund. After the event, delegates will have access to conference materials and resources, and post questions on the Experts Exchange forum.