PRESS RELEASE: 24/01/03

The U.S. touring production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Starlight Express, designed by John Napier for Troika Entertainment, features the world’s first use of a stereoscopic video projection system in a theatre production.

The ‘Duality’ projection system, designed by London-based 3D imaging specialists Inition, recreates the race track action that was an integral part of the original stage show at the Apollo Victoria, London.

Touring North American theatres, playing no more than a few weeks in each city, meant the logistics of building the racetrack in each theatre were impossible to achieve.

So the producers turned to a completely new solution – full colour, high definition 3D back projection, using a specially developed high-brightness Duality rig.

Although 3D projection has featured in themed entertainment installations, this is the first time it has gone on the road. "The key elements," says Inition Technical Director James Gant, "are our 3DVidBox movie playback system and our Duality stereoscopic projection system, consisting of four 7700 lumen UXGA projectors."

Although 3D film projection has been around almost since the invention of movies, until recently digital projection systems have lacked the resolution and brightness to create sufficiently large scale 3D images for use in theatres.

The specifications of the playback system were demanding - two frame-synchronised UXGA (1600 x 1200) video channels at 30fps, along with 8 channels of audio. Inition worked with German firm Iridas to customise their Digital Cinema Playback System (DCPS) for Stereoscopic replay. The 3DVidBox HD playback systems are very compact, based on OpenGL accelerated, rack mounted PCs.

starlight express 3D film

One of the most important demands of the system was achieving adequate brightness for the 30-foot screen. Inition’s most powerful Duality projection system to date consists of four UXGA 7700-lumen projectors, two for each channel (or eye), offering a bright, crisp image at this scale. Rear projection was a must to avoid building a front of house projection tower. This meant that, because of space limitations in certain theatres on the tour, super wide-angle lenses were used allowing a throw distance of under 25 feet.

The stereoscopic effect is created by mounting polarising filters on the lenses and providing the audience with polarising 3D glasses. The video footage is projected through these filters onto a special, non-depolarising screen.

The makers of the 3D film, Principal Large Format, introduced Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group team to Inition during their work on the IMAX production of Bugs!, narrated by Judi Dench. Principal shot the race sequences using dual HD cameras and Inition provided a full-scale screening of the completed HD films for Andrew Lloyd Webber in the IMAX cinema at Waterloo in London before they were shipped to the USA.

“I don’t think the audience realized that they were about to witness the real world debut of this technology, but once the show began they responded. Their gasps and ‘oohs’ made all the hard work worthwhile,” says Inition creative director Andy Millns. “From my experience, this is a common reaction when people see modern 3D projection for the first time. They just can’t believe how good it is. A voice informs the audience that the race is about to begin and instructs them to put on their ‘safety goggles’. The audiences love it!”

“This is not just a first in theatre,” adds Inition MD Stuart Cupit, “it’s a sign of things to come.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Inition was formed in 2001 by Stuart Cupit, James Gant, Chris Sutton and Andy Millns. The team has a passion for 3D graphics and provde a range of virtual reality (a.k.a. VizSim) and graphics products and services, including the recently launched Duality range of stereoscopic projection rigs,3DVidBox HD Stereoscopic replay systems, and the 3DVidRig – a low-cost stereoscopic filming rig – used by Inition themselves during their 3D shoots.

Production manager for ‘Starlight Express’ is James Milburn; set moves are accomplished using an automated variable speed chain motor from Tomcat, and the set was fabricated by F&D Scene Changes of Calvary, Alberta. Christie Lites of Orlando, Florida supplied the lighting rig for lighting designer Rick Belzer. Sound is by Specialised Audio Visual Inc of New York, with sound designer Mark Norfolk and consultant Mick Potter.

The American touring production of Starlight Express is scheduled to run at least until the end of the 2003.

More images and a video taken from the Starlight Express 3D film can be viewed here and at Inition. Please contact for more details.

To contact Principal Large Format click here.

 

CONTACT DETAILS

 

James Gant / Andy Millns, Inition Ltd

Tel. +44 (0)20 7613 5004

Fax +44 (0)20 7613 2944

Email:inition@inition.co.uk

Web: http://www.inition.co.uk/

79 Leonard St, London EC2A 4QS, United Kingdom

 

Mike Lethby / Sarah James, Gasoline Media

Tel: +44 (0)1372 744333

Fax: +44 (0)1372 744334

Email: info@gasolinemedia.com

Web: www.gasolinemedia.com