"Stereoscopic 3-D is the most exciting evolution in cinema presentation since color and widescreen. The question for film-makers is not 'why 3 D?,' since the reasons are obvious, at least to audiences, and the negatives have all been removed. The question should be 'how do I make 3D a part of my art?'"
-James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic, T2)
It's not a decision you should make lightly, but having a 3D version of your film can add significantly to its hopes of distribution. Even the web is starting to embrace 3D films, with Youtube 3D and several other destinations popping up all over the ether. So how do you make your movie in 3D? Too complicated? Not anymore. Like the recent Red and Redrock revolution, even 3D tools are coming down within reach of us low-budget plebians. The best and most cost effective tool is Dashwood's Stereo 3D Toolbox for FXFactory.
First of all, don't think you're just going to shoot your film and then make it 3D in post. It's a decision you need to make in preproduction, which will allow you to plan your shots properly. If you think about what 3D actually is, it's just like when you experience the world with both eyes open. The combination of your two eyes linking information gives your brain detailed info about depth, which keeps you from running into the car in front of you...hopefully. What I'm getting at is you need to shoot your project with two cameras. (At least, any of the 3D sequences.) There's no big trick to it, just set them next to each other like a pair of eyes. When the new RED Epic and modular Scarlet come out, you will actually have the option to mount two of the camera bodies on the same frame, so it will be much simpler to shoot 3D.
Second, you need to get FXFactory. (Only available for Mac, sorry PC folks!) It's a fantastic program, and has an open platform so that even you can create your own effects and transitions for FCP and AE. There are several great plugins that come with FXFactory, and free trials of others, including Stereo 3D Toolbox, which you'll definitely want to purchase after you try if you're doing true stereoscopic 3D work. (One brilliant cinematographer/stereographer, Tim Dashwood, has put in the gruntwork on this one.)
If you have footage you have shot in 3D, you will find this to be a remarkably simple process. The plugin works with the drag-and-drop principle, allowing you to sync up your Left Eye and Right Eye clips and easily make adjustments after that. Quite often you will find several little problems in post when you've shot in 3D. Sometimes the horizon lines don't match...sometimes just converging the two images creates gaps or borders, things you just can't have in 3D filmmaking. These things are easily adjusted in the effect controls.
Everything is very familiar and easy to operate, but you have to learn as you go, as far as what you are attempting to accomplish. With renders taking a good amount of time, it takes a while to get the hang of just what you are trying to accomplish. Luckily there are several well thought out video tutorials on Dashwood's website.
