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Conference bookie::movies

Title:Movie Reviews and Discussion
Notice:Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie!
Moderator:VAXCPU::michaudo.dec.com::tamara::eppes
Created:Thu Jan 28 1993
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1249
Total number of notes:16012

640.0. "360 degrees projection" by 3149::TEAM::LEUNG (Stranger in a Strange Land) Fri Sep 09 1994 22:26

	Note 229.11 was mentioning a type of cinema shown in Epcot Center
	in Florida.  The screen is just above eye level, about 10 feet 
	high, but it wraps around you 360 degrees.  I remembered seeing 
	a movie on "America the Beautiful" in Disneyland (Los Angeles) 
	years ago.

	Since that note is really about Omnimax and Imax, I'll start a 
	new topic and ask my questions here.

	What is this cinema/technology called ?

	My guess is that multiple cameras are used to take the pictures and
	multiple projectors are used to show the movie, how does it get
	all synchronized ?

	Any idea on who makes such technology ?

	Thanks.	
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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640.1REGENT::POWERSMon Sep 12 1994 13:4810
What you see is what it is:  9 cameras in a ring shoot out, 9 projectors
around the hall play it back.  (You can see the projectors shooting
out between each pair of screens.)
Synchronization is easy - just start at the projectors on the same frame
and they stay in synch by counting frames.
(There may be inter-projector signals to help ensure this.)

The three-screen version was called Cinerama in the '60s.
I've never seen the 360 version other than at Disney parks 
and the occasional world's fairs.
640.2Circle-Vision 36011666::HERRINGTue Sep 13 1994 16:236
    This attraction at Walt Disney World is called Circle-Vision 360.
    It is in Tomorrowland, and is currently closed as part of a general
    overhaul of Tomorrowland. When it reopens the attraction will be called
    Transportarium, but it will feature a Circle-Vision presentation.
    
    Steve H.
640.334838::PENFROYJust Do It or Just Say No?Tue Sep 13 1994 18:469
    
    Epcot Center also has a Circle-Vision 360 theater in the Canada
    exhibit. They show a 360 degree view of flying through parts of Canada.
    You can turn around and see out the back of the plane or look ahead and
    see the front view. There are no seats in the theater so you can turn
    around at will. Really pretty neat.

    Paul

640.4Computer Graphics, too...QUARRY::reevesJon Reeves, UNIX compiler groupWed Sep 14 1994 22:203
One of the Disney installations includes a computer graphic segment.  I
saw a documentary on the making of that piece somewhere.  Obviously, a
slightly different technique from the live action :-).
640.5Disney only3149::TEAM::LEUNGStranger in a Strange LandThu Sep 15 1994 19:495
	Interesting to note that the only places that anyone have seen 
	such movies are at Disney locations.  I wonder if Disney  
	have a lock on the technology.  Maybe it is only suitable for
	theme parks, but then I don't remember seeing it elsewhere, not 
	that I have been to a lot of amusement parks.
640.6Canada and China too11666::HERRINGFri Sep 16 1994 16:358
    Re: .3 
    
    Paul is right, Epcot Center at Disney World does feature Circle-
    Vision presentations. I believe both Canada and China provide
    360 degree films. France also has a very wide screen film, perhaps
    180 degrees, and the audience can sit down.
    
    Steve H.
640.758776::S_BURRIDGEFri Sep 16 1994 16:444
    I remember seeing a "360-degree" film at Expo '67, when I was a kid. 
    Subject was the RCMP "Musical Ride."  I haven't seen any since.
    
    -Stephen