Stuart Warren-Hill Talks 3D

Stuart Warren-Hill is a 3D audio-visual pioneer; the co-founder of audio-visual duo Hextatic, co-founder of The Big Chill festival and now of Holotronica, a 3D event which will allow attendees to experience the music of Hextatic in three dimensions.

Warren-Hill also recently gave a masterclass talk at London's BFI Southbank on 3D filmmaking and is a judge and supporter of the Nintendo3DS short film competition, A Vision in 3D. Here he discusses his work, the Nintendo 3DS competition and why 3D really is the future.

What appealed to you about the Nintendo/BFI Film Forever project?

I have been interested in the Nintendo 3DS due to its glasses free screen, multi-user and internet capabilities. I have a long history of being involved in events held at the BFI as Hexstatic, and more recently my new project Holotronica. So I was honoured when when asked me to judge a 3D film competition and to meet the Nintendo team to find out more about possibilities with 3DS. My new project Holotronica is combining electronic music with emerging 3D and holographic technologies and I'm always looking for ways to release my 3D AV content on multiple platforms.

How important do you think it is to engage people, young or old, in filmmaking and new filmmaking technologies?

So much of what we see on TV and cinema is formulated and we are simply the viewer. Technology is allowing us to be the director, cameraman, editor and sound recordist and create our own worlds with little or no budget. DIY has always been the way for me; you can do so much with a computer.

Do you think access to filmmaking tools has improved people’s awareness of and participation in filmmaking?

Nintendo 3DS is a great example of bringing 3D (that was a specialised expensive format) to the masses. It is an easy solution in one box. OK, the resolution isn't HD, but it will be one day, so I look forward to that. 

3D filmmaking has had a resurgence in the last few years; why do you think that is and do you think it’s set to continue?

The big film companies like 3D because it is hard to pirate butI know there are mixed feelings about 3D as a cinematic experience. 3D can get in the way of a film's narrative with gimmicks, and you may enjoy a film better watching it in 2D.

I personally prefer three dimensions to two, hey we live in three dimensions so it's more natural to me. I'm still very excited by it personally as I'm taking it into my world of audio visual performance in artspaces, clubs and festivals. I feel it lends itself best to this genre because I do not have to bow to any depth restrictions you find in film and TV.

I have had comments like "best 3D they have seen" and "James Cameron should take notes here". I have had people ducking out of the way of objects and stars as they fly into a galaxy.

How different is the approach to 3D filmmaking than to non-3D filmmaking?

I feel that 3D isn't that much a leap from 2D. You do need to double your time rendering if, like me, you're making most of your 3D in 3D modelling software like Maya or Cinema 4D. 3D HD cameras are coming on the market and coming down in price. Editing software supports 3D now, as do post production apps like After Effects.

How did you get interested in filmmaking and technology?

I want to create immersive audio visual environments and this has been my mission for many years since before I co-founded the Big Chill 1993. I founded Hexstatic around that time and have been experimenting with how sound and visuals crossover. 

What do you think people who enter this competition will take from it?

The film entred could be weeks of work or made in just five minutes. I like that immediacy and ease of how something can be made, leaving the idea to really stand out. There are restrictions with shooting with the 3DS but that's a good thing. I like to have boundaries when creating as it leaves fewer options and really leaves the ideas as the most important thing.