Come this fall, it will be possible to get a BA degree with a concentration in stereoscopic 3D. To earn this degree you will have to enroll in the interdisciplinary program to be offered at the School of Cinematic Arts at the world’s first film school, the University of Southern California.

Art Berman
Insight Media Consultant

Perhaps neither aspect of this development should come as all that much of a surprise.

The "demand" side of the equation was explained by Scott Fisher the Chairman of USC’s Interactive Media Division in an interview with "Variety." He stated that the new program was created in response to increasing demand from Hollywood studios for people knowledgeable in 3D technology and production.

Fisher went on to say that, "We’re getting so many requests from industry to provide them with this kind of background in stereoscopic imaging because they’re making more and more films and need that kind of talent to move things forward."

From the "Why USC" side, it can be pointed out that this is the institute of higher education where George Lucas, Spike Lee and Robert Zemeckis went to school and developed their skills. Other alumni include Pixar’s John Lasseter (My Bloody Valentine 3D), film director Randall Kleiser and faculty member Michael Peyser, the executive produced last year’s "U2 3D" film. USC is also collaborating on 3D related matters with major players in the industry such as Sony, HP and Electronic Arts.

The program will provide instruction related to all aspects of 3D technology. It will also span a wide range of media including narrative based productions such as movies and scripted television as well as gaming and immersive media. The class work will be accompanied by a strong hands-on component that will serve to provide students the opportunity to master new 3D techniques and technologies.

Fisher pointed out that, while the technology itself is undeniably important, the program will focus on developing its pictorial language.

Offering a few examples of what he had in mind, Fisher stated that "We have a good sense of the differences (between 2D and stereoscopic 3D), simple things like not making quick cuts between, say, a nearfield scene and a landscape because it hurts your eyes." Fisher said that filmmakers are just beginning to test out such techniques as upping the perception of depth to heighten emotional impact.

USC Professor Perry Hoberman, who will help lead the program, explained that, "Visual media from cave paintings onward has, until now, always been two dimensional, where composition and other pictorial tricks are used to give the illusion of 3D."

"3D takes up that burden of creating space, so that you can have very different kinds of images and different kinds of visual styles that will work in 3D that wouldn’t have worked in 2D."

Two thoughts come to mind regarding the motivation for the new 3D program at USC. One less charitable train of thought is that USC is riding the crest of the latest Hollywood wave to grow the department. I prefer to think that it constitutes a validation by a preeminent University that 3D has come of age. In either case, USC is out front in the offering of a 3D curriculum. It will not come as a surprise if other institutions of higher learning follow in their wake.

Any bets on when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will offer an Oscar for "The Best Movie Filmed in 3D?"