Michael Watchulonis
Executive Producer, 3DigitalVision
Michael has more than 14 years of experience in factual programming and
entertainment. He entered the 3D world in 2007, when he was asked to script
a 3D large-format film project. Since then, he has supported pre-production
and production of several large-format 3D film projects and the 3D
initiatives of major media companies. 3DigitalVision began producing its
own content in late 2009, when the team saw that the market for 3D docs was
about to emerge. They have provided 3D HD content to 3net, Virgin Media,
RealD, NVIDIA, Texas Instruments, and others.
Its latest film, “Alligator Kingdom 3D” premiered on Virgin Media’s 3D
service and is being distributed world-wide by experienced 3D partners such
as Global Media Consult. Here is a short promo in HD.
Alligator Kingdom 3D is the first-ever 3D HD documentary shot in the
protected areas of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This
stereoscopic natural history film explores the swamp’s complex ecosystem and
the crucial role played by the American Alligator- one of the last great
free-roaming predators on earth. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Michael
Watchulonis, expert 3D HD photography creates a magic carpet ride into
remote areas of one of the last great black water swamps. The Native
Americans called it “Land of the Trembling Earth”. It is a stunning
landscape forged by fire and ruled by ancient predators. The film enlists
renowned alligator biologist Dr. Kent Vliet, of the University of Florida,
to delve into the alligator’s physiology with spectacular skull specimens
and fully articulated skeletons. Vliet’s world-class field, laboratory, and
classroom experience expertly takes the audience from nose to tail as he
illustrates the alligator’s unique abilities and predatory techniques honed
over millions of years of evolution. Beyond the awe-inspiring alligator,
Alligator Kingdom 3D also showcases the swamp’s exquisite plants and
insects. Viewers will reach out to touch bizarre and carnivorous Sundew
plants, acrobatic dragonflies, and agile corn snakes. The 3D photography
gets close enough to see how a dragonfly breathes as it eats its
still-kicking prey. The film also revisits the catastrophic 2007 swamp
wildfire, the largest in the Okefenokee’s recorded history
The biggest challenge to producing Alligator Kingdom was shooting in a
remote swamp for several weeks. Chasing alligators and dragonflies in a 700
square mile swamp in only a foot of water in the blazing sun makes for some
long days. But the team is proud to have captured the very first natural
history film in one of the last great blackwater swamps on earth.
Link to read behind the scenes details:
http://3digitalvision.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/making-alligator-kingdom-3d-a
-3d-hd-documentary/
We avoid “bad 3D” by shooting almost exclusively with a beamsplitter and
adhering to the published 3D guidelines from the major 3D TV players. We
keep very, very close tabs on convergence, focus, and maximum parallax to
make sure our footage has proper depth and is always comfortable to watch.
We also keep detailed metadata for every shot. And now that the whole team
has several hundred hours shooting 3D in the field, we can move quite
quickly.
Our team members have written, produced, directed, or shot docs for major
networks, so combining our storytelling skills with 3D skills allows us to
fully produce 3D HD films in-house.
Our next projects are more natural history films like “Alligator Kingdom” as
well as a series called “Super Machines 3D”, which explores the design and
construction of cutting edge “machines” such as advanced electric cars,
military vehicles, giant excavators, etc. We’ll be announcing the first
episode soon.
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