Neal Coffey saw the future of 3-D technology after his former students interned at Sony Corp.’s 3-Ddivision. A year later, Coffey developed a class to cater to students at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

‘A year ago if you asked me about 3-D, I’d say it was a fad,’ said Coffey, manager of the Syracuse University video production unit of the Information Technology and Services department. ‘But I saw what professionals are producing in 3-D arena, and there were some quality products.’

The television, radio and film department is offering a one-credit elective course, called TRF 510: ‘3-D Production Workshop,’ on 3-D production. The first session began April 7, and the class currently meets Thursdays from 5 to 8:10 p.m.

With live DirecTV channels and 3-D Blu-ray on the market, Coffey said the consumer demand for 3-D has heightened. Basing the course lessons on his visits to digital production conferences and offices, Coffey brings what he has learned from practicing professionals to the Newhouse classroom.

With the school’s technology, he said he hopes the class will help students avoid creating ‘bad 3-D’ by mastering concepts of stereography, convergence and interaxial distances, as well as how those principles apply to traditional cinematic techniques.

The class is an expansion for new television, radio and film undergraduate and graduate students alike. Wes Purvis, a first-year graduate student studying telecommunications and network management, was drawn to the class because of his interest in new technology.

Though he graduated last year from SU with a bachelor’s degree in television, radio and film, he said he wants to better understand the future of 3-D through his graduate studies.

‘When I saw they were offering this class, I thought it was cool that Newhouse was keeping current with the technology trend,’ Purvis said. ‘3-D is a big industry trend right now, but not something you see much on the consumer end. I want to know why.’

Not only will students learn the concepts of 3-D filmmaking, they will also receive hands-on experience with $500,000 worth of equipments that Sony agreed to loan the class. However, the camera shipments were delayed because of the March 11earthquake andtsunami in Japan. Coffey said he hopes to get new equipment by some time this week.

‘Unfortunately, because of the disaster in Japan, their cameras are committed to other purposes,’ Coffey said. ‘I’ve got some consumer 3-D equipments that we’re playing with … but hopefully we’ll have some expensive cameras to do some demonstration this week.’

Purvis said he is certain the class will put students at an advantage in the industry.

‘Any tech or tool that you’re familiar with is only a benefit,’ Purvis said. ‘That sets you that much more ahead and above everybody else.’

With the consumer trend becoming more popular, Coffey said the technology has already begun to trickle down to become more streamlined for industry professionals.

‘It’s no longer a novelty. It’s a tool for contributing to storytelling,’ Coffey said. ‘You no longer need a half-million dollars to produce good 3-D. We’ve got a lot of great interests. It’s just going to generate momentum in the education sector, as well as research.’

Coffey has also taught television, radio and film specialized topics, such as TRF 510: ‘Light and Lens I & II,’ and said he hopes to add the 3-D production course as a third installment of the class series.

Coffey said this kind of class is a natural progression and helpful tool for students already studying cinematography.

‘Not enough people understand the 3-D technology,’ he said. ‘It’s up to us as educators in the industry to turn to students so when they emerge in the industry, they are proficient storytellers.

ngarunra@syr.edu

Published on April 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm