Fonte Nova Stadium implosion captured in 3D

(Em Português: uma reportagem sobre o documentário em 3D) The implosion of the Fonte Nova Stadium – Em Português: uma reportagem sobre o documentário em 3D)

The implosion of the Fonte Nova Stadium – the climax of our first 3D documentary production – has happened!

Controlled Demolition Inc. pressed the button at 10:27 a.m. in Salvador, Brazil.

The event was captured by several spectators from outside the 250-metre safety perimeter – stills and some video footage have been posted on Correio*.


Some 700 kilograms of explosives were used to take the structure down.

Ian Herring and the rest of the Parallax Film Productions crew had almost 20 camera systems rolling to capture this explosive event in 3D for the series Blowdown. These units, many custom-made, were positioned outside – and inside – the arena.

It’s the first implosion ever to be shot in stereo for international broadcast.

The Fonte Nova Stadium stood for almost six decades. At a maximum capacity recorded at 110, 438, it was one of the largest stadiums in the world.

It closed its doors amidst tragedy in 2007 after seven people were killed and 40 injured when a section of the upper bowl collapsed.

A new 2014 World Cup facility, the Bahia Arena, is slated to replace it.

Construction is scheduled to begin after the site is cleared.

More to come …

–Nicole Tomlinson

UPDATE: Fonte Nova Stadium implosion captured in 3D

(Em Português: uma reportagem sobre o documentário em 3D)

The Parallax Film Productions crew has uploaded footage from the climax of our first 3D documentary production – the Fonte Nova Stadium implosion in Salvador, Brazil.

There were a few challenges leading up to the event – last-minute rigging as stereographer Sean White positioned some 20 camera systems, many custom made, to capture the explosive demolition in stereo for the series Blowdown:

 

Once the camera units were all in place, the crew moved out of the arena and took position on the other side of the safety perimeter.

And a siren meant to signal the five-minute warning for the implosion continued to go off as the stadium came down – you can hear it as Ian Herring films the demolition with his Lumix:

 

But the overall mission – to capture the first ever implosion in stereo for international broadcast – was an explosive success.

All camera systems were rolling when the arena came down, including several kill cams positioned inside the stadium to capture unprecedented 3D footage ultra close.

Then the crew hustled to get post-Blowdown interviews and dig kill cam footage out of the massive debris pile – success!

Next they took a bit of time to relax before tackling one epic gear pack-up.

They’ll make their way back to Vancouver, Canada tomorrow.

Now we’re adrift in the quasi calm before another stereo storm …

Once the footage arrives back, our post production journey into the third dimension begins.

What a ride.

–Nicole Tomlinson

Shooting a 3D documentary: positioning implosion cams around the Fonte Nova Stadium

The explosive climax of our first 3D documentary production – the implosion of the Fonte Nova Stadium in Salvador, Brazil – is just days away.

Close to 20 camera systems will capture this high-profile event in stereo for the explosive demolition series Blowdown when Controlled Demolition Inc. pushes the button on August 29.

The production crew’s challenge: scope out the best places to put these cameras.

Ian Herring and the rest of the team have already nailed down locations for most of the kill cams. These systems will be placed inside the stadium, destined to be annihilated by the implosion as they capture the event ultra close.

Next, they have to decide where to position our perimeter cams.

So they hit the neighbourhood to scout out the best spots.

Stereographer Sean White explores a piece of Salvador …

… and checks out a tentative camera position

The crew also snapped some VFX plate shots of the stadium while they were offsite.

Our compositor, Jakub Kuczynski, will use these stills to create a 3D model of the structure.

This stereoscopic photo-real stadium will stand long after the real venue falls: we’ll use it in the show to orient the audience, share implosion scenarios, reveal explosive demolition details, etc.

T-3 days.

–Nicole Tomlinson

Shooting a 3D documentary: mounting kill cams in the Fonte Nova Stadium

Ian Herring and the rest of the Parallax Film Productions crew are busy shooting our first 3D documentary at the Fonte Nova Stadium in Salvador, Brazil.

They’ve spent the last few days conducting interviews and covering prep for the stadium’s implosion, slated to take place on August 29.

They’re also figuring out where to position some 20 camera systems that will capture the event for the explosive demolition series Blowdown. As far as we know, this will be the first implosion ever filmed in 3D.

Some cameras will be placed outside the structure – some will be placed inside.

Called kill cams, the latter units are custom-designed to capture the implosion from POVs no human being could ever witness safely and store the data so it survives even as the cameras are annihilated by tons of concrete, rebar and debris.

After the implosion, the crew will dig the footage out of the rubble.

Parallax Film Productions has strategically placed cameras inside condemned structures before – such as the Hoyt. S Vandenberg, scuttled off the coast of Florida, the RCA Dome, imploded in Indiana, and Ocean Tower condominium complex, taken down on South Padre Island.

But this kill cam operation has never been attempted in 3D. This time, two cameras on a custom-designed side by side rig will be mounted at each location.

Ian scouts prime spots for these unprecedented systems

 

Crew salvages material from the stadium to mount the kill cams

 

Kill cam footage from the Ocean Tower condominium complex

 

 

Now imagine POVs like these … in stereo.

Seriously. It’s going to rock.

–Nicole Tomlinson