How to Shoot a Homemade 3D Movie

Exploring how to shoot a 3D movie doesn't always require costly equipment. It is possible to shoot something using the older 3D technology used decades ago. While professional 3D projects shown in mainstream theaters demand for much financial investments, home movie 3D projects can also be produced by anyone with a decent pair of cameras, a computer, and a modified tripod mount. It also requires a 3D conversion software, which is typically available for free download, and a pair of anaglyph 3D glasses, which is easy to do on your own and also quite cheap to buy in retail.

The concept of shooting a movie in 3D simply follows how the human eyes work. Like the left and right eyes seeing things in reality, there should be a left and right footage to come up with a 3D movie. Anaglyph 3D can perhaps be described as "the poor man's 3D" of today. It practically caters to a much wider audience compared to the standard used in commercial 3D filmmaking. This is because it is the only type of 3D technology (so far) that can be readily accessed even through Internet viewing. This means that any anaglyph 3D project you do can be readily viewed by anyone in the world with decent Internet connection and functional anaglyph 3D glasses, also known as the red-cyan glasses.

1. Select the two cameras to use for the shoot. It is most ideal to use two identical cameras (the same manufacturer and camera model) so the quality and resolution of your left and right footage would generally be the same.

2. Label or put an identifying mark on each camera or each one's memory card for your left and right video clips. This is to ensure that you don't mix up the left and right footage you need to process during post-production.

3. Set up the two video cameras in a way that they mimic the left and right eyes. As they are supposed to record the left and right footage, make a do-it-yourself 3D rig or a simple mount that can carry the two cameras on the same tripod. You may either do this on your own or you can buy some equipment online or in video stores. The idea of keeping the two cameras on the same mount is to make sure that they are on the same linear plane and they are at a considerable distance away from each other.

Although professional works require more specific mathematical computations and creative decisions coming from a stereographer, an amateur video project can already make-do with a benchmark distance of 2.5 to 20 inches from one lens to the other.

4. Record each shot for your movie using both cameras. Unless your cameras are synchronized when shooting via an external device, provide enough time allowance when pressing the "Record" and "Stop" buttons to make sure you complete your coverage for each shot. To sync the footage during post-production, use a clapperboard when filming to include the sound coming from each shot, then simply match the visuals with the clapper sound during editing.

5. Transfer both camera's footage to the computer and create folders catering to the "left" and "right" camera clips.

6. Open the clips in a 3D conversion software like Stereo 3D Camera Driver or VirtualDub. Apply specific color adjustments to your footage based on how the program requires them, then process your 3D footage accordingly. You may want to edit your footage or simply view them unedited.

7. Wear your anaglyph 3D glasses, then start watching your 3D movie.