3D Convention Coming to SoCal This July

LOS ANGELES—The National Stereoscopic Association, the nation's largest organization devoted to three-dimensional (3D) photography and videography, will be holding its 38th annual convention in Costa Mesa on July 25-30. This year's show is being produced mainly by members of the LA 3D Club, several of whom have served on convention committees in the past—and they've even produced a 3D video, available on YouTube, to promote the convention. (To view the video, as well as the photo accompanying this article, you'll need red/blue 3D glasses.) The convention will take place at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa Hotel, located at 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; phone 714-540-7000 for reservations, with a special room rate available for convention attendees until July 1. Among the activities which may interest attendees are panel discussions, image competitions, award banquets, excursions to southern California sites where participants can shoot 3D photos and videos, and (new this year) a "Stere-O-Deon" patterned after the Nickelodeons of the past, where people can enter a booth and watch slideshows of 3D images, including classic Viewmaster reels, displayed in viewers right before their eyes. Since recent advances in technology have assured that 3D is here to stay in the national media, cable TV and Hollywood movies, adult producers and directors who are interested in learning about the most up-to-date 3D techniques can discuss 3D filmmaking with people who have produced their own 3D movies, professional and amateur during the convention's several workshops on 3D production. Of particular interest to adult fans will be the "Adult Stereo Theater" which usually takes place the Friday night of the convention. After spending the day seeing the art exhibits, watching 3D videos and slide shows, attending 3D auctions, renewing old acquaintances and looking for deals on 3D cameras and collectables, it's not unusual to have anywhere between 200 and 400 attendees (no one under 18 admitted) settle down for late-evening adult 3D viewing. This year, in additional other exhibitors, it is expected that the Adult Stereo Theater will include a slide show by this author of 3D photos he's taken on adult movie sets over the course of the year, as well as 3D promotional reels from adult's most prominent 3D producers: Hustler Video, showcasing the 3D movies they've released on DVD, and Penthouse, which will draw on the fare shown on its European 3D erotic satellite channels. None of the shows have hardcore, but there's nudity galore. Registration materials for the convention can be found here; a "3D Village" can be seen this Sunday at the San Mateo County Event Center's Maker Faire; and many of the convention planners can be found at the next meeting of the LA 3D Club on Thursday, June 21 at the Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond St., Pasadena 91103 (map). Pictured, l-r: Eric Swiss, Bailey Blue and Anthony Rosano in Will Ryder Productions' Not the Three Stooges XXX.