Wanting to film Hiroshima in 3D

[Bravia3D]

Hello everyone,

My wife and I just got back from our 3 day trip to Hiroshima. We live on Kyushu island, so we had to drive to mainland Japan which took us about 2 hours to reach Yamaguchi and another 2 hours to reach Hiroshima. On the way we saw some beautiful scenery and stopped at the Kanmonkyo bridge "the worlds 34th largest suspension bridge" which connects Kyushu to mainland Japan to see the view.

Our first stop was Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima which is a very famous historic area. The shrine was built like a pier over the water, so that it appears to float once the tide gets high. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen here in Japan. Here are a few videos I found on Youtube showing some of it,

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima (Japan) - Travel Guide - YouTube

Holst: Japanese Suite (Miyajima Island / Itsukushima Shrine / Mt. Onsen) - YouTube

Near the shrine you take a very long rope way to Mt. Onsen where you can climb to the top "which takes about 30 minutes" and see the most amazing view, from the top you can see the Itsukushima Shrine which looks tiny from so high up and on clear days all of Hiroshima as well.


On our second day we went to the Yamato Museum in Kure Hiroshima which has a large display in the lobby of the Yamato Hiroba. The museum talks about the history of the Yamato and the Japanese navy, it has many cool attractions and a real Japanese Zero on display as well. Here is a video I found about it,

大和ミュージアãƒ* Yamato Museum エヴァBGM - YouTube

On our 3rd and final day we visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park which of course is dedicated to the atomic bomb dropping and all those who died. Hiroshima was the first city in the world that suffered a nuclear attack followed by Nagasaki.
The Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims is near the center of the park and is a saddle-shaped monument formed out of concrete that covers a cenotaph holding the names of all of the people killed by the bomb.
Children's Peace Monument was built to commemorate Sadako Sasaki and the thousands of other child victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Sadako was only 2 years old when the atomic bomb dropped and was blown out her window. Her mother ran out of the house expecting her dead but she found her daughter still alive. For years Sadako seemed normal but in 1954 she developed swellings on her neck and behind her ears. In January 1955, purple spots had formed on her legs. Then she was diagnosed with leukemia. Sadako died on the morning of October 25, 1955 at the age of 12.

The Flame of Peace represents two wrists pushed together with open palms facing up, which reflects the victims who were unable to satisfy their thirst for water. Because of the extreme radiation and black rain, water was contaminated. Many were forced to drink the contaminated water just to satisfy their thirst. This led to horrible slow and painful deaths for them.

The A bomb dome, were the atomic bomb detonated almost directly above is a building that still stands to this day. It was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List based on the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Inside the museum you can see everything from how the atomic bomb nicked named Little Boy was made and why America decided to use nuclear weapons against Japan. They show photos and videos of the victims, radiation effects and numerous stories. They have toys, clothing, clocks, bicycles and many other things that were in the blast on display. To walk the whole museum takes about 2 hours, there is just so much to witness.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park - YouTube

For me, just seeing this brought tears to my eyes. I could not believe how bad the nuclear blast was and all the damage that was done. Over 70,000 people were killed instantly, and another 70,000 suffered fatal injuries from the radiation. Photos of kids with their skin melting off, lost loved ones and people literally burning alive.
And to this very day numerous suffer from the causes of the radiation.. Parents had kids with problems, those kids grew up and have had kids with problems.... It was said that Hiroshima could never be a city again, that it would take 75 years for any plant life to even grow once more. Yet, now Hiroshima is a massive city that has conquered all odds and thrived. It is a truly beautiful place full of history and everyone who lives there prays that there will never be nuclear war ever again. It amazes me... Me, being an American going to such a place where my people.. My country wiped out their entire city killing so many. Yet the Japanese embrace me, treat me so kind and tell me their amazing stories. I talked to a man for hours who was 93 years old that told me his amazing surviving story. If I was Japanese I think I would have such a strong hate towards America for what happen, but truly the Japanese don't which is something I may never understand.


Hiroshima truly inspired me and I really want to go back and film everything in 3D. I had brought my 3D equipment along but we visited on a holiday week and everywhere was so packed I couldn't set up and use it. I think filming this in 3D and telling the history so everyone can learn and experience it would be amazing and I am dying to get back and do it. The problem is my wife and I spent over $1,000 while there and me going back would cost about $500 I would need a hotel and about 4-5 days to get all the footage I would want. Not to mention I'd have to pay for food, entrance to all the places and transportation.

So I am asking for donations "yes I know" it sounds lame, and yes I know I have my own business selling 3D movies and other 3D items so I should have money. The truth is, yes I make plenty of money with my website, but we use some of that cash to buy supplies and the rest is donated to the Fukashima victims who yes, still need help to this day. Donations would help so I can continue using profits off my site to help the victims still.

Something inside me, after seeing all this is telling me to go back and do this so others can witness and feel the way I did while viewing it all in 3D. I feel like others around the world should be able to see Hiroshima and view it's history and not everyone can just fly to Japan and do that.
If I can raise enough money, I will take a bullet train there and film everything in 24p 1080 high quality 3D and use my base extender outside to get extreme depth shots which would be breath taking filming Itsukushima Shrine and Peace Park and then use my closeup adapter to film museum items such as the coins, watches and other small items they have on display. I'd also try to use my quadcopter and get some aerial 3D of the park "If they allow me"
I would of course narrate my movie explaining in great detail all the history and items shown. And, for those that donate if you include your full name when donating I shall include it at the end of my video as "those who helped this movie become a reality" so your name shall be listed in the movie showing that YOU helped make it possible.
I am very passionate and serious about this and truly dying to get back and do this, so thank anyone that helps.

If you'd like to donate, any amount no matter how big or small can help make this a reality. Just send by Paypal to sheepdog_jp@yahoo.com and put "Hiroshima 3D donation" I will save your name and once the movie is complete add it at the end. If you wish to send as anonymous that is fine also. You have my 100% guarantee the donations will go towards the movie. Once again thank you, and please feel free to disuss this below if you'd like or ask any questions. But please, no negative comments about Japan or racism.

[Bravia3D]

By the way, the closeup adapter allows me to film objects super close up in 3D with amazing high quality. So I'd be able to film the small pocket watches or other items up close with high detail.
An example of just how good it looks can be seen here,

Macro World 3D - YouTube

A small video I made using the adapter and threw together in 10 minutes.

And the base extender allows me to great depth when shooting outside or long hallways. An example of just how good it looks can be found here,

Huis Ten Bosh Extreme 3D Demo - YouTube

A video of one movie I am working on which uses the base extender to give it great 3D depth.

[Bravia3D]

No one interested hmmm?

[Big3dfan]

Originally Posted by Bravia3D

No one interested hmmm?

Very touching thread.

You may be better off starting a serious project on http://www.kickstarter.com/

You will be able to appeal to a wider audience in a structured setup where you can propose your project and get funding at a wider scale that could elicit a massive response than a few 3D enthusiasts on these web pages.

All the Best !

[Bravia3D]

Thanks for the idea, I shall look into that.

[Jsmith82]

I second kickstart, Bravia3d - it's exactly what you need in this case and I've watched a friend successfully launch a professional demo for his band, all the while giving away merch which does nothing but promote themselves all covered under the goal cost of his proposed project.

In all honesty, I would be inclined to make a nice "prize sized" donation if I saw the idea was starting to take flight - especially after seeing the quality of your Macro short.

I know you have made a couple other indi-tour flicks, consider throwing in copies to specific donation levels. Make some cheapo Blazin3D T-shirts. Burn that Macro World 3D onto a seperate disc and buy some paper disc inserts to package it. Buy like 5 or 10 souvenirs while you're out filming, like a famous picture blown up into a poster - something cheap yet manageable on your budget. You then limit the prizes accordingly, obviously you give away more of the cheaper donations and limit the hefty ones.

Here's the idea:

(unlimited available)
$10 - secured copy of the movie once finished
- free shipping

(unlimited available)
$20 - secured copy of the movie once finished
- free shipping
- free bonus disc, Macro World 3D

(40 available)
$30 - secured copy of the movie once finished
- free shipping
- free Blazin3D T-shirt
- free bonus disc, Macro World 3D

(25 available)
$40 - secured copy of the movie once finished
- free shipping
- free Blazin3D T-shirt
- free bonus disc, Macro World 3D
- free bonus disc, Marine World 3D

(10 available)
$50 - secured copy of the movie once finished
- free shipping
- free Blazin3D T-shirt
- free bonus disc, Macro World 3D
- free bonus disc, Marine World 3D
- Souvenir from on set in Hiroshima

You would have to produce per donation a professional boxed copy of the Hiroshima 3D BR3D and a copy of the Macro World 3D BR3D (paper insert for packaging) per 20.00 donation up, however the rest is limited merch and costs can be predetermined then added to your project goal.

Just food for thought, but if you do it be sure to come back and let us know!

[Big3dfan]

And when you succeed in ways beyond expectation, please don't forget to send a free copy and may be make us 1% partners in profit

[Bravia3D]

Its a great idea, thank you! I'll have to set up a US bank account as it seems they only take US accounts and not Japanese. That shouldn't be to hard but will take some time. I had closed my account in the US because I never even used it since I live in Japan.

[Jsmith82]

Originally Posted by Bravia3D

Its a great idea, thank you! I'll have to set up a US bank account as it seems they only take US accounts and not Japanese. That shouldn't be to hard but will take some time. I had closed my account in the US because I never even used it since I live in Japan.

What about paypal? I'm sure you could route to an account from kickstart, or at least it would seems like an option they would include...

May be easier for you.

[kwrobbins]

Hi Josh, donation sent.

[Bravia3D]

Thank you!

Got another movie coming out soon that will blow the mini Micro World movie on Youtube I made away. I went out in the Nagasaki woods and filmed some bugs and got some of the most amazing 3D shots I have ever done.