Encounter in the Third Dimension
Encyclopedia
Encounter in the Third Dimension (sometimes referred to as Encounter in the Thrid Dimension due to the title screen's spelling error) is a 3-D film
directed by Ben Stassen
and Sean McLeod Phillips. It was released in the US on March 31, 1999. It has been shown in 3-D theaters and released on DVD with 3-D glasses, in both 2-D and 3-D format.
) does an intro for the Institute of 3-D Technology, but the intro dies, so the Professor uses the Letter Cannon for the title of the movie. However, it spells the word "third" "thrid", so the Professor activates the spell correction, resulting in the lab's screen being destroyed and several fires being started, which are put out by the Professor's robot assistant, M.A.X. (Stuart Pankin
). The Professor has a new system called Real O Vision for 3-D technology, and to demonstrate has Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson
) perform a haunted house song, but the machine still has some bugs in it and traps Elvira between the second and third dimensions.
While the Professor tries to fix the problem, he has M.A.X. entertain the audience. When M.A.X. starts telling jokes, the Professor tells him to explain the difference between 2-D and 3-D, which he does, explaining that 3-D has depth to it unlike 2-D. After pictures from the stereographic archives are shown, the Professor tries his demonstration again, but this time the machines turn Elvira into cardboard. As he tries to fix this problem, he tells the audience about 3-D movies, and several clips are shown, particularly clips where objects or people are thrown at the camera.
Afterward the Professor opens up the Diorama of 3-D videos, such as Dino Island, T-2 3-D, and the Abandoned Mine. M.A.X. grabs a stick of dynamite, and puts it in his head when the Professor tells him to throw it away, and it explodes, briefly popping his eyes out. When he tells the Professor it was only a simulation, the Professor retaliates by making him enter the simulator, which does a simulation of traveling to the center of the earth.
M.A.X. explains how 3-D movies are made, and enters the television, but soon becomes trapped inside it by the Professor, who is tired of being annoyed by M.A.X., and mutes the TV. Then he begins the demonstration with Elvira and the haunted house, which works perfectly. After it is over, however, Elvira turns the Professor into cardboard and shuts off the TV with M.A.X. still inside it. She tells Ruth in the Booth (Andrea Thompson
) that she'll let him out in an hour, but when the machine seems to malfunction she says "Or not."
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
directed by Ben Stassen
Ben Stassen
Ben Stassen is a Belgian film producer and director. He founded nWave Pictures in 1994, producing highly successful CGI ride films including the groundbreaking Devils Mine...
and Sean McLeod Phillips. It was released in the US on March 31, 1999. It has been shown in 3-D theaters and released on DVD with 3-D glasses, in both 2-D and 3-D format.
Plot
In his lab, the Professor (Stuart PankinStuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
) does an intro for the Institute of 3-D Technology, but the intro dies, so the Professor uses the Letter Cannon for the title of the movie. However, it spells the word "third" "thrid", so the Professor activates the spell correction, resulting in the lab's screen being destroyed and several fires being started, which are put out by the Professor's robot assistant, M.A.X. (Stuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
). The Professor has a new system called Real O Vision for 3-D technology, and to demonstrate has Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror hostess character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ wearing a black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown as host of Movie Macabre, a weekly horror movie presentation...
) perform a haunted house song, but the machine still has some bugs in it and traps Elvira between the second and third dimensions.
While the Professor tries to fix the problem, he has M.A.X. entertain the audience. When M.A.X. starts telling jokes, the Professor tells him to explain the difference between 2-D and 3-D, which he does, explaining that 3-D has depth to it unlike 2-D. After pictures from the stereographic archives are shown, the Professor tries his demonstration again, but this time the machines turn Elvira into cardboard. As he tries to fix this problem, he tells the audience about 3-D movies, and several clips are shown, particularly clips where objects or people are thrown at the camera.
Afterward the Professor opens up the Diorama of 3-D videos, such as Dino Island, T-2 3-D, and the Abandoned Mine. M.A.X. grabs a stick of dynamite, and puts it in his head when the Professor tells him to throw it away, and it explodes, briefly popping his eyes out. When he tells the Professor it was only a simulation, the Professor retaliates by making him enter the simulator, which does a simulation of traveling to the center of the earth.
M.A.X. explains how 3-D movies are made, and enters the television, but soon becomes trapped inside it by the Professor, who is tired of being annoyed by M.A.X., and mutes the TV. Then he begins the demonstration with Elvira and the haunted house, which works perfectly. After it is over, however, Elvira turns the Professor into cardboard and shuts off the TV with M.A.X. still inside it. She tells Ruth in the Booth (Andrea Thompson
Andrea Thompson
Rebecca Andrea Thompson is an American actress, known for her roles on the television series Falcon Crest, Babylon 5, JAG, 24, Heroes and NYPD Blue.-Early life:...
) that she'll let him out in an hour, but when the machine seems to malfunction she says "Or not."
Cast
- Stuart PankinStuart PankinStuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
as the Professor and M.A.X. - Cassandra PetersonCassandra PetersonCassandra Peterson is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror hostess character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ wearing a black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown as host of Movie Macabre, a weekly horror movie presentation...
as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark - Harry ShearerHarry ShearerHarry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
as the Narrator - Andrea ThompsonAndrea ThompsonRebecca Andrea Thompson is an American actress, known for her roles on the television series Falcon Crest, Babylon 5, JAG, 24, Heroes and NYPD Blue.-Early life:...
as Ruth in the Booth