3D Rock, Featuring Slash

“We converted the original video into 3D for Slash and did the deal with him,” says Steve Glum of PassmoreLab on Morena Boulevard. The Bay Park–based company, founded here in 2003 by Greg Passmore, produced a 3D version of the guitarist’s sci-fi music video “By the Sword” from his self-titled solo album. “Slash was on tour during the conversion but was on top of every aspect of the video. We do many music videos, but this one was special because it was Slash.”

“By the Sword” is set in a postapocalyptic future, in a deserted power plant where music-starved survivors are rocking out to Slash and his band, which features singer Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother. “The 3D conversion took about four weeks to complete,” according to Glum.

“We found the underground setting of the video quite demanding. The quick camera cuts, sweeping movement, and low lighting gave us some challenges. But the final 3D video looks cool, especially the audience stop-action cuts, where Slash is wailing on his guitar during the solo. I can tell you that Slash in any form is cool, but Slash in 3D is awesome.”

All stereoscopic aspects were produced in San Diego by PassmoreLab, which released the five-minute video internationally in August. PassmoreLab’s multimedia 3D production studio now boasts an extensive library of 3D content for licensing. Among the performers they’ve worked with are Sammy Hagar, Semi Precious Weapons, Osaka Popstar, and Johnny Ramone.

Slash’s 3D video is also screening on television in Canada, and Glum predicts the broadcasts will result in Canadians buying twice as many 3D-capable TVs this year. “They’ll have to buy another 3D TV because their kids blew out their speakers in the first one.”