Following The Queen in 3D was Derren Brown Presents the 3D Magic Spectacular which, while only questionably spectacular, at least moves us into the present day. Opening the show with a promise to avoid 3D clichés, Derren demonstrated a few of the classic 3D tricks for the uninitiated (mostly involving pointing extendable objects at the camera to take advantage of the effect). While overused in the past, this did help to demonstrate the visual effect of 3D in a way that The Queen in 3D could not.
The modern footage in Derren Brown's show was considerably more impressive than the dated material from the coronation. The show also took advantage of digital technology to involve the audience in a couple of card tricks. During these segments, digital cards would be placed in the foreground with the presenter behind; this digital use of 3D technology was more striking and represented one of the more modern endeavours of 3D Week.
Otherwise the program still harboured a few of the problems found in The Queen in 3D. Colour distortion was still quite noticeable and the program still switched back and forth from the 3D sequences enough to make you tired of putting those specs on again and again.
Next up was part two of The Queen in 3D. This instalment had a more varied selection of footage and it became clear that the content and composition of a scene has a lot to do with the effectiveness of the experience. Crowded scenes like those of the coronation made for poor 3D sequences most of the time, while scenes with clear layers to them allowed the eye to settle on the different depths. One of the best shots was a simple video of two people looking down from a balcony onto a tennis match- the people were clearly framed in the foreground. Naturally this rule also applies to digital additions to the image - they stand out as a separate layer and add depth.
For those looking for a more nail-biting experience 3D Week next turned to the classic horrors Flesh for Frankenstein and Friday the 13th Part III. Filmed using older anaglyph technology and now converted to the more modern Colorcode 3D, these films did have some noticeable colour issues but were nonetheless more engrossing than the other programs, as the experience wasn't disrupted by the constant switching between 3D and 2D. This would have been a more absorbing experience were it not for the sheer number of 3D gimmicks used during the films.
It's become a staple of 3D film that if something flies at the camera the effect is intensified as it appears that the object is flying out of the screen. Unfortunately these two films make such extensive use of this optical trick that the fourth wall seems to come crumbling down and all immersion in the film is replaced by the feeling that you're somehow on a ride. Examples include everything from a snake pouncing out of the screen to a yo-yo apparently being dangled from the TV. Yes, it's 3D - we get it.