How will the latest technological advances affect the film industry in the future? Every week there are rumors and announcements of new devices and developments that could change both how movies are made and how they are consumed. After another news story about Apple’s plans to release an iTV, Look at Me tried to get a handle on the technologies that will change television and film.
Hyper-Matrix, Or Kinetic Screen
Built for the Hyundai Motor Group’s pavilion at the Yeosu EXPO in Korea, Hyper-Matrix is a large-scale kinetic installation consisting of thousands of moving and pulsating cubes. Thanks to a complex coordinated mechanism and projection, three blank walls come to life and form various images and patterns, and the result is truly impressive.
One can easily imagine that this technology will find application not only in such conceptual art installations, but also in the cinema of the future. If a film is projected on such a kinetic screen, and the panels move in accordance with the story, creating additional effects, it would probably open up a new space for innovative directorial ideas.
Handheld Cameras and The Total Abandonment of Film
The debate about “film vs. digital” continues to this day among famous directors. Christopher Nolan, for example, does not want to give up traditional technology, saying, “It’s cheaper to work with film, and the picture looks much better. This technology, which has been known and understood for 100 years, is very reliable.” Steven Soderbergh, for his part, is a huge fan of the digital format, especially lightweight digital cameras like the Red One, which he used when shooting the 2008 biopic Che. Soderbergh praised the camera for its quality, accessibility, and portability, saying it would “change the rules of the game.” Since then, manufacturers have not stood still, developing smaller, more functional “pocket-sized” cameras, so the new generation could have an equally revolutionary impact on both the filmmaking process and the narrative component of films.
Revolutionary Stabilizers and Drones with Cameras
In the ’70s, cameraman Garrett Brown revolutionized filmmaking by developing what we now know as a “Steadicam.” The wearable mechanical system used to stabilize the camera is still an indispensable device in filming movies from “Rocky” and “Marathon Man.” “Steadicams are a great tool, but they require years of experience and considerable physical strength on the part of the operator. It also hits independent filmmakers hard. This past August, Freefly Systems introduced a revolutionary portable stabilization system that is cheaper, lighter, and easier to operate than its counterparts. The MōVI M10, a three-axis gyroscopic rig with impressive performance and low weight (less than 2 kg), will cost $15,000 on pre-order, while its little brother, the MōVI M5, will cost $7,000. Freefly Systems also recently raised about £224,000 on Kickstarter (exceeding the expected £25,000 by almost 10 times) for a new, more affordable model, the BeSteady One, which is not inferior in functionality to the top version.
In addition to handheld systems, Freefly Systems creates drones with a stabilizer for professional cameras as part of the CineStar line. The reliable and safe system allows you to shoot photos and video from the air, providing a smooth ride and withstanding heavy loads (video taken from a drone). Well, if you can assemble a similar stabilizer, then it will not be difficult to install it on the copter-drone (preassembled in the garage), too.
Cameras That Keep the Subject Always in The Frame
The University of Tokyo is developing a high-speed video recording system that can keep a subject always in the frame, whether it’s a fidgety dog or even a ping-pong ball. The technology allows you to shoot at 1,000 frames per second and then play the video back in slow motion. Dr. Hiromasa Oku said, “This machine is designed to follow objects that would be difficult for a human to follow. The system includes a stationary camera and two mirrors controlled by high-speed motors. These mirrors, which can move independently of each other at lightning speed, transmit an image of an object to the lens. It remains to be seen when this device falls into the hands of action-movie directors like Danny Boyle or Kathryn Bigelow. They’ll probably find the right use for the technology.
Projection 270 Degrees and The Rebirth Of 3D
At the Pusan International Film Festival in Pusan, South Korea, The X, the first film to use Screen X technology, was presented. This innovation not only provides a fuller picture, but also provides more opportunities for filmmakers.
The short film telling the classic spy story was nothing special, but the multi-projection system itself surprised the audience. The film was projected on three screens simultaneously (central, left, and right), almost completely surrounding the audience in the hall. Such a wide viewing angle (270 degrees) allows one to fully immerse into the events on the screen. To create a movie in ScreenX format, it is necessary to shoot each scene simultaneously with three cameras positioned at different angles. South Korea’s largest movie theater chain CJ CGV will soon begin showing movies with a panoramic view. If this technology becomes popular, it will begin to be implemented in cinemas in China and the United States.
The X Trailer ScreenX Version
Meanwhile, stereoscopic 3D technology foretells its demise, at least as we know it today. Volumetric cinema is no longer as much of an impressive attraction, and interest in it is slowly fading. The exceptions are high-profile films like Avatar and Gravity. The trend is due to a large number of 3D films with low artistic value and the difference in ticket prices.
James Cameron still believes that 3D will not disappear, but people will learn to distinguish quality effects from low-quality effects and will not pay for a 3D movie if they are not sure they will get a truly vivid experience from watching it. The format’s salvation may also come from the inventors: experts predict an explosion in 3D popularity if the industry finally finds a way to show holographic cinema, i.e. a three-dimensional picture, without viewers using glasses.
That’s It!
Thus, cinema is both high art and a business space with its own tasks and goals. At the same time, the film industry as a high-tech market must comply with major technical and social trends, taking into account changes in consumer behavior patterns and new technologies. That is why today we have reviewed the main computer technologies in the film industry.