When you go to the movies, you probably don’t think about all of the technology that went into making the movie happen. After all, most people are just looking to be entertained and they don’t really care how the movie was made. However, if you’re into movies and technology, you might be interested in some of the technologies used in film industry and how they can affect your viewing experience, like these 5 technologies used in the film industry today…
1) 3D Animation
3D animation, or computer-generated imagery (CGI), can be used to represent objects and characters of all shapes and sizes. While it’s most commonly found in animated movies, CGI has also made its way into live-action films; CGI-created dinosaurs appeared in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, for example. And according to a recent Nielsen report, more than 85 percent of consumers are ready to watch a movie in 3D if available. So what does that mean for film studios? It means they need software engineers who know how to create realistic-looking CGI onscreen. Here are some common technologies behind 3D animation: • Pixar’s RenderMan is an industry standard among CGI professionals. The company produces many toolsets, including Manatee and MARI, which have been adopted by top visual effects houses like Industrial Light & Magic and DreamWorks Animation. • Autodesk Maya is another powerful 3D animation toolset used by animators around the world—and one that’s likely familiar to any budding filmmakers reading this post!
2) Virtual and Augmented Reality
Virtual reality is used extensively for video games, but it’s also a very powerful tool for Hollywood—and it’s about to become more so. As VR headsets continue to get cheaper and as more people start using them, we can expect a dramatic increase in movie releases that use elements of VR technology. After all, if you want your viewers to feel like they’re actually there, you need them to believe it with all of their senses. That means capturing video in 360 degrees. It also means immersing them in a three-dimensional environment that surrounds them on all sides. This is exactly what VR does, which makes it perfect for movies that are set in space or underwater or any other place where it would be impossible to film from every angle at once.
For example, when watching an action sequence filmed with both traditional cameras and 360-degree cameras at once, you might see one character fighting another character off screen while looking over his shoulder at another enemy coming up behind him. At some point, you might look down and notice that there’s a car chase happening below you. And then maybe you look up and realize that helicopters are shooting missiles at each other above your head. The possibilities really are endless! But even now, with only a few major studios experimenting with VR films, it’s easy to see how these movies could revolutionize our industry by making us feel like we’re really part of something much bigger than ourselves.
3) The Dolby sound System
The Dolby system is one of many commonly used sound systems. It was developed by Ray Dolby, a sound engineer, and it has revolutionized how we listen to film. The cinema industry relies on Dolby technology, but consumers can buy equipment that allows them to enjoy a home entertainment experience equal to, or even better than what they would get at an actual cinema. This technology uses digital encoding to allow for high-quality audio playback. This means that no matter where you are watching your movie, you will be able to hear every word and every detail as if you were sitting right next to your favorite actor. You’ll also notice less background noise, so all you’ll hear is your movie. You won’t have to worry about trying to hear over kids running around or people talking loudly during commercial breaks. Movie studios use Dolby because it offers greater flexibility when creating films.
4) Film Editing Software
Most film editors will use Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, but there are many other software packages available for editing video. While many people make their own edits using less-expensive software like iMovie or Movie Maker, it is important to remember that these programs are designed primarily for standard home movies and won’t necessarily have all of the functionality that is needed to produce a feature film. These programs also may not be able to edit high-definition footage, which has become increasingly common with today’s cameras. In addition, they may not have some of the more advanced features that are necessary for creating special effects or compositing images together seamlessly. If you do decide to create your own edits with less expensive software, you should be aware that most professionals don’t consider an edit finished until it has been professionally color corrected and sound mixed.
5) VFX
Visual effects, or VFX, is the process of creating illusions through use of photography and computer graphics. VFX are a common component in Films, but they’re becoming increasingly common—and vital—in television as well. And while most people are aware that green screen exists—the use of green screens is perhaps most obvious when watching movies on Blu-ray—VFX is far more expansive than its most visible component. Here are some of its most common uses today.
When you watch a movie like The Martian, it can be easy to forget just how much work went into bringing that movie to life. If you see an actor walking around Mars, there’s almost certainly some CGI involved; even if he isn’t interacting with anything on set (for example, if he simply appears next to a rover), chances are it was added in post-production. The same goes for any number of other films: Cars made out of boxes stacked up on camera? Probably not. Explosions that seem larger than life? Again, probably not real.
While green screen is probably most obvious when watching movies on Blu-ray—it’s very hard to miss someone standing in front of a green screen and making weird gestures—it’s only one small part of VFX technology today.