Role of Evolving Technology in the Cinema Industry
The rapid technological advancement over the years has made everything faster and more convenient for humans. Technology has not only evolved in the fields of engineering, medicine and computing, but in cinema as well. Cameras are now better, sharper and smaller. Movies are being shot and viewed in 3D, drones are being incorporated in the video shooting process. We have advanced to more mature techniques of both shooting and editing films in recent years. Mr. Tinku Singh, Group President and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), SRS Groupshares some insights on the areas where technology has significantly impacted cinema:Projectors- analogue to digital
Earlier, analogue projectors were used to display the movies but with the course of time digital projectors replaced the analogue projectors. They comprised of a flexible film mechanically running through them, which would capture light. Clicking the shutter button would record the captured light onto the film, which would later be developed to produce an image. The process was complicated and extremely time-consuming. Technological progress has brought on the development of smaller yet better projectors. We now have digital projectors that can display videos in 3D and Virtual Reality. Cinemas globally are relying more on digital cameras for producing movies. Not only are they more portable, but are also cost-effective when compared to traditional cinema cameras.
Smartphones
We have witnessed the camera capabilities of the latest smartphones. The kind of quality these cameras can produce is rather astonishing. In recent years, there have been many short films, documentaries and music videos shot entirely on phones. More and more aspiring filmmakers are using smartphone cameras to shoot films. With the ability to shoot in 4K resolution, and having optical image
stabilization onboard, most smartphone cameras are not to be
taken lightly. They offer the advantage of being ultra-portable, and we may see more filmmakers adopt the use of smartphones for shooting films in the near future.
Drones sound: Dolby audios to Atmos sound
Dolby technology was used to provide digital sound in cinemas. Filmmakers had to mount cameras on aircrafts or have their cinematographers capture footage from a helicopter. Both Dolby and Atmos are used for giving sounds in home theaters, cinemas etc. These speakers are helpful in providing exceptionally clear, powerful sound with lighter and small package.
CGI and Animation
Computer-Generated Imagery is extensively used in films to create special effects. It can either be used to create graphics and complete scenes from scratch or to add to existing shots. When computers weren’t mainstream, filmmakers had to manually create visual effects in films, and animation was done by the rapid flipping of hand-drawn pictures to create the illusion of movement.
With more powerful computers and editing software available today, filmmakers can achieve their creative vision and give life to their fantasies. The exciting scenes of The Hulk smashing everything around him in Marvel’s ‘Avengers’, the stunning world of ‘Avatar’, the mesmerizing outer-space scenes from ‘Gravity’, were all generated in computers. Visual effects is now a dedicated field in the movie business and has been in great demand.
Editing
In the past, editing a movie was not for the faint of heart. Once the shooting of a film was completed, editors had to physically cut and paste the film together to create scenes, making it one of the most tedious jobs in the filmmaking process. Today, the footage is stored on the SD cards present in digital cameras and are directly transferred to a computer. The availability of advanced editing software has revolutionized the industry. Not only does software make it easier for editors to seamlessly edit and alter sequences, but it also makes the use of CGI possible.
Additionally, since the film industry, too, is making use of cloud computing, teams from all around the world can work on a film together without physically being in the same location. This makes the editing process more convenient and opens up many new avenues for filmmakers.
Change in Screening Methods
With the digital technology of today, the way films are stored has changed for good. One no longer needs to store the film roll in a canister, and gone are the days of VHS tapes and CDs. Now, SD cards, hard disks, servers and USB drives are being used to store movie footage and digital projectors are being used to screen them in movie theatres.
The evolution of the internet has made it possible for filmmakers to showcase their films to people all over the world, greatly increasing their audience. Social media platforms are being used by filmmakers to generate hype and promote their films. And for audiences, it’s no longer necessary to go to their local movie theatre to watch their favorite movies. Online streaming services, on-demand, and TV screening of movies give viewers an edge by bringing content directly to them.
Drones sound: Dolby audios to Atmos sound
Dolby technology was used to provide digital sound in cinemas. Filmmakers had to mount cameras on aircrafts or have their cinematographers capture footage from a helicopter. Both Dolby and Atmos are used for giving sounds in home theaters, cinemas etc. These speakers are helpful in providing exceptionally clear, powerful sound with lighter and small package.
CGI and Animation
Computer-Generated Imagery is extensively used in films to create special effects. It can either be used to create graphics and complete scenes from scratch or to add to existing shots. When computers weren’t mainstream, filmmakers had to manually create visual effects in films, and animation was done by the rapid flipping of hand-drawn pictures to create the illusion of movement.
With more powerful computers and editing software available today, filmmakers can achieve their creative vision and give life to their fantasies. The exciting scenes of The Hulk smashing everything around him in Marvel’s ‘Avengers’, the stunning world of ‘Avatar’, the mesmerizing outer-space scenes from ‘Gravity’, were all generated in computers. Visual effects is now a dedicated field in the movie business and has been in great demand.
Editing
In the past, editing a movie was not for the faint of heart. Once the shooting of a film was completed, editors had to physically cut and paste the film together to create scenes, making it one of the most tedious jobs in the filmmaking process. Today, the footage is stored on the SD cards present in digital cameras and are directly transferred to a computer. The availability of advanced editing software has revolutionized the industry. Not only does software make it easier for editors to seamlessly edit and alter sequences, but it also makes the use of CGI possible.
Additionally, since the film industry, too, is making use of cloud computing, teams from all around the world can work on a film together without physically being in the same location. This makes the editing process more convenient and opens up many new avenues for filmmakers.
Change in Screening Methods
With the digital technology of today, the way films are stored has changed for good. One no longer needs to store the film roll in a canister, and gone are the days of VHS tapes and CDs. Now, SD cards, hard disks, servers and USB drives are being used to store movie footage and digital projectors are being used to screen them in movie theatres.
The evolution of the internet has made it possible for filmmakers to showcase their films to people all over the world, greatly increasing their audience. Social media platforms are being used by filmmakers to generate hype and promote their films. And for audiences, it’s no longer necessary to go to their local movie theatre to watch their favorite movies. Online streaming services, on-demand, and TV screening of movies give viewers an edge by bringing content directly to them.
