How Technology Changed the Film Industry

They say there is no business like show business, but today with all the new technology in filmmaking this is true like never before. There are all kinds of new ways of making movies more realistic and engaging the audience to provide an unforgettable movie experience. Let’s take a look at some of the latest movie technology.  

Technology in Movies 

Some of the most amazing special effects and movie shots are made possible by state-of-the-art technology. These include: 

• • Drones – In some of your favorite movies there may be an awe-inspiring panoramic or birds-eye view, but how do they get these amazing shots? The answer is autonomous drones. However, these drones do much more than just fly themselves, believe or not, these drones are well-versed in the latest filmmaking techniques such as screen positioning and viewing angles. Even though movie directors have been using drones to shoot the movie for some time now, these drones have not been very realizable due to bad film quality and very short battery life. However, since the only alternative to a drone is a helicopter, which is much more expensive and time-consuming, drones are quickly becoming a staple of a movie director’s repertoire.   

• • 4k+3D Technology – This includes virtual reality technology such as the Lucid VR camera which is the only camera in the world that can record 4k3D. Thanks to this technology, filmmakers can record movie scenes underwater and create scene depth which makes the viewer feel as if there are actually in the movie.  

• • Dual Camera VR – This is a cool technology used in movies. This camera takes your surroundings and integrates it with VR. This means that the movie scenes of the future will be much more realistic and will pave the way for 360-degree viewing and recording.  

• • 3D Movie Technology – You may remember the 3D paper glasses that used to be given out in movie theaters even back in the 90s, but the fact of the matter is that Hollywood always embraced and pioneered the use of 3D in movies. In the future, be on the lookout for autostereoscopic, which is 3D that does not require any equipment at all.  
  • AI-created Screenplays – Up until this point we have talked about how technology is making the lives of filmmakers easier. But, can it replace them? Recently, researchers at New York University have created an AI-powered software that writes screenplays. What’s even more interesting is that this robot, called Benjamin, was able to create a pop song after the researchers trained it with 30,000 other songs. Although it is very unlike that Benjamin will be nominated for an Oscar any time soon, this is an interesting development for the movie industry and AI development.  

Future of Film Industry  

All the technologies we have listed so far have been pioneering breakthroughs and allowed unprecedented special effects, shots and audience engagement. Where do we go from here? As you may have guessed, technology will continue to be a big part of filmmaking in the future simply because the industry demands it. There is no room in today’s fast-paced movie scene for outdated processes, techniques, and effects. The public wants something new and movie companies are always investing money into new technology that will bring the public to the movie theater.   

The VR camera we mentioned above was not created because someone simply decided to create it. Viewers are constantly demanding movie creators to push the boundaries. They are asking themselves “Why should I pay $15 to watch this movie?” In the old days, a captivating plot and great acting were good enough but now, there needs to be some kind of hook. For example, what could be better than showing moviegoers a captivating bank heist? The answer: putting them in the actual scene and making them feel as if they are in the same room with the hero or villain. This is possible with cutting-edge technology such as 360 video which immerses the viewers in the action.   

While these technologies are not cheap, they pay for themselves. Let’s think back to some of the best VFX movies such as Avatar. One of the major reasons that this movie earned almost $3 billion at the box office is because it provided special effects that have not been seen before. The purpose of all the VR software development is to take the audience from being passive spectators to active participants and allow them to explore the same world the characters are in.   

It’s interesting to see the impact of VR development on the small markets. Firstly, it reduced the level of movie piracy because the special effects can only be felt at the movie theater or with the special equipment. Secondly, it gave an opportunity for small market producers to get on the map by pushing boundaries and gaining the attention of international markets.  

Back at the beginning of the 2010s, there was a lot of talking about the decline of the movie industry. Ticket sales and profits were down, movie theaters were empty and the outlook, in general, was very pessimistic. No one knew what would drive the industry forward. Looking back on it, the industry was adapting to new special effects and sensory experiences which were aimed at giving the audience a mind-blowing experience.   

All in all, most filmmakers are optimistic about the role of technology in a movie because it will make their lives easier and it will change the structure of the movie industry. However, we must also remember that in today’s movie industry everyone has the same access to all the latest technology, but how do you get a competitive edge? The answer is a constant adaptation. With the lightning-fast pace that technology is developed nowadays, by the time you learn to harness one technology, it already becomes outdated. So even though everything is out there for everyone to be had, now you must move to the next level and find a use for the technology in your movie. This idea that you come up with on incorporating a new technology or medium will be the key to what drives the viewers out of the homes and into the theaters.