Technology has become a critical aspect of modern-day life with it being an industry that employs millions, generates billions in revenue, and has some of the highest-paid individuals in the entire world. So, it would only be befitting for such an industry to be one of the places where technology has the highest relevance and impacts the most. Though some artists within the industry feel like technology is a lazy form of filmmaking, technology has picked up pace within the industry and has revolutionized and simplified the intricacies of this billion-dollar industry. Let us have a look at some of the most revolutionary technologies in modern filmmaking that have totally changed the playing field.
3D Printing
3D printers have to be one of the most vital inventions of modern history. Its industrial applications are inexhaustible and the film industry has not been left behind. There are so many things on a film set that take time, resources, and effort to construct but 3D Printing solves all these. Equipment such as costumes and props become digitally designed then easily printed. What’s more; 3D printing has a higher level of accuracy in construction than the human hand.
More than just being a better creator of sets and equipment, a 3D printer eliminates the bulky, expensive, and tiresome task of transporting equipment. You, therefore, do not need to ship heavy equipment from one location to another. You totally eliminate expensive shipping costs. Of course, 3D printers can’t print sensitive parts of a film set such as a camera or lens, but it can print the parts of these pieces of equipment that you might need. 3D printing might not be advanced enough or as affordable and quick as we may desire, but when that day comes, this technology will totally change what happens in film sets.
Algorithmic Video Editing
Algorithmic video editing is the process through which a programmed computer software learns how to edit over time through machine learning. This is definitely going to change the entire film editing process and is a particularly scary ordeal for editors who might eventually be put out of business. There are certainly many examples of algorithmic video editing in modern film making. There are some that will totally blow your mind at how perfect they actually are. In the movie 2006 movie, We Own The Night, there is the intense use of algorithmic video editing in a thrilling high-speed car chase in the rain. Surprisingly, the rain effects were added post-production. Now that was phenomenal!
Autonomous Drone Cameras
Drones have existed for a while but thanks to the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, autonomous drones are a thing that is already in use. Simply put, these are drones that have been “taught” to operate on their own. So when we are talking about autonomous drones, we mean a drone that is self-operating and self-sufficient.
This will be phenomenal for filmmaking because of the impact it will have. It has all the necessary knowledge that is useful in filmmaking such as camera angles, proper lighting, precise shots, and filmmaking techniques- all these without an operator. In short, you will have a drone doing all the hard filmmaking stuff for you, independent of you. It will have the ability to avoid obstacles in flight and capture moving objects which is perfect for fight scenes, action sequences, and car chases.
Indeed, when technology and filmmaking come together, great things happen. Directors, Producers, actors, and a host of other industry players (except maybe editors �), will be very delighted with all that technology promises to deliver in the industry in the present as well as the near future. The possibilities are limitless!