New Technologies In Film Production.

The type of technology that filmmakers use is essential for the quality of the film that is being produced. They are updating and adapting as time goes on. It depends on how much money the institutions have to use as these technologies can be very expensive. Some of these technologies are 3D, Blu-ray, Imax, HD, special effects, SFX, Green Screen, CGI, camera and editing software. I am going to research each technology and see how they are used, but also the impact that they have on the films and the audience.

3D:
The use of 3D is becoming more and more popular. It basically means that it is 3 dimensional images. The film is shot with 3 different lenses so 3D glasses are required to put these dimensions into one. This is effective as it makes the audience feel more involved. Real D is the current company of 3D. it is mainly used for special effects in huge films like Hollywood blockbusters although it can be used for animation and real life actors. It has a huge impact on the audience as it makes them feel more involved in the film and it also encourages them to go see it as its a lot different than a normal 2 dimensional film. The disadvantage is that it has been known to cause headaches so health risks are possible. Also 3D glasses have to be worn throughout which can be uncomfortable. Some viewers say that some 3D films do not need to be 3D and this may be due to the storyline or it is just not needed. Examples of 3D films from Warp, Working Title and Hollywood are Senna, Saw 3D, Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, Toy Story 3, Jackass 3D and many more.

CGI:
CGI is the use of computer generated images. This technology is used for films, TV programmes and even TV adverts. It has been going since the 1970's and is used for special effects. It is used by generating images on a computer to make animated characters and settings. Avatar is an example of this and it is effective because it gives it a more futuristic feel to the film. This works well with 3D and attracts more viewers because it is so different to ordinary 2D films. It has a huge impact on big Hollywood blockbusters because they can afford to use them largely, although some viewers prefer either 3D or just special effects. Some examples of films with CGI are The incredibles, UP, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Finding Nemo and many more.

Editing Software:
Editing software is used to make special effects. The helps the transitions of the film run smoother which manipulates the film. There are many different types of editing software and some are better than others. Some include Final Cut, Avid, Movie Maker and Premiere Pro. By using editing software, it attracts more viewers because of the quality of special effects. These are most effective in big Hollywood action films as it involves the audience more. Editing software is used in all films to add, edit or delete scenes.

Camera:
Camera's have changed drastically through the years. It has gone from using a 35mm to digital cameras. They are a technology that takes photographs and moving images. A 35mm camera takes 24 frames per second which is a still image whereas a maxi vision 48 takes 48 frames per second and this is HD. HD is also becoming more popular  and this depends on the camera that is being used. The quality of the film is crucial for filmmakers so they have to be sure the camera is reliable and up to date. It has a huge impact on the film making process as the shooting is a large part of production.

Blu-ray:

Blu-ray discs are becoming more and more popular. Blu-ray 3D is also being introduced which makes it even more effective. Blu-ray discs are just DVD's with better quality picture and sound. They are known to have six times the resolution of a normal DVD and the sound has up to 7.1 channels of lossless audio. These discs can also store more information which also increases the quality of sound and picture. It is very interactive and durable. They are good because blu-ray players also play DVD's and there are many products to choose from as many films bring them out on blu-ray. It has a huge impact on the audience as they are becoming more and more popular and make the films look better.



HD:

High definition films are similar to blu-ray although blu-ray are just like ordinary DVD's. HD is being introduced to TV's so even channels are in high definition. HD films are much clearer and look more realistic. They have a much better affect and sometimes it doesn't look like a film. It works similar to 3D as the picture is so clear, it involves the audience more. Examples of films that came out in HD are 2012, Law Abiding Citizen, Avatar, Transformers, Friday the 13th and many more.

Special Effects:

Special effects are used in films to make it stand out and attract viewers. These special effects work well with 3D and HD as it involves the audience. They work extremely well with action films as stunts jump out of the screen and explosions look more realistic. Editing software is used to create these special effects and depending on the budget they have, they can be pretty extreme. Hollywood uses them a lot because they can afford the technology and spend more time on making the special effects. There are optical and mechanical effects and there are different ways of using them. A blue screen can be used or physical equipment can be strapped to a person to make a character electronically.