Movies are one of the popular forms of entertainment.
With emerging Netflix, Amazon & other streaming platforms, movie viewing has now become like a daily staple for everyone!
Moviemakers are always on the verge to entice moviegoers into theaters—and what better way to do that than with technology? Technology has clearly changed other historical institutions, like sports, and the movie industry is no exception.
Right from Cameron’s Avatar in 2009, implementing AR & VR in animation, science-fiction, fantasy has become a trend in the movie business.
IMAX screens offer immersive viewing experiences that rival those seen in theme parks. D-Box seats offer movie viewing in 4D, allowing you to feel on-screen explosions and ride along in a car chase as your seat tilts with the turns.
Then, obviously, with technologies like motion-capture and computer-generated imagery (CGI) which are honestly quite an old concept.
Moviemakers, especially in Hollywood, are using their collective energy into using VR to tell stories as well as immerse moviegoers with brand new adventures.
How Virtual Reality or VR is used in making movies?
To be honest, integrating VR in movies has it’s fair number of challenges.
Generally, there is no behind VR camera, so directors have to direct his actors from a distance, and that unlike in 2D he couldn’t edit footage to hide one actor’s bad take.
Also for the actors, let’s take a situation.
You are an actor acting on a film set which is basically green in color. The whole set is being created digitally. So obviously it lets a difficult to put out the raw emotions as you won’t be able to fully understand the world you are in.
Cost & demands of VR effects in films
Of course, another reason VR attracts big-name directors is that filming high-quality VR movies can come with a significant price tag.
Apart from the usual costs of production, staff, actors, post-production, etc., there are specialized 360-degree cameras and hiring staff to stitch together video can cost upwards of “$10,000 per finished minute” of footage, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Still, there is no shortage of filmmakers trying their hands on VR technology.
How Augmented Reality is used in movies?
More than the making, AR has changed the way films are promoted, completely.
Film studios can generate hype and buzz bringing an interactive journey to its fans.
To get a glimpse of the new movie, movie buffs can just point a mobile phone at a movie poster, city light, billboard or printed advertisement. Instantly, they will get more information about the movie and enjoy an interactive experience.
Employing augmented reality elements for movie promotions calls for a detailed analysis and a highly orchestrated promotion plan as there lies a thin line between innovation and illusion.
Do you remember The Amazing Spider-Man 2?
The movie was among the first few ones to create AR-based promotions. People in shopping malls or retail stores or bus stops could scan the codes embedded on the walls & a spider man can be seen crawling up the walls, swaying from the buildings and showcasing some patron stunts loved by all.
Also, a spidey costume creator wherein you can dress up like a spiderman and share the images with your friends and family was introduced to promote the movie. This, in fact, created an added buzz for the already super-successful franchise.
Some movies to execute VR technology successfully
Here are some of the movies from the last decade where they used AR & VR to its full effect.
Avatar
One of the first movies to show the 3D effect also implemented AR in some of its seen.
Like the big map in the HQ that shows the Na’ vi’s tree, the stacks of spaceships that use HUD screens to navigate or the plenty of toys in the researcher’s lab. Take your pick.
Iron Man
Well, Iron Man started it, but the whole Avengers movies showed the large scope of AR & VR.
Iron Man’s suit is so kitted out with AR goodies that it gives stacks of real-time information so that Tony Stark can do what he does best. The Iron Man films are great examples of how AR could work for future soldiers with a mainframe computer feeding live data to combatants in the field.
Minority Report
Yup, there is a whole scene in the movie at the beginning where Tom Cruise uses his hands to find information in three-dimensional computerized space and then there’s all that AR down at the shops when the adverts start telling him what’s on offer that he’d like.
Well, Steven Spielberg showed a world around 2054, but in reality, the AR elements have been integrated into movies a lot quicker.
Wall-e
One of the most favorite animation movies of all time executed the use of AR.
There is a scene where the cleaning robots who use a scanner to analyze the amount of dirt on Wall-e before chasing after him.
Another time when the “Buy ‘n’ Large” displays of people on the cruise spaceship that lets them see a very different world to the one they should see.
What is the future of AR & VR in films?
Moviemaking has always been propelled by technology.
However, VR has a long way to go before being fully adopted by the film industry mainly in countries like India who are trying to adopt the technology.
As future headsets improve in graphical quality, frame rates, and physical comfort, longer VR sessions will be less prone to eye strain and nausea.
Even with TV entertainment and production values that rival film, it’s not too far-fetched to think in the future, you’ll go to the movies for a completely customized movie experience.
How are you planning to implement AR or VR technology in your business?
Think about it. And if you want some help contact us at Skyram Technologies. Our experts will guide you through to make a perfect AR-based technology for your business. Connect with us here.
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