How CGI works, and why it is used

CGI is used for visual effects because the quality is often higher and effects are more controllable than other more physically based processes, such as constructing miniatures for effects shots or hiring extras for crowd scenes, and because it allows the creation of images that would not be feasible using any other technology. It can also allow a single artist to produce content without the use of actors, expensive set pieces, or props. Computer software such as Maya and Softimage XSI are used to make computer-generated imagery for movies, etc. Recent accessibility of CGI software and increased computer speeds has allowed individual artists and small companies to produce professional grade films, games, and fine art from their home computers. This has brought about an Internet subculture with its own set of global celebrities, clichés, and technical vocabulary.

The Film Industrys interest in HD

HD is now here, but it isn't quite there in the film industry. Many directors and cinema companies are not using the new technologies of HD that are inevitably going to bring great advantages to them.
Some recent films have been filmed using HD technology such as Superman Returns and Apocalypto which were shot on Genesis as well as Michael Mann’s Miami Vice, shot on the Viper, and David Lynch’s Mini DV Inland Empire, shot with Sony’s PD150. However, there were some problems with these, displaying some distorted images due to their formats.
David Fincher’s Zodiac is due to show the latest in HD technology in the cinemas shortly, using the Viper and is said to be the first major Hollywood production that will exist as pure data from beginning to end. Having developed the Viper to his own specifications, Fincher bypassed tape for an S.two hard drive, and in the process captured the movie completely as 4:4:4 uncompressed HD, an impossibility with tape.
Although there has been some hesitancy towards using the new HD technology by the film industry, it appears that the realisation has come that without the movement towards new media technologies, the industry will face huge problems, similar to those faced by the music industry.

Distribution - Why not use digital files rather than maually send the reels to all the cinemas?

The first question to ask when speculating about the future of cinema and home video is what the studios actually want. The simple answer to this question is that they want to have complete control over their multi-million dollar assets, including the distribution of their films. The coming advent of digital cinema will help in this regard, since studios will be able to send their films to theatres as data instead of as a collection of unwieldy film reels. With their films converted entirely into digital form, the film studios would be able to bypass the network of distributors that has outlived its usefulness, as well as local video rental outlets, and sell their products directly to Jack and Jill Videophile. Region Coding would no longer be necessary as it would be financially possible to distribute films so that they have the same release date the world over, as opposed to the current staggered schedules that exist now. Without the need for local distributors, all of the revenue earned from the sales of a film would go straight to the studio that made it in the first place. In this sense, it is a win-win situation for the consumer and the film studio, with the only losers being the middlemen that were previously integral to film and home video distribution.

http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Articles/FutureOfCinema/FutureOfCinema.html

Feedback on research #1

Ed, this is a promising start. You need to review the slides from today and focus your research on the topic areas discussed.

I was expecting you to make some progress with this today after our discussion.

The Future for DVD's and cracking down on Film Piracy

DVDs will soon be tracked with embedded radio transmitter chips to prevent copying and piracy, according to the company which makes movie discs for Warner, Disney, Fox and other major studios. The technology, which can also be used for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs, will allow movie studios to remotely track individual discs as they travel from factories to retail shelves to consumers' homes. Home DVD players will eventually be able to check on the chip embedded in a disc, and refuse to play discs which are copied or played in the 'wrong' geographical region, the companies behind the technology expect.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2164309/embedded-dvd-chip-fights-piracy

Internet Piracy and the Impact of that to The Film Industry

The movie industry continues to vigorously combat both DVD and Internet piracy of its films domestically and overseas, urging foreign governments to crack down on illegal DVD factories and toughen laws on Internet file-sharing. Hollywood moviemakers, armed with the new study pointing to piracy as having ripple effects on the U.S. economy, want Washington to recognize the larger problem and address it. The movie industry had previously focused on piracy's impact on lost sales of legal DVDs and online films, estimated at about $6 billion per year, according to a previously released study commissioned by the Motion Picture Association of America, the movie industry lobby. Given those facts, the study says, movie piracy causes a total lost output for U.S. industries of $20.5 billion per year, thwarts the creation of about 140,000 jobs and accounts for more than $800 million in lost tax revenue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/1640.html

The use and Impact of YouTube to the Film Industry

Founded in February 2005, YouTube is the leader in online video, and the premier destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web experience. YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, mobile devices, blogs, and email. People can see first-hand accounts of current events, find videos about their hobbies and interests, and discover the quirky and unusual.

If this is the case, and people can see newly released films, and their current favourites, then what is this doing to the cinema and film industry. People will no longer go to the cinema and pay the money to watch these, when they can get them on the internet for free. Websites like YouTube, Alluc.org and others are potentially putting the film industry at a huge risk of losing a lot of profits.

http://www.youtube.com/t/about

Pixar's Breakthrough of computer graphics

Pixar has been responsible for many important breakthroughs in the application of computer graphics (CG) for filmmaking. Pixar's technical and creative teams have collaborated since 1986 to develop a wealth of production software used in-house to create its movies and further the state of the art in CG movie making. This proprietary technology allows the production of animated images of a quality, richness and vibrancy that are unique in the industry, this allows the director to precisely control the end results in a way that is exactly right for the story. Pixar continues to invest heavily in its software systems and believes that further advancements will lead to additional productivity and quality improvements in the making of its computer animated films.

http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/about_us/overview.htm

Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Technology in The Film Industry

There are many benefits of digital technology in the film industry. the main one and probably most obvious is that it can easily reduce the films distribution costs. In other words they don't have to pay for film prints which usually cost $1000 or more each. It also improves the quality of special effects which therefore increases the reality of the film and viewers enjoyment.
The disadvantages of digital technology in the film industry are mainly the large costs involved with digitisation of all the cinemas throughout the world. Also the large costs involved to purchase digital filming equipment. There is much needed training involved, about how to use the new digital equipment safely and to the best of its ability. Also, in order for the film industry to maintain their level of success, it is important for them to take on board the fact that digital technology can provide many opportunities for them. The digital technology can clearly benefit the film industry a great deal. However, there are some disadvantages that come with the digitisation of the film industry, but without embracing this new digital technology the film industry is undoubtedly going to suffer, similarly to how the music industry has.

5 key concepts....FILMS

Convergence: - The highly popular playstation 2 is now fused with DVD playing. Filming and gaming industries can also be seen to converge because after a film is relased, a computer game is regularly released of the same name and genre, for example, Star wars is a hugely popular filmand has a popular game to support it.
Personalisation: - personalisation is technology that offers the user a personalised experience. For example, Sky + allows users to personalise their viewing schedule including the ability to pause live TV and automatically record their favourite programmes.
Interactivity: - Interactivity is a two-way communication and in the context of new media technologies means content that is reactive to the audience's choices. Interactive TV encourages the audience to be less passive, however, even interactive TV isn't interactive because the choices are limited and the influence of the audience on content is very small.
Linear / Non-linear: - Linear experiences move in a straight line from start to finish, for example, watching a film in the cinema from start to finish. Interactive TV allows the audience to experience alternative endings, voiceovers, extras and other special features. This allows the audience to have a unique experience, this can therefore be described as non-linear.
Democratisation: - The ability to communicate your own opinions and ideas, or share your creative output has never been easier due to new media technologies. Systems like blogging and TV schedules are now in the hands of ordinary people. Although there are some people that do not have internet access.
Digitisation: - At is basic form all digital material (pictures, movies etc.) are made up of a series of 1s and 0s. This means that the material can be reproduced exactly and in mass quantities if necessary.