Insight
Film: Where Art Meets Technology
The creative process within the world of film production is now being revolutionised by emerging technologies, new tools and platforms.
From feature-length documentaries to video art and Hollywood blockbusters, the last decade has seen a flood of ideas within the world of film, television and content creation. This has been driven by a number of tech innovations changing the everyday life of filmmakers as well as wider society. Its led to enhanced production speeds, reduced filming costs, and accessible digital tools including cloud collaboration and generative AI (GenAI).
In the past, anyone wanting to create visual content would need to be in the same physical location as their collaborators, have expensive equipment and come armed with a significant budget. However, now high-speed internet networks enable remote collaboration while Artificial Intelligence (AI), LED walls, and advanced motion capture are redefining visual effects and storytelling for creatives at all stages of their careers.
Staying on top of the latest industry changes is a key part of navigating this evolving industry and studying a degree like SAE’s Film Production course can play a significant part in this. Undertaking film production training gives students the chance to learn from industry practitioners with experience of working with the latest technologies and innovations.
If you are looking to develop a career in this ever-changing landscape and make sense of the new possibilities, then contact our team to learn more about our film course. Are you looking to explore the intersection between art, culture and film and how creatives are devising new cinematic universes? Delve into our blog for more insights.
How Studying a Degree enables you to stay on top of filmmaking changes
By joining one of SAE academic communities, you will be able to strike up relationships with fellow filmmakers alongside creatives from other mediums and courses.
As part of your everyday life at SAE, you will become accustomed to working with others on early experiments in film and with emerging technologies.
Collaborating within an academic environment can be a great way of harnessing your creativity, utilising different processes and interacting with others looking to push the boundaries of possibility within filmmaking.
Studying our degree gives students the chance to be taught by experienced and active filmmakers and gain experience of hands-on production. If you are looking for a safe space to experiment with images, lighting and embrace the future of filmmaking, then this is a great place to do it.
Film and video art | Where technology meet
Innovation has been at the heart of the creative industries over the years with film and cinema being subject to many changes.
Some of the most important technological developments within filmmaking’s history include the shift to digital cinematography, the rise of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) and motion capture alongside the introduction of virtual production (LED volumes). The latter is a large immersive sound stage where curved LED screens display 3D environments rendered in real-time.
Key advancements like the Steadicam, high-resolution cameras, and AI-driven editing software have also overhauled the production and post-production workflows.
The first time cameras were utilised for film was by the Lumière brothers who embraced hand-cranked cameras and celluloid. They were the architects of contemporary film, utilising the Cinématographe motion picture system and holding the first commercial, public film screening at the end of the 19th century.
Since then, there have been many milestones for creators and architects of cinema including breakthroughs in sound, colour and digital editing. Films such as Jurassic Park and Avatar have also been turning points in terms of movie-making special effects.
The Democratisation of Filmmaking
Innovations within filmmaking have led to the barriers to entering this world being lower than ever before.
Filmmaking equipment and editing software is now affordable as are the costs of distribution while smartphones are also considered legitimate filmmaking tools.
This has meant there are more platforms for discovery and a rise in indie creators utilising small budgets. At the same time, skill sets are still important – there’s a huge amount of content for audiences to navigate and a rise in visual media created by GenAI too. Amid this busy landscape, quality content continues to cut through.
Key technological shifts transforming filmmaking
There are various new tools available for those creatives wanting to take their filmmaking to the next level and elevate how they produce visual projects.
Some of these include:
Virtual Production and LED Walls: Instead of green screens, filmmakers can now use massive LED screens to display real-time, rendered CGI environments, allowing actors to see the setting and lighting to be managed on set.
This has been popularised by productions like The Mandalorian and lets filmmakers project photorealistic, real-time backgrounds behind actors rather than using green screens.
GenAI in Production: AI is increasingly used for scriptwriting, pre-production planning, and generating visual effects, with some studios testing AI to accelerate set creation. There are ongoing industry debates about the impact of AI on the creative industries and whether jobs are being lost as an increasing reliance on these automated tools. However, those that see this as an innovation believe this can be used as a tool to augment how films are made rather than replace human creatives.
Performance Capture: Advancements in motion capture allow for more realistic digital characters by tracking fine facial expressions. Andy Serkis is an actor who has leaned into this tech, particularly when playing the roles of King Kong and Gollum in Lord of the Rings.
Immersive Sound (Dolby Atmos): Today’s audiences are keen to enjoy immersive environments when watching a film. The widespread adoption of immersive sound and spatial audio has turned the cinema experience into a spectacle while also making a film feel more real by offering multi-dimensional and location-sourced audio.
CGI and VFX: Techniques first seen in films like Westworld and Tron paved the way for complex digital environments while the hit movie Toy Story has also normalised 3D animation. Many audiences going to watch a Hollywood blockbuster will expect dazzling effects and environments.
Democratisation via Digital Tools: High-quality cameras are now more affordable and accessible and software allows indie filmmakers to achieve cinema-level post-production on home computers.
Cloud Collaboration: Remote, real-time editing and review of footage from anywhere in the world have made production teams more decentralised and efficient.
Motion Capture: The technology used to capture human movement and facial expressions (as in Avatar) has helped bring CGI characters to life with emotional realism.
Despite these many tech changes, film is still an artform with storytelling as its heart. The medium, tools and platforms for filmmaking and the way audiences might watch them has changed. But the story continues to have the biggest impact, connecting with the viewer and provoking an emotional reaction.
Filmmakers can invite viewers into more expansive and impressive worlds – but the emotional connection is still a human quality that tech cannot yet replicate on its own.
STUDY FILM Production at SAE
If you want to work in film production, get to grips with the latest video editing software and hone your skills in a uniquely collaborative environment, then our Film Production degree could be for you.
With high-end digital cinema cameras and production suites, our facilities and expert tutors are well placed to give your career the best possible start in this fast-paced and dynamic industry.
