“Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”

You may have heard this line from Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Oppenheimer. If you are someone that enjoyed the visual spectacle of the veteran filmmaker’s genius, you might be wondering how he brought his creative vision to life. 

The answer to that lies in the movie’s post-production process, where he showcases his commitment to preserving traditional filmmaking techniques, while also embracing modern technologies used to fulfill his artistic goals

Post-production is one of the most vital stages of filmmaking and as new technologies emerge, filmmakers are becoming more ambitious and leveraging them to tell compelling stories while also consistently uplifting the technical and visual qualities of their movie.

Let’s dive into some of the emerging technologies and methodologies shaping the post-production industry.

Emerging Technologies and Trends in Post-production

As the art of filmmaking evolves, so do post-production technologies that push the boundaries of creativity. For years, industry professionals have constantly been exploring new ways to improve the visual experiences of audiences and have come around implementing new technologies during the post-production process. Some of the technologies include:

1. Virtual Reality

In the realm of horror films, The Conjuring 2 is a classic example that made its mark in the genre and with the release of the VR version, the experience only got spookier. In the VR format, you enter the Hodgson’s house and experience the horrors faced by the family yourself. 

Like this, there are several science-fiction films that have also been released in VR, giving viewers a unique and more immersive experience compared to the original versions.

If you’d like to know more about The Conjuring 2’s VR version, you can click here.

2. Artificial Intelligence

As you know, Artificial Intelligence can both be a boon and a bane to any industry, and this is no different even in the film industry. AI has already begun making its impact in various stages of post-production, such as image upscaling, automated editing, noise reduction, etc. 

While it does streamline complex and tedious post-production processes, it has also proven to be a major disruption to human creativity and intuition that is needed in the art of filmmaking. 

For example, you might be aware of Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion, a mini-series released in 2023. While it received criticisms for its plot, the use of AI in creating the opening credits incited controversy as Marvel has been known to use human animators to create the opening credits for every film. 

Head to the link below to watch Secret Invasion’s opening credits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqnBJHU7si4

3. Real-time Collaboration

Among all emerging post-production technologies, real-time editing and collaboration is set to revolutionize the future of filmmaking. Thanks to cloud-based platforms and high-speed internet, filmmakers can now work remotely and collaborate on projects without any time constraints. 

What’s even more exciting is the potential it brings for crafting narratives that don’t require the cast and crew to be physically on set. In fact, a few movies set entirely on a computer screen have been made, proving that remote filmmaking is possible and can be more cost-effective as well.

Circling back to the horror genre, Unfriended is a great example of a screenlife movie that was made through a screencast of a Macbook. 

The Future of Post-production

With the advent of new post-production technologies and techniques, there is massive scope for innovative and impactful filmmaking. And with rising expectations of audiences and industry challenges, filmmakers are on the lookout for new ways to tell their stories that not only immerse audiences in the experience but can also resonate with them emotionally. 

Virtual production is slowly making its way into the production phases where LED walls, motion capture, and real-time rendering are blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds. 

The Mandalorian is a Star Wars show that was conceived through virtual production and you can watch the process by clicking on the link below:

https://youtu.be/gUnxzVOs3rk?feature=shared

Additionally, we may see filmmakers and production houses adopt greener practices , from reducing energy consumption to choosing digital over physical media. Companies like Green The Bid are leading the charge, and as more companies follow the same path, the industry will move to a more sustainable future.

If you are an aspiring filmmaker looking to explore and implement the latest technologies that can bring your creative vision to life, Knack on our door and we’ll be there to assist you.