Is the direction of filming about to change? According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Sony has announced a pair of new direct-view modular Crystal LED displays that can make virtual movie production – the kind used to create digital sets in The Mandalorian – a much more widespread method of making films.
The screens, developed in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, comprise several modular panels that use MicroLEDs to produce huge digital images, allowing actors to exist in virtual cinema worlds without the need for traditional green screens.
The technology – also used in George Clooney’s Midnight Sky – means that directors can control the scene’s environment without moving between locations or building expensive construction projects, which typically consume a large portion of a film’s production budget.
Sony has announced that its B-series monitors are geared towards professional applications – including virtual set production – due to its anti-reflective coating and high degree of brightness.
And man, they are brilliant. Sony says the monitors can operate at an average of 1,800 nits, which is in the upper brightness range, even for Samsung’s ultra-bright QLED monitors. For comparison, even Apple’s Pro Display XDR (referring to its “extended dynamic range”) peaks at 1,600 nits.
The point is that the new monitors from Sony will allow greater visual fidelity to the actors and filmmakers tasked with creating authentic and compelling worlds. It is the reason why the Mandalorian sets look so real – the actors are able to deliver their lines while Tatooine’s sands revolve around them, rather than working alongside giant green panels.
More engaging films
Of course, technology is not only a benefit for filmmakers, but also for the audience.
If the actors are convinced of their own existence in these virtual worlds, so will the viewers. Monitors like these allow a more natural light emission, eliminating the false lighting required by traditional filming methods.
The reflections are also more realistic. Typically, post-production teams are forced to spend hours editing annoying reflections caused by green screens, inserting false effects to create the illusion of natural light. With Sony’s virtual screens, the reflections seen in the films will actually be those caused by the ambient light around the actors, creating a more authentic and immersive visual experience.
In 2020, Insider released a useful video explaining why the Disney program decided to choose virtual scenarios instead of a green screen, which sheds light on the benefits of filmmakers and the public can expect the wider use of this technology.
Sony says the monitors will be available between June and August 2021 and has not yet revealed the prices – although, considering that these products are geared towards professional production, they will likely require pockets the size of a movie studio.
In any case, expect to enjoy a more authentic movie going experience for years to come – even if it’s not on TV in your own home.
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