Technology Conference: Thoma Thurau, Technicolor
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Michael Childers, Technology Committee Chair and APEX Board Member, opened up the May 2014 Technology Conference in Universal City, CA today, and introduced the first keynote speaker of today’s session.
Thoma Thurau, VP Engineering and Operations Production with Technicolor, provided a brief history of the advancements in display technologies, and noted that film acquisition is virtually extinct as digital is now preferred by both content creators and studios.
The flexibility that digital provides means that film has rapidly become the exception, not the rule: smaller computing technologies can more efficiently manage data, while faster networks allow for the transmission of media from one portal to another. Digital generally enables greater freedom to shoot content, especially when you consider that the mobile ability of this medium allows cost-savvy producers to chase tax incentives around the globe.
Thoma noted that as we move into 4K and even higher dynamic ranges, we can now see production anomalies that were difficult to detect within previous systems (ie. lighting, costuming, makeup details) right on set, rather than later on down the road in post production. This eliminates the need to reshoot content, which is extremely time consuming and costly.
He added that color correction is another huge component of the post production process, especially when you take into account the different types of displays involved. The post process is just as much about data management as it is anything else.
The evolution of resolution is another interesting realm to consider, as we are getting close to the limits of what details the human eye can perceive. The irony is that the closer we get to ‘reality,’ the less people seem to enjoy what they are viewing. One of the most exciting developments in this field is High Dynamic Ranges and Wide Color Contrast, as the human eye can detect dramatic differences in light
During the question period, Julian Levin (FOX) asked Thurau about the limitations of display technologies within the IFE realm. As most systems are still on Standard Definition, how do we transition between outdated IFE capabilities and the quickly evolving advancements in display? The reality is that standardization within the industry will take a long time.