Virtual and augmented reality in cinema has opened up a whole range of possibilities for producers all over the world. With it, entire universes that might have been considered impossible to portray without the use of technology have become more accessible and have delighted viewers in movie theaters.
Over the years, this feature has evolved and made an even bigger mark on the film industry, appearing in sets and even in the characters' physiognomy! The trend is only going to evolve over time, but it's important to understand how it all began in order to get a sense of where it's heading. In this article we're going to unravel together the trajectory of virtual and augmented reality in cinema and try to map out its future!
Historical Evolution of Entertainment
Cinema itself took its first steps back in 1895 with the experiments of the Lumière brothers, considered to be the fathers of the film industry. However, it is undeniable how much this type of media has developed and expanded over time. In 1950, 3D technology gave the invention an upgrade, using stereoscopic images for a more immersive experience.
And then came the exploitation of virtual and augmented reality in cinema to augment what 3D cinema had already begun to draft. When you use an augmented reality device, you get the experience of looking at high-resolution images that seem to emerge from the screen and move towards the viewer. This means that we are inserted into a new world, as if we were part of the story, and not just watching the events unfold.
Although this technology is still taking its first steps towards being actually implemented in cinemas, it promises to innovate the way we watch movies as we know it. The possibilities for interacting with the titles when using virtual and augmented reality in the cinema are much greater than those provided by an ordinary 2D screen.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
However, even though virtual or augmented reality is relatively new when it comes to movie theaters, it has already been on the entertainment market in other sectors for some time. Games are already benefiting from this resource and can offer a taste of what it will be like to watch full-length, interactive films using virtual and augmented reality in the cinema.
Augmented reality has also been achieving positive results in the field of education and thus expanding its popularity. But although it shows all this potential, virtual reality in cinemas can pose a serious challenge to filmmakers.
The older ways of shooting feature films would become antiquated, since framing scenes and the like are totally dispensable in a setting where the viewer can enjoy the scene from a 360° angle. Directors will have to work hard to come up with new techniques to guide the audience's attention and, at the same time, not end up cutting off their chance to explore the environment.
The way a narrative is conducted with the use of augmented reality in cinemas can also undergo drastic changes. With the possibility of the viewer interacting with the scenery and choosing the angle from which they see a particular scene, the entire story can be affected, even generating different possible endings and the most varied interpretations. It will be quite a challenge for filmmakers to work with this technology, but the end result will certainly be worth the effort.
The Future of Entertainment
Another technological tool that is gradually being implemented in the entertainment industry is the use of artificial intelligence to fill in certain details. These AIs can give producers a clever helping hand when it comes to solving those problems that would make it difficult to produce a movie focused on the use of virtual and augmented reality in cinema.
This combination could also attract the attention of games companies that have been working on this for some years. These companies may be interested in the possibility of making the movie-watching experience more interactive and also collaborate in bringing the technology to its full potential in movie theaters around the world.
It is undeniable that the use of augmented reality in cinema is the future of this branch of entertainment. Many incredible possibilities will be implemented with the arrival of VR in theaters around the world, such as creating your own avatar to interact with acquaintances while watching movies as if you were in the real world, marking the use of virtual and augmented reality in cinema.
Conclusion
It's not that long ago that technologies are revolutionizing cinema, but we can expect even greater improvements in the years to come. Interacting with the movie you're watching seems like an incredible situation and many are looking forward to being able to experience this in the near future. But what about you? Are you looking forward to it too? Share your opinion with us in the comments! Take the opportunity to check out our article on video editing with AI and also the video below that we've put together especially for you!
