How Has Tech Shaped Film-making?

Technology has had an enormous impact on film-making. The largest is more deeply felt in new cameras that allow cinematographers to shoot in a higher definition. This grants viewers the luxury of taking in more of the miraculous work in a set design. Furthermore, technology inspires entire segments of film, enabling access to the creation of many movies that just would not have been possible before.

Here are a few examples of where technology has driven film-making.

Costs 

Film is the preferred medium of old school filmmakers, but sadly it is usually too pricey for a studio to authorise. With film come several disadvantages that minimise the credibility of what a filmmaker would be aiming for. Besides the expense, film is impossible to reuse, meaning a day of shooting must have footage the crew can use; otherwise, it is deemed pointless. In addition, the cost does not just count for shooting. Cinematographers also develop and edit the film, which is usually a costly process.

Going digital predominantly means preceding the large canisters of film that used to be compatible with film-making, along with less waste for the production companies and keeping the entire project under or close to budget.

Editing 

Post-production is another area in which digital overrules the usage of film. The visual effect was something of fine art, where the effect had to blend smoothly with what was being shot. Usually, this process was particularly conscientious compared to digital effects in which all editing can be carried out within the same program. The end result is a piece of film that looks cleaner and has effects that blend seamlessly with the movie.

Shooting

Shooting in digital allows the production team to do more in less time; multiple cameras can run on the same shot, which means fewer retakes! Pair this with good camera equipment, and you receive a more intimate picture, allowing the audience to really feel like they are part of the movie!

Distribution

The process of distributing film in digital has not quite hit the apex of what it is capable of. Many internet streaming sites have been used as a form of marketing for quite some time, such as youtube. Studios release big-budget trailers onto the sites for millions of people to view - these individuals then crowdsource what is popular to allow others to find new and exciting content without spending prolonged periods searching for it!

Put simply, without technology, Hollywood would not be able to produce the volume of films that it does today. Film might be a nice thought for that old school feel, but the practicalities of digital have largely put the film versus digital debate to rest.

If you're interested in seeing the difference between Film and Digital shooting, take a look at this video by Steve Yedling, comparing and talking about some of the differences. 

Last Updated: September 2021