New Film Graphics Boost Cinema

NEW 3D visual effects are rejuvenating cinema across England and the world. Major films such as Avatar and Alice in Wonderland have smashed records and revived an industry that had struggled in recent years. James Cameron’s Avatar became the highest grossing film of all time, surpassing the director’s previous success with Titanic in 1997. Cameron had been working on the film since 1994, when the script began to take place. The release was though delayed as the technology available did not match the vision that he had for the film. The 15 year production of the sci-fi thriller is reported to have cost somewhere in the region of $280 million. Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland did not reach the sensational heights set by Avatar, but enjoyed incredible success, making it the most successful film ever released in March. The film starring Johnny Depp uses similar techniques to those that secured Avatar the Academy Award for best picture and it seems to be the new technology that is attracting people back to the cinema. Many revolutionary visual effects techniques were used in the production of Avatar. According to director James Cameron, the production had been delayed from the 90’s to allow for technical advancement. Cameron planned to use photorealistic computer generated graphics using new motion capture animated technologies. This meant that the animated characters shared physical attributes to the actors playing the roles. A new technology also allowed for the capture of facial expressions from the actors, which could be directly used in the animation of the characters, this enabled full performance capture. A new system for lighting a vast area used a motion capture stage six times larger than any previously used. With Alice in Wonderland smashing previous records set in March, famously a poor time for cinema, the graphics are clearly reinvigorating the industry. The Vue cinema at Westwood Cross, Kent claims that attendance figures have dramatically improved since the introduction of the new technology. The fascination to see something new and a media form such as cinema progressing literally in front of the eyes of the audience has given such a massive boost to the cinema industry. The industry seemed to be at a plateau state in recent years with nothing new or exciting to draw people from their living rooms. Techniques such as using motion captures helped James Cameron produce cinematic history, but more important than that, it has resurrected the cinema and business. Upcoming releases such as Clash of the Titans and the new Toy Story and Shrek films look set to once again drag people off of their sofa's to enjoy the cinema experience and the wonders of the latest technology.