GUEST COLUMN: Five Important Technologies that are Used While Filming Some of Your Favorite Movies

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Five Important Technologies that are Used While Filming Some of Your Favorite Movies

by Lewis Robinson

Some of your favorite movies use a variety of different technologies in order to create realistic and engaging scenes. Here are five examples of such technology at work:

1. High-Speed Photography 

High-speed photography captures very fast motion, making it useful for special effects in movies. In prometheus monitoring, high-speed photography is used to capture very fast changes in system performance. This helps operators identify issues and correct them before they cause problems. High-speed photography is also used extensively in movies for special effects, such as when things explode or shatter. The Bourne Ultimatum, Transformers, and The Matrix all make use of high-speed photography to create their signature sequences.

2. 3D Scanning and Printing

3D scanning and printing technology has revolutionized the film and television industry. By allowing set designers to create props and sets that would be otherwise impossible or prohibitively expensive to create, 3D scanning and printing has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for filmmakers. The movie Avatar is a prime example of what can be achieved with this technology. By scanning real-world objects and environments, the designers were able to create the incredibly detailed world of Pandora with relative ease. This technology is also being used in more practical applications, such as the creation of prosthetic body parts. As 3D scanning and printing technology continues to evolve, it will no doubt have an increasingly significant impact on the entertainment industry.

3. Motion Capture

Motion capture is a technology that allows filmmakers to record an actor's performance and translate it into digital form. This is often used for creating CGI characters or animals, as it gives them a more lifelike appearance. The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Planet of the Apes reboot are just two examples of movies that use motion capture.

Motion capture has come a long way since it was first developed in the 1970s. Today, it is an essential tool for many filmmakers. It allows them to create realistic CGI characters and creatures, without the need for expensive animators. Additionally, motion capture can be used to create special effects, such as explosions or fight scenes.

4. Virtual Sets 

In recent years, there has been a growing trend in Hollywood towards the use of virtual sets. This technology allows filmmakers to create computer-generated environments that can be used in place of traditional physical sets. This can be helpful for creating fantasy or futuristic worlds or for scenes that would be too expensive or dangerous to film in real life. The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones are two examples of shows that make use of virtual sets. While this technology can be very beneficial, it also has some drawbacks. One of the biggest challenges is making the sets look realistic enough to suspend disbelief. Another challenge is that virtual sets can sometimes feel sterile and empty, lacking the personality and character of a real-life location. Regardless of these challenges, virtual sets are likely to continue to play an important role in filmmaking.

5. Drone Cinematography 

As anyone who has seen a Hollywood blockbuster in recent years can attest, drone cinematography is becoming increasingly popular in the film industry. Drones offer a unique perspective that allows directors to capture shots that would otherwise be impossible. For example, drones can follow a character from above or provide a bird's-eye view of a large crowd. This flexibility has made drones a valuable tool for filmmakers, and it is no wonder that they have been used in some of the biggest blockbusters in recent years, including The Bourne Ultimatum, Skyfall, and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. As drone technology continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative uses for drones in filmmaking.

As you can see, a variety of different technologies are used in filmmaking to create realistic and engaging scenes. So next time you're watching your favorite movie, keep an eye out for these five technologies at work!

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MOVIE REVIEW: Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul

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HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL– 4 STARS

Like most films that employ the mockumentary storytelling device, Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul relies on believable caricatures. We are watching actors pretending to be larger-than-life versions of people who are also pretending for their own on-camera voyeuristic observer. Often those types of mockumentaries bring out endless winks to the camera. That’s where Adamma Ebo’s film, adapted and expanded from her own successful short film of the same name, dares to push that challenge and straighten some of that screwiness. 

Through impressive performances from Support the Girls star Regina Hall and This is Us Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul has caricatures so believable that they transcend the winking-at-the-camera trope with vivid potency. There’s another level of “commitment to the bit.” We, the audience are not normally supposed to believe what we see from the characters but, with these two, we buy it. 

Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul presents married megachurch pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Brown) and his “first lady” wife Trinitie Childs (Hall). Decked out in gaudy designer fashions and living out of a vast mansion, the two have a very manufactured social exterior as a unified team of ordained prosperity. “God don’t like ugly,” as Lee-Curtis asserts. They have enjoyed a luxurious life of excessiveness as the leaders of Wander to Greater Paths Baptist Church sitting on gold baller-level thrones. We’ve seen their materialistic type before. 

LESSON #1: BE MINDFUL OF WHERE THE MONEY GOES– The lavish comforts that have blown tithes on and have become far too accustomed to are considered by Lee-Curtis to be “divine additions.” He calls ascending to this place of importance a result of hard work when we all know it’s really built on the backs and wallets of gullible parishioners and the less fortunate who fall for the sermonizing scheme. So much for any “live within your means” lessons at this house of worship. Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul plays its part to stress that material prosperity is not the measure of godliness thanks to the bad examples of main characters.

Alas, the Wander to Greater Paths venue that would hold 25,000 people each service has been shuttered for months due to several sexual misconduct allegations levied against Lee-Curtis. The closure has shut the two off from the financial gravy train and the siphoned crowd energy they have long become dependent to acquire. You wouldn’t know it looking at Lee-Curtis and Trinitie still strutting like pariah peacocks ignorant of their legal trouble and big expenses.

The couple have become subjects of a documentary film crew as they, and all their hubris, are trying to re-open Wander to Greater Paths on Easter Sunday in grand comeback style through ineffective grassroots promotions. True to the Hydra of Greek mythology, “when one head is cut off, two grow back in its place.” Across town, they have competition in the form of Keon and Shakura Sumpter (TV actor Conphidance and Miss Juneteenth’s Nicole Beharie) and their modest church which is grown in the other’s absence. Both have earmarked Easter Sunday for a big service.

LESSON #2: HAVING YOUR WEAK MOMENTS DOCUMENTED– Another cardinal aspect of mockumentaries is the unvarnished exposure of their chosen fictional subjects fueled by shock and cringe. That’s where the extra cinéma vérité layer of the documentary film crew comes into play. There are few things a watchful camera catches better than mistakes and miscommunications. Starting with unholy f-bombs dropped from getting gum on fine Italian leather shoes, Adamma Ebo fills this movie with an endless parade of such “gotcha” sequences. 

Probably one of the best examples of this is a scene involving the simplest disagreement of a big word. All hyped up in a preaching moment, Lee-Curtis starts to disrobe down to his skivvies and asks Trinitie to follow him to the balcony baptismal. Her apprehension and confusion is priceless while Lee-Curtis is undeterred and rolling. He dunks himself in self-congratulatory absolution and his rant crescendos to an “Amen!,” only one of them pronounces it with the long-A and the other with the short-A. The weight of the moment is lost and they know it. There’s no drying off and rewinded the sermon or the documentary.

Those are the kinds of things Ebo is trying to telegraph with the mockumentary structure. However, that choice and the layer of interview anecdotes are not maintained throughout the film. There are asides and entire scenes where Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul loses its extra watcher and still tries to behave the same way. That inconsistency spoils a little of the style and effect of the messaging’s consistency. It does not, though, take away from the stellar acting.

Echoing the baptismal example, watch Regina Hall every second of Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul and you will see fractured radiance. Hall may be one person, but she is playing two temperaments throughout nearly the entire film. There is Trinitie Childs, the exuberant cheerleader, and there is Trinitie Childs, the marginalized woman. The former couldn’t be louder and the latter is silently trapped at every turn.

LESSON #3: STAND BY YOUR MAN… AND HIS BULLSH*T– You see both personalities share moments separated by milliseconds of unmasked pivots and microaggressions. Track how Trinitie observes, reacts, recovers, and tries to badly sugarcoat anything she can with forced laughs, fake smiles, and quick catchphrases of scripture. So often, the marginalized woman is taken aback and has to jumpstart the exuberant cheerleader to save face for the team. No matter how low Trixie is questioned or reduced, by the time we reach the end of Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul and her composure is breaking down in mime makeup, her defiant stance is, “This is my church. This is my husband. I’d sooner kill him than leave him.” That speaks volumes.

Regina Hall had the difficult parallel task of intentionally pronouncing, as the actress being filmed for a movie, what is supposed to be subtle for the on-screen character who is stuck with a camera in her face for an invasive documentary. Beat after beat, Hall plays Trinitie’s swerves with masterful calculation. When those cracks eventually increase to cave-ins and outbursts, as described before, the effort is even better.

True to the put-upon team of who and what they represent, Hall’s brilliance does not work without Sterling K. Brown’s electric performance of off-the-charts vanity. Spouting retorts like “Jesus Christ was all about the shock factor,” his character’s blaring volume of all traits (presence, pride, voice, personal issues, etc) become the cracks that Hall’s demure facade must stretch to patch. Lee-Curtis truly thinks he has saved himself and is blind to his path of emotional destruction of others. Whether Lee-Curtis Childs thinks his reputation is immune to any public scrutiny or he’s trying to decide which color Prada suit to wear, Brown brings powerful swagger to twist his character’s perception of sanctified justification of his excesses and conduct. 

LESSON #4: CALLING SANCTIFICATION INTO QUESTION– To that point, “sanctify” might very well be the biggest target of the satire being attempted by Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. That selective word choice is slung around mighty flippantly in opposition to its definitions of “to set apart to a sacred purpose” and “to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to.” Ebo’s film succeeds with its loose lens to make sure the audience is repulsed enough by what the married power couple is sanctifying, making the answer we want the most out of the repeated exclamation of “Won’t he do it? Won’t he will!” to be smack of reality across two aloof faces.

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED (#1065)

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Documentary Feature ‘Places of the Future’ Releases September 20

The anthology documentary feature film ‘Places of the Future’, featuring Desmond Dickerson, Caroline Styr, and Rob Brown is releasing on digital streaming platforms September 20, 2022, via Random Media. Directed by Harry Lawson, Bill Darmon, and Chris Ernst ‘Places of the Future’ is a captivating mini docuseries from three filmmakers that focuses onthe world as […]

The post Documentary Feature ‘Places of the Future’ Releases September 20 appeared first on Movie Marker.

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White Noise ★★★

Director: Noah Baumbach Cast: Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy, Sam Nivola, May Nivola, Jodie Turner-Smith, André L. Benjamin, Lars Eidinger Release: December 30th, 2022 (Netflix) Venice Film Festival WORLD PREMIERE On paper, White Noise has something for everyone. There’s spectacular footage of car crashes in movies, the enchanting Greta Gerwig, smart-ass teenagers questioning […]

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PODCAST: Episode 79 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 79th episode, our two divided film critics, force-sensitive dads, and working school teachers Will Johnson and Don Shanahan present the second of two special in-person collaboration episodes coming from Will's recent visit to Chicago. He and Don assembled a group of Chicago film critic friends to put some content together. Mike Crowley of 25YL and "You'll Probably Agree" again set up recordings at The Laugh Factory with us, himself, Cati Glidewell of "The Blonde in Front" and Collider freelancer Hayden Mears. For this show, the dais goes to battle on the much-debated merit of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." The Force is strong in this group. Come for the shared challenge and tirade and stay for the mutual love and respect for the fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!

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Cinephile Hissy Fits is a 25YL media podcast, brought to you by RuminationsRadioNetwork.com. Please visit, rate, review and subscribe. If you enjoyed this show, we have more where that came from, with interesting hosts, and wonderful guests. All available on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you find your favorite shows. Follow the show on Twitter at @CinephileFit and on Facebook. Also, find both Will Johnson and Don Shanahan on Letterboxd as the accumulate their viewings and build their ranks and lists.

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GUEST COLUMN: 3 Things To Know Before Going To a Theater

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3 Things To Know Before Going To a Theater

by Lewis Robinson

Seeing a movie in theaters can be a magical experience. In order to ensure you have a good time, it's important to come prepared. Here are three things to know before going to a movie theater.

1. What You're Seeing

Going to the movies is all about, well, seeing a movie. Because of this, you'll want to base your entire trip around the perfect movie. Contact your group and discuss what you'd like to see beforehand.

One of the most important elements to consider is genre. Most people have genre preferences that will influence what is seen. If you're going by yourself, great! Choose whatever you're in the mood for. However, going with a group will likely necessitate negotiation. If someone doesn't want to see a movie about, for instance, the 1950 census records, then a historical drama may not be the right approach. On the other hand, you might have people that dislike straight-up comedies, such as Wedding Crashers and Anchorman. When in doubt, blockbuster action movies are usually a good compromise.

You'll also want to discuss trigger warnings. In this day and age, entertainment viewers and producers have learned the importance of these labels. If you disregard something that could trigger a member of your group, it may ruin that individual's experience. Therefore, it's important to examine these warnings and encourage input. This is particularly prudent if you're watching a horror movie.

2. Basic Etiquette

Watching something in a movie theater is a lot different than watching it at home. There are some basic theater etiquette rules that you'll want to learn.

First, power down your phone. It's natural to feel tempted to check your phone every once in a while. However, the light from the screen can be very disruptive. You may also receive notifications that create sound. In order to ensure that none of this happens, it's smart to simply power down your device until the credits start. At the very least, turn off the sound and place your phone in a bag.

Next, avoid commentary. While talking during movies can be fun at home, it may ruin the experience for paying patrons. This isn't Mystery Science Theater 2000. Since the theater will be quiet, even a whisper can be annoying. Keep in mind that this rule doesn't always apply. During some showings, especially ones populated with younger crowds, you may experience more vocal experiences. Trust your instincts and follow the vibe of the crowd.

Finally, avoid leaving the theater at any point. Of course, there's always a chance you'll have an emergency and need to leave. If, on the other hand, you just want to grab another snack or make a call, save this for later. Leaving the pitch-black room will let in light and make it harder to see dark scenes.

3. Pricing

Lastly, it's important to know the pricing of your local theater. You don't want to show up and receive an unpleasant surprise.

When it comes to tickets, you'll likely be paying somewhere between $15 and $20. If the theater you're looking at charges more than this, you might want to look at more options. You can also check out special dates. Some theaters will have cheaper tickets on specific days. If you're willing to spend more for a better experience, you might want to consider IMAX or Dolby theaters. These options can provide greater immersion.

You'll also want to consider food and drink prices. Movie theaters, for the most part, aren't known for having cheap concessions. Therefore, you may want to plan ahead and avoid buying snacks. If your theater allows it, you might be able to bring concessions in. If this isn't allowed, be sure to eat before the movie.

If you're prepared for the experience, you're almost certain to have a great time at the movies. Do some research, gather your friends and enjoy the showing.

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ELVIS (2022) – A BIOPIC ABOUT A TRUE LEGEND

Although Elvis Presley was not born in Latin America, many of his songs were very popular in Latin American countries. A real star, the king of rock’n’roll, Elvis became not just a star on the stage, but a legend, a cultural epoch. One of the latest big premieres of world cinema is the Baz Luhrmann […]

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