MR in the Film & Entertainment Industries

‍ights, camera, action!

Do you remember the feeling of going to a cinema to see a movie? The dim lights, the curtains part, and the screen come to life, all of us waiting to be captivated by the visually stunning experience.

Let’s face it – the film and entertainment industry has been one of the most powerful means for storytelling, creative expression, and the use of immersive technology. From silent films to talkies, from black and white to color, from 2D to 3D, and from practical effects to CGI, it’s clear that it has always pushed the boundaries of immersive technology, mixed reality, and innovation.

What is mixed reality?

Now, the movie experience is so much more. It’s immersive. It’s interactive. It’s an experience where we’re transporting ourselves to a different world – quite literally. Since it can merge the physical and digital worlds, we can still feel the real world while embarking on completely new adventures. And MR is the reason why all of these are possible.

But MR is also used during all stages of production – and it’s changing the process altogether. In fact, when it comes to film production, MR is like a secret weapon that helps create movie magic.

That’s right! It even gets to the point where mixed reality is employed in all stages of film production - and that includes pre-production, production, and post-production. With the right budget in place, digital sets that appear to have been shot on location can be created through MR.

What does that mean in the grand scheme of things? Well, during the pre-production and production, Mixed Reality allows us, as filmmakers, to create virtual sets and characters, which can be viewed in real-time using a headset. This enables us to experiment with different angles, lighting, and sound effects, giving us the ability to create a more accurate representation of the final product before filming even begins.

We all know that filming on location is a time-consuming and costly process, so if MR can do the job just fine - why not? Green screen cannot compete with reality, but it’s still a great alternative. And we can save a lot of time and money (and energy), especially because we’re avoiding reshoots and post-production changes.

During the making of the 2019 film “The Lion King”, filmmakers employed mixed reality to create an immersive virtual production environment. They were able to explore the virtual area and take the shots they required using VR goggles and digital cameras - just like they were on a real set. And that’s not all! They could even interact with the virtual actors and settings in real-time, making the complicated situations look easier - therefore executing and conceptualizing them way better!

If you’ve seen The Lion King, you probably marveled at how realistic and detailed the film was. Simba looked almost life-like! And come on - you couldn’t have taken a lion and made him act the way Simba did.

Sometimes MR is all that a filmmaker has in his arsenal – especially for its final result.

Ok, this was all about production - but MR is as vital during the post-production process when filmmakers have to go through all the footage they’ve shot and refine everything to look perfect. With Mixed Reality technologies, we are able to create more complex visual effects and seamlessly blend CGI with live-action footage. This happens a lot in superhero films.

Let’s look at both Marvel and DC so as not to upset anyone (we don’t take sides). In “Avengers: Endgame”, MR was employed to produce the most memorable scenes in the film - such as the final battle. What an epic battle that was, right? By sprinkling MR over the product, the filmmakers were able to create a visually spectacular extravaganza.

In the 2021 “The Suicide Squad”, MR was also used to enhance the already shot battle scenes but also to enhance the film’s visual effects to look more pleasing to the audience. With MR, the creators generated realistic explosions, flames, and other visual effects that would have been almost impossible to execute using traditional processes.

MR is not only for live-action films - as animation also employs this great technology too.

MR is for animators like a virtual sketchbook, allowing them to bring their craziest fantasies to reality and screen. MR technology is perfect when it comes to creating digital characters and surroundings that come to life in unimaginable ways. Animators can alter and adjust their characters while experiencing various postures, emotions, and movements until the desired outcome is achieved.

In “Frozen 2”, the sequel to one of the most successful animations of all time - MR technology was used by the filmmakers to produce some of the most memorable moments. That includes the beautiful forest and the enchanted ice castle. If you haven’t seen Frozen 2, do it right now - at least to see the power of mixed reality.

One thing’s certain - MR helps animators to stretch their creative bounds, producing the characters and the worlds that they want. Now the only limit is their imagination. And for us, the audience, it’s incredible to experience these worlds in the exact way that the filmmaker intended. Now we have the right technology to produce whatever story crosses our minds!

It’s incredible how far Mixed Reality has gone. But what’s next?

I am still waiting for the day when we will walk into a movie or TV program and feel as if we are there. I want to ride those dragons from Game of Thrones. And also engage with Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion Lannister. I don’t ask for much - and I believe that in the future, this will be doable. Not exactly with Game of Thrones - but with films and TV that are specifically made for this.

And that’s not all! What is mixed reality fascinating goes even further to interacting with live performances. Using this technology at a concert or a theater play might elevate the audience experience to another level. It’s not just about the audience experience - as MR also has the potential to make production more efficient. By creating digital environments - we can say goodbye to costly physical sets and props. It will never feel the same - but it’s more sustainable in the long run.

I hope you feel my excitement about the future of entertainment. With Mixed Reality, nothing will be the same. But we have to wait for some new developments as the creators still need to find the best way to employ this technology in their products. Thus, whether you’re a filmmaker, animator, or simply a fan of films and entertainment as a whole - you’re in for a treat!