by Holographic technology has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s. With advancements in laser and computing technology, holograms have found their way into mainstream media and entertainment. One area that is being revolutionized by holograms is the motion picture industry with the rise of holographic films.
A Brief History of Holography
Holography was discovered by Hungarian-British physicist Dennis Gabor in 1947. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1971 for his invention of the holographic method. It took nearly two decades after Gabor’s discovery for the first true hologram to be made using a laser as the light source. In the 1960s, scientists Yuri Denisyuk in the USSR and Emmett Leith and Juris Upatnieks at the University of Michigan developed practical methods for making and viewing holograms. It was during this time that the word “hologram” was coined to describe a photographic recording of a light field rather than an image. However, holograms remained a curiosity relegated to the realm of science experiments for several more decades. It wasn’t until the 1990s that digital holography emerged, paving the way for holograms to enter consumer spaces and entertainment.
The Emergence of Holographic Films
One area that has seen tremendous growth with holographic technology is cinema and filmmaking. What started as a curiosity is now transforming into a mainstream medium. Some of the early pioneers in holographic filmmaking include Director Janusz Kamiński. His experimental shorts from the 1990s showcased the potential of holograms for visual storytelling. Other notable early works include films like “Under The Influence” and “Fly” which incorporated holograms into the narratives.
The New Wave of Holographic Films
Over the past decade, we have seen a new wave of Holographic Film being made as the technology has advanced. Major studios are now investing in R&D to develop new ways of displaying full-fledged holograms in movies. Some examples of recent holographic films include:
– Midway (2019) – Director Roland Emmerich’s war epic about the Battle of Midway included several scenes with holographic displays of naval battles.
– Avengers: Endgame (2019) – One of the climactic scenes features a hologram communication between Iron Man and his allies, showcasing the potential for character interactions.
– The Darkest Minds (2018) – Holograms are used extensively in the film’s post-apocalyptic vision of the future to depict surveillance and augmented overlays.
– Ready Player One (2018) – Much of the film’s action takes place within a VR/holographic metaverse called OASIS. The visuals hinted at a fully holographic cinema experience.
– Gravity (2013) – While not strictly holograms, Alfonso Cuarón created an immersive 3D experience with floating elements that hinted at future possibilities.
The Road Ahead for Holographic Films
With photorealistic computer generated imagery and virtual production techniques now commonplace, cinema is ripe for a holographic revolution. Major studios are investing in R&D to develop true volumetric displays and projection systems that can render fully holographic movies. Some technologies under experimentation include:
– Laser Lightfield Displays: Systems like the MiLas HoloVid develop displays that can project multidimensional lightfields to create holograms in mid-air without the need for glasses.
– Volumetric Capture: Techniques like Avatar’s ‘Volumetric Stage’ that record cast performances in all dimensions are being used to capture holograms.
– Augmented Retrofits: Systems are in development at companies like Looking Glass Factory that can retrofit existing movies with holographic overlays viewable through AR/VR glasses.
– Mobile Holograms: Advances in metasurface optics and laser projection provide hope for creating smaller holographic displays that can fit in smartphones and deliver a holographic viewing experience on-the-go.
While fully holographic cinema may still be a few years away, films over the next decade will increasingly incorporate this new medium. We are witnessing the first steps in a revolution that will upend how stories are told and experienced on screen. The future of movies is truly becoming multidimensional.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
