by Ellie Copper

Created on: January 27, 2010

Films, like Avatar, will always make an impact on the film industry. The large price tag of making a film that has numerous effects and cutting edge technology backing it up is something that Hollywood is willing to pay. In truth, these blockbuster films will more than make that money back.

Since films started being created in the beginning of the 20th century, technology was right next to the entertainment of going to the silver screen. It was new and not something seen everyday. The magic behind how it was possible to see the actors so close without leave your seat captivated us. That awe brought people the theater in droves. Its become a way to escape reality, even if just for a little while.

Certain technologies were developed to make it easier for the audience to enjoy a story. It started with the moving picture, then with the addition of sound. Over the years, it has been ever changing. Color, special effects, editing. They have all changed and evolved over the years. No long does an editor need to work with a film reel, cutting and splicing together scenes. It is all done on a computer with programs that were developed in the movie making industry.

Without the high cost of films, the advances would have never been made. Disney/Pixar developed ways to render characters in 3D with Toy Story. Digital Domain was able to seamlessly combine computer generated images with live footage for Titanic. This is being done with most films today for less money and with advancements made since. Titanic was a pricey film to make, but all the technology that has come out since would bring the price tag down considerably.

Avatar is not only a great story done well, it is the creation of a world and a people with their own language (even if they may be loosely based off of a certain culture(s)). The technology behind how the actors were captured and translated into 10 foot blue people is absolutely amazing. Software and hardware were both developed to make the transition from motion capture to the CGI world smoother. Emotions were not lost from reality to CG like they were in Polar Express. The Navi looked normal and well designed. The audience was not distracted by unpolished animation. Every single step was taken to make sure that it looked believable.

Not only are these things costly and time consuming to develop. The improvements made to stereoscope can also be seen. The 3D experience was riveting. No color or detail was lost looking behind those glasses. One really felt as if they were on Pandora.

People may not like how much Hollywood is willing to spend on films. As long as audiences come to see these big budget movies, Hollywood will spend the dough. Along with great films being created, the development behind it will continue to flourish.

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