The CES 2024 has just wrapped up and it was an exciting stage for the showcase of the latest video and film production technology. At Papilio Productions, we are always on the lookout for the latest tools and techniques that can improve and streamline our creative processes. The film and video production industry is rapidly changing and the CES 2024 showcased cutting-edge technologies that promise to redefine the way content is created and consumed. From advancements in virtual production to breakthroughs in digital imaging, the event was a treasure trove of innovation for filmmakers and digital creators of every scale. Let's delve into some of our favorite technologies showcased at CES 2024, offering a glimpse into the future of video and film production:
1) Torchlight: Sony Pictures Entertainment's new advanced visualization facility
(Above video showcases how a virtual scene created by Torchlight can be used on-set as an example of "in-camera VFX")
While Torchlight is already operational and used by filmmakers and directors, its implication on the film industry sure is noteworthy. This facility virtually replaces many physical sets and greatly reduces the costs needed to create some movie sets. They use a combination of Unreal Engine, Virtual Production Tool Set, and Mocopi (a mobile motion capture system that uses lightweight sensors to record gyroscopic data and transfer this data via a simple iPhone connection to map out an actor's movement in a 3D space.)
While this is generally used as a pre-production and visualization tool for now, what is ground-breaking is how close to reality some renders can get. So much so, that they are already used in many movies to fill certain gaps, reduce costs, and expedite the shooting process. Furthermore, with the luxury of time, VFX artists could technically make a virtual set practically identical to a real one, as they can mimic the lighting, textures, and geographical elements with astonishing exactitude. What's very promising for the future is that time is the only real limitation VFX artists face today, as some renders can take 100+ hours - however, as graphic cards and computers become ever so powerful, one may wonder how long it will take for this limitation to completely vanish.
2) intoPIX's TicoRAW: a RAW codec that can offer impressive compression efficiency with low power consumption and complexity

In a world of rapidly increasing file sizes and data storage necessities, the need for efficient compression codecs has never been more significant. Indeed, if you're a production company like us, you might spend up to a few hundred dollars a day in data storage just to save the footage captured during your shoot. And in our digital world, data storage has become increasingly important but our need for storage has outpaced the price-to-storage ratio that is available to many of us. This begs the question - how can we reduce our file sizes without having to sacrifice the quality of our digital media output?
TicoRAW enables remarkable compression efficiency with innovative processing and coding, all while preserving the accuracy of colors and image quality. Nikon has already licensed TicoRAW (and implemented it in its Nikon Z9) and we think it's only a matter of time before we see more camera manufacturers attempting to do the same...
3) Canon's Dual Fisheye 3D VR Lens

While it's too early to say to what extent this lens will impact the film and video production industry, we think it's an exciting step forward that embraces the rapid strides in AR and VR.
This lens offers a 180° VR viewing format that can be experienced either in 3D with the use of a compatible VR headset, or in 2D through the use of a desktop, or a mobile VR viewing platform.
Overall, the 3D Marketplace has seen incredible growth and the demand for new and innovative ways to showcase real and raw footage is only increasing. While we don't think this will impact the traditional filmmaker's workflow, we know it will empower digital and social media creators to experiment and push some creative boundaries.
4) Insta360: Shoot now, reframe later

While Insta360 certainly has already been making waves in the action camera market, its continued improvement and approach to video certainly have massive potential for the future of social media. Indeed, we are currently in a powerful up-trend of the democratization of digital creation - tools are increasingly powerful, mobile, and accessible to everyone; and at the same time, social media platforms and algorithms are increasingly prioritizing content that is raw and user-generated.
And the Insta360 is the true epitome of this, offering creators the ability to record and not have to worry about framing. Indeed, users can quickly reframe their video in-post with the use of their phone and are sure to never miss their shot. For action-sports creators and casual creators, this is not just a gadget but a tool that provides tremendous value through consistency and reliability - all while increasing viewer immersion.
5) Samsung: World's first Transparent MicroLED Display

While this exciting innovation doesn't have any significant existing use cases for filmmakers and video creators, we thought it was still worth a mention considering how groundbreaking it is, and also how it could affect the way people consume the digital media we produce.
As filmmakers and film directors, it's important to keep an eye out on the technology that allows our artistic productions to be displayed as they inevitably play a key role in the viewer experience. This innovation alone may not greatly alter how we produce and direct films for now, but it's a key reminder that video display technology is evolving quickly and that we must keep an eye on its technological progress.
While this is not an exhaustive list of all the intriguing new tech we have gotten a first glance of, and while we have many honorable mentions like UGreen debuting its NASync series, CES 2024 proved to live up to the hype in regards to digital imaging and film production innovations. Our industry is currently undergoing exciting and rapid changes, notably with the rapid breakthroughs in AI technology and the democratization of video production and social media - and the CES 2024 was a perfect testament to this.