The first iPhone started off at $499 in 2007, according to Computerworld.com. It had a 2-megapixel camera and a 3.5-inch screen. Now, the iPhone 12 Pro is $999 with a 6.1-inch retina display, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is $1099 with a 6.7-inch display. Technology has accelerated rapidly in the past 15 years. The iPhone is an example of how technology exceeded initial expectations. Because of this, photography became commonplace and a high-quality camera is readily available to anyone owning a phone.
Various chemicals and heavy equipment were needed to produce early photography. It was an expensive and strenuous process that took countless hours. When digital cameras were invented in 1975, photography changed forever.
Rolls of film are now making a comeback. The invention is originally from 1885 by George Eastman. Its portability and grainy image give the photo a washed-out look. It still takes high-quality pictures, but with a different approach than the clear image produced by a DSLR camera. The film’s appearance gives the image its own story resembling a look into the past.
Today’s Cinematography
The ability to produce motion pictures from a single device began in 1895. The cinematograph with technicolor was later developed in 1932. The New York Film Academy explained research from Cornell Psychologist, James Cutting, that perceptual and cognitive processing reveals how our brain responds to components of film such as scene duration.
His research reveals that scenes are significantly shorter than footage in film 10 years ago. “Attention spans may have something to do with shorter shots and different patterns as well. Cutting argues that different patterns of shots found in today’s films go better with natural fluctuations in human attention because each new shot forces the audience to refocus on the film.” This could be related to the fact that social media has made visual information rapid and constant. Because we can be instantly gratified with the click of a button to find out information, it is now essential for shorter shots to be incorporated more so than films of the past, to stabilize the attention of the audience.
The way we create film now impacts the way that creators can utilize their skills. Going into the industry is more difficult than ever. It is necessary to work your skills around the direction film production is going.
Stigma in the Film Industry
Film is constantly evolving. The industry is intensely competitive and is highly concentrated, so what are the expectations creators now face as technology continues to develop? According to The BlackandBlue, Many who do become successful in the industry experience fleeting fame and income. But, since your skillset is unique and special, a comfortable living is feasible if you approach it with caution. The stigma that because your work is creative it is easy, is also something fundamentally untrue. Working in the film industry today requires insurmountable amounts of patience, resilience, and flexibility.
It is crucial that when entering the film industry and seeking work related to it, that you have skills in the technology necessary to complete the work. This is dependent on the direction in the film industry you plan to go, but make sure you do your research and complete what is necessary so you can build your skills with experience.
Since the industry is so large, it is important that you have the necessary communication skills to solve problems and lead teams. An article from The Los Angeles Film School reminds us, “You’ll run into problems that you don’t know how to solve, have dilemmas that complicate your vision, or encounter obstacles that will require you to make difficult decisions before moving forward.” With this being said, technological advancements in the film industry allow for limitless possibilities in creativity. How this creativity is disciplined and organized can help navigate hurdles in the industry and the way they evolve.
Featured Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
