UHD Alliance updates Filmmaker Mode
January 7, 2022
By Chris Forrester
The UHD Alliance (UHDA) used CES for a high-profile update on its Filmmaker Mode. The event built on an announcement made in 2019 by leading film luminaries Martin Scorsese, Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler.
The basic aim of Filmmakers Mode is a TV setting that, in the words of Carolyn Giardina of The Hollywood Reporter (THR), effectively disables post processing such as motion smoothing to preserve filmmakers’ intent. It aims to give consumers the opportunity to view content in the way that the filmmakers intended, including with the original aspect ratio, colour and frame rates.
As 2022 begins, says Giardina, Filmmaker’s phase 2 development is starting, with a focus on ambient lighting recommendations. “As much as we like people to watch movies in dim or dark environment (on which Filmmaker Mode is based), we know that’s not always possible,” she quotes UHDA president and chair Michael Zink saying and explaining that UHDA intends to work on a technical recommendation so as to maintain creative intent when images are shown in brighter settings. The aim is to incorporate the use of ambient lighting sensors on TVs so that it would automatically switch to the optimal setting.
“We’re hoping to work with filmmakers on those guidelines to have a better experience in bright environments but still maintain creative intent,” Zink added, saying that this work would include input from filmmakers including those from the Directors Guild and American Society of Cinematographers.
“According to UHDA, Filmmaker Mode is now available in all new LG and Samsung TVs as well as select models from Hisense, Panasonic, Philips/TP Vision and Skyworth; projectors from LG, Samsung, Benq and Hisense; and services including Kaleidescape and Prime Video (the first streaming platform to automatically implement Filmmaker Mode for Prime on LG TVs),” says Giardina in THR.
The Alliance says that Filmmaker Mode will be added to in-flight entertainment options on passenger aircraft.