Filmmaker Mode updates to take on ambient lighting conditions

A new consumer education push is also planned

by Andy Bassett

The UHD Alliance, the body behind Filmmaker Mode has used CES to confirm that it will be working on a second stage of development during 2022.

First announced in August 2019 by a number of leading Hollywood directors who had partnered with the UHD Alliance, Filmmaker Mode is a way for viewers to enjoy a more authentic experience when watching movies on television.

To counter the increasing number of settings on modern 4K TV sets which were making it harder to achieve the original artistic look of a film (often painstakingly realised to add emotional or narrative beats to a story) and which were confusing viewers who picked a setting they liked and stuck with it, Filmmaker Mode disables all post processing techniques such as motion smoothing. It also ensures the original aspect ratio, colour grading and frame rates are all in place as per the director’s original intention.

Now, Michael Zink, president and chair of the UHD Alliance, whose members include Hollywood Studios and major consumer electronics manufacturers, has used CES to announce that a ‘phase 2’ development is about to get underway to focus on maintaining the artistic intent in brighter lighting conditions.

Zink stated, “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.

The intention is to consult with filmmakers, including those from the Director’s Guild of America and the American Society of Cinematographers, to determine a technical recommendation so as to maintain original intent when images are shown in brighter settings. It’s expected that the solution will involve the ambient lighting sensors found in many new TVs.

Zink noted that the concurrent theatrical and streaming release of many films during the pandemic has increased creative support for Filmmaker Mode, and commented, “We are in this unique position of having a relatively comprehensive ecosystem.”

Filmmaker Mode is found on a range of new TVs from many of the world’s biggest manufacturers including LG, Samsung, Hisense, Panasonic, Philips and Skyworth; along with projectors from LG, Samsung, Benq and Hisense; and services including Kaleidescape and Prime Video which was the first streaming platform to automatically implement Filmmaker Mode for Prime on LG TVs.

An education programme is also being implemented to demonstrate the benefits of using Filmmaker Mode and Dune director Denis Villeneuve recently took to social media to recommend using the setting for those that chose to watch his sci-fi epic at home on HBO Max.

Meanwhile, the UHD Alliance continues to enlist more companies to adopt Filmmaker Mode and MediaTek will support Filmmaker Mode auto-switching on its chipsets making life easier for manufacturers to implement the feature. Additionally, the Alliance says that Filmmaker Mode will be added to in-flight entertainment options on American Airlines passenger aircraft.

Source: UHD Alliance / CES
Image Source: UHD Alliance/Warner Bros

Follow AVforums on Google News

To share your thoughts on the above, click the Discussion tab and post a reply.

Related Content

Samsung reveals wider 2024 TV lineup and pricing
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
LG confirms G4 and C4 OLED TV pricing
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
Roku teams up with Currys to launch new Logik Roku TVs
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published

Latest Headlines

Samsung reveals wider 2024 TV lineup and pricing
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
LG confirms G4 and C4 OLED TV pricing
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
Roku teams up with Currys to launch new Logik Roku TVs
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
Back
Top Bottom