The cinema of the future
The cinema of the future
Research is being carried out into how new technologies such as AR, photogrammetry and smartphone filmmaking can transform the visual language and narrative style of fictional film for the ‘cinema of the future’. The aim is to develop a modern cinematic language for a visionary ‘New Cinema’.
| Project lead: | Prof. Alex Herzog |
| Duration: | March 2023 to December 2024 |
| Funding body: | Internal funding (ZFF) |
Technological innovations have always shaped the world of film. Whether it be sound film, handheld cameras or music videos – new tools open up new forms of expression. Today, we find ourselves once again at a turning point: smartphones deliver cinema-quality footage, augmented reality is transforming our perception, and artificial intelligence is creating new possibilities for image generation. Against this backdrop, the project explores how cinematic language can continue to evolve under the influence of the latest technologies – with the aim of devising a new aesthetic for fictional storytelling that is not backward-looking, but deliberately forward-looking.
Project Overview
The project adopts an artistic-scientific research approach. At its heart lies a creative engagement with technologies such as AI, AR, game engines, virtual studios and publicly available camera footage. These tools are employed in experimental short-form formats, analysed and assessed in terms of their creative potential. The focus is not merely on technical feasibility, but on the artistic engagement with the specific characteristics of digital images.
Aim of the project
The project aims to develop an innovative cinematic language that uses new technologies not merely as tools, but as a foundation for aesthetic and narrative innovation. It seeks to provide impetus for a young, visionary cinema that actively engages with the creative potential of digital transformation.
Results
As part of the project, new technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, game engines, public cameras and virtual studios were examined for their creative potential in fictional storytelling. The results show that it is not the technology alone that is decisive, but rather the artistic approach to it. Various experimental approaches led to the development of new cinematic forms of expression – for example, through the use of avatars instead of real actors, through the creative use of CCTV footage, or through deliberately ‘digitally deconstructed’ visual material that clearly sets itself apart from classical realism. Rather than simply imitating reality, the aim was to explore new aesthetic avenues using the unique characteristics of digital images. This gave rise to a vision for a ‘New Cinema’ that is open to new technologies, whilst always placing artistic expression and storytelling at the centre.
