Filmmaker Mode is entering “phase 2” according to the UHD Alliance, who gave an update at CES in Las Vegas.
First announced in 2019, the new TV setting is designed to disable post processing such as motion smoothing, in order to give consumers the opportunity to view content in the way that the filmmakers intended, retaining the original aspect ratio, colour and frame rates.
Filmmaker Mode was the brainchild of directors Martin Scorsese, Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler in collaboration with the UHD Alliance. It was born out of concern in the production community that the many settings available on consumer UHD TVs serve to obscure the artists’ original intentions.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, phase 2 development is starting in 2022 with a focus on ambient lighting recommendations, incorporating ambient lighting sensors on TVs to automatically switch to the optimal setting.
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, alongside services such as Kaleidescape and Prime Video.
Filmmaker Mode could also be added to in-flight entertainment on passenger aircraft, with plans to implement the new spec on American Airlines entertainment systems in new planes that are expected to join the fleet in 2023.
“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,” said UHD Alliance president and chair Michael Zink. “We’re hoping to work with filmmakers on those guidelines to have a better experience in bright environments but still maintain creative intent.”
