Traditional Ride Films
Some time go we started to do is invest time into researching and making ride films. I think this is an excellent time to revisit this and think about the application for VR ride film.
This was a welcome departure from traditional filmography and gave us the opportunity to work with some new technology and new clients.
http://redraion.com/why-ride-films-are-better-than-attraction-films/
The above website has some interesting points to make about attraction films and ride films. I've copied the relevant parts but I'd say it's also work checking out the link for further reading.
Immersive films are not created equally. You can find 5D movies of all kinds: funny, dynamic, entertaining, but also poetic, imaginative, moving. Each 5D film has features and characteristics that make it different from the others.
5D films divide into two groups: ride films and attraction films. What’s the difference? How to understand which genre a movie belongs to? And - most importantly - what genre is best if you own a simulator?
The average movie length is very different to a ride film.
The first characteristic that really stands out is the difference in length between ride and attraction films. On average, a ride film lasts about 5 minutes. Attraction films, instead, don’t follow any rule of thumb in that regard. Usually, they last about 10-15 minutes, but it’s possible to find attraction films that last 30 minutes or more.
A ride film is a race against time: after a brief introduction, the spectator starts to live an adventure from the point of view of the main character. A surprising ride that usually finishes with an unexpected ending.
On the other hand, an attraction film is an actual short film that is perfect for theme parks, brands and museums that desire to tell their story. The point of view is in third person. In a ride film the most important things are emotion and involvement; in an attraction film the main feature is the story and the graphical beauty.
Why is a short 5D movie better for simulators than a long one?
People who are interested in watching a short film or a traditional movie, usually choose traditional cinema - and it’s perfectly normal.
A generic attraction film can be very beautiful from a graphical point of view (and tailor-made attraction films with a great intriguing story are beautiful indeed!), but, really, what’s the point of watching at something if it’s not so meaningful? If you were to watch a long movie that is not part of a whole experience (like the one you can have at a theme park), wouldn’t you rather go to a traditional theater to watch a proper film produced for old-fashioned cinema?
The customers who choose to experience a 5D film want to be upset, they want to live a story in first person - attending a movie without interacting it’s plainly disappointing for them.
And what is that makes 5D movies what they are? Effects, of course.
There are tons of effects in a 5D ride and you want to try them all. In a ride - a mad one! - you mustn’t be too subtle. You have 5 minutes to enjoy one of the most exciting moments of your life.
The same can’t be told about attraction movies sold under license. Thrills and excitement are replaced by a tidy narration as effects are replaced by images. In a ride film, effects and motion-base movements are fundamental to tighten the tension. For simulators, effects that can be found in attraction films are only embellishments, they only underline certain transitions the story.
Imagine to be among those people who are in line to come into your theater. The wait is over, you’re given the glasses to watch the movie in 3D. You’re inside, can you see those seats? They are able to simulate a world of physical sensations. You cannot wait to try all the effects. You cannot wait to experience unparalleled emotions.
Your audience wants to go beyond the reality we already know. Beyond expectations. Beyond imagination.
Do you really think an attraction film can match your audience needs? Well, if you are managing a simulator that uses movies under license, you're on the wrong path.
What about international audiences? There is another thing you should always keep in mind when choosing a movie for your XD theater…
The most part of ride films don’t use dialogues at all. The best way to live this kind of story is through action. Words are unnecessary, you want to get to the point soon! By contrast, dialogues have a very important role in attraction films. Without explanations is very difficult to understand what’s going on on the screen.
Why is this so important for you? Simulators, XD theaters are visited every day from thousands of people coming from everywhere in the world. A ride film can easily fit with every kind of audience. Everybody can take advantage of your multi-sensory content.
An attraction film is very different. Dialogs are fundamental, thanks to verbal communication the story can take place. And what about those who don’t speak the language the characters use? What will they understand? Being the witness of an unintelligible conversation is always frustrating. A lot of people are not able to enjoy your film. This is no small thing.
Summary
Another website to check out talks about individual rides and what makes them special.
For many years modern ride films and theme park attractions have continually built on developments in filmmaking and visual effects. Often combining motion simulators with large-scale imagery, high-frame rates, stereoscopic projection and photorealistic animation and CG, these experiences of course seek to immerse their audiences much more than can be done inside a traditional movie theater.
In the linked article, they present just a sampling of some recent ride films and experiences and how they use visual effects techniques in particular in their creation. These include the new Star Tours, Transformers: The Ride, the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction, King Kong 360, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and The Simpsons Ride. Sit back, hold on, and enjoy the art of the ride film.
Douglas Trumbull is a pioneer in ride films, before looking into ride film its a good idea to look at his career.
You’ll mostly likely have seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Blade Runner amongst his film credits.
But Trumbull has also been a major proponent of ‘immersive’ technology, not only for the movies but also exhibitions and ride films. He developed Showscan, for example, where 65mm film would be photographed at 60 fps and projected with 70mm prints at that higher frame rate - a technique that reduced blur and produced high-quality imagery. Trumbull has many filmmaking patents and continues to invest in high frame rate HD, stereo and virtual set filmmaking tools.
Perhaps the most well known and successful attraction Trumbull worked on was the Back to the Future Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. The ride utilized a giant IMAX hemispherical screen and motion base, together with miniature, stop motion and optical compositing photography. Trumbull has said the ride was a high point in his career since audiences were treated as ‘participants’ rather than passive observers.
The Future of Ride Film
Certainly, ride films only represent a small portion of rides and attractions out there. The major theme parks led by Disney and Universal Studios are constantly striving to make more and more immersive experiences, often combining filmed sections, motion simulators and animatronics.
One of the most anticipated theme park attractions currently being built is Avatar Land at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida, where already one of the rides has been revealed to be a flying simulator attraction where guests will learn to fly with a mountain Banshee. Also presumably on the cards are likely Star Wars and Marvel additions now that Disney owns those franchises. And Paramount is capitalizing on its Star Trek and other film properties in a new theme park in Spain.
It certainly looks to be a new burgeoning era in theme park attractions and rides
.
This was a welcome departure from traditional filmography and gave us the opportunity to work with some new technology and new clients.
http://redraion.com/why-ride-films-are-better-than-attraction-films/
The above website has some interesting points to make about attraction films and ride films. I've copied the relevant parts but I'd say it's also work checking out the link for further reading.
Immersive films are not created equally. You can find 5D movies of all kinds: funny, dynamic, entertaining, but also poetic, imaginative, moving. Each 5D film has features and characteristics that make it different from the others.
5D films divide into two groups: ride films and attraction films. What’s the difference? How to understand which genre a movie belongs to? And - most importantly - what genre is best if you own a simulator?
The average movie length is very different to a ride film.
The first characteristic that really stands out is the difference in length between ride and attraction films. On average, a ride film lasts about 5 minutes. Attraction films, instead, don’t follow any rule of thumb in that regard. Usually, they last about 10-15 minutes, but it’s possible to find attraction films that last 30 minutes or more.
A ride film is a race against time: after a brief introduction, the spectator starts to live an adventure from the point of view of the main character. A surprising ride that usually finishes with an unexpected ending.
On the other hand, an attraction film is an actual short film that is perfect for theme parks, brands and museums that desire to tell their story. The point of view is in third person. In a ride film the most important things are emotion and involvement; in an attraction film the main feature is the story and the graphical beauty.
Why is a short 5D movie better for simulators than a long one?
- It’s impossible to get bored;
- It’s more captivating;
- You can earn more since you can arrange more shifts in the same period of time;
- It’s perfect both for kids and adults.
People who are interested in watching a short film or a traditional movie, usually choose traditional cinema - and it’s perfectly normal.
A generic attraction film can be very beautiful from a graphical point of view (and tailor-made attraction films with a great intriguing story are beautiful indeed!), but, really, what’s the point of watching at something if it’s not so meaningful? If you were to watch a long movie that is not part of a whole experience (like the one you can have at a theme park), wouldn’t you rather go to a traditional theater to watch a proper film produced for old-fashioned cinema?
The customers who choose to experience a 5D film want to be upset, they want to live a story in first person - attending a movie without interacting it’s plainly disappointing for them.
And what is that makes 5D movies what they are? Effects, of course.
There are tons of effects in a 5D ride and you want to try them all. In a ride - a mad one! - you mustn’t be too subtle. You have 5 minutes to enjoy one of the most exciting moments of your life.
The same can’t be told about attraction movies sold under license. Thrills and excitement are replaced by a tidy narration as effects are replaced by images. In a ride film, effects and motion-base movements are fundamental to tighten the tension. For simulators, effects that can be found in attraction films are only embellishments, they only underline certain transitions the story.
Imagine to be among those people who are in line to come into your theater. The wait is over, you’re given the glasses to watch the movie in 3D. You’re inside, can you see those seats? They are able to simulate a world of physical sensations. You cannot wait to try all the effects. You cannot wait to experience unparalleled emotions.
Your audience wants to go beyond the reality we already know. Beyond expectations. Beyond imagination.
Do you really think an attraction film can match your audience needs? Well, if you are managing a simulator that uses movies under license, you're on the wrong path.
What about international audiences? There is another thing you should always keep in mind when choosing a movie for your XD theater…
The most part of ride films don’t use dialogues at all. The best way to live this kind of story is through action. Words are unnecessary, you want to get to the point soon! By contrast, dialogues have a very important role in attraction films. Without explanations is very difficult to understand what’s going on on the screen.
Why is this so important for you? Simulators, XD theaters are visited every day from thousands of people coming from everywhere in the world. A ride film can easily fit with every kind of audience. Everybody can take advantage of your multi-sensory content.
An attraction film is very different. Dialogs are fundamental, thanks to verbal communication the story can take place. And what about those who don’t speak the language the characters use? What will they understand? Being the witness of an unintelligible conversation is always frustrating. A lot of people are not able to enjoy your film. This is no small thing.
Summary
- A first person movie is always more captivating than a third person one;
- It’s a super fast dynamic experience;
- It won’t bore anyone ever;
- You can arrange more shifts and earn more;
- Everyone (kids, adults, people coming from everywhere in the world) will enjoy it;
- To put it simply: your audience will have great fun!
Another website to check out talks about individual rides and what makes them special.
For many years modern ride films and theme park attractions have continually built on developments in filmmaking and visual effects. Often combining motion simulators with large-scale imagery, high-frame rates, stereoscopic projection and photorealistic animation and CG, these experiences of course seek to immerse their audiences much more than can be done inside a traditional movie theater.
In the linked article, they present just a sampling of some recent ride films and experiences and how they use visual effects techniques in particular in their creation. These include the new Star Tours, Transformers: The Ride, the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction, King Kong 360, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and The Simpsons Ride. Sit back, hold on, and enjoy the art of the ride film.
Douglas Trumbull is a pioneer in ride films, before looking into ride film its a good idea to look at his career.
You’ll mostly likely have seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Blade Runner amongst his film credits.
But Trumbull has also been a major proponent of ‘immersive’ technology, not only for the movies but also exhibitions and ride films. He developed Showscan, for example, where 65mm film would be photographed at 60 fps and projected with 70mm prints at that higher frame rate - a technique that reduced blur and produced high-quality imagery. Trumbull has many filmmaking patents and continues to invest in high frame rate HD, stereo and virtual set filmmaking tools.
Perhaps the most well known and successful attraction Trumbull worked on was the Back to the Future Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. The ride utilized a giant IMAX hemispherical screen and motion base, together with miniature, stop motion and optical compositing photography. Trumbull has said the ride was a high point in his career since audiences were treated as ‘participants’ rather than passive observers.
The Future of Ride Film
Certainly, ride films only represent a small portion of rides and attractions out there. The major theme parks led by Disney and Universal Studios are constantly striving to make more and more immersive experiences, often combining filmed sections, motion simulators and animatronics.
One of the most anticipated theme park attractions currently being built is Avatar Land at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida, where already one of the rides has been revealed to be a flying simulator attraction where guests will learn to fly with a mountain Banshee. Also presumably on the cards are likely Star Wars and Marvel additions now that Disney owns those franchises. And Paramount is capitalizing on its Star Trek and other film properties in a new theme park in Spain.
It certainly looks to be a new burgeoning era in theme park attractions and rides
.
