Skywalkers is a movie shot on a GoPro and will be screened in an IMAX theater. Obviously, GoPro is not part of the ‘Film In IMAX’/‘Filmed For IMAX’ camera program that includes only top-tier cinema cameras. However, IMAX utilizes its algorithm and AI capabilities to explode the GoPro imagery so it can hold the huge canvas. Will it hold?
Skywalkers: A film about pure stupidity
“Skywalkers,” which premiered Jan. 18 at the Ray Theatre, follows daring couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus from Moscow, who saved their relationship and career by climbing one of the world’s tallest buildings. Per the official logline: “A daredevil couple journey across the globe to climb the world’s last super skyscraper and perform a bold acrobatic stunt on the spire.” The documentary took seven years to produce. Netflix has acquired “Skywalkers: A Love Story” following the documentary feature’s debut at the Sundance Film Festival. In our opinion, it’s pure stupidity since this couple is risking their lives for the sake of the ‘Likes’. If there were no social networks in the world, they would not do it. This behavior is a bad example for youngsters. Anyway, we are here to discuss filmmaking aspects and not psychological implications. IMAX will screen the movie at selected theaters on July 12. Check out the IMAX trailer below:
Filmed For IMAX on a GoPro
Now, before we get a call from IMAX, yes… we know that Filmed For IMAX/Film In IMAX is a very specified definition regarding the selected cinema cameras that are certified (by IMAX) to shoot for the huge canvas. GoPro is not one of them, since all large-sensor cinema cameras can shoot RAW. Nevertheless, Skywalkers was shot on a GoPro without any IMAX modifications. As explained, IMAX will screen the movie in selected theaters, and for that, it will utilize its AI algorithm to explode the images, as elaborated before by the IMAX CEO. It will be interesting to explore how it holds the huge screen of the IMAX theater. Check out some screen grabs from the IMAX trailer:
What does this mean for filmmakers?
The IMAX’s algorithms and technologies have dramatically improved in the last two years. Moreover, the exponential growth of the capabilities of AI contributed to the ability to make almost any camera output good enough for IMAX. We saw it in The Creator, which was shot on an uncertified IMAX camera (Sony FX3). Furthermore, more and more IMAX movies are being shot with non ‘Filmed In IMAX’ cinema cameras. Skywalkers can be defined as a milestone since it allows a complete IMAX screening delivered from a GoPro’s output. Hence, you don’t need a fancy cinema camera to blockbusterize your film. However, you will need to cooperate with IMAX to treat your film with their specialized AI tech so it holds the huge canvas even at lower resolution and quality.
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It’s always what’s in front of the camera what is the most important.
Do I care about picture quality when I see people risking their life? No, absolutely not.
But for everything else, picture quality still counts. I just finished shooting a doc and while editing I have problems with the GoPro footage the moment it’s not super-bright. (using Hero 12 Log footage)
It has a hard time holding up next to the amazing quality of the C70 footage.
Anyway: EVERY CAMERA HAS IT’S PLACE.