UHDA’s Filmmaker Mode Recognized by ASC and Others for Home Viewing

Three leading Hollywood guilds and a key film preservation and education organization have recognized the UHD Alliance’s (UHDA) Filmmaker Mode as the preferred way to deliver creative intent of film and television content in the home. The Directors Guild of America (DGA), The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG) and The Film Foundation, all four of whom provided feedback to the UHDA on the development of Filmmaker Mode, today formally recognized the new TV picture mode as an important and critical step toward allowing home viewers to enjoy film and television shows as they were intended to be seen by the filmmaker.

“Preserving intent is an important part of our creative rights work at the Directors Guild of America, and Filmmaker Mode reflects the spirit of that,” said Christopher Nolan, Co-Chair of the DGA Creative Rights Committee. “As the home has become an increasingly important viewing environment for cinematic content, our Guild has made it a priority to work with the UHDA and television manufacturers, giving the filmmaker’s perspective on the development of this important feature. Through Filmmaker Mode, the latest innovations in television have been harnessed to present our work to audiences as it was intended to be seen.” 

The Filmmaker Mode collaboration was initially announced by UHDA in August, with support from leading Hollywood directors, major movie studios and television support from LG, Panasonic and VIZIO.  Today’s announcements from Samsung, Kaleidescape and Philips (TP Vision, Europe) expand the range of Filmmaker Mode-enabled products coming to consumers in 2020. Specific product and implementation plans are anticipated from each company.

The development of Filmmaker Mode marks the first time leaders in the creative community have had broad input into the long-standing collaboration between the Hollywood studio’s and consumer electronics manufacturers. As a result, Filmmaker Mode triggers specific video settings recommended by a host Hollywood’s most influential directors as ideal for maintaining the creative intent behind films when they’re viewed at home.

“The Film Foundation was created to restore and preserve and show films exactly as they were intended to be seen by the people who made them,” said Martin Scorsese, celebrated director, founder and chair of The Film Foundation. “Most people today are watching classic films at home, where existing technology presents all media in exactly the same way, whether it’s a football game or Lawrence of Arabia. With Filmmaker Mode, different works will be presented accurately, as they were created and designed by the filmmaker. Filmmaker Mode is a long overdue and welcome innovation.”

Notably, unlike some picture modes which may require the user to enter one or more menus to find and select, Filmmaker Mode will be activated either automatically, through metadata embedded in the content, or through a single button on the remote which enables the consumer to activate Filmmaker Mode without moving through multiple menu levels. Further, to make finding displays that can display content in Filmmaker Mode, the name and settings will be consistent across multiple TV brands.

“The ASC’s mission has always centered around advancing the art and science of cinematography,” said Kees van Oostrum, President of The American Society of Cinematographers. “Filmmaking is a true art-form and Filmmaker Mode allows that artwork to be enjoyed as envisioned by the artist not just in the theater, but in the home.”

“The technicians and artisans in the ICG create spectacular visual images for theater screens and televisions all over the world,” noted ICG past-president, Steven Poster, ASC. “Filmmaker Mode is an exciting development that allows home viewers to see films and TV as the creator intended, and to enjoy and appreciate the true artistry that goes into visual storytelling.”

Current TV’s use advanced video processing capabilities to offer consumers a broad range of options in viewing various types of content, ranging from sports to video games. Filmmaker Mode will allow viewers to enjoy a more cinematic experience on their UHD TV’s when watching movies by disabling all post-processing (e.g. motion smoothing, etc.) so the movie or television show is displayed as it was intended by the filmmaker, preserving the original aspect ratio, colors and frame rates. 

“The collaborative input received from the DGA, ASC, ICG and The Film Foundation and the entire creative community has been invaluable in developing Filmmaker Mode,” said Michael Zink, Chairman of the UHD Alliance. “We’re thrilled to count on their ongoing support and looking forward to seeing the first wave of Filmmaker Mode enabled products reach consumers.”

Companies interested in the UHDA specification and the associated licensing terms can contact: uhdalliance.org/contact-us/.