Filmmakers in 'Noah' Used an iPad to Control a Huge Overhead Lighting and Rain System

[iSayuSay]

The iPad is so boring and just a toy. You can't do anything with it. Android tablets are so much more powerful because you can use widgets...

...or so I've heard.

iPads really have reshaped we interact with so many things. It was way ahead if it's time and still impresses.

Yeah well, the same control system can also be made for a laptop, and even better it would be hardwired instead of wireless control.

Don't understand why it's such a big deal. Unless they edit the whole movie visual effects purely on iMovie for iPad, now that's impressive!

But this .. basically buttons and switches .. on a tablet... Meh.

 

[a0me]

I know I've said this before, but a professional cinema camera has a sensor the size of an iPod shuffle. The sensor in an iPad camera is smaller than the 'play' icon on the play button of an iPod shuffle.

An iDevice will never be a professional photography tool.

http://proof.nationalgeographic.com...of-the-scottish-highlands-with-the-iphone-5s/

 

[jclardy]

At a glance, I thought I read that Noah filmmakers use an iPad to create a huge lightning and rain effect in the film. In which case, WOW that's impressive!

Then I read more, and well ..

It's the control system software, or app. Basically digital knobs and switches. I'm sorry but something like this can also be custom-made for Windows XP on a Pentium II laptop. Click this, click that. It's even can be more accurate and faster with keyboard, trackpad and hard-wired system. So I failed to see why it's such a big deal?

Maybe because with a tablet the interaction is faster and can be done while running around the football field sized set? Also try getting a waterproof case for a random laptop. Plus battery life.

 

[Will do good]

hahahahahahahahahahahaha No.

Why? avant garde artist have alway use unusual tools to make their arts. Maybe feature film makers won't use the iPad, but I'm sure some avant grade will and had already done it.

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http://proof.nationalgeographic.com...of-the-scottish-highlands-with-the-iphone-5s/

+1

I like how amateurs always assume every one in the world only uses pro tools. Their world view is limited only by their own imagination.

 

[rei101]

anyone see the movie? Was I the only one not impressed by the film

I am very religious and open minded. But I believe is very incorrect to take a Biblical story and transform it Lord of the Rings.

Is like creating the movie of George Bush and making him planing the destruction of World Trade Center... personally I know Bush did but you do not go a create a movie just like that. Well... you do not create monsters from falling angels and a drama about Noah killing children and so. Many people will believe that is what the Bible said.

 

[7enderbender]

Oh. And I thought "God" did all that.

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Yeah well, the same control system can also be made for a laptop, and even better it would be hardwired instead of wireless control.

Don't understand why it's such a big deal. Unless they edit the whole movie visual effects purely on iMovie for iPad, now that's impressive!

But this .. basically buttons and switches .. on a tablet... Meh.

Oh, come on. Let somebody have their free iPad and 15 seconds of fame.

Hey, I've just turned an old TI 83 calculator into a stop motion trigger. What do I get now?

Of course an iPad is a nifty device to control other devices. There is plenty of audio engineering control stuff available for it I heard. So why not lights and things. Seems very obvious.

 

[urbanlung]

At a glance, I thought I read that Noah filmmakers use an iPad to create a huge lightning and rain effect in the film. In which case, WOW that's impressive!

Then I read more, and well ..

It's the control system software, or app. Basically digital knobs and switches. I'm sorry but something like this can also be custom-made for Windows XP on a Pentium II laptop. Click this, click that. It's even can be more accurate and faster with keyboard, trackpad and hard-wired system. So I failed to see why it's such a big deal?

I reckon the FX guy just used the iPad to shut his girlfriend up, anything could have done this including a load of taps and domestic light switches. As everyone knows, Apple stuff is so locked in and they get a 30% cut. iPads are toys, no self respecting pro would use an iPad even if it could do the job.

 

[J InTech82]

I know I've said this before, but a professional cinema camera has a sensor the size of an iPod shuffle. The sensor in an iPad camera is smaller than the 'play' icon on the play button of an iPod shuffle.

An iDevice will never be a professional photography tool.

I think he was being sarcastic but exactly why I laughed with the initial posters comment.

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Why? avant garde artist have alway use unusual tools to make their arts. Maybe feature film makers won't use the iPad, but I'm sure some avant grade will and had already done it.

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+1

I like how amateurs always assume every one in the world only uses pro tools. Their world view is limited only by their own imagination.

On sure if they want to shoot an avant grade film more power to them but we are discussing filmmaking in a thread about a film that was shot on 2.8K with more than likely half a dozen if not more lenses.

The link to the Nationally Geographic is fine and dandy however we are discussing film not photography. I have shot some beautiful photos with my iPhone that people assume were with some of my pro (photography) gear.

 

[MacSince1990]

Hats off to anyone who can act while under a heavy artificial downpour. The only emotion I could portray would be extreme annoyance. Ditto for big cosumes/prosthetics. Acting seems hard already... acting while ignoring your own constant discomfort seems nearly impossible. (I hear some of them get paid well, at least.)

Not to mention the cameras in your face, ha. Usually those scenes are full of emotion/shouting though so I imagine that makes it easier. At least they don't have to do quiet soliloquy.

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But this .. basically buttons and switches .. on a tablet... Meh.

My thoughts as well. It wouldn't take a particularly long time to write this, I don't imagine. Could have done it with an iPhone, would have been even more portable. Stupid imo.

 

[Renzatic]

I am very religious and open minded. But I believe is very incorrect to take a Biblical story and transform it Lord of the Rings.

I haven't seen it yet, but everything I've read tells me they didn't quite do that. It still supposedly addresses the core moral and meaning behind the story.

The big army lead by the big evil guy is used to as the reason behind why Noah felt the world deserved its fate.

 

[DFZD]

The iPad is so boring and just a toy. You can't do anything with it. Android tablets are so much more powerful because you can use widgets...

...or so I've heard.

iPads really have reshaped we interact with so many things. It was way ahead if it's time and still impresses.

The only thing you can do with an Android tablet is that you can buy it dirt cheap. But then you get what you pay for.

 

[rei101]

I haven't seen it yet, but everything I've read tells me they didn't quite do that. It still supposedly addresses the core moral and meaning behind the story.

The big army lead by the big evil guy is used to as the reason behind why Noah felt the world deserved its fate.

Well, watch it and then tell me. You can not mix the Kabala with Spiderman. For example, Quentin Tarantino killed Hitler in Inglorious Bastards, but the movie is not about Hitlers life even most of the references are real.

In Noah, you are talking about the Bible, it is a very delicate topic. It should be respected. Watch the movie and you will see.

 

[Renzatic]

Well, watch it and then tell me. You can not mix the Kabala with Spiderman. For example, Quentin Tarantino killed Hitler in Inglorious Bastards, but the movie is not about Hitlers life even most of the references are real.

In Noah, you are talking about the Bible, it is a very delicate topic. It should be respected. Watch the movie and you will see.

Keep in mind that Genesis is very much allegory, and it's assumption as an historical record is only a relatively new thing. So if you ask me, it's not the absolute strict adherence to the text that's so important as much as it's attempt to convey the moral of the story.

From what I've read, Aronofsky didn't add anything that wasn't strictly biblical to the movie. It's all mixed and matched with other books and Judeo-Christian concepts to expand on a story that's honestly pretty thin on the details.

 

[octothorpe8]

I am very religious and open minded. But I believe is very incorrect to take a Biblical story and transform it Lord of the Rings.

Meh, they're both works of fiction.

 

[\-V-/]

Meh, they're both works of fiction.

What's the point of this comment other than to annoy? Regardless of your beliefs, this comment is entirely unnecessary.

I am very religious and open minded. But I believe is very incorrect to take a Biblical story and transform it Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien was actually a Christian and LOTR had Christian theological concepts scattered throughout the film. They're more sparse than what C.S. Lewis' work contained (C.S. Lewis was also a friend of Tolkien's), but they're still there (the ring was temptation, Gandalf on top of the hill on a white horse, etc.). Just an FYI.

Also, it's Hollywood. What did you expect?

 

[pika2000]

The people making the custom app should be the ones getting the credit, not the device, which could be anything, it just happened to be an iPad.

 

[penplotter]

I was told that this film was mainly shot in Arkansas... (Ark & Saw)

 

[Renzatic]

I was told that this film was mainly shot in Arkansas... (Ark & Saw)

I see what you did there.

 

[penplotter]

I see what you did there.

I should hope you did; I saw what I did there too hehe

At Christmas, people sing "No L, No L, No L, No L"... but there's clearly an "L" in "Noel", else they'd just be singing "Noe, Noe, Noe, Noe..." and wouldn't that sound a bit silly?

 

[gorskiegangsta]

I know I've said this before, but a professional cinema camera has a sensor the size of an iPod shuffle. The sensor in an iPad camera is smaller than the 'play' icon on the play button of an iPod shuffle.

An iDevice will never be a professional photography tool.

Yeah, and let's not forget that sensor is only half the story, and a lesser half at that. The lens assembly is at least as important (arguably more so) and, let's face it, ~6mm device thickness doesn't provide a whole lot of headroom.

 

[\-V-/]

So I just saw the movie... lol. This could have very easily been directed by Michael Bay. I felt like I was watching a mash up of Transformers and The Neverending Story. Like... there were rock monsters that helped build the arc and kill ppl and defend the arc and uh... I uh... there are no words. The sequel will probably have Optimus Prime team up with Jesus. It sounds like I'm joking but that's what the movie was like. I can see why it offended ppl. The first 3/4 of the movie could've easily been a parody on Comedy Central. Good grief.

Keep in mind that Genesis is very much allegory, and it's assumption as an historical record is only a relatively new thing. So if you ask me, it's not the absolute strict adherence to the text that's so important as much as it's attempt to convey the moral of the story.

From what I've read, Aronofsky didn't add anything that wasn't strictly biblical to the movie. It's all mixed and matched with other books and Judeo-Christian concepts to expand on a story that's honestly pretty thin on the details.

You heard wrong. The movie had a lot of ridiculous crap, including giant rock monsters that looked like Transformers. The majority of the movie was fabricated and an insult to people's intelligence. There was hardly anything in the movie that reflected the story except animals getting on a big boat. There wasn't really a message either. This was clearly just a movie for profit and nothing more. Had they shown all the rock giants and weird crap in the trailer nobody would've seen the movie. It was strategy to leave that part out. That way they would get people's money and then wait until they're in the theater to realize they're being played a horrible joke on. It is easily one of the worst film's I have ever seen. It was bad whether you are religious or not. Originally I thought people were just being too sensitive, but it's clear as day how insulting the movie is. It was beyond silly.

Also I don't know where you read that it was even remotely biblical. Aronofsky said himself it's the least biblical movie ever made. But it's much worse than that.

Russell Crowe did an excellent job as always, though.

 

[kdarling]

The iPad is so boring and just a toy. You can't do anything with it. Android tablets are so much more powerful because you can use widgets...
...or so I've heard.

Victim mentality is never cool.

iPads really have reshaped we interact with so many things.

Right, because there was never any remotely controlled artificial rain in movies before

It was way ahead if it's time and still impresses.

Ahead of its time? No. It came out when the technology and market was ripe. Otherwise it would never have sold.

Now, back in 2000, a user and touch friendly tablet like the FreePad was ahead of its time. That's why it didn't sell.

 

[Kobayagi]

Okay great, but it's not like these scenes would't have been possible if we didn't have the iPad... This just seems like a long ad for the film and the iPad.

 

[osofast240sx]

An iDevice will never be a professional photography tool.

The same thing was said about digital cameras. As a rule of thumb you should never use the word never when talking about technology.

 

[osofast240sx]

The people making the custom app should be the ones getting the credit, not the device, which could be anything, it just happened to be an iPad.

They do get credit it's called credits at the end of the movie. And also they get paid to make that app this is an Apple forum what did you expect