PDX Video Tech 2023 #5 (The Walt Disney Company)

CINEMATIC HFR | IMPROVING THE VIEWER EXPERIENCE FOR MOTION
Speaker: David Griggs, Principal Product Manager @ The Walt Disney Company
When you watch a cinematic (24fps) title on a consumer TV set a motion phenomenon known as judder occurs that can, for many people, contribute to an uncomfortable viewing experience where motion seems to stutter across the screen in a jerky and discordant way. The noticeability (or level) of judder is amplified by television features that have become increasingly mainstream and affordable, namely screen size, dynamic range, peak luminance and resolution. All features arguably consumers value in the TVs they purchase.
The only solution for judder is to use high frame rate (HFR) for playback. However existing HFR techniques have serious problems. TV set original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have, for many years now included motion smoothing technology to increase the frame rate through interpolation, but filmmakers hate this “soap opera effect” look and have vocally complained about it. Similarly, filmmaker HFR attempts (such as The Hobbit and Gemini Man) have not been well received, since they also cause a kind of soap opera or video game look.
James Cameron, an early proponent of HFR has recently delivered Avatar, Avatar 2 and Titanic in a new “Cinematic HFR” format that appears to solve these problems and improve the viewer experience for motion. Cinematic HFR utilizes a new post production method called "Motion Grading” which puts the mitigation for unwanted judder back in the hands of the creatives and away from catch-all interpolation algorithms.
In this talk David will explore the problem space the evolution of the solution and give his commentary on the adoption and longevity of motion grading in motion picture finishing and mastering processes. David will also talk about what streaming and television manufacturing industries need to do to ensure the success of a true in-home cinematic experience. An experience that gives consumers a high-grade, authentic experience without requiring them to underutilize the features they’ve paid for and value in their TV sets.