Films Research Articles

Upsampling Algorithm for V-PCC-Coded 3D Point Clouds

Point cloud (PC) compression is crucial to immersive visual applications such as autonomous vehicles to classify objects on the roads. The Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standardization group has achieved a notable compression efficiency, called video-based PC compression (V-PCC), which consists of an encoder-decoder. The V-PCC encoder takes original 3D PC data and projects them onto multiple 2D planes to generate several 2D feature images. These images are then compressed using the well-established High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) method. The V-PCC decoder uses compressed information and decoding techniques to reconstruct the 3D PC. However, the PCs produced by V-PCC are often sparse, non-uniform, and contain artifacts. In many practical applications, it is necessary to recover complete PCs from partial ones in real time. This article presents a method for enhancing decoded PCs as a post-processing step in the V-PCC with reduced computational time. Our approach involves a 2D upsampling for the V-PCC occupancy image, which increases the density of the PC, and a 2D high-resolution auxiliary information modification algorithm for the 2D-3D conversion of high-resolution 3D PCs, which improves the uniformity and reduces the noise in the PC. The 3D high-resolution PC has been further enhanced using the developed 3D outlier removal and point regeneration algorithm. Our proposed work can significantly simplify the state-of-the-art super resolution methods for PCs and reduce the time complexity of 61–75% while maintaining a high level of quality in PCs.

Transition metal element doping modulated cobalt disulfide

The effects of Fe, Ru, Os, Rh and Ir doping on the structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of CoS2 were examined. Phonon band structures confirm the stability of these compounds. Co0.75X0.25S2 (X = Fe, Ru) exhibits half-metallic behavior, making it suitable for spintronic devices. Co0.75X0.25S2 (X = Os, Ir) displays metallic characteristics, which was advantageous for electron transport and applicable in supercapacitors and catalysts. Co0.75Rh0.25S2 demonstrates nearly half-metallic property. However, bulk Co1-xFexS2 (x = 0.125, 0.0625, and 0.03125) show nearly half-metallic characteristics but not entirely. For the SS-SS-CoCo termination of the Co1-xFexS2 (x = 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, and 0.03125) (100) thin films, the Co1-xFexS2 (x = 0.25 and 0.0625) thin films are potential materials for spintronics due to their half-metallic properties. The Co0.9375Fe0.0625S2 (100) film is particularly suited for absorbing red to green light.

Translation of catch phrases in an audiovisual text

The article discusses the problem of interlinguistic and intercultural transfer of winged words (catch phrases) in an audiovisual text of the Soviet period. The source of the material is the Russian motion picture "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears" and its translation into English (subtitling), the material is 34 winged words (catch phrases) which were selected with verification based on Internet sources. The purpose of the research is to study the methods/techniques of transferring catch phrases in audiovisual translation (subtitling) from Russian into English, as well as to analyze the results obtained from the point of view of preserving the characteristics inherent in catch phrases and preserving the national cultural component. The main methods are the method of continuous sampling, the method of comparative analysis, the method of contextual analysis, etc. The direction of the translation (Russian-English translation) and the approach chosen by the authors indicate the novelty of the research. Having analyzed the translation of catch phrases, the authors made observations regarding the methods/techniques used which contributed to conveying meaning and complying with the norms of audiovisual translation, as well as to the conclusions that a partial loss of cultural information may occur during translation and that in a situation where a film subsequently becomes a precedent text, postediting may be required, as the conditions of how the text/part of the text functions in the linguoculture of the original language change. The results may be of interest to specialists in the field of audiovisual translation, as well as to philologists, linguists, and to ordinary readers who are interested in translation studies and/or cinematography.

What can proper names in the Polish TV series „Rancho” tell us about „our local West”?

The paper offers a description of the names used in four seasons (1–4) of the Polish TV series “Rancho.” The analysis aims to show the mentality of the rural society that lives in Wilkowyje, its characteristics, and its views on political and social changes after Poland’s accession to the European Union. Europe is not the only symbol of the West entering this community. It is also, above all, America, embodied by the fi lm’s protagonist, a Polish woman born in New York. For the local inhabitants, the ongoing changes are puzzling and sometimes painful, which they express vocally in their assessments of the West. Due to the specifics of the fi lm language, proper names are studied in their contexts: in the dialogues between the characters and in the situations in which they find themselves. Occasionally, the interpretation of the onymes also requires a deeper look at the source (the film) from which they originated – as an audiovisual work (film editing, music, acting, visuals, colours, etc.).

Obtaining films from secondary products of oil and fat production

The work is devoted to vegetable oils, the production and generation of waste during the processing and refining of oils, as well as waste generated during deep-frying of products. The question is raised about the possibility of using oil refi ning waste and oil waste for products manufacturing, and not just for the creation of biofuels. For instance, the possibility of obtaining fi lms during oil hardening and using them for packaging production is discussed. Preliminary results of the formation of films from waste sunflower oil are presented, which make it possible to find options for their use.

Substandard phonetic realisations and their functions in Stanisław Bareja’s comedies

The paper examines the substandard pronunciation of certain words in the comedies by a popular Polish filmmaker, Stanisław Bareja. The empirical material was obtained using the auditive method. The author claims that non-literary phonetic realisations that appear in the fi lm dialogues imitate: 1) colloquial mispronunciations; 2) dialectal pronunciation (especially typical of the urban dialect of Warsaw); 3) hypercorrect pronunciation; 4) speech defects and unfamiliarity with foreign words. Subsequently, he lists several important functions of the phonetic peculiarities. The filmmaker used them primarily to achieve humorous effects. However, the analysis has also revealed that they indicated: 1) the place of action; 2) the social affiliation of the characters; 3) the intellectual level of the characters; 4) the ethnicity of the characters; 5) the level of formality of the communicative situation.

‘A window of the world’: itinerant silent cinemas in rural Australia

ABSTRACT Moving pictures connected even the most remote corners of the British Empire with its cultural and economic center. Between 1896 and 1916, transnational silent cinema shaped settler-colonial Australia’s relationship to the British Empire in tandem with the colonies’ move toward federation and political autonomy. Traveling exhibitors were key to this process, bringing moving pictures from the UK, Europe, and the US to Australians who lived outside major cities. This paper explores how itinerant silent cinema shows brought not just the pictures to rural Australian audiences, but also a sense of belonging to an imagined transnational community, through films from the UK, US, France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Between 1896 and 1905, exhibitors like Maurice Sestier and Wybert Reeve were instrumental in introducing cinema technology, while entertainers like J. C. Williamson, T.J. West, the Marvellous Corricks, and Ettie Wilmott helped maintain the popularity of the cinema in the mid-1900s, in part by incorporating films into variety shows. From around 1910, when permanent cinemas had been established in larger Australian towns, until at least 1914 but in some cases for much longer, itinerant exhibitors and vaudeville shows like Wilmott’s Electric Pictures kept remote rural communities supplied, albeit intermittently, with cinema experiences that connected them to a wider imagined community.

Analisis Pengaturan Hukum Pidana terhadap Penyalahgunaan Teknologi Manipulasi Gambar (Deepfake) dalam Penyebaran Konten Pornografi Melalui Akun Media Sosial

Deepfake is an advanced technology that utilizes the latest artificial intelligence techniques to produce compelling images or motion pictures that appear to be genuine. This technique uses specialized algorithms to create fake content that is difficult to distinguish from the real thing. In Indonesia, cases of deepfake pornography have increased in recent years. With this new Artificial Intelligence technology which in addition to the many positive impacts it provides, it also has negative impacts that can support the occurrence of these cases. the spread of pornographic content with image manipulation (deepfake) has become one of the negative impacts of this technology. This study aims to determine the shortcomings in the legal arrangements and how they are implemented in cases of deepfake, or the misuse of AI technology. The research method used is normative legal research based on literature and laws and regulations. This research found that several general and specific rules relating to the misuse of deepfake technology through social media have not covered all aspects of image manipulation (deepfake) containing pornography on social media accounts. Therefore, although pornographic deepfake cases often occur and harm some people, the limited legal regulation of these acts causes the legal apparatus to have difficulty in ensnaring the perpetrators.

Return of the Movie Night? Analyzing the Impact of Netflix Subscriptions on Offline Movie Spending

The advent of streaming services, like Netflix and Prime Video by Amazon, has led to the expectation that demand for offline movie consumption is likely to die (i.e., consumers will simply stop going to the movies). We study this question in our work, and instead, we find that although streaming services provide value to customers in terms of comfort, convenience, and price, they do not lead to a reduction in offline movie consumption. Instead, we show that the offline movie consumption actually increases because streaming services do not fully substitute for the social aspects of going to the movies or the pleasure that is received from watching movies on the “big screen.” Our work thus speaks to the policies implemented in some countries where streaming platforms have been restricted given the concerns about disruption of the offline movie industry. We believe that these policies are potentially misguided because they assume perfect substitution between the two services. Our work also helps inform managers of movie theaters and streaming platforms by providing arguments for the specific types of service offerings that are more likely to be enjoyed at home versus at the movie theater. As we show in the paper, social and hedonic needs are more likely to be met at the movie theater rather than through streaming services. We reiterate the sentiments expressed by Steven Spielberg from 2019: “I hope all of us really continue to believe that the greatest contributions we can make as filmmakers are to give audiences the motion picture theatrical experience. I am a firm believer that movie theaters need to be around forever.”

Synthesis of β-Ga2O3:Mg Thin Films by Electron Beam Evaporation and Postannealing

Doping divalent metal cations into Ga2O3 films plays a key role in adjusting the conductive behavior of the film. N-type high-resistivity β-Ga2O3:Mg films were prepared using electron beam evaporation and subsequent postannealing processing. Various characterization methods (X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence, etc.) revealed that the Mg content plays an important role in affecting the film quality. Specifically, when the Mg content in the film is 3.6%, the S2 film’s resistivity, carrier content, and carrier mobility are 59655.5 Ω·cm, 1.95 × 1014 cm3/C, and 0.53682 cm2/Vs. Also, the film exhibits a smoother surface, more refined grains, and higher self-trapped exciton emission efficiency. The Mg cation mainly substitutes the Ga+ cation at a tetrahedral site, acting as a trap for self-trapped holes.

Motion picture

Motion picture

Claiming the Reality (of Loss): Some Remarks on the Screenplay, Novel and FilmKwiecień (April, 1961) by Witold Lesiewicz and Józef Hen

The article discusses the interrelationships between Józef Hen’s novel Kwiecień (April), his two unpublishedscreenplays based on it, and Witold Lesiewicz’s fi lm Kwiecień (April, 1961), a canonicalwork of the Polish film school. The key problem concerns the question of the sense of sendingsoldiers to fight in the final days of the war, when its final outcome is already determined. Whenwriting his novel and its screenplay versions, Józef Hen referred to his own experience in April1945, when he fought in the ranks of the Second Polish Army and personally witnessed the tragedyof the soldiers dying in the final hours of the war, when personal ambitions and attitudes of commanderstook precedence over a rational assessment of the situation at the front. Hen’s noveland its screenplay and fi lm versions can therefore be seen as attempts at claiming the realityof loss. This is one of the main themes of Józef Hen’s writing. In April it is reflected in the attitudesof the main characters, as shaped by various dimensions of loss.

‘Luxuries of the mind’: Contextualising Art Photography, Eroticism and History of Medicine in the Social tableaux vivants of Lejaren à Hiller's Sutures in Ancient Surgery (1920s–1940s)

Abstract In 1927 Lejaren à Hiller (1880–1969) produced a series of black and white art photographs entitled Sutures in Ancient Surgery evoking scenes from the distant past of surgery and medicine. Commissioned and distributed in North America by Davis & Geck, Inc. to promote sales of its surgical sutures (stitches), several depictions were erotic owing to the centrality and poses of nude female models. The first series appeared as ads in professional technical journals, then as packets assembled in paper portfolios distributed to doctors who were primarily men. The creation of Hiller's oeuvre in different forms over almost a century – journal advertisement, portfolio, book, exhibit, magazine features and textbook illustration – highlights his enduring broad appeal, although his work has since been subject to criticism because of its perceived sexism. At its root, Sutures was an advertising medium that connected a seller to a potential buyer. The content and presentation of the project also connected medicine present with medicine past, which also may have helped physicians to connect with the then blossoming field of medical history. The appeal Sutures may have had for a past male medical culture would not resonate with the more gender-inclusive and less overtly sexist medical profession of today, which also prompts discussion of the associations across art, obscenity, medicine and society. My reassessment of Hiller's work based on analysis of his artwork, contemporary interviews, published critiques, Hiller's own writings and DG company records extends previous analyses as it is more comprehensive in scope and also considers more fully works by Hiller antecedent to Sutures that probably greatly influenced it, such as photopoetry books, other advertising projects and his silent movie films.

Impact of Wireless Network Packet Loss on Real-Time Video Streaming Application: A Comparative Study of H.265 and H.266 Codecs

The transmission of real-time videos over wireless networks is prone to the negative consequences of packet loss and delay, which can have a potential effect on the video quality during streaming. These impairments can lead to interruptions, buffering, and degradation of visual and auditory elements, resulting in an unsatisfactory user experience. In this paper, we aim to address the challenges associated with packet loss and delay parameters in wireless networks, and propose an approach to alleviate their impact on real-time video transmission. The proposed approach involves utilizing the H.265/H.266 video coding standards. For Versatile Video Coding (VVC), a patch support for VVdeC and VVenC to FFmpeg (Fast Forward Moving Picture Expert Group) is added. As a result, FFmpeg is used to encode, stream and decode all videos. Raw videos of 2K qualities are encoded based on the adaptive quantization (QP) for the above-mentioned codecs. By selecting optimal transmission data based on various network conditions, this approach enhances the Quality of Experience (QoE) for end-users while minimizing resource usage in the wireless network. Furthermore, the proposed approach selects the codec standards according to their bitrates and frame rates. Simulation results indicate that the proposed approach has a significant improvement for real-time video streaming over wireless networks to satisfy the end user experience. The approach also outperforms other related work by gaining a PSNR of +12 dB for H.265 and +13 dB for H.266 when the network packet loss is 1%.

Data-driven portfolio management for motion pictures industry: A new data-driven optimization methodology using a large language model as the expert

Portfolio management is one of the unresponded problems of the Motion Pictures Industry (MPI). To design an optimal portfolio for an MPI distributor, it is essential to predict the box office of each project. Moreover, for an accurate box office prediction, it is critical to consider the effect of the celebrities involved in each MPI project, which was impossible with any precedent expert-based method. Additionally, the asymmetric characteristic of MPI data decreases the performance of any predictive algorithm. In this paper, firstly, the fame score of the celebrities is determined using a large language model. Then, to tackle the asymmetric character of MPI’s data, projects are classified. Furthermore, the box office prediction takes place for each class of projects. Finally, using a hybrid multi-attribute decision-making technique, the preferability of each project for the distributor is calculated, and benefiting from a bi-objective optimization model, the optimal portfolio is designed. To validate our approach, we conducted experiments using a dataset of movies released in the United States from 1980 to 2020 and employed the proposed approach to predict box office performance. Our results demonstrate that the proposed methodology significantly improves prediction accuracy and provides a robust framework for effective portfolio management.

"Less is More": How Understanding the Process of Motion Picture Film Scanning Can Make Your Life Easier

"Less is More": How Understanding the Process of Motion Picture Film Scanning Can Make Your Life Easier

‘A divine right to photograph’: E. Graeme Robertson’s (1903–1975) historical motion pictures of National Hospital staff in 1933

ABSTRACT In the course of researching and writing the first-ever book length biography of Edward Graeme Robertson’s (1903–1975) eventful life and career in Australasian neurology, a rare 1933 cinema film recording of National Hospital staff at Queen Square has recently been rediscovered. Graeme completed his residency in neurology at Queen Square in the early 1930s and maintained close connections with his colleagues in London, thoughtfully recording them at different times using early movie cameras. Two versions of Graeme’s 1933 film have been preserved, and there are also other color clips of his colleagues from later in life in the UCL Neurology archives and Robertson family collection. These remarkable films contain images of several historically significant neurologists, including Gordon Morgan Holmes (1876–1965), Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (1878–1937), Derek Denny-Brown (1901–1981), Macdonald Critchley (1900–1997), and several others. We provide a contextual summary of the many clips recorded alongside an in-depth inventory of all the personalities represented in the 1933 film. Selected photographs are used to indicate the contents of these remarkable films.

Filmmaking as a Medium of Public Communication in Addressing Social Problems

Purpose: This paper is focused on the role of motion pictures as a medium of public communication directed at addressing social problems and evoking a change in behaviour of the masses. From the moment the art of cinema was born in the late 19th century, films have served as an instrument of shifting public consciousness, i.e., inspiring social change, disseminating ideas and values, raising awareness of the acute social, cultural, and political issues etc. The purpose of this research is to consider, study, and analyse film production as: a) a form of reflecting significant socio-political processes and cultural innovations, as well as representing ideologies; and b) a mechanism that creates, forms, and shapes a new social reality. Materials and Methods: The methodology of this research is based on content analysis and focused on the dynamics of cinematic response to the acute global issues, as well as development of social problem films as an instrument of public communication aimed at raising awareness and inspiring a change within society. The theory to be proved through this paper is that motion pictures have a major influencing power over human brain and social consciousness, and that this power can and has been applied to evoke large-scaled shifts in society. Findings: To summarize the key findings, the content analysis of notable social problem film productions, their impact on the dynamics in public attitudes, and consequent changes in behaviour of the masses demonstrate the pattern of filmmakers’ exponential progress in communicating social message to the target audience and, to a greater or lesser extent, managing to affect, shift, or even transform social reality. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: In order to support the proposed theory and expand the knowledge on “the formula” of success in influencing public mind through filmmaking, further research is required.

Navigating the World of The Stranger (1979) After the Cultural Revolution: Unveiling Hong Kong Leftist Science Fiction Film by Bao Fang

Abstract After the Cultural Revolution, a period marked by a global retreat from radical politics and increased compromises, filmmakers in the Hong Kong leftist film industry faced financial challenges stemming from the studio’s struggles during the Cultural Revolution. Despite these difficulties, they ingeniously incorporated generic elements to captivate audiences, using popular genres as conduits for social commentary. The Stranger by Feng Huang Motion Picture company stands out, as director Bao Fang adeptly appropriated science fiction elements to adapt a real story of espionage in Hong Kong. The film signifies Bao’s transition from opera film and historical pictures to negotiating realist and science-fictional elements to convey social innuendo. Drawing inspiration from recent works by Mingwei Song and Seo-young Chu, my argument extends to explore how sci-fi serves as a mode of expression for geopolitical commentary. The film not only expresses concern over Soviet espionage and also reflects the fear over the collapse of grand narratives such as Enlightenment and Revolution.

Institutional Logics of Digitization: The Case of the Motion Picture Industry

Institutional Logics of Digitization: The Case of the Motion Picture Industry