International Business Times: The "resurrection" of rapper Tupac Shakur wowed audiences at the Coachella music festival. But the illusion isn't a hologram, as some have reported -- it's actually a 2-dimensional video cleverly projected using technology based on an old theatre trick.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
How Does The Coachella Tupac 'Hologram' Work?
International Business Times: The "resurrection" of rapper Tupac Shakur wowed audiences at the Coachella music festival. But the illusion isn't a hologram, as some have reported -- it's actually a 2-dimensional video cleverly projected using technology based on an old theatre trick.
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It's really cool to see someone else using the Pepper's Ghost effect in the real world in an actual performance. I have had a great time working on the Pepper's Ghost screen that is currently being set up in the School of Drama warehouse for the past month or so. It's also cool how simple the trick actually is after seeing how effective of an illusion it is in real life. It must have taken AV Concepts quite a bit of time to perfect their system, judging by how long it is taking to make the one in the warehouse work perfectly.
I've been wondering when the Tupac Hologram would make its way onto the PTM Blog. I think its pretty incredible that the Pepper's Ghost effect can work so well, but what amazes me even more is that AV Concepts was able to create a such a real-looking image to be projected. I read somewhere that none of the Tupac "Hologram" was made of existing footage. I guess that means that AV Concepts created this from the ground up.
There are also rumors that the Tupac Hologram is going to be going on tour, which is a pretty interesting concept. I wonder if that will become a trend with deceased artists.
Isn't this what they've been working on in the warehouse??? This same Pepper's ghost technique that Will had mentioned before is something that fascinates me- I also got to work on the screen during one of my crew calls and must say I was infinitely impressed, then, and even more so now, after reading this article. It just comes to show that the ideas of our Media team at the School of Drama are truly on the brink of the same clever ideas that supported the creation of this now insanely talked about Tupac 'Hologram'. Pia also brings up a great point, I also wonder if this 'holographing' of deceased artist performances will become a big thing in the music/ concert business!
THIS IS SO COOL!! I was amazed by this when I first saw it so it is cool to hear that it is such an old technique and a simple thing that created it. I think that this is very much an appropriate use of media. It wasn't just using media to solve a problem. It was allowing media to do what nothing else could really do, and allowing for theatrical spectacle that is truly spectacular. I mean if we can't have the real Tupac, having a "hologram" is really the next best thing.
This effect is surprisingly more simple than I thought it was!! I love that this is an old theatre trick which is being brought back and used in tandem with new technology. It all just goes to show that sometimes you already have the tools to do something new, and that a little innovation is all it takes. I have been told that Cirque is working on putting a holographic projection into the Michael Jackson: Immortal show at Mandalay Bay. They wanted to integrate the technology into the touring versions of the show, but could not guarantee that they would always be able to get a full 360 degree projection because of they varying sizes/shapes of their tour venues. I am slightly disappointed that the Tupac 'Hologram' wasn't actually a hologram, and I can't wait to see if the Michael Jackson team (or anyone else, for that matter) can make a hologram work in the near future.
I've been hearing about Pepper's Ghost for a while, but I've never actually seen it put to use. The result is incredible. Katy Perry cried, if that's any judge of how cool this effect is. Since this blew up, I'm curious to see how people will be using the effect in the immediate future. I'm also curious how this will effect the use of true holograms. As Shannon pointed out, it is truly amazing to see innovation that employs the use of already established tools, and this is a fantastic example.
Pepper's ghost is also frequently used in Haunted house attractions to pull a "volunteer" from a group to go into a room and after a flash of lights and what not the "volunteer" disappears. It is a great illusion and really well done on such a scale for this production. When i first heard about it, it was an article with the headline " Dre spends $400,000 to bring tupac hologram" I'm curious as to how much was spent on this illusion because relatively speaking it is not an expensive illusion to pull off (with the exception of using a subject that has been dead for 16 years)
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