Deep States™ uses clusters of superchips to physically model 35mm analog movie film-stock. We digitally-replicate the unique photo-chemical properties of celluloid better than any other system. Our method considers quantum photon absorption; grain clustering; dye coupler reactions; and even the scanning and printing steps for final output. We refused to accept the current state of digital cinema. Film-makers and cinema audiences deserve something better.
Light Pathways
Our techniques are pioneering and rely on superchip-cluster hardware that has only recently become available. To understand the complexity of properly emulating analog movie film-stock, let's recap on the traditional light-pathway in an analog movie camera: First, light enters the camera lens and directly strikes the film's emulsion layers. These layers contain silver halide crystals sensitive to different wavelengths; providing the ability to capture color.
Real Halation
When light passes through an analog camera and hits the film, a chemical reaction occurs. Photons excite the crystals, forming latent images through grain development. The analog image-capture process is physical and quasi-organic. It is notoriously difficult to replicate this process digitally. Analog film causes unique artifacts in the footage, including stochastic—random grain formation; light scattering (halation); and non-linear responses to exposure.
70s and 80s Film Stocks
The quirks of analog capture create the characteristic film-look; something that digital has yet to match; despite years of trying. A film's dynamic range (ability to handle highlights and shadows) for analog stocks like those used in the early 1980s is relatively limited, typically around 8-11 stops based on historical sensitometric data, with less tolerance for over and underexposure compared to digital cameras.
Authentic Response
Despite restricted dynamic range, classic 1980s film stocks have beautiful spectral-sensitivity (how the film responds to different colors), and 'roll-off' (how the brightest areas of the image blow-out to white) which gives it a unique color rendition and cadence. For well over a century, 35mm analog movie-film was the defining medium of cinema. We believe that digital video has failed to match it. Until now.
Simulated Photons
Accurately modeling the light-interactions that occur in the physical-medium of analog film is hard, but it is essential if the art-form of cinema is to return to its defining style. It is not acceptable for the modern film industry to continue serving audiences digital movies tha look nothing like film. Deep States™ is determined to raise digital cinema up to match the quality of the medium it claimed to be replacing.
Film at a Photon Level
At Deep States™ we're closely modeling the path of photons through the celluloid medium. This involves close study and emulation of the different layers of film substrate that photons pass through. Typically, there are eight layers including filters, dye-couplers, anti-halation, a protective-overcoat, and more.
Previous attempts, by other companies, to emulate film have not ended successfully. Although, given a lot of work in post-production, it is possible to create a result that looks superficially "less-digital" than the original footage, some directors are so disillusioned that they have returned to shooting analog film.
Like you, we're deeply unhappy about the destruction of cinema's defining medium. Digital cinema, in its current form, drives audiences away from the movie theater. Poor light-rendering, and sub-perceptual rolling-shutter make audiences feel sick, even if they cannot consciously pinpoint why.
Part of our Superchip Celluloid™ emulation process at Deep States™ involves training our workstations using traditional analog film. The superchips clusters use this data as a basis for inferring transposition. Thousands of comparative images are analyzed to create a superchip film-lab.
All modern digital-grading processes fall short of emulating what actually occurs, photo-chemically, during analog film capture. Modern film grading is so deeply unable to replicate the look of analog film, that some digital movies are being transferred to film in an attempt to claw back some finesse.
Digital camera companies, and the movie industry itself, promised a replacement for film. Instead, they delivered a sub-par version of the medium they claimed to be replacing, and watched audiences rapidly dwindle. Deep States™ has assumed guardianship of real cinema, returning artistry to the craft.
Diagram of layers in a cross-section of analog film. Layer thicknesses are not shown in true proportion.
Open Source Cinema
Our Superchip Celluloid™ film-emulation software is entirely open source. Currently the software is in a development phase. We're gathering the light-pattern data required by our superchip cluster to infer the photon-pathways. Once this is phase is complete, the software will be yours to share, for free.
Deep States™ provides filmmakers with help and support for the dedicated superchip-clusters running our photon-path simulation software. You can pay for our hardware, or freely build your own superchip system. We're gifting our software to independent film-makers operating on a shoestring budget.
Our engineering team is resurrecting true cinema as an art-form. This requires that the digital 'substrate' matches its defining medium: real analog film. The urgency of this repair is the reason why the Deep States™ film-synthesis software is offered to film-makers as an open source package.
Making our 35mm film-emulation software open source eliminates the possibility that code will be lost in the event of a hostile-takeover, or other maneuver by outside entities. In other words, we're making a
virtualized photographic 'substrate' for filmmakers that cannot meet its doom.
The movie industry made a foolish leap into digital productions before the digital medium was able to reproduce the sophisticated light-interactions that occur in traditional 35mm celluloid. There was, it seems, a desire to 'kill' film, and therefore the defining medium of cinema itself.
Deep States™ is determined to ensure that film cannot be killed. We're doing this by making sure that our Superchip Celluloid™ is freely available to distribute and keep. Today, 35mm analog movie-film is considered a luxury. Deep States™ is synthesizing it back into a necessity.
