Librarians learning from the Dark Knight

I think its time librarians, and perhaps other "information people" took a lesson from the recent Batman movie. No, I don't mean its time to become an acrobat in order to save the world from evil...although if a librarian took up this quest, evil would at least be systematically categorized. The impressive feature of this summer's Batman movie is the tech behind the movie: the Imax camera used to film the feature. The photography director, Wally Pfiser, used the existing Imax technology blended with traditional 35mm cinematography to newly define action sequences.

PC World covers the Imax cinematography at: http://www.pcworld.com/article/148658/dark_knight_forgoes_digital_techniques.html

Imax is the most sophisticated film available currently, capturing images at 65mm rather than at 35mm. This allows the film to be processed at a higher rate so action stays crisp even when moving at high speeds. Why not just use digital? Digital processing is all the rage in Hollywood currently, because it is cheaper and easier to produce. The Imax film cost over $180 million to make, and only six of the scenes were filmed with that camera. Most of the movie was recorded on 35mm film, but the Imax captured the action. There is a more seamless blend between the two levels of actual film than has previously been seen with 35mm and digital combinations. This is the first time an Imax camera has been used for a commercial movie.

Why should librarians care, you ask? Because it is an innovative, creative use of existing technology. Perhaps librarians won't be the next Imax movie producers, but the library profession is always trying to stay ahead of creative technology markets, and this one might show up again. Also, it demonstrates the tendency for advanced technology to only be used for one specific thing for a long time--i.e. Imax movies making documentaries for science stations. Wally Pfiser creatively took advantage of existing technology, and his creativity can set an example for innovative uses of technology everywhere.