Beijing to build industrial sci-fi complex

Beijing will build an industrial sci-fi complex to support sci-fi writers as well as to introduce products utilizing classic sci-fi intellectual property, according to the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.

The announcement, which aims to enhance the city's sci-fi capacity, was made at a subforum during this year's China Science Fiction Conference held in Beijing this week.

China's sci-fi industry has seen rapid growth over the years with sci-fi books, films and video games becoming new driving forces behind the growing popularity of the genre. This has led to a demand for developing next-generation information technologies, new materials and artificial intelligence, according to the conference.

Tong Xin, principal research manager at the Internet Graphics Group of Microsoft Research Asia, explained that graphic design tools used during the shooting of sci-fi films can assist computers to reconstruct virtual scenes.

Due to current technological difficulties in design and data processing as well as the continuing expense of using motion capture equipment, Tong hopes that the new generation of computer graphics will make it easier for the production, sharing and consumption of content.

To help promote the combination of technology and cultural innovation, Sun Lijun, vice-president of Beijing Film Academy (BFA), introduced BFA's studio for interactive films and one of its latest films, Qiushi (Harvest), the world's first 8K resolution water-and-ink animation.

He stressed that interactive filming and screening techniques coupled with layered narratives can provide audiences with a multisensory audiovisual experience.

"It will become a new trend in the future," Sun said at the forum.

Scientists also shared their optimism regarding the future application of new techniques in film and TV.