Technology the real player at Coachella

For those of you who missed the highlight of the Coachella Music Festival a few weekends ago, here’s what you didn’t see: a hologram of slain rapper Tupac Shakur playing to the crowd.

Some of the references seemed a little over the top. ‘Coachella 2012. You know it’s April 14th or April 21st depending on which show you’re at…This is definitely Tupac…I find myself always on Instagram.’

Bookended by Snoop Dogg and and Dr. Dre, Tupac’s hologram took center stage and spoke to the audience in a voice that sounded wrong but uttered content that only someone (living) in 2012 could be apprised of.

Mark Twain once said, ‘The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.’ Twain was addressing rumors like the ones about Tupac still being alive. As long as there are imagination and fame, there will be gossip and false reports about others like Elvis and Hitler still living.

Tupac’s appearance was made possible by DIgital Domain in Venice. The same special effects company that raised the Titanic and brought it to life.

In the past we’ve seen Natalie Cole singing ‘Unforgettable’ with her father, we’ve seen Leila Ali boxing with her father and even Christopher Reeve get up and walk across a stage in a Super Bowl commercial. These videos, including Tupac at Coachella, have all been pretty good but what’s next can only get better.

Will there be a hologram of Jim Morrison playing with The Doors? Kobain? Will General Patton address troops in-person? Or will a hologram of an army appear on a battlefield?

Typically, technology has to catch up with our creativity but now it looks like we will have to wait for more creative minds to catch up to the technology already available.

VFX Breakdowns – Digital Domain – Titanic (YouTube)