SICA AI & HDR Barco Event!

SICA AI & Technology Awareness Event and Introduction to HDR Barco projector workflow.

On June 8, 2025, the Southern India Cinematographers’ Association (SICA) with its  CAM Benefit Trust, hosted a transformative AI & Technology Awareness Event at Prasad Lab, Chennai, starting at 9:30 AM.

This landmark gathering drew an enthusiastic crowd of cinematographers, and film students, underscoring the South Indian film industry’s eagerness to embrace AI-driven workflows and cutting-edge imaging technologies. The event masterfully blended live demonstrations, in-depth tool showcases, and forward-thinking discussions, cementing SICA’s role as a bridge between cinematic heritage and technological innovation.

Opening Ceremony: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Innovation
The event began with a warm welcome address by SICA General Secretary Ilavarasu, who emphasized the association’s commitment to celebrating cinematic artistry while equipping its members with future-ready tools and his appreciation for Dil Chahta Hai cinematography that raised the bar of Indian Cinematography by Ravi K.Chandran and requested him to share his insights about his film making to young members, Ravi K Chandran is the only DOP to be nominated for prestigious Golden frog award at Camerimage from India.

Legendary cinematographers Ravi K. Chandran and Ajayan Vincent, honored as Guests of Honour by SICA President A. Karthik Raaja, were recognized for their monumental contributions to Indian cinema.

Treasurer Sakthi Saravanan then introduced the main session, setting the stage for an immersive exploration of AI’s transformative potential in filmmaking.

Generative AI Session by Mr.G. Balaji: A New Cinematic Paradigm
The heart of the event was a dynamic session led by G. Balaji, a senior color timer, Dolby Vision-certified professional, and AI specialist. Balaji delivered a compelling presentation on how AI is revolutionizing the cinematic workflow, from pre-production to post-production. Using raw footage provided by Cinematographer Sakthi Saravanan, he demonstrated AI’s practical applications, transforming complex, time-intensive tasks into efficient, creative processes. Key highlights included:

– Magic Mask AI-driven, movement-based subject selection for precise, automated masking, eliminating hours of manual rotoscoping.
– Depth Mapping and Relight Tools: Real-time simulation of lighting shifts, focus adjustments, and selective exposure, enabling post-production flexibility without reshoots.
– AI-Powered Color Grading: Frame-accurate color correction for consistent, high-quality results, streamlining the grading pipeline while preserving creative intent.

These live demonstrations, showcased on a large screen, left the audience in awe, illustrating how AI enhances technical efficiency while empowering artistic vision.

Mr.Balaji introduced a suite of advanced AI tools that are redefining the filmmaking process, offering practical solutions for previsualization, video generation, and film restoration. The following tools were highlighted, each accompanied by real-time demonstrations:

ChatGPT & Prompt Engineering
ChatGPT was presented as a versatile pre-production tool, capable of generating scripts, scene breakdowns, shot descriptions, and visual prompts for AI-driven platforms. Its integration with tools like LTX Studio streamlines creative planning, enabling filmmakers to refine concepts before production begins.

2. LTX Studio: Previsualization & Storyboarding
LTX Studio emerged as a game-changer for previsualization, allowing users to create storyboards, camera movements, lighting plans, and edit-ready previews from simple text prompts. Balaji demonstrated its ability to rapidly generate shot sequences and environment concepts, empowering cinematographers and directors to make informed creative decisions early in the process. The platform’s LTXv and API Node-based workflows were also showcased, enabling seamless version tracking and interoperability with editing and DI platforms like DaVinci Resolve.

3. Flux Kontext & Video Generation
Flux Kontext, developed by Luma AI, was highlighted for its video-to-video transformation capabilities. Filmmakers can alter hairstyles, costumes, lighting, or stylistic elements in existing footage while preserving narrative and emotional continuity. Balaji’s live demo showcased its potential to save time and resources in post-production.

4. Kling 2.1 & Veo (Google DeepMind)
Kling 2.1 impressed with its cinematic text-to-video capabilities, producing realistic actor modeling, natural motion, and high-quality outputs. Veo, Google DeepMind’s advanced AI, offered cinematic controls such as lens types, camera movements, and emotion continuity. A unique feature of Veo, demonstrated live, was its ability to generate spatial sound and ambient details, enhancing sound design previews and pairing immersive audio with AI-generated visuals.

5. Project Starlight: Preserving Cinematic Heritage
A standout highlight was Project Starlight, an AI-powered tool for film restoration. Capable of upscaling vintage footage to 16K resolution, removing scratches, stabilizing flicker, and reviving lost details, this tool was positioned as a breakthrough for film archivists and DI studios.Though it has its own challenges of recreating original image.. underscored AI’s role in preserving South Indian cinema’s rich legacy, bridging the past and future of filmmaking.

Afternoon Showcase: HDR Barco Projection
The event concluded with a captivating session at Prasad 70mm Theatre, home to Asia’s first HDR Barco projection system. Attendees experienced a live demonstration of HDR content mastered at 300 nits brightness, showcasing:

– Exceptional contrast and highlight retention, even in bright scenes.
– Vibrant colors and enhanced depth compared to standard digital projection.
– The critical role of HDR mastering in modern color grading pipelines.

This session reinforced the importance of adopting HDR workflows to meet evolving industry standards, leaving attendees inspired by the future of cinematic presentation.

Conclusion: A Transformative Milestone
The SICA AI & Technology Awareness Event was a resounding success, offering a clear, practical roadmap for integrating AI into cinematography. From previsualization and post-production to film restoration and HDR projection, the event showcased tools that empower filmmakers to create, innovate, and preserve at scale. G. Balaji’s session, enriched by live demonstrations and cutting-edge platforms, bridged technical efficiency with creative freedom, while the HDR Barco projection highlighted the future of content mastering. Project Starlight’s introduction added a poignant note, emphasizing AI’s role in safeguarding cinematic heritage.

SICA and CAM Benefit Trust reaffirmed their mission to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of visual artists. This historic event not only celebrated South Indian cinema’s legacy but also positioned its community at the forefront of technological innovation, ready to shape the future of storytelling.

Drafted by

CJ Rajkumar

Author/ Cinematographer