2024 has been a whirlwind year for the film and television industry. Starting with the aftershocks of widespread strikes, a slow restart brought challenges for many businesses. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, innovation and creativity has continued to shine. Here at DCS, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing incredible developments in lens metadata and beyond. Let’s take a look back at what made 2024 a standout year.

The year began quietly for DCS, but that doesn’t mean we’ve been idle. Behind the scenes, we’ve been refining our products and expanding the DCS protocol — the backbone of how our data integrates into Unreal Engine. While we can’t reveal all just yet, 2025 promises to bring some exciting updates we’ve been hard at work on.

Speaking of Unreal Engine, the release of version 5.4 in 2024 underscored the importance of live lens data. With its new accurate depth of field features requiring precise metadata, tools like the LDT-V2 have become indispensable for filmmakers pushing boundaries in virtual production.

Virtual production and in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) continued to evolve this year. From the early boom of 2021 to now, the industry has matured significantly, and bespoke lens data solutions have become the norm. Studios aiming for maximum flexibility and precision increasingly turned to the LDT-V2, which supports a wide range of workflows and equipment.

Innovation was everywhere in 2024, and DCS was thrilled to be approached by companies with groundbreaking ideas for new products. While we’re a small company and can’t pursue every project, we’re always eager to discuss fresh concepts and collaborate on the next big thing in metadata technology.

Big films made their return this year, reinvigorating the industry after a quiet start. Large-scale productions ramped up in the latter half of 2024, with VFX-heavy projects — the heartland of LDT usage — taking centre stage. It’s always exciting to see more productions embedding lens data directly into raw footage, streamlining post-production workflows.

Celluloid film also continued it’s triumphant comeback. Productions like Jurassic World: Rebirth chose to shoot on film cameras, proving that traditional methods still hold allure. The LDT-F1 has been instrumental in these cases, offering digital overlays, desqueeze functionality, and crucial lens data capture — ensuring even the most complex CGI elements are seamlessly integrated into post.

This year also saw the growing importance of metadata across the industry. Cooke Optics’ expansion into digital products, leveraging their /i Technology, is a prime example. As more companies invest in metadata-driven tools, the industry as a whole benefits, proving that a rising tide truly lifts all boats.

Elsewhere, SMPTE introduced their open source initiative, OpenTrackIO, aimed at standardising and simplifying data management across production and post. This kind of innovation demonstrates the industry’s commitment to fostering accessible, efficient solutions for everyone.

Education has also embraced virtual production in a big way. This year, universities worldwide made significant strides in integrating virtual production into their curriculums. NYU Tisch School of the Arts unveiled a state-of-the-art VP studio, and Bournemouth University in the UK expanded its offerings to include cutting-edge tools. Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia took a significant step further by incorporating LDTs into their facilities, ensuring students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard metadata tools. These collective efforts highlight the growing recognition of metadata’s role in shaping the next generation of filmmakers.

As we close out 2024, it’s clear that this has been a year of resilience and growth for the industry. Challenges remain, but the progress made in lens data and metadata technology is undeniable. At DCS, we’re excited to remain at the forefront of these developments and can’t wait to share what’s in store for 2025.

If you’d like to discuss anything mentioned in this article or learn how an LDT can enhance your workflow, drop us an email at info@dcs.film.