The Technology of Screens | The Taku Newsletter Edition 8

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 Screens are more than just delivery devices. They are portals. They influence how we perceive characters, stories, and entire worlds. From box TVs to smartphones, laptops to Dolby cinemas, each screen creates a unique experience. But do they all tell the same story in the same way? Can you feel the presence of Galactus on a smartphone the same way you would in an IMAX theater?

This week, I reflect on the evolving technology of screens and how it shapes the way we experience film.



The Box TV Era: Childhood and Imagination

As a child, I watched Dragon Ball Z Kai religiously on a bulky box TV. The screen was small, square, and far from immersive, but it was magic. It let my imagination roam. I didn’t need perfect resolution or surround sound to feel like I was part of Goku’s world. Looking back, the screen didn’t transport me the way theaters do, but it still ignited my love for storytelling.

Smartphones and Shrinking Perspective

When I transitioned to a smartphone as a teenager, everything became smaller. While I could now access media anywhere and anytime, the size of the screen limited how large characters and worlds felt. I still followed the story, but the sense of scale and awe was missing. On a smartphone, stories feel intimate but rarely grand. You are pulled into the plot but not overwhelmed by the presence of the characters.

Laptops: A Step Up in Immersion

Laptops gave me a wider view. With a bigger screen, I found myself more immersed in the visuals. I could appreciate the details better, and my emotional connection to the characters deepened. Laptops sit between the convenience of smartphones and the immersion of larger screens. They make for a great middle ground in everyday storytelling.

Cinemas: Where Characters Become Larger Than Life

The cinema changed everything for me. The first time I sat in a theater, I felt the line between fiction and reality blur. The screen filled my vision. The sound filled my chest. It was no longer just about watching a film; I was experiencing it.

Then came Dolby and IMAX. These were not just upgrades. They were revelations. In Dolby, I felt the seat shake and the bass move through my body. In IMAX, the visuals consumed my entire field of view. It was like entering a new world altogether.

Of course, not all theaters deliver that experience. Poor screens and lighting can pull you out of the story. I have had moments where bad projection and washed-out colors ruined what could have been a powerful cinematic moment. This made me realize that the quality of the screen is just as important as the content itself.

Screen Size Is Not Everything

It is tempting to think that bigger screens are always better, but it is not that simple. Oversized screens can distort perspective if you are too close. The sweet spot lies in balancing a screen large enough to captivate without overwhelming.

Flat-screen TVs today strike that balance well. They offer high-definition visuals, vivid colors, and impressive size. This makes it possible to experience something close to cinema magic right from your living room.

How Screens Shape Me as a Creator

Experiencing stories on different screens has taught me something valuable. The medium shapes the message. As a future filmmaker and media entrepreneur, this insight influences how I write, direct, and imagine my stories being received.

Knowing how my work will be consumed, whether on a phone, laptop, or massive screen, allows me to make better creative decisions. I want to build a studio that understands both the story and the screen it is told on.

Curiosity: How Do They Do It?

I am deeply curious about how cinemas like Dolby and IMAX bring filmmakers’ visions to life with such precision. What kind of technology sits behind those walls? How do they translate imagination into something you can feel in your bones?

And what about the Sphere in Las Vegas? While I have not been inside, what I have seen online looks groundbreaking. What if this kind of immersive screen could be scaled and brought to everyday cinemas? What if more storytellers could access this level of sensory experience? That is the future I want to explore.

Screens are not just devices. They are emotional bridges between creators and audiences. And the more we understand how they shape perception, the more intentional we can be with our work.

That’s all for this week’s edition of the Taku Newsletter. Stay tuned for more as we continue exploring the unseen forces that shape the world of filmmaking.

It only gets better from here.

- Takudzwa Thulani



#filmmaking #storytelling #cinema #media #technology #indiefilm #immersiveexperience

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