One popular trend nowadays has been creating celebrity holograms.
Seeing holograms of our favorite artists definitely makes a certain fan base very happy. This is also done to remember the legacy of these famous celebrity icons.
Surprisingly, the field of holographic entertainment is still in its infancy. For example, the company that made Amy Winehouse's celebrity hologram, BASE hologram, is still less than two years old.
Even though the industry as a whole is relatively recent, the technology that is used in stage tricks dates back to the latter half of the 19th century.
According to Engadget, the method, which bears the name "Pepper's Ghost," was initially demonstrated to the public in the year 1862 by an English scientist named John Henry Pepper.
Since its invention in the 80s, in order for the trick to work, a second room (the "blue room") must be set up off of the main stage, and a piece of clear glass or plastic must be used to separate the two rooms.
The original configuration of Pepper's setup was particularly rudimentary, consisting of thick sheets of real glass and inaccurate lighting that gave the impression that everything had been brought back from the underworld.
However, thanks to advancements in technology such as 4K (and soon 8K) cameras, LED projectors, and ultra-thin projection foil, the results can now be startlingly accurate representations of real life.
With that, let us take it back to five of the most popular celebrities who have reappeared through holograms.
Marilyn Monroe
One of Hollywood's most beautiful faces, Marilyn Monroe, was supposed to make a public appearance in a celebrity hologram in 2012.
There was a concert show that was planned featuring the famous actress singing along with live musicians.
However, the estate of the legendary actress Marilyn Monroe threatened to take legal action against a concert that had featured a hologram of Monroe.
As reported by Interesting Engineering, a Hollywood Reporter at the time stated that the Marilyn Monroe estate was keeping a close eye on Digicon Media. The company that held the copyright to "Virtual Marilyn" and planned the show.
If the show went on as planned, the estate was getting ready to file a significant lawsuit.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston had an incredible voice and released music that we still consume and most probably the next generation will probably still listen to.
She was unforgettable, and the legacy she left with her music is still truly present.
The company, BASE Hologram, was able to acquire the rights to project the famous singer, Whitney Houston, into auditoriums that were already packed. It was probably the most significant victory for them.
Michael Jackson
Another celebrity hologram was that of the world's music icon, Michael Jackson.
In 2014, the technology known as Musion Eyeliner Projections was utilized to project Michael Jackson onstage.
This allowed him to moonwalk to a song that was taken from his album, The Xscape.
The Musion Eyeliner trick simply makes use of a projector and a thin sheet of mylar to project digital likenesses of real people onto a stage.
This replaces the traditional method of projecting images onto a stage, which involves hidden booths, actors, and a glass pane.
This also indicates that the hologram technique that is used today is a product of a merger between VFX (visual effects) and Pepper's Ghost (an optical illusion).
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Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse also received her own celebrity hologram.
Amy Winehouse's hologram was planned and curated to conduct a tour to remember her legacy. BASE Hologram is also the same company that created Winehouse's image.
However, challenges and sensitivities around the tour are present to the team as they want to honor and respect the singer's legacy in a very respectful way.
Ronald Reagan
Last on the list is a famous personality, almost considered a celebrity in history, the former President Ronald Reagan.
At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in October 2018, visitors were able to see a hologram of former President Ronald Reagan.
The holographic presidential museum exhibition was brought to life thanks to the collaboration of the museum, the Hollywood special effects community, and Hologram USA.
Reagan's hologram was featured in a museum. The hologram was developed by his foundation and stated that his hologram was one of the most photo-realistic that had been created.
For the first time, visitors only need to sit 12 feet away from the image.
