Skip to main content

New TVs may automatically disable the awful Soap Opera Effect

Pierre Suu/Getty Images

The Soap Opera Effect is real, and it makes big-budget Hollywood movies and TV shows look like they were shot using a HandyCam from the early 90s. Thankfully, it seems like content creators, industry consortiums, and manufacturers are finally acknowledging what a dreadful thing it is, and are now taking steps to combat it. “Filmmaker Mode” is a proposal from the UHD Alliance that would add a new mode on TVs that turns off all (or most) post-processing of video in order to preserve the original look of cinematic material as closely as possible.

If implemented on TVs, it would accomplish three key things: First, TVs would attempt to assess the on-screen content and automatically engage Filmmaker Mode (thus disabling the Soap Opera Effect (or Motion Interpolation as it is formally referred to) using meta-data embedded into the video stream. Second, should the TV fail to identify cinematic content, users will be given a one-button ability to engage Filmmaker Mode without having to navigate multiple layers of settings menus. Third, the proposal would make Filmmaker Mode an industry-standard name so that no matter which TV you buy, the mode will be called the same thing by every manufacturer, which should help with the confusion that exists right now over how to get rid of the Soap Opera Effect.

We here at Digital Trends are ecstatic about this idea, and clearly, we’re not alone. The UHD Alliance has the support of some big names, like Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Patty Jenkins, Martin Scorsese, and Christopher Nolan — filmmakers who have all been appalled at the way their filmed works look when shown on un-tweaked home TVs. And, lest we forget, one of Hollywood’s most powerful and prodigious creators, Tom Cruise, has already publicly aired his feelings on the topic (thank you again, Tom).

Critically, however, it also has the support of a few big manufacturers. LG Electronics, Panasonic, and Vizio have all expressed an intent to make it easier to watch filmed entertainment as it was meant to be seen, though so far, none have announced specific plans as to when they will implement Filmmaker Mode on new TVs, or if it will be made available to older models via a firmware update.

Wonder Woman director Patti Jenkins summed up our thoughts on Filmmaker Mode perfectly when she said, “Every day on set, we make hundreds of decisions about how to present and tell our story […] As a filmmaker, I want to see … and think viewers want to see … that vision carried through to every possible viewing environment. Filmmaker Mode makes it possible for all those choices to be seen in the home.”

Motion interpolation may be a necessary technology for improving the way certain content looks on today’s modern flat-panel TVs, but it has been altering the look of filmed entertainment for far too long. Filmmaker Mode is an idea whose time has come, and it can’t come soon enough. In the meantime, check out our comprehensive guide to tuning your TV — including how to rid most models of that pesky Soap Opera Effect.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Cohen
Contributing Editor, A/V
Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like…
Why Plex is such a powerhouse and what that means for you
Plex used on all devices, mobile, laptop, more

One of the worst things that's happened due to the modern streaming wars, and with so many services, is that, as an active subscriber to many of these platforms, you have to bounce around between the different apps to browse content or watch it. It's a highly fragmented experience that can be frustrating, especially when you don't know what you want to watch in the first place. You might start with Netflix, browsing movies and shows available, then hop over to Hulu or something else when you can't find anything interesting. Wouldn't it be so much better if a one-stop-shop or hub put you in control of a single, unified library? Something like this already exists, and it's called Plex.

If you've never heard of it before, or if you have heard of it and just never had the chance to use it, listen up because Plex is an absolute media powerhouse that everyone should try, at the very least. It will put you in full control of your media and completely transform your modern entertainment experience. You won't have to hop between watchlists on various platforms like Prime Video, Paramount+, or Max. Instead, it's all accessed through Plex, and then you can browse from a central platform. Even better, once you add your streaming apps through Plex, it will allow you to create a universal watchlist regardless of where the titles are available and provide recommendations across your preferred streaming apps -- essentially doing all of the legwork for you. It's a fantastic way to discover new content that's tailored to your interests. But there's so much more to Plex, making it a powerful entertainment tool. You can find and interact with your friends on Plex, and discover and watch new content together. You'll get film, actor, and behind-the-scenes facts for every piece of content. You can even bring your own custom media, but we'll get to that.
Join Pro Week
 
Unlimited power: What can Plex do?

Read more
How to log out of Netflix on a smart TV
Netflix on a TV screen showing on the Roku home screen.

When it comes to streaming platforms, Netflix is one of the best services out there. Not only does the pioneering service give you access to thousands of movies and TV shows, but many Netflix plans will allow you to tap into 4K HDR content, on top of giving you support for multiple screens and devices. Like a lot of streaming services though, once you're officially logged in, it may feel (or look) like you can never log out.

Whatever your reason may be, when it comes time to log out of your Netflix account on a smart TV or streaming device, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process.

Read more
Ends tonight: Save $200 on this Samsung 55-inch QLED 4K TV
The Samsung Q70A 4K TV on a media console in a modern loft-style dwelling.

If you're looking for the best Samsung TV deals, this deal from Best Buy lets you grab this 55-inch Q70C  for just $800 rather than the usual $1,000. While that may still feel rather expensive, the Q70C is a great mid-to-high-end Samsung TV packed with many great features. That said, the deal is ending tonight, so if you like what you see, grab it before it expires.

Why you should buy the 55-inch Samsung Q70C QLED 4K TV
So, what makes the Q70C special? Well, for starters, it has a QLED panel that recreates colors very vividly without losing brightness, an issue that traditional LED panels tend to have. It's also helped a bit with its Dual-LED backlighting for extra brightness, so you can push the contrast and color reproduction pretty far. It also comes with Samsung's proprietary Quantum HDR, which is offset by the fact that it's missing HLG support, which most sports broadcasters use, so you'll be missing out on that front if you enjoy watching many sports.

Read more