Tupac hologram costs over RM307K

The late Tupac Shakur made a comeback in the form of a hologram at the recently concluded Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

The rapper “surprised” those present at the annual three-day event by appearing on stage, and shouting "What up, Coachella!" to the massive crowd, before performing with Dr Dre, and Snoop Dogg.

Tupac’s lifelike appearance, thought up by Dre, costs between USD100,000 (RM307,000) and USD400,000 (RM1.2mil), according to Nick Smith, president of AV Concepts, the company who projected and staged the 2D image.

"It was his (Dre’s) idea from the very beginning and we worked with him and his camp to utilise the technology to make it come to life," Smith said.

"I can't say how much that event cost, but I can say it's affordable in the sense that if we had to bring entertainers around the world and create concerts across the country, we could put (artists) in every venue in the country."

Digital Domain chief creative officer Ed Ulbrich said: “To create a completely synthetic human being is the most complicated thing that can be done.”

“This is not archival footage. This is an illusion. This is the beginning. Dre has a massive vision for this.”

The visual effects and animation company is also responsible for crafting the CG likeness of Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Jeff Bridges in TRON: Legacy, and Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

It’s also been rumoured that the Tupac hologram could go on tour.

Source: Agencies