Heads Up Hollywood

Motion capture technology has a long history, nearly a hundred years. It has been used in all walks of life for half a century.

However, it is relatively simple.

Such as robot remote control, interactive games, sports training, motion tracking and other fields.

Motion capture came to film...only 20 years old.

Of course, motion capture in the past mainly refers to some animation production, which mainly simulates some of the most basic and simple character activities.

For example, the image of "Gurrrrr" in the "Lord of the Rings" series.

This is a character made entirely by computer cg.

Because Weta Digital has made breakthroughs in this technology, when watching movies, the character image of "Gulu Gulu" does not have any sense of disobedience, as if he should belong to the world of Middle-earth.

It is much more realistic than the "Master Yoda" in the "Star Wars Prequel" series, as well as the characters of many animated characters.

However, there is a problem!

The "Gurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrverder" in "The Lord of the Rings", when the characters move...the movements are relatively single and simple, which looks clumsy.

The image of the characters is not against the harmony, but the actions of the characters are very against the harmony.

This is the disadvantage of "Weta Digital" in motion capture technology!

The motion capture of "Gulu Gulu", even if the motion capture master Andy Serkis was invited, it failed to achieve the desired effect.

Cameron said: "Industrial Light and Magic is an industry pioneer in motion capture technology. Last year, I even spared two weeks to go to the crew of "The Polar Express."

"The Polar Express? The Robert Zemeckis cartoon?"

"That's right. Although this is just a cartoon, it is very different from previous cartoons. Traditional cartoons don't require actors to perform, they are either hand-drawn or computer-drawn, and the actors will do the dubbing in the later stage. But "The Polar Express" is different, the animated characters here, every frown and smile are performed by the actors. The revolutionary motion capture technology and performance retention technology digitize the real-life images. This will be a technological revolution in film!"

It's not hard to hear that Cameron appreciates the new technology used in "The Polar Express" very much, and then said: "During the performance, Hanks didn't wear a costume, but he had to wear a black tights full of sensors. At the same time, 150 sensors are attached to the face, and every expression and movement of his eyelids, lips, eyebrows and other parts can be accurately captured by the computer through the sensors."

"150 sensors..."

Tang En could imagine that Tom Hanks' face was covered with sensors, 150 of them... so the whole face was covered with sensors?

Cameron became more and more excited as he talked, and said excitedly: "Twain, I went to see the internal preview of "The Polar Express". Come on! As long as this film is released, I dare to conclude that it will be epoch-making, and the holographic motion capture technology it uses will become a milestone equivalent to the first sound film "Jazz Singer"!"

In the past movies, although motion capture technology was also used, it was only a very small part, and the operation was very simple.

"The Polar Express" is different. All the performances in this film are done through motion capture.

This is a must-have element for filming "Avatar".

Corresponding to this... is the high price!

"The Polar Express" cost $165 million, and all the performances and shooting were done in front of the green screen of the studio, and the performance space of the actors was only 10 square feet in total.

If Robert Zemeckis is also pursuing "movie quality" like many old-school directors, well... the production cost of the film, 300 million US dollars can't stop it!

"I heard..."The Polar Express" used the latest motion capture technology developed by Industrial Light \u0026 Magic? Didn't even take the risk of using it in "Star Wars Episode 3?" Dunn thought slowly.

Cameron said disdainfully: "Who said it wasn't? George Lucas...hehe, he wanted to use "Polar Express" as a test field to verify the practicality of new technologies. Anyway, it was Warner's money, so he didn't feel bad about spending it." , which is different from shooting "Star Wars Episode 3."

"It turns out that the new motion capture technology is very successful?"

"Perfect!"

"So...you need me to help you deal with George?" Tang En looked at him with a half-smile.

Cameron was a little embarrassed, and said as a matter of course: "Aren't you the investor and producer of "Avatar"? Isn't this your job?"

Tang En nodded and didn't say anything more. It would not be difficult for him to deal with George Lucas.

In fact, in the 1980s, Cameron and Lucas had a very good relationship.

In the 1990s, the filming of "Terminator 2" was completed... Cameron received great voices and market recognition, and seemed to have surpassed Lucas to become a sci-fi master.

The great success of "Terminator 2" has given Cameron great confidence and ambition. He really wants to completely surpass George Lucas!

At first, he wanted to shoot "Spider-Man", but later he felt that it was too cheap to shoot other people's stories, so he gave up.

Instead, he wrote his own script - "Avatar"!

What is the logic behind "Avatar"?

It is Cameron who wants to create a science fiction world kingdom beyond "Star Wars"!

It's a pity that the technical level back then was far from meeting his requirements.

Cameron took the next best thing and went to shoot "Titanic".

Because he wanted to make the fluid special effects of the sinking ship, Cameron found Industrial Light and Magic for help.

In the end, the world's number one special effects company actually said it couldn't do it!

How ridiculous?

Cameron was furious, and hired Industrial Light \u0026 Magic's special effects manager, Kurt Ross, and Stan Weston, to set up the "Digital Realm" special effects studio.

Since then, Hollywood has begun the dual era of "Industrial Light and Magic" and "Digital Realm" in the special effects market.

The competition between the industry leader and the industry number two is fierce.

For many reasons, the relationship between Cameron and Lucas is very cold.

Cameron wanted to use the latest research results of Industrial Light and Magic to create "Avatar", but it was impossible to do it based on his personal face.

Of course, there was no reason for Tang En to fail.

What 20th Century Fox could handle in the previous life, the new Universal is even easier.

Cameron added: "In addition to Weta Digital and Industrial Light \u0026 Magic, we also need to get rid of the Huaya 3D Motion Research Office. The technology they are developing to capture virtual composite buckles will help our real-time preview and motion capture. function. This is clearly written in the report."

"No problem! You said that "The Polar Express" was an epoch-making technological revolution, but now it seems... "Avatar" is the one, and only those who have mastered it will show their true qualities!"

Tang En expressed his admiration out of emotion.

This great director has done so much technical preparation in the early stage, which deserves all the praise.

Cameron smiled and said, "Weta Digital, Industrial Light \u0026 Magic, Crow, and Digital Realm are not enough. We also need the latest scientific achievements from the Optical Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."

"MIT?"

"That's right, they improved the reflective optical motion capture system, and then developed a headgear expression capture system. This plays a vital role in capturing the actors' meticulous expression."

"Are you trying to separate expression capture from motion capture, and create two technical systems?"

"This is also impossible. Compared with human body movements, the subtle changes in facial expressions are too complicated. Even the most advanced motion capture system is difficult to do the best."

Speaking of this, Cameron shook his head, "It's still "The Polar Express". In order to pursue the ultimate performance capture, Robert glued 150 sensors on Hanks' face, so densely packed that he didn't let his eyes go. But in the end The visual presentation...I'm not very satisfied. The changes in facial expressions are too complex, and only capturing 150 detailed changes...is not enough."

It's only 2004 now.

Most of the technologies that have been rotten in later generations are still in the process of research and development, trial and improvement.

"Avatar" is a guinea pig for the assembly and trial of various high-tech.

It is far from a simple 3D pen-hold shot that can be summed up.

For movie fans, the 3D effect of "Avatar" is an intuitive reflection. For filmmakers, behind "Avatar" there are more sophisticated high-end technologies than 3D direct shooting.

Of course, this is only limited to Hollywood, which pursues exquisite and perfect visual effects.

As for the film industry in other countries... To put it bluntly, even the special effects technology of Hollywood 10 years ago can continue to lead the world for 20 years in a general sense.

This is the conclusion of the famous French "Movie Handbook". There is at least a 30-year generation gap between Hollywood and non-Hollywood special effects technology.

Tang En was half technically blind and didn't know much about it. He asked, "Can this headgear-style facial expression capture system you mentioned solve the problem?"

Cameron stretched out a palm excitedly.

"What's the meaning?"

"At least five times!"

"Five times?"

Tang En opened his eyes wide.

Cameron said excitedly: "In order to capture rich expression changes, Robert Zemeckis covered Hanks's face with sensors. However, if you rely on the headgear expression capture system of the MIT Optics Laboratory, As long as the actor wears a headgear, the reflection signals from different angles in the optical effect can be used to capture subtle changes on the actor's face, at least... 800 of them can be captured!"

"good!"

Tang En was also quite excited.

He could suddenly feel Cameron's pleasure in pursuing the ultimate in technology.

This is a feeling of creating a new era!

"However..." Cameron paused, a little embarrassed and a little guilty, "It's a university and a science laboratory. Although I know something about it, I want to use their research results in film production. Some troubles. That's not Hollywood after all, our way of doing things... doesn't work there."

Tang En immediately understood what he meant, and it was a little funny.

Isn't the technology developed in the university laboratory intended to be applied in practice?

The problem Cameron mentioned is nothing more than money!

Of course, it must not be small money.

If it was only a few hundred thousand dollars, Cameron would have paid for it out of his own pocket.

Please remember the first domain name of this book: . Nine Heavens Emperor: