Heads Up Hollywood

?Motion capture technology appeared very early, but in the past, most of them were mechanical, acoustic, electromagnetic and other motion capture technologies, which were relatively backward.

Until 20 years ago...

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a set of graphic marionettes based on the principles of optics, the earliest optical motion capture system, called "op-eye".

Optical motion capture technology has also been favored by Hollywood and applied in movies.

The current mainstream motion capture technology actually relies on the continuous improvement of the "op-eye", the continuous improvement of the "motion capture clothing" on the marionette, the installation of more sensors, and the use of more induction balls to improve the final result. visual presentation.

The "black induction suit" worn by Tom Hanks in "The Polar Express" is the latest invention of Industrial Light \u0026 Magic.

Unexpectedly, when Hollywood is still capturing more motions by increasing the number of sensor balls, MIT's optical laboratory has already found another direction.

It really is a world-class school!

When it comes to the promotion of science and technology, the entire Hollywood together is not an opponent.

Of course, if there is research and development, there must be funding!

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private university, and its main source of funding... is donations from celebrities.

As for the meaning of this "donation", it is very deep.

Some are really free donations, and some... are actually the acquisition of the latest scientific research results.

"No problem, in the name of New Universal, donate 10 million US dollars to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology..."

"How much? Ten million dollars?"

Cameron looked at Tang En in surprise, with a strange expression.

"What's wrong?" Tang En was very puzzled.

Cameron sneered: "This is the most sophisticated and high-end technology in the world, and it is unique! Not to mention the daily expenses of researchers, the cost of equipment alone is more than 10 million US dollars!"

"No way? So expensive?"

Tang En was shocked.

Even an expensive imax camera costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Cameron said: "After all, this is the latest research result, which is equivalent to a concept version. Even if the price is raised on the ground, we can't help it."

"How much is it?"

"25 million... 30 million US dollars! This amount is enough to meet the research and development expenses of the laboratory for the past two years, and can also reserve a sum of money for further research and development. It should be regarded as a good deed."

"30 million dollars..."

Tang En twitched the corner of his mouth, his heart agitated.

What a waste of money!

In the previous life, the budget of "Avatar" was as high as 500 million US dollars!

Among them, the production cost was 280 million U.S. dollars, and the publicity and distribution cost was 220 million U.S. dollars.

Of the $280 million production cost, $65 million was technical support.

In other words, Cameron spent a total of 65 million US dollars in order to film "Avatar" and solve technical problems!

"What about patents?"

Tang En's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out suddenly.

Motion capture in the future will still look like a "marionette". The facial expression capture technology relies on the principle of "optical headgear" and is constantly being developed.

Cameron shook his head and said, "I don't know, but... the marionette patent has made them a lot of money. This optical headgear, if you want to buy out the patented technology at one time, it may be difficult to do without 100 million US dollars."

Tang En curled his lips, and never mentioned this again.

It's ridiculous!

The headgear expression capture system is an unprecedented creation at the moment, and it is still in the testing stage, so the unit price is very high. When the technology is mature and can be mass-produced, a set of top-level equipment, 5 million US dollars is enough.

Can be reused.

However, spending 30 million US dollars to eat the first crab... seems to be a good deal!

Tang En's eyes lit up, and he immediately said: "Okay, it's settled! Contact them immediately, and it will be 30 million US dollars! I will see new equipment samples within two months!"

"You wouldn't be..."

Cameron's eyes widened, apparently seeing through Tang En's intentions.

Tang En said with a smile: "At the end of July, I will be filming "The Avengers". It just so happens that I can use this equipment."

Cameron was about to vomit blood. He traveled all over the United States and consulted dozens of service providers before finding the capture technology he wanted.

This is great, it's a part-time job for Tang En!

This is true of the real-time preview technology at the beginning, and the expression capture technology this time is also true!

Bandit!

This Dunn is so unreasonable!

This is what he prepared for "Avatar", but he made a wedding dress for someone else...

""The Avengers"...This type of film doesn't need such high-end capture technology!" Cameron gritted his silver teeth, his eyes burning.

Tang En laughed and said, "Don't be so stingy. Although it's a popcorn movie, as a filmmaker, you have to strive for perfection, right? Besides, there is a superhero 'Hulk' in "The Avengers", It just needs motion capture and expression capture technology. Are you not happy with me being your guinea pig?"

Because of his past life experience, Tang En decided not to shoot the solo movie of "Hulk", but let him directly appear in the assembly of "The Avengers".

Other superheroes don't need facial expression capture, or even motion capture, and the true color effect is fine.

Hulk is different, he is not a normal human shape, like a monster.

If you want to take a real picture of this green monster, you need high-end technical support.

Cameron felt powerless towards Tang En's shamelessness.

He scolded him ten thousand times in his heart: "The robber!"

That year, he snatched his "Titanic".

Now, he is reaching out to grab the latest technology he has painstakingly prepared for "Avatar"...

If the visual effects of "The Avengers" shocked the world and improved the aesthetic taste of global audiences, how could "Avatar" have revolutionary and epoch-making stunning special effects?

Tang En saw his worries, waved his hands, and said, "James, your worries are really unnecessary. In fact, we filmmakers pursue perfectionism, but ordinary movie fans, do they understand? They understand real-time preview technology And expression capture technology? Can they distinguish which special effects are computer CG and which scenes are motion capture? Too much research is just an explanation to professionals in the industry, not a responsibility to movie fans.”

"No!" Cameron pointed to his chest with a solemn expression, "It's the responsibility of the cause I love."

Tang En smiled and didn't want to debate with him, "The biggest selling point of "Avatar" is actually the 3D effect, which is a transformation from scratch. Other computer cg and motion capture are just the enhancement of technology. I can talk to You can guarantee that "Avatar" is definitely the world's first 3D direct-shooting commercial film!"

Cameron took a deep look at Tang En and nodded.

He is really scared!

He was afraid that one day Tang En would suddenly come up with an idea to borrow his 3D direct-shooting technology to make a 3D movie and release it before "Avatar".

Then he would really vomit blood.

Fortunately, Twain... still left a bottom line.

With Tang En's current status, since he has made a promise, there is absolutely no possibility of breaking the promise, and Cameron is relieved, sighing, and said: "However, the presentation of the 3D effect, the current digital technology, is definitely not enough. no."

The resolution of digital images is far inferior to that of film.

This can be distinguished with the naked eye through the imax giant screen.

Once the image is converted into 3D, the weakness of the low resolution of the digital copy will be further revealed.

If the current digital photography technology has not improved, then making "Avatar" into a 3D version will not be a stunning visual effect, but dizzying.

In his previous life, in order to solve this problem, Cameron cooperated with several digital companies and spent 14 million US dollars to finally develop a new photography system and digital technology.

The digital copy resolution, color saturation, and picture quality definition of 3D format have been greatly improved.

"What a coincidence!"

When this topic was mentioned, Tang En raised his chin with a little satisfaction.

Cameron's eyes lit up, "What?"

Tang En said with a smile: "You know, I have acquired two companies. Company x is advancing digital technology, producing imax digital cameras, which can adapt to higher resolutions of giant screens. Not to mention Dolby Laboratories, audio-visual The promotion of integration is a request I made on the first day of acquiring this laboratory."

Dolby Laboratories is actively promoting the "Dolby Cinema" project.

In order to succeed and achieve the transcendent audio-visual enjoyment of Dolby Cinema, the sound part is actually not difficult. After all, this is the housekeeping skill of Dolby Laboratories. The biggest difficulty is the more prominent high-definition visual imaging.

Whether it is the digital shooting technology promoted by imax, or the high-definition digital imaging technology promoted by Dolby Laboratories...it is of great help to Cameron's request!

Very simple, one of the two technologies is "input" and the other is "output". One is to be able to shoot with higher resolution when shooting, and the other is to be able to release higher resolution when showing.

As long as they can be combined perfectly, the expected visual effect can be achieved!

It is even higher-end than the digital photography system and digital technology used in the previous "Avatar"!

You know, whether it is imax or Dolby Laboratories, they are the pinnacle of this industry!

Under Tang En's promotion, these two projects have been secretly developed for two years.

Cameron asked in surprise: "Have you been promoting new digital camera technology and digital imaging technology?"

Tang En smiled and said: "Of course, don't forget, I am also a representative of the new school of directors, and I am also a techie! I am no worse than George Lucas!"

In the field of digital technology, George Lucas' name is very big.

He is also the most powerful promoter of digital photography in the industry.

However, Industrial Light and Magic is only a special effects company, and it is very powerful in software technology. In terms of hardware research and development... it is far away from imax and Dolby Laboratories.

In today's Hollywood, the true leader of digital technology is Dunn Walker!

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