IMAX NEWS
Avatar Factoid #3
Thursday, December 10 by Julie Brown
Did you know…
While “motion capture” – capturing the performers’ physical movements and translating those to CG characters – has been used for several years, James Cameron and Jon Landau had decided the process was missing a critical element: the letter “e” in front of the word “motion.”
Instead of using the motion capture technique of placing reflective markers on the actors’ faces to capture rough facial expressions, the actors wore special headgear, not unlike a football helmet, to which a tiny camera was attached. The rig faced towards the actors’ faces and the camera recorded facial expression and muscle movements to a degree never before possible. AVATAR’s CG Na’vi and avatar characters came to life with all the rich nuances of the actors’ work on the virtual stage.
While “motion capture” – capturing the performers’ physical movements and translating those to CG characters – has been used for several years, James Cameron and Jon Landau had decided the process was missing a critical element: the letter “e” in front of the word “motion.”
Instead of using the motion capture technique of placing reflective markers on the actors’ faces to capture rough facial expressions, the actors wore special headgear, not unlike a football helmet, to which a tiny camera was attached. The rig faced towards the actors’ faces and the camera recorded facial expression and muscle movements to a degree never before possible. AVATAR’s CG Na’vi and avatar characters came to life with all the rich nuances of the actors’ work on the virtual stage.
Avatar Factoid #2
Thursday, December 10 by Julie Brown
Did you know…?
Providing added dimensions to specific aspects of the actors’ performances are noted linguist Paul Frommer, Ph.D., who worked with Cameron to devise an entire language for the Na’vi; as well as Terry Notary, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, and celebrated choreographer Lula Washington, who respectively helped the create Na’vi movements and the choreography for the Na’vi dancers.
As with so many aspects of AVATAR, the Na’vi language brings together the completely original with the familiar and relatable. Early in the process, Cameron provided Frommer, a professor at USC, with the kinds of sounds the filmmaker had in mind for the Na’vi. Frommer then designed a linguistic palette. This complex work resulted in the creation of hundreds of words, as well as a specific structure and grammar, all of which the actors learned with skill and speed.
Providing added dimensions to specific aspects of the actors’ performances are noted linguist Paul Frommer, Ph.D., who worked with Cameron to devise an entire language for the Na’vi; as well as Terry Notary, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, and celebrated choreographer Lula Washington, who respectively helped the create Na’vi movements and the choreography for the Na’vi dancers.
As with so many aspects of AVATAR, the Na’vi language brings together the completely original with the familiar and relatable. Early in the process, Cameron provided Frommer, a professor at USC, with the kinds of sounds the filmmaker had in mind for the Na’vi. Frommer then designed a linguistic palette. This complex work resulted in the creation of hundreds of words, as well as a specific structure and grammar, all of which the actors learned with skill and speed.
Avatar Factoid #1
Friday, December 4 by Julie Brown
Did you know…?
To tell his story, James Cameron had to create technology and new production paradigms that revolutionized the filmmaking process. Foremost among these was new performance capture technology that would fully capture not only the actors’ movements for their CG incarnations, but also the full range of facial emotions and expressions. Another innovation, a virtual camera, allowed Cameron to shoot scenes within computer-generated worlds, just as if he were filming on a Hollywood soundstage. Yet another technical advance, a 3-D Fusion camera created by Cameron and Vince Pace, added to AVATAR’s already immersive experience. And Academy Award-winning visual effects house WETA Digital worked with Cameron to create a new world of unprecedented scale.
To tell his story, James Cameron had to create technology and new production paradigms that revolutionized the filmmaking process. Foremost among these was new performance capture technology that would fully capture not only the actors’ movements for their CG incarnations, but also the full range of facial emotions and expressions. Another innovation, a virtual camera, allowed Cameron to shoot scenes within computer-generated worlds, just as if he were filming on a Hollywood soundstage. Yet another technical advance, a 3-D Fusion camera created by Cameron and Vince Pace, added to AVATAR’s already immersive experience. And Academy Award-winning visual effects house WETA Digital worked with Cameron to create a new world of unprecedented scale.
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