Motion Capture and The Changing Artist (An Introduction)

Christian Gobble
Sep 8, 2018 · 3 min read

Technological progress has always been a catalyst for change in the world of the arts. Developments in lighting have allowed for more effective and safe ways to brighten a stage, and the use of the moving picture cameras paved the way for an entirely new form of storytelling.

In this new digital age, we have found a way to bring new, strange, and previously impossible characters to life. Through motion capture, an actor can control a digital body, created entirely on a computer screen.

Even since the first Lord of the Rings movie, this technology has improved exponentially, making it possible to use motion capture technology not only in real time but in harsher conditions as well. Actors are able to perform in areas stretching from cold, snowy tundra, to extremely humid rainforests.

The current king of motion capture acting is Andy Serkis, who has played characters ranging from the slimy, grotesque Golem, to Ceaser, the leader of the newly formed Planet of the Apes. In an interview with Serkis, he details exactly how much this technology has improved over the years, making it easy for actors to be as much a part of the world as any other character on set. Especially now, in this day and age of rapidly progressing technology, one can easily see the impact that detailed, improved tech can impact the value of Hollywood’s biggest attractions.

I feel very drawn to this subject because of my interest in the acting industry itself. It’s important to not only be mindful of where acting has come from, as well as where it is headed. Motion Capture is here and here to stay. Many directors are finding more ways to tell immense, powerful stories through the use of this tech. It simply opens the door to new possibilities, and the enormity of that potential is very enticing.

Also being a fan of video games on many console platforms, I have seen the progression of this technology as it appears in different mediums of entertainment.

Through these posts, I hope to gain some more knowledge on where we currently are in terms of this technology’s progression. I also hope to find how Mocap has affected actors in the industry. Are many actors flocking to this new medium? And if so, how do they plan on training for this new way of performing?

Many videos showing different actors’ process of performing in Mocap have gained many views. People are genuinely interested in seeing this strange new way of performing. A good example of this is Benedict Cumberbatch’s real-life performance of Smaug in The Hobbit. While stunning at first, it is very interesting to watch. His face contorts with every word he says, he scampers around on all fours as if he is the dragon himself. This is something that helps actors get into character. It may look absurd, but physically becoming the character you are trying to become, even if it is only through voice acting, can greatly enhance a performance.

I plan to go much more into detail about these subjects in later posts, but I wanted to share some of the aspects of this technology that really interest me. This technology brings out the weirdest parts of people and allows actors to really commit to a character. This is something that a striving actor is always trying to do.

    Christian Gobble

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