Capture This

Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis Teaches Performance Capture Class

What’s it like to make a live-action film with characters and settings that can never be filmed? This spring, a group of 12 School of Cinematic Arts graduate students will learn just that when director Robert Zemeckis ’73 and SCA Digital Systems Specialist Eric Furie teach the inaugural semester of CTAN 599: Motion Capture Performance.

“Robert Zemeckis has pioneered the large-scale use of performance capture in feature films such as The Polar Express, Monster House and the upcoming Beowulf,” said SCA Computer Animation Lab Director Richard Weinberg. “His support of this class is monumental and we’re privileged that he’s sharing his knowledge and experience with our students.”

The class, which filled to capacity in record time, is being conducted at the digital arts center bearing Zemeckis’ name. The famed director will personally instruct at least six of the fifteen sessions taking place during the semester.

Director Robert Zemeckis ’73 has pioneered the large-scale use of performance capture in feature films.

In addition to Zemeckis’ expertise, students will also gain hands-on experience with the Vicon MX motion capture system featuring 16 cameras, the same one used by Zemeckis in his digitally rendered live-action movies.

“This system is brand new and very high end,” said Furie, who points out that Vicon’s generosity dates back to 2001 when the company donated the school’s current eight-camera system to the Zemeckis Center. “With the new cameras, we’ll be able to capture more detail, grabbing facial and body data all at the same time exactly like Zemeckis does for his films. It’s really impressive.”

“Performance capture has changed the way I make movies,” Zemeckis said. “I’m thrilled that I’m able to help the next generation of filmmakers with this new technology and I’m very much looking forward to the result.”

In addition to the Vicon capture and data system, students will also work with Motionbuilder software by AutoDesk, and then utilize Face Robot, a sophisticated program by Softimage, which is a subsidiary of Avid.

“The complexity of facial expressions has made it very difficult for animators to convey the full range of human emotions realistically,” Weinberg said. “The new technologies that we are exploring here should allow us to do incredibly intricate facial animation.”

As they work with Zemeckis, students will experience first-hand the exact process that the director uses. They’ll complete short 2-minute exercises where they’ll write a scene, capture data and performers, and then return to shoot the camera side. Once the camera has been added to the scene, the students will edit the rendered video on Avid’s Media Composer.

“We really struck a chord with our students with this class,” added Furie. “We’re excited that we’re able to offer it.”

Associated Person:

Richard Weinberg Eric Furie