Atlanta Motion Capture Experience
- Ian Russell
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Atlanta Motion Capture Experience: Project Conquest
I don't live in or near a major market for video games like LA or London, but I've still managed to carve out a career creating video game characters for game developers. As a mostly remote actor, one aspect that has been missing for me because of my geography has been Motion Capture. Working as a MoCap actor is still largely defined by where you live or whether you can easily travel to where the MoCap Volume is situated.
That changed recently when formstudios invited me to come play in their new MoCap Volume in Atlanta. The good people from optitrack were also there making sure we were appropriately dressed and I got to perform my first T-Pose.
Here are some thoughts and inspirations I took away from the day:
Learning and performing lines requires constant practice. As voice actors, we generally don't need to learn lines, but for MoCap/PCap, we do. I learned my lines and practiced consistently at home (and I knew my lines), but once the adrenaline of the volume and a scene partner, a director, a camera and sound operator, and the rest of the crew were present, recall was harder than I remembered from my stage days. So take the opportunity, if you have it, to learn and perform to an audience; it will keep those muscles sharp.
MoCap suits don't flatter your figure—fortunately for me, I gave up caring years ago. But don't let the suit invade your head and impact your performance—everyone there is working to make a great project, not looking at our flabby bits.
It's a different acting experience. Voice acting largely takes place in our heads, while theatre and film largely take place on a set. Mocap exists in a hybrid world. You are on a set with a scene partner, but the environment is still very much in your head. I found myself actively needing to decide to come out of my head and be present for my scene partner.
Some specific actions and mocabulary jargon you'll need to become familiar with (T-Pose, Sync etc) but your key task is to be the best actor you can. It didn't take long to get into the routine. Much like a film set (Back to one) T-Pose etc becomes familiar very quickly and should allow you to inhabit your character quickly and effectively. Which is, after all, why we are there.
The Geography is changing and the rules for MoCap are changing and I couldn't be happier with my Atlanta Motion Capture Experience!
MOCAP • COMMERCIALS • GAMING CHARACTERS • ANIMATION • NARRATION • AUDIOBOOKS • REAL ESTATE • CORPORATE NARRATION • EXPLAINER VIDEOS • ELEARNING
