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Acting Through a Version of Your Own Face
I'm excited to see the younger Jeff Bridges character in Tron: Legacy. Avatar was such a step in capturing a performance and creating something with it digitally, but here's a whole other step... Why worry about botox, when the computer can just make a young version of you? We've already come a way from "Beowulf" and video game characters are becoming intense, like Sam Witwer in the Force Unleashed games.
How do we feel about the future of performance - acting not just through the makeup, the camera and the lights - but through a machine that gives the director, editor and visual artists the chance to tweak and change almost everything about it?
How do we feel about the future of performance - acting not just through the makeup, the camera and the lights - but through a machine that gives the director, editor and visual artists the chance to tweak and change almost everything about it?
Discussion started by AgentSmith , on 17 December 09:53 AM
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While digitally tweaking can change body image and give an advantage to not so great actors or a touch up in a scene where the actor was a bit off, the fundamentals will not change. Some one, either the actor or the animator still has to know how to act. Just saying lines or showing up is not enough, its when the actor can bring the character to life that we love the show/movie.
It is probable that animators will have to learn more and more about acting and how to bring a character to life. I would think directors would have to play a larger part, by giving very precise notes to the animators. Possibly by having a team working together behind the scenes an on screen actor could be made to look amazing. But while an amazing director and or producer can make up for mediocre talent, it is still not a replacement for truly gifted actors. There will always be the need for the actors as they play an integral role in the make up of a composition. The way in which they act might change with the technology especially in the early years when everyone is really excited about being able to manipulate images, but once that settles down, good acting is still the cornerstone.
That being said the limits of what film can do are being pushed farther and farther. So many amazing new arenas have opened up that have not been explored. Being able to digitally manipulate the actors is quite amazing and I'm excited to see what else can be done. Although animating dead people is a bit sketchy, really. Its an interesting concept but that person is not real. Its a fictionalized version of how they looked and might have acted.
It is probable that animators will have to learn more and more about acting and how to bring a character to life. I would think directors would have to play a larger part, by giving very precise notes to the animators. Possibly by having a team working together behind the scenes an on screen actor could be made to look amazing. But while an amazing director and or producer can make up for mediocre talent, it is still not a replacement for truly gifted actors. There will always be the need for the actors as they play an integral role in the make up of a composition. The way in which they act might change with the technology especially in the early years when everyone is really excited about being able to manipulate images, but once that settles down, good acting is still the cornerstone.
That being said the limits of what film can do are being pushed farther and farther. So many amazing new arenas have opened up that have not been explored. Being able to digitally manipulate the actors is quite amazing and I'm excited to see what else can be done. Although animating dead people is a bit sketchy, really. Its an interesting concept but that person is not real. Its a fictionalized version of how they looked and might have acted.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011 12:14
I hope my Jimmy Durante / Charro leading duo will work out well in my upcoming action adventure science fiction detective series. I just need to make sure that Charro's youth and Jimmy's, uh, lifelikeness will shine through as we bring dead or aging guest stars into the limelight each week.
Let's see, there's Brando and Dean up soon ...
Let's see, there's Brando and Dean up soon ...
Saturday, 29 January 2011 14:46
"Can be" and "will be" are completely different, though. In the next ten years or so, we can all fly to the moon. Its becoming safer, and more reliable, its even becoming commercially available. However, Its still not economically viable. What production company is going to pay everyone on the planet a rental fee and give each their own series when they have perfectly good iconic models and personalities bought and paid for.
Yes, the technology will affect the industry, but if fully articulatable models are the future, that will lessen the number of actors needed, as well as the amount of talent needed in those actors. Screens will further favor "beautiful" people or those with extreme looks. But, again, why seek an actor who is 3'4" when you can just manipulate an existing well known model to be it (example - benjamin button, which in older times would have relied on several actors or at least several stages of incredibly heavy makeup)
It will lend the acting community to diminish in size and talent,while pushing animators to become better and better. As they become more prevelant, how the world accepts these entities in media will undoubtedly be represented by the terms they use to call these virtual persons. Will they be nibs? Will they be actons? Icodels? Or will they simply retain the names of the actors long gone. What will be the connotation when speaking their names?
Let's not forget that the best of modern advertising relies heavily on the study of psychology, that the biggest blockbusters are notably more and more formulaic, and that you already cannot find a photo of an actor or actress on a major magazine that has not been photoshopped beyond realistic into perfection. I am doubtful there will be many actors, especially in major studios, that will be completely real if real at all, but the parts that are will come from less and less of the living talent pool or completely from a generic database, a clipart library of body parts, mannerisms, and personality traits.
By the way, Tron rocked. I did fall asleep for a few seconds 20 minutes from the end, but 3D just does that to me. Anyone else?
Yes, the technology will affect the industry, but if fully articulatable models are the future, that will lessen the number of actors needed, as well as the amount of talent needed in those actors. Screens will further favor "beautiful" people or those with extreme looks. But, again, why seek an actor who is 3'4" when you can just manipulate an existing well known model to be it (example - benjamin button, which in older times would have relied on several actors or at least several stages of incredibly heavy makeup)
It will lend the acting community to diminish in size and talent,while pushing animators to become better and better. As they become more prevelant, how the world accepts these entities in media will undoubtedly be represented by the terms they use to call these virtual persons. Will they be nibs? Will they be actons? Icodels? Or will they simply retain the names of the actors long gone. What will be the connotation when speaking their names?
Let's not forget that the best of modern advertising relies heavily on the study of psychology, that the biggest blockbusters are notably more and more formulaic, and that you already cannot find a photo of an actor or actress on a major magazine that has not been photoshopped beyond realistic into perfection. I am doubtful there will be many actors, especially in major studios, that will be completely real if real at all, but the parts that are will come from less and less of the living talent pool or completely from a generic database, a clipart library of body parts, mannerisms, and personality traits.
By the way, Tron rocked. I did fall asleep for a few seconds 20 minutes from the end, but 3D just does that to me. Anyone else?
Saturday, 18 December 2010 07:37
Take it a step further and anyone can be an actor. You show up they hand you a list of facial expressions and vocal phonetics that they record, resample and apply as needed. When used, you get a small "rental" check for you likeness, or perhaps your voice, or maybe even both.
"Hey Ned, I saw you last night on the talk show." said Bob.
"AH, I missed it 'cause my wife was watching you on her evening soap opera."
Be Well.
"Hey Ned, I saw you last night on the talk show." said Bob.
"AH, I missed it 'cause my wife was watching you on her evening soap opera."
Be Well.
Friday, 17 December 2010 22:20
How about Lucas buying up the rights to a bunch of dead actors? Scary. But the new Michael Jackson video game seems a bit early as well. Question is who will own the rights to Lucas's image after he's gone and what will they do with it? I enjoyed the Force Unleashed immensely, but reanimating the dead? A - Its hard enough for new actors to make it in the field, B - shouldn't actors passed have a say in what happens to their legacy? So many spend their entire lives avoiding being typecast and choosing very carefully project by project what they will and wont do to coincide with personal life philosophies and beliefs. I think in a way, the Muslim practice of not showing images of Allah is not so much extreme as it is respectful in a way that should be afforded anyone.
Anyway, gotta run. Going to see Tron! :D
Anyway, gotta run. Going to see Tron! :D
Friday, 17 December 2010 14:41
Even Charlies Angels was stretching characters, right? I remember all the controversy about making Drew Barrymore longer and thinner. The Tron previews still don't quite look 100% real, but they do look cool. I know that the technology is getting better, but you really couldn't tell in charlie's angles at all. I think we're just becoming more accepting of the alternate version of reality we're seeing on the screens, no matter how much it differs from real reality.
Friday, 17 December 2010 11:43