MPC Integrates OptiTrack Motion Capture
10/03/2014
The venerated studio is experienced in concept design, previs, shoot supervision, 2D compositing, 3D/CG effects, animation, motion design, software development, virtual production, color grading and any amalgamation thereof. To support these activities, MPC relies on an 18-camera OptiTrack motion capture system, which the studio recently supplemented with Prime 17W cameras and Motive software. Overseen by Global Head of Crowd Simulation and Motion Capture Adam Davis and located in MPC's London headquarters, the setup is leveraged by MPC facilities worldwide, including in Vancouver, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York, Amsterdam, Bangalore and Mexico City.
OptiTrack's Prime 17W camera has a phenomenally wide angle and captures high fidelity data. We had good coverage before but now we have floor to ceiling volume, and we can capture finger data and fine details, said Davis.
Having previously invested in an earlier generation of OptiTrack technology, MPC opted to upgrade with the launch of the Prime 17W and release of enticing enhancements to OptiTrack's Motive software. In London, space comes at a premium. Up until now, high quality motion capture just wasn't economically viable for our needs. The new system has already made a huge difference in production efficiencies, Davis noted.
Proving to be an increasingly valuable global resource, MPC's OptiTrack setup is integrated with the studio's proprietary asset management system. Tied to Motive software, the system is used to link artists across all MPC facilities and provides an open infrastructure that enables each location remote access to the stage. First, the team submits a list of desired moves and associated characters to the asset management system. Once the shoot kicks off, data and reference video are recorded in Motive then sent to a database. From there, data is processed, solved onto skeletons and passed to Autodesk MotionBuilder for further editing.
MPC executed its first transatlantic motion capture shoot for Man of Steel - a project led by its Vancouver office. With the job requiring a quick turnaround for blocking on a big fight sequence, the animation supervisor enlisted the expertise of Davis. It can take weeks to keyframe data, and if the idea isn't right, it all has to be done again, he shared. Vancouver let us know what movements and reactions they needed. Using mocap, we were able to shoot and deliver rough cuts the next day. It was a good base to quickly get through the blocking phase, so they could spend the bulk of their efforts on refinement.
Motion capture was also a helpful starting point for MPC's work on the apocalyptic thriller World War Z, which was shortlisted for the 2013 Best Visual Effects Oscar. While the bulk of the stunt work was not handled in-house, MPC tapped its OptiTrack system to develop a twitchy motion for the zombies. Also, preproduction shots were used for layout, and initial R&D tests helped in overall planning. With the addition of the Prime 17W cameras and Motive software, MPC is now deploying motion capture for more prominent hero shots as well, including three upcoming blockbusters that are poised to storm the box office.
While we still work with outside vendors when we need a massive stage, the affordability of OptiTrack's flexible gear have allowed us grow our in-house capabilities and motion capture is becoming increasingly ingrained in our workflow, concluded Davis.
MPC is currently working on Godzilla, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Maleficent and X-Men: Days of Future Past. For more info about MPC, visit: www.moving-picture.com
LINK: | http://www.cgw.com/Press-Center/News/2014/MPC-Integrates-OptiTrack-Mot... |
See more stories from cwg |
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet Appoints Santiago Solanas as CEO to Lead Next Era of Growth and Innovation
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
09/05/2024
NHL Draft to be First Live Televised Event from Vegas' Sphere
The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held at Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29, marking the first time the event will be held in Las...
09/05/2024
WBD Nears 100M Streaming Subs, Streaming Profits Up
NEW YORK In its Q1 2024 earnings report, Warner Bros. Discovery continued to see growth in its streaming operations, adding 2 million streaming subs in Q1 2024 ...
09/05/2024
Custom Consoles Unveils M-Desk Refinements
LEIGHTON BUZZARD, U.K. Custom Consoles has announced refinements to its M-Desk Technical HA heavy duty height-adjustable desk workstation....
09/05/2024
Veritone Rolls Out AI Consulting, Services Group
DENVER Veritone has launched a consulting and services group focused on bridging the marketplace gap it says exists for seamless artificial intelligence (AI) im...
09/05/2024
How sound (and the technology behind it) can set the tone and enhance emotions in film and TV
Sefi Carmel, CEO and founder of SphereTrax, talks about the importance of the so...
09/05/2024
Yale University's Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM) Cultivates Creativity with Blackmagic Design
Yale University's Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM) Cultivates ...
09/05/2024
Blender: Awesome Rack Focus Rig
Blender: Awesome Rack Focus Rig Simon Ubsdell May 9, 2024 0 Comments In which we build a focusing rig in the Blender compositor to enable selective fo...
09/05/2024
Peacock Orders The Office' Offshoot
Peacock has picked up a series from Greg Daniels, who developed The Office for NBC, that is set in the same universe, according to the network, as the NBC hit...
09/05/2024
Sinclair Net Income Drops To $23 Million in First Quarter
Sinclair reported lower net income in the first quarter as distribution revenues rose and ad revenue excluding political spending dipped....
09/05/2024
Vizio Reports $12.1 Million Loss for First Quarter
Vizio Holding Corp., which has agreed to be acquired by Walmart, reported a loss in the first quarter despite growth in its advertising and data businesses....
09/05/2024
Kathleen Keefe, Broadcasting Exec, Dies at 68
Kathleen Keefe, who served as VP of sales for both Hearst Television and Post-Newsweek Stations, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Roxbury, Connecticu...
09/05/2024
Future Today Adds Movies From Warner Bros Discovery to Fawesome
Streaming company Future Today said it made a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery that will bring 46 movies to Future Today's Fawesome channel....
09/05/2024
Warner Bros. Discovery Reports $966 Million First-Quarter Loss
Despite reporting a profit for its direct-to-consumer business, Warner Bros. Discovery reported a big loss as it took huge write-downs in the first quarter....
09/05/2024
Nexstar Reports Higher Net Income in First Quarter
Nexstar Media Group reported higher first-quarter earnings and said that it cut losses at The CW by $50 million year-over-year....
09/05/2024
Fubo Grabs Viewer Attention, According to TVision Study
Fubo, the sports-focused streaming service, scored high in getting its viewers attention, according to a study conducted by measurement and analytics company TV...
09/05/2024
SailGP Expanding LiveLineFX Graphics Platform to Other Sports
LONDON SailGP, which sponsors high-speed boat racing events worldwide says it is developing its LiveLineFX sports graphics platform for use in other sports....
09/05/2024
Disney, WBD to Offer Streaming Bundle Starting this Summer
BURBANK, Calif. Starting this summer, U.S. consumers will be able to purchase a new streaming bundle offered by Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery that includes ...
09/05/2024
Sony and Apollo plan to break up Paramount'
Companies are expected to sell off Paramounts linear channels as well as close Paramount Plus By Jenny Priestley Published: May 9, 2024 Companies are expe...
09/05/2024
Paramount Global Selects Amdocs Vubiquity to Provide Mana...
Amdocs (NASDAQ:DOX), a leading provider of software and services to communications and media companies, today announced that Vubiquity, an Amdocs company, has b...
09/05/2024
CueScript Awarded Best of Show for CueFlip at NAB 2024
CueScript, the leading developer of professional teleprompting solutions, has announced that its CueFlip screen-to-screen folding field prompter has won in this...
09/05/2024
Mother's Day Ideas from CBC
Capitol Broadcasting has a myriad of ways to celebrate Mom! In honor of Mother's Day, here are a few ideas CBC divisions have to help you honor, or remember...
09/05/2024
Scripps Appoints New President and CEO of the Scripps Howard Fund
CINCINNATI Meredith Delaney has been appointed president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Fund, the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company....
09/05/2024
Walmart Launches the Onn. 4K Streaming Device
Following leaks earlier this month of Walmart's plans to launch a new 4K streaming box, Walmart has officially unveiled the Onn. 4K Pro, a hybrid streaming ...
09/05/2024
DirecTV Adds More CW Stations
DirecTV continues to add CW affiliates to its streaming line-up, with the addition of four stations owned by Gray Television....
09/05/2024
Takeshi Kitano's film KUBI graded with DaVinci Resolve
Takeshi Kitano's film KUBI graded with DaVinci Resolve Brie Clayton May 8, 2024 0 Comments Blackmagic Design today announced that DaVinci Resolve ...
09/05/2024
zweiB updates to latest version of R&S CLIPSTER
zweiB updates to latest version of R&S CLIPSTER Brie Clayton May 8, 2024 0 Comments Specialist in deliverables for cinema, events and trade shows Ro...
09/05/2024
Simplify Your Filmmaking with Portable Lights
Simplify Your Filmmaking with Portable Lights Sean Alami May 8, 2024 0 Comments Discover the sleek, mobile Zhiyun lights that enhance cinematic scenes...
09/05/2024
The Benefits of using an Audio Interface
The Benefits of using an Audio Interface Colin Smith May 8, 2024 0 Comments This tutorial takes you through the hardware and software benefits of usin...
09/05/2024
Mother's Day Idea from CBC
Capitol Broadcasting has a myriad of ways to celebrate Mom! In honor of Mother's Day, here are a few ideas CBC divisions have to help you honor, or remember...
09/05/2024
Lachlan Murdoch Sees Progress Toward Sports Streaming Product
Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said his company, The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Discovery are in a two-minute drill to get their streaming sports joint venture t...
09/05/2024
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joins Prime Video's NASCAR Team
NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joining the Prime Video broadcast booth when the streaming network begins NASCAR Cup Series coverage next year. Earnhardt Jr...
09/05/2024
Nexstar Pitches Sports on The CW, Extra Reach Via Stations (Upfronts)
If upfront advertisers are looking for reach, Nexstar Media Group believes its base of local stations gives it a unique way to achieve that goal....
09/05/2024
Pluto TV Debuts NBCUniversal Local Streaming News Channels
NBCUniversal Local's 15 NBC and Telemundo local and regional streaming news channels begin launching on Pluto TV this month, starting May 8 with five channe...
09/05/2024
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead' Debuts on BET Plus May 16
BET Plus said it has set May 16 as the premiere date for its original movie Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead....
09/05/2024
Disney's Rita Ferro Is Banking on Sports, Streaming, Tech (Upfronts)
Heading into the upfront, the advertising market is noticeably healthier than it was a year ago, Rita Ferro, president of global advertising sales at The Walt D...
09/05/2024
Prison Journalism: Challenges of foreign citizens' imprisonment in South Africa
Prison Journalism: Challenges of foreign citizens' imprisonment in South Afr...
09/05/2024
Prison Journalism: Pray for liberation and healing
Prison Journalism: Pray for liberation and healingThabo Mthembu was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2014 to 2019. Read Thabo's story by Thabo Mthemb...
09/05/2024
Taylor Swift's European Eras tour kicks off in Paris TONIGHT
Taylor Swift's European Eras tour kicks off in Paris TONIGHTThe highest-grossing tour in history has finally arrived in Europe as Taylor Swift kicks off her...
09/05/2024
Tonight on Scandal: MaHilda and Phakamile are forced into navigating a tense truce
Tonight on Scandal: MaHilda and Phakamile are forced into navigating a tense tru...
09/05/2024
RT Supporting the Arts: What's On this May
RT Supporting the Arts: What's On this May Watch our YouTube promo here This May RT is delighted to support Dublin Dance Festival along with 20 other ar...
09/05/2024
Honkai: Star Rail' Blasts Off on GeForce NOW
Gear up, Trailblazers - Honkai: Star Rail lands on GeForce NOW this week, along with an in-game reward for members to celebrate the title's launch in the cl...
09/05/2024
Rohde & Schwarz showcases operational efficiency at MPTS
Rohde & Schwarz showcases operational efficiency at MPTS Uncompromised quality and reliability coupled with simplicity and efficiency Rohde & Schwarz will ...
08/05/2024
Saved! and Rudo y Cursi Among Films With May Anniversaries
Diego Luna's character Beto aims to play professional soccer in Carlos Cuar n's film Rudo y Cursi....
08/05/2024
SGL Carbon: Focus on global growth trends pays off
SGL Carbon had a solid start to the first quarter of 2024. Despite the slight decline in sales of 3.9% to 272.6 million (Q1 2023: 283.7 million), adjusted EBI...
08/05/2024
The results are in from Malm Arena as Semi Final 1 participants move through to the Grand Final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest
The results are in from Malm Arena as Semi Final 1 participants move through to...
08/05/2024
Powerful NITV documentary Kindred to premiere during Reconciliation Week
Powerful NITV documentary Kindred to premiere during Reconciliation Week Media releases A journey of family, friendship and home *Watch the trailer here* ...
08/05/2024
Aerojet Rocketdyne Selected by DoD to Demonstrate Powder-in, Engine-out Hypersonic Propulsion Manufacturing
Aerojet Rocketdyne delivers a broad range of capabilities to support hypersonic ...
08/05/2024
L3Harris is Advancing the Future Fleet by Delivering Integrated Solutions
Selected by Fincantieri Marinette Marine, L3Harris is the shipboard design integrator and a key partner on the Fincantieri team for delivering critical subsyste...