Vicon Motion Capture Technology Gives Doctor Strange the Magic Touch

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Vicon, the motion capture technology specialist for the entertainment, engineering and life science industries, today announced that award-winning UK visual effects company Framestore used Vicon motion capture cameras for Marvel Studios latest superhero film Doctor Strange.

The film follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), who loses the use of his hands after a terrible car accident. Battling adversity, Doctor Strange embarks on a journey of healing, while discovering the secrets of an alternate dimension and gaining magical powers on the way. Ultimately, he must decide whether to return to his old life in New York or leave it all behind to protect the Marvel Universe.

Using a 24-camera Vicon system, Framestore undertook three days of stunt performance capture at Longcross Studios in Surrey, England, for fight scenes between Doctor Strange and Strong Zealot. Typically, Framestore deploys a 16-camera system, however additional loaned cameras were needed due to the size of the capture volume as many of the scenes involved actors flying on wires both vertically and horizontally.

Framestore managed the capture data using a pipeline that streamed from Blade, Vicon's precision data capture and processing software, straight into Autodesk MotionBuilder. This enabled the Framestore team to deliver reliable data, and allowed the stunt performers and coordinators to see the characters as they would finally appear on screen and direct stunts based on pre-vizualised camera angles.

(Click all images for larger)

The stunts were very physically demanding, so it was important for the data captured to be accurate and reliable,' said Richard Graham, Capture Lab studio manager at Framestore. As the scenes involved actors flying on wires, it was important to show the capture in the context of the final shot. The Vicon system allowed us to do this and enabled the animation and VFX supervisors to make decisions in real-time as shooting took place.'

Comics and fantasy worlds capture the imagination of audiences, but technology is often needed to help bring the pages of comic books to life,' said Imogen Moorhouse, CEO, Vicon. Offering flexibility and outstanding accuracy and clarity, Vicon technology offers studios like Framestore the best quality data capture software and tools to meet the toughest industry demands and challenges.'

AboutVicon

Academy Award -winning Vicon is the world's largest supplier of precision motion tracking systems and match-moving software. It serves customers in CG animation, engineering and life sciences industries. As well as those in film, visual effects, video games and broadcast television sectors. Vicon is a subsidiary of Oxford Metrics -(LSE: OMG), the technology group providing Computer Vision products and services for the entertainment, life science, engineering industries and consumer electronics markets. Other holdings include: Yotta, a provider of software and services for infrastructure asset management. Among many others, Vicon global clients include: Engineering: European Space Agency, BMW, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - South Africa, ETH Zurich, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, NRL, UPENN GRASP, MIT, Ford and General Motors Entertainment: Framestore, Audiomotion, The Imaginarium, Quantic Dream, SEGA, Konami, Activision, Sony, Dreamworks, ILM and USC Life Sciences: Imperial College - London, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre - Oxford, Headley Court, University of Western Australia, Adidas, Digital Human Research Centre - Japan, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Shriners, Marquette, UMich and Red Bull. For more information about Oxford Metrics and its subsidiaries, visit: www.omgplc.com, www.vicon.com or www.yotta.co.uk.

Tanya Roberts

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