Digital Entertainment Creation Software Enabled Cameron to Direct Computer-Generated and Live Actors in Real Time
From start to finish, software from
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), played a pivotal role in helping James
Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment pioneer new methods of virtual
moviemaking, for Cameron's history-making motion picture "Avatar."
"When James Cameron conceived the idea for 'Avatar' 15 years ago, the
technology wasn't available to make it," said Nolan Murtha, digital effects
supervisor at Lightstorm Entertainment. "Over the past few years, with the
help of Autodesk software, we were able to bring his vision to life. On
set, we essentially created a live video game of each scene; we could see
what the movie was going to look like and make adjustments right away,
rather than waiting until post-production. This was in large part due to
the powerful real-time interactive capabilities of MotionBuilder."
The filmmakers re-created the live-action shooting experience by using
Autodesk MotionBuilder performance capture software on set. Performances by
live actors were applied onto digital characters and viewed in real time.
The digital characters were seen within virtual environments, which were
prebuilt with MotionBuilder and Autodesk Maya visual effects, animation and
rendering software. In addition, Autodesk Mudbox digital sculpting software
was used for asset creation, and then Maya was again used for final scene
creation and finishing.
Autodesk CEO Carl Bass said, "Congratulations to James Cameron, Lightstorm
Entertainment and all the visionaries who have made 'Avatar' one of the
most successful movies in history. They literally changed the way movies
are made by using digital technology in a way that was impossible just a
few years ago. We are honored that Autodesk software was used to help
deliver a truly immersive experience, advancing virtual moviemaking and
taking storytelling to new heights."
Murtha added, "What we were able to do with the Autodesk software is to
make technology an enabler and we were able to do a movie that we could not
otherwise do."
About "Avatar"
"Avatar" has been nominated for nine Academy Awards including: Best Motion
Picture of the Year, Achievement in Directing, Achievement in
Cinematography and Achievement in Visual Effects. The movie takes viewers
to a spectacular world where a reluctant hero fights to save the alien
world he has learned to call home. "Avatar" delivers a fully immersive
cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology
invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the character and
the sweep of the story. The scope and scale of the world of "Avatar" posed
particular production challenges, notably 10-foot aliens interacting with
humans face-to-face in a dense virtual 3D environment. The filmmakers
solved these challenges with increased processing power and by applying and
adapting Maya and MotionBuilder throughout production. The latest
developments in performance and motion capture enabled the team to interact
in real time with computer generated characters, prebuild complex digital
environments and virtual cameras, and set a new standard for virtual
moviemaking.
Watch a video presentation by "Avatar" producer Jon Landau including
behind-the-scenes interviews with James Cameron, the actors and visual
effects supervisors on AREA, the Autodesk Digital Entertainment and
Visualization online community.
The primary Autodesk software tools used on "Avatar" are available as part
of the flagship Autodesk Maya Entertainment Creation Suite 2010, which
offers Maya 2010 software together with both Mudbox 2010 and MotionBuilder
2010 software. Maya 3D modeling, animation, rendering and visual effects
software offers artists an end-to-end creative workflow. Mudbox helps
artists sculpt highly detailed models more quickly and intuitively.
MotionBuilder provides artists with a real-time animation engine for more
interactive creative feedback and efficient handling of large amounts of
animation data. The complementary toolsets enable artists to better handle
tough production challenges and achieve higher-quality results, more
efficiently and cost-effectively. For more information, visit
http://www.autodesk.com/entertainmentcreationsuites. The Autodesk suggested retail
price for the Entertainment Creation Suite is US$4,995*.
* International pricing may vary
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and
entertainment software for the manufacturing, building and construction,
and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD
software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of
state-of-the-art software to help customers experience their ideas
digitally before they are built. Fortune 100 companies Ø as well as the
last 14 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects Ø use Autodesk
software tools to design, visualize and simulate their ideas to save time
and money, enhance quality and foster innovation for competitive advantage.
For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, Maya, MotionBuilder and Mudbox are registered trademarks
or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates
in the USA and/or other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names,
product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk
reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any
time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical
errors that may appear in this document.
© 2010 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Editor's Note: Be sure to check out all the valuable resources available right here on Renderosity, for all your artistic endeavors, starting with the following related links:
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