AVATAR

So I went to see Avatar today and I think it is a very good example of CGI use. If anything, this film has completely re-defined use of CGI in films.

Avatar takes CGI to a whole new level, rather than just the standard Green Screen technique of plac

ing live action elements within a CGI environment, James Cameron has managed to combine, flawlessly I might add, live action actors with CGI characters.

This film was actually delayed so that computer technology could improve enough to create Cameron's vision exactly how he wanted it. As this film was originally conceived in 1994 and scheduled to start production when Titanic (1997) was released, it would prove impossible to create the film on this scale back then.

Many different techniques were used in the film, even new technology created especially for this film was used, for example:

A Virtual Camera System was used which allowed James Cameron to Direct the motion capture sequences while viewing the live action in an augmented reality in real time, essentially allowing James Cameron to tell the actors how to react as if the CGI world was actually there. This allows more realism within the film as the actors are better directed instead of them being told roughly what they will be interacting with.

A new type of motion capture was used to create the Avatar's faces. An individually made skull mask was created with a tiny camera positioned in front of the actors face which captured every tiny detail of the actor's facial and eye movements. The data is then sent to computers. According to Cameron, this technique allows 100% likeness in their CGI characters, and it really shows! (see below image)

I highly recommend seeing this film as it shows a brilliant use of CGI and it is just a brilliant film.

It was also presented in 3D...I will talk about 3D in another post as I plan on explaining how 3D in film works and when it was first used.