Next one up: Beowulf

Since I finished working on Surf's Up I started working on Beowulf. In contrast to Surf's Up, which is an animated cgi (computer generated imagery) feature film, Beowulf is full cgi but not animated. Beowulf is using a process called performance capture: real actors wear a special suit with trackers stuck on it and act every shot. In addition to the track markers on the suit a maze of smaller markers (called beads) are glued on the actors face to capture the facial expressions.

Below is an example of a motion capture session. Unfortunately not one with Angelina Jolie, that is classified information, for Imageworkers' eyes only ;).
This session is actually from The Matrix.



Beowulf's cgi looks realistic in contrast to stylized or cartoony cgi (for example Surf's Up or Ratatouille). Sometimes realistic enough to make people believe that what they see is live action.

Beowulf is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who's know for Forest Gump for which he won an Oscar for best director, Back to future, Cast Away, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Lift to name a few.

The actors line up includes:
Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Robin Wright Penn, John Malkovich

Beowulf is closed to being finished and sheduled for theatrical release November 16, 2007

It will for sure spark lots of discussions about the movie making process. I would love to hear what you think of it.