The Montpellier campus acquires motion capture equipment

A professional system unique in the region

The ESMA school, through the Creative Campus of which it is a part alongside the ETPA, IPESAA and CinéCréatis schools, has integrated a new professional tool into its studio: motion capture (more information on this process at the end of the article). In all, around twenty Vicon cameras (the current international leader in this sector) are arranged on grills, spread out in a space measuring 7m x 7m x 6m. A set of four suits, all equipped with sensors, completes the set-up. The specialised software (Shogun) finalises the whole, allowing the live capture to be transcribed while integrating it into a computer in order to subsequently allow the creation of the digital project.

This facility at the heart of a school is unique in France, as this high-end tool is normally reserved for professionals. This motion capture studio will be accessible to the various schools on the Montpellier campus, as this technology can be found in 3D animation cinema as well as in traditional cinema and in the world of video games. It is therefore a unique opportunity for our students to be able to test and familiarise themselves with this equipment.

In addition to being made available to students, professionals who wish to do so will also be able to work with this system. No sooner has it been installed and unveiled than motion capture is already attracting numerous requests from companies! This will open up new possibilities, enabling the sharing of knowledge between professionals and students, thus developing synergy within the Creative City of Montpellier.

This installation is the result of a collaboration between the Creative Schools and the companies Progiss, Vicon and GPEM.

About the film studio

This 600m2 space, divided into 3 independent studios with 10m high ceilings, is equipped with outstanding soundproofing. Each wall is made up of several layers of insulation to achieve optimal soundproofing, and the floor is made up of acoustic tiles with anti-vibration springs. The work areas can be separated by movable partitions, allowing for multiple activities.

In addition, each studio is equipped with a motorised grid (a metal structure used to support lighting), cycloramas (which are themselves covered with stretched canvas including a green background) and professional filming equipment including the famous twenty or so motion capture cameras, 4 Black Magic cameras and other cameras used on film sets, numerous LED projectors, including 36 from the renowned brand ARRI, offering a multitude of lighting possibilities, high-tech microphones and recorders, and a very well-stocked machine shop.

The pro’s opinion

Damien Masson, Technical Manager of the studio at the Campus, gives us his professional opinion:

‘This equipment allows our students to develop in an exceptional professional environment; indeed, due to the evolution of these new technologies, young talents will be able to master a technique that is increasingly emerging in current and future productions. It is essential to develop training courses in line with new tools and uses, so that our students are in tune with the realities and needs of the professions.

When students realise their projects, this tool offers them increasingly advanced possibilities. For example, students of 3D animation and special effects now have the opportunity to work on their characters directly via human performance instead of animating the skeleton step by step.

Having such a facility locally also allows companies in the region to carry out their projects with professional equipment without having to relocate. This not only enhances the value of local companies but also attracts professionals from international studios.

In Montpellier, we have chosen to install a system consisting of around twenty cameras (compared to an average of 4 or 6 cameras), in order to achieve an extremely precise rendering of every movement of the body. The surface area covered by these twenty or so cameras has also been carefully considered with a view to having the widest possible coverage in terms of actions. Motion capture has enriched this incredible studio and is leading us to develop our future technological investments.’

What is motion capture?

Motion capture is a technique for recording the positions and movements of people and objects. To do this, the actor wears a suit equipped with sensors that are detected by cameras. All the actions performed are then reproduced on a computer in computer-generated images. These same images are then reworked by 3D animation professionals to create a character or special effects. One of the best-known examples of the use of motion capture is that of Andy Serkis, who played the character of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy by director Peter Jackson.