Week 22: Reflection on Practice - Abstract

So today was the deadline for the final abstract and biography submission. Working on this really helped me to hone in on my question and I feel a lot more confident about the direction of my research.

My abstract is as follows:

Module DJ52028:  Reflection on Practice                                                         
Assignment 3:  Abstracts                                                                            
Animation & Visualisation:  Reflection on Practice Mock Conference:      

Call for Papers                                                                                                  

 

Visual Effects and Perceptual Realism: Making fiction believable

Visual effects and compositing can certainly be considered as imperative storytelling tools in TV and film (Jones, 2008). This hugely relies on the ability to draw the audience into the story in a similar way that acting, animation and performance do. The audience can allow themselves to accept the components of the story, no matter how implausible, through perceptual realism that is created by specific visual elements (Prince, 2012).

In order to gain a clear perspective on how this is best achieved an understanding of how visuals are interpreted through the eye to the mind is fundamental (Sylwan, 2010). Although such information is beginning to be shared throughout the industry of visual effects, this information appears to be limited and lacking in depth.

This paper is concerned with how an audience’s perception of realism toward story and character can be affected by the use of visual effects in film. It will look into any psychological factors that affect perceptual realism. This knowledge can then be transferred through visual effects in film to enhance the believability of the character and story. It will be tested throughout a practice-lead project studying the believable integration of a CG character in a live-action environment.

These findings will display the connection between what is observed and understood by the audience and how visual effects and compositing can influence this. It is vital that the artists recognise how their work can affect how the visuals are interpreted by the audience in order to push the progress of these irreplaceable storytelling techniques.

REFERENCES

Jones, B. (2008) Digital Storytelling – The narrative Power of Visual Effects [Catalogue of seminar from the Norwegian Film Institute, 7-8th April 2008] Norway: Digital Storytelling.

Prince, S. (2012) Digital Visual Effects in Cinema: The Seduction of Reality. USA: Rutgers University Press, pp 32-33.

Sylwan, S. (2010). New Lenses to View Reality: Art, Science and Visual Effects [Online Video]. Available from: http://youtu.be/bjWFk5_VuVg [Accessed 06.02.13].

BIOGRAPHY

Stephanie Flynn is currently a student at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. In the year 2013 she graduated with an honours degree in animation and is now studying an MSc in animation and visualisation, specifically focussing on visual effects and compositing. Originally Stephanie comes from a predominantly 2D background working within the areas of compositing, 2D animation and effects. This year she is going to transfer her skills into 3D. Specialising in compositing, her main aim is to further her knowledge in this field and also to broaden this interest into visual-effects. Stephanie’s passions lie within story-telling and how subtle details involved in compositing and visual-effects can enhance story. She is currently focussing on the processes involved in the integration of a stylised CG character and a live-action environment and is exploring this through the study of visual effects and perceptual realism in film.



I finally changed my title to something a little more snappy and easier to understand. The abstract forced me to realise the issue that my research is aiming to improve and how I aim to do this. This has definitely prepared me for the next steps of my investigation, and given me the direction that I lacked at the beginning of the semester.

Week8: Research Abstract

The abstract was due in today and I'll admit after being teamed up I found trying to focus in on my research project an even harder task. There is no room for motion capture in the short film Tom, Kieran and I are working on but having already geared my research towards that and now I feel myself trying to find a way to adapt this to my practical work.

Abstract:

Visual Effects: CG and Live Action Integration

Growth in technology has undoubtedly had an effect on the progression of visual effects in TV, advertising and film. Imagination is pushing this technology further in the field reducing the limitations and obstacles that visual effects have previously faced. Visual story-telling has always had its limitations to what could be achieved, but films such as ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and ‘Avatar’ are being seen to raise the bar; proving that what was once seen as unattainable, with advancing technology, can actually be achieved to great standards. ‘Technology can overwhelm and potentially dehumanise a production or it can be used to create very poetic and very emotional flourishes that wouldn't exist otherwise’ (Cameron, 2009, cited in Dyer P.92). James Cameron, director of avatar, explains that it is not only how advanced the technology is, but also how the technologies are used that is important. The use of the word ‘dehumanise’ is the central focus of this statement, highlighting that the technology and visual effects are vital for creating a sense of realism to the story.

Primarily, this investigation will revolve around visual effects and compositing in regards to story-telling. Specifically it will focus on the integration of a believable CG character and live action plates: whether immersing this character in a completely live-action environment, or having the character interact with live action characters. Naturally, to create convincing visuals, props and environments too will have to be created digitally and composited into the scenes to help create this believable environment that the character can interact with.

However, whilst the main aim of this investigation will be to gain an understanding of the processes involved allowing the immersion of the character in its environment creating a convincing character is crucial for this to be successful. Observing techniques used in film in particular (such as those mentioned above and many more) allow a great understanding of the processes involved in heightening the believability of the character but also how many differing techniques are available. ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and ‘Avatar’ both utilise motion and performance capture techniques to emphasise the realism within the characters and this would be a definite interest within this research.

Predominantly however, the real focus of the research will be gaining an understanding of the skills and techniques required for immersing a CG character into a live action environment whilst additionally creating realistic/convincing effects that better communicate the story to the audience. Of course, there are effects that are both visible and invisible, and it is hugely important that these are used to draw the audience in to the story. ‘Our goal is to not be noticed…hopefully … you don’t even know we were there’ (Preeg, 2009). Steve Preeg, animation and character supervisor in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, highlights that out with the use of flashy and intentionally obvious effects, visual effects and compositing is hugely about seamlessly bringing the visuals and story-telling elements together in a believable and almost unnoticeable manner: that the visuals should never lead the audience to question the story or the character. This is a massive necessity in the role of visual effects in story-telling.

References:

Dyer, J. 2009. Empire, International Index to Performing Arts, [magazine article] 240 (0957-4948) P92. [Online]. Available through Pro-quest website: http://search.proquest.com/docview/2214911/fulltextPDF/1416980F0682699C0EE/1?accountid=10606 [Accessed 04 Oct 2013]

Preeg, S. 2009.Interview. Interviewed by Lee Stranahan [online] Uploaded on 17 January 2009. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X5zCxe6Ah8 [Accessed 22 Oct 2013]

Unfortunately, as it stands at present, I feel I have unavoidably displayed this confusion in my abstract. There seems to be a clashing of possibilities. I feel as though I have taken a step back in my research and may  need to rethink my question/topic again.