Jon Landau Describes Use Of "Performance Capture In Water" For AVATAR Sequels

Jon Landau Describes Use Of "Performance Capture In Water" For AVATAR Sequels

Despite being the highest grossing film of all-time, we still haven't seen a sequel to 2009's Avatar. However, that looks set to change as director James Cameron is said to be exploring the use of "performance capture in water" for the movie.

By JoshWilding - Apr 08, 2013 05:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi
Source: Deadline


According to Deadline, Avatar producer Jon Landau has confirmed at the 2013 NAB Technology Summit on Cinema that the planned James Cameron helmed sequels will feature "performance capture in water". This is groundbreaking technology, although it should come as no surprise that the filmmaker will utilise something like this after he delivered arguably the best use of 3D ever in the 2009 movie (which unfortunately led to a wave of poorly converted copycats). "We want to take advantage of the technologies brilliant people are putting out to make the next two movies even more emotionally engaging and visually tantalizing, and to really wrap up the story arc of our two main characters,", Landau said. The team working on the film are reportedly exploring technologies right now for underwater capture of actors' performances, "because we can simulate it visually but can’t simulate it experientially for them."

THE OLD GUARD 2 Rotten Tomatoes Score Revealed As First Reviews Land
Related:

THE OLD GUARD 2 Rotten Tomatoes Score Revealed As First Reviews Land

RUMOR: The BATMAN-Adjacent Script Zach Cregger Hopes To Pitch To DC Studios Is A JOKER & HARLEY QUINN Movie
Recommended For You:

RUMOR: The BATMAN-Adjacent Script Zach Cregger Hopes To Pitch To DC Studios Is A JOKER & HARLEY QUINN Movie

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Tao1
Tao1 - 4/8/2013, 5:34 AM
interesting......
AnungUnRama
AnungUnRama - 4/8/2013, 5:34 AM
"after he delivered arguably the best use of 3D ever in the 2009 movie" I think the recent Oz movie is refarding the 3D at least on par with Avatar.
Canon108
Canon108 - 4/8/2013, 5:42 AM
Oz was [frick]ing stupid, there was no investment in the characters since everyone who saw the older film knew who lived and died...James Franco's also a shitty actor which doesn't help either.

Tron: Legacy was the best use of 3D (as well as having a great narrative) along with Avatar IMO...
P862010
P862010 - 4/8/2013, 5:47 AM
^like tron legacy was'nt soulless lol

life of pi was best use of 3d
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/8/2013, 5:48 AM
bring on the sequel,i thought avatar was good can't wait to see the other sequels.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 4/8/2013, 5:54 AM
Story wise Avatar is so overrated it isn't even funny. Go rewatching the cartoon Ferngully. Its almost the exact same thing.
ItsATrap
ItsATrap - 4/8/2013, 5:54 AM
you guys are talking like idiots. Avatar was hands down the best to utilize 3D technology. the only other film that comes close is The Hobbit, and that's only because of the 48 fps framerate. The movies you mentioned, while all using CGI well, did not fully utilize the 3D technology in nearly the same way. CGI v.s 3D. two different things.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 4/8/2013, 5:54 AM
*rewatch*
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/8/2013, 6:08 AM
@ HellsHammer

they may be the same story but if i had to choose which one to watch over the other.

avatar would win every time against ferngully.
BloodyHell
BloodyHell - 4/8/2013, 6:09 AM
Avatar was great. Off topic but, is there any news on zoe saldana playing Gamora?
GuardianAngel
GuardianAngel - 4/8/2013, 6:19 AM
"because we can simulate it visually but can’t simulate it experientially for them."

More bestiality?
thewonderer
thewonderer - 4/8/2013, 6:29 AM
@mark42 nailed it.

The avatar hate is stupid. It's mostly due to the fact that it stands in the way of Avengers being 1.

Both Avengers and Avatar specialize in unique things with everything else being cliche or nothing out of ordinary. Doesn't make them bad films at all though.
GetsugaTensho22
GetsugaTensho22 - 4/8/2013, 6:43 AM
Avatar was revolutionary. It's why Jim's a [frick]ing ACE director.
While i don't think i'll be as invested in the story since it was more of a "one-off" experience for me, the world he creates and the obvious effort being put into it means a guaranteed seat for me in IMAX 3D opening week.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 4/8/2013, 6:56 AM
Marvel72
No shit I'm just stating a fact.
bayouboyz
bayouboyz - 4/8/2013, 6:58 AM
"wrap up the story arc of our two main characters," AKA "Bite the dust" AKA "DIE!"
reverendpd
reverendpd - 4/8/2013, 7:08 AM
I HATE AVATAR!!!! Sorry, I had to get that off my chest. I really don't understand how that movie made so much money... Visually, it was impressive. Other than that, I found nothing interesting about that movie and I have a very open mind about movies. After watching it, I did feel an overwhelming urge to recycle and save the rain forests though...
CaptainAmerica31
CaptainAmerica31 - 4/8/2013, 7:28 AM
Woah, so are we gonma get cool under water enemies? That would be so cool
thebearjew
thebearjew - 4/8/2013, 7:48 AM
i dont care
Avatar was alright cool 3d decent story good effects blue chick was hot

but eehhh
thebearjew
thebearjew - 4/8/2013, 7:50 AM
when i hear under water mocap i think aquaman
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/8/2013, 7:56 AM
@ HellsHammer

so was i.
PosingKyle
PosingKyle - 4/8/2013, 7:58 AM
dumb movie that doesn't need a sequel
FOOM
FOOM - 4/8/2013, 7:59 AM
Will the sequels actually be finished for 2015? I have my doubts.
HULK2099
HULK2099 - 4/8/2013, 8:02 AM
someones going to die
brokenexcitement
brokenexcitement - 4/8/2013, 8:06 AM
Avatar, looking at it from a strictly aesthetic point of view or just the visual experience, was an absolute masterpiece. If you look at it from a story point of view, it was a story that has been retold time and time again. This story could easily have been produced as a time period piece from pre-colonial times (circa 1400s-1500s) about Europeans coming to the Americas and doing the same thing to Native Americans. Or post-Civil War times with Calvary men and Native Americans. How about Europeans intruding on Aboriginal tribes in Australia. This story could be played out in hundreds of situations throughout our history on pretty much every continent. Could have been the Romans invading England and the native tribes/clans their doing the same thing. It wasn't a new story at all, just repackaged in a way we had never seen. The visual story that was given to us was what truly made this an incredible movie. I give it 4-4.5 stars.

Yes, I absolutely loved it! However, I know it wasn't the best movie of all time. I still have a Blu-ray rip of the extended version (the 3hr+ version) on my phone that I watch all the time. I am anticipating the rest of this trilogy, however, I don't expect them to mach the magic that surrounded the first Avatar. I still look forward to what Mr Cameron will bring to us on screen. he is one of the best directors in the industry right now and would love for him to be given a chance at a CBM.
KeefNCookies
KeefNCookies - 4/8/2013, 8:09 AM
3D is the most worthless pile of crap I've ever had the displeasure of paying for. A feeble gimmick I will happily never support again.

On a positive note, looking forward to something new in Avatar 2 but still doubtful I'll see in theaters.
datNAMEtho
datNAMEtho - 4/8/2013, 8:13 AM
They should definitely develop this....

For an AQUAMAN film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not that Aquaman has to wear a mo-cap suit, but you know, for other beings... :P
95
95 - 4/8/2013, 8:32 AM
Meh, I felt the characters' arc were already wrapped up... but whatever... a James Cameron 3D film underwater is enough to win me over. And the top 3D films seem to be considered by fans and critics as (1) Avatar, (2) Hugo, and (3) Life Of Pi. Pandora simply was a 3D world, I haven't seen Hugo so I can't vouch for it but the way Scorsece explains it is just brilliant, and Life Of Pi tried new things with aspect ratio and going out of frame to create "negative space". So I definitely have to say that Pi the best use of 3D for storytelling yet. I don't think the film would have been that good without it, and gladly since many scenes were steady shots, it was also calm on my eyes.

As for conversions, there are a few select shots that look good, but overall... it's a lite use of the tech. The problem I usually get it that the edge of objects look fuzzy. But on the bright side, because the effect is soft, the audience doesn't seem to get nausea. It might just be me, but John Carter was a good conversion, maybe because of the brightness of the cinematography. Then there is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey which was painless to me in 48fps, but not always experience enhancing.

Um... I haven't talked about 3D in a while... I guess this is the result. /rant
ToddDamian
ToddDamian - 4/8/2013, 10:29 AM
i missed out on Avatar in theatres and don't have a 3d tv, so i'll definitely be seeing Avatar 2 whenever it eventually drops.
TheChameleon
TheChameleon - 4/8/2013, 12:19 PM
Avatar was my first 3D movie experience & I'm glad it was. After 9+ years of Cameron working with the technology to perfect the experience. For me it was aesthetically wonderful & I left the theatre feeling a sense of awe. Though Avatar's story/script were clearly taken from or inspired by other movies or sources I still found the movie to be entertaining & a incredible visual experience. Yes I would like to see the next script/story for Avatar 2 & 3 be more original vs cliche. Also deeper character development would be nice. Mainly the villains seemed one dimensional. Perhaps partly due to that initial experience & awesome visuals that despite it's downsides Avatar is on the top of my list of 3D movies along with Life of Pi both being #1. I also enjoyed The Hobbit. It's 48fps was pretty cool & I was too immersed in the story, but feel the 3D was great there too. Hugo also had some well done 3D moments. Especially the opening snow scene. With 3D it's all about who is using it & how. There are a number of 3D movies I have seen since, and it feels like an afterthought, or I feel it's not really needed & movie would be just fine as it is without it. A good number of movies just toss it in to make more money & nothing more. With a few of those I feel the 3D made the experience worse. So it's a matter of who is running the show & the artistic talent & consideration going into it all. When the new Avatar movies are released I intend to be there watching it in IMAX 3D 60fps.
View Recorder