Interactive motion control and computer graphics

Cell Animation is a film and video production and post production house that has been running for 20 years and has developed expertise in motion control, special effects editing and computer graphics. Motion control is the control of film cameras, especially their spatial motion with the use of robotics and computers. The computer control and repeatability of the motion control camera has given it several advantages over normal camera rigs or dollies. Repeat passes are possible that will exactly align. One main achievement at Cell has been the development of a system to be able to take moves from a computer animation and input these into the motion control rig. It is possible to design a whole camera move in the computer, change and edit it and then supply that move to the rig. There are a lot of physical limitations to what the rigs can do but these can be accounted for within the computer animation stage. The method relies in inverse kinematics. Cell has produced several special effects commercials using this technology. The production of these commercials are discussed.<>