BrainBar Studio
Master the Art of Performance Capture
//This workshop happened in the past, this is an archive for future preservation
BrainBar Studio is launching industry workshops from February 2025, where you can immerse yourself in digital universes with computer generated characters animated optically tracking human actors!
Our workshops are free to attend, for the betterment of the industry as a whole.
Why use mocap? What can it replace? How is it beneficial, and what does it require?
Together, through 6 workshop session, each focusing on a different aspect of performance capture, we will answer these questions. You will learn what it takes to integrate mocap into your next production, while networking with other Film-, TV-, and Games professionals.
You can participate in one or all depending on your goals and interests.
We welcome all functions; whether you're a director, DOP, 3D artist, technical operator, producer, performer or other, we encourage you to join.
Each week, a new host will run the session, along with guest speakers who will deliver presentations on their area of expertise, featuring case studies tailored to the session's topic. You’ll experience a varied day that’s both hands-on and informative.
The workshops are intended for in-person participation, and will be streamed live for remote audiences.
A session is approx. 4 hours, with a break at the midpoint.
Mondays from the 3rd of February to the 10th of March in our Mocap Volume at BrainBar Studio, Guldalderen 15, Hedehusene.
Sessions:
1: Introduction to Performance mocap
2: Production, Planning, and Budgeting for Mocap
3: Workflow & New Roles On-set
4: Previz – Bridging the Virtual and the Real
5: Acting in performance capture
6: Stuntwork in performance capture
For more information on a specific session, see details below.
Course Details
Venue: BrainBar Studio, Guldalderen 15, 2640 Hedehusene, and online
Date: Every monday, 03 February - 10 March 2025
Time: 10:00–14:00
- Morning Coffee: 09:30–10:00
- Light Lunch: 12:00–12:30
This workshop is made possible with the support of Nordisk Film Fonden
#1 - Introduction to performance capture
Monday, 3rd February 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Host - Allan O
Instructors:
Rokoko - Overview of technology and suits.
Brainbar Team: - Character design , metahumans, FOSS & film
At this workshop we will ask and answer the questions:
- What is motion capture?
- Why use mocap, and what advantages does it bring?
- When to integrate mocap into a production ?
- How to approach the character design ?
Including an overview of our upcoming sessions.
Schedule
10:00 – 10:30: Arrival and Coffee.
10:30 – 10:45: Welcome by Allan O. - Introduction to BrainBar Studio, our team, and the workshop format.
10:45 - 11:00: Welcome Instructors, Gustav and Simon from Rokoko - Rokoko provides an introduction to the motion capture landscape.
11:00 –11:30: Demo session - Gustav demonstrates the Rokoko suit in action and creates a few assets.
11:30 –12:00: Welcome guest instructor, Simon - Simon will work with the data in Unreal Engine.
12:00 –12:15: Q&A session
12:15 – 12:45: Lunch
12:45 – 13:00: Optical vs Inertial mocap - Michael Jaeger talks about the differences and advantages between optical and inertial based mocap systems
13:00 - 13:45: BrainBar Character team - Will explain character development, challenges, and practicalities, with in-house character Cortex as a base
The program is subject to change without warning.
#2 - Production, Planning, and Budgeting for Mocap
Monday, 10th February 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Host - Allan O
Instructors:
Mikael WIndelin - VFX producer.
Mikael Jaeger - Unreal operator and VFX specialist
At this workshop we'll go through the production side of things. How to handle the different needs of a mocap production, as well as practical considerations. Windelin will speak from specific cases from Netflix and Miso Film; Jaeger will speak from his experience at LEGO group.
Schedule
10:00 – 10:30: Arrival and Coffee.
10:30 – 12:30: Windelin opens with an overview of different purposes of previz, from creature to stunt and crowd.
12:30 - 13:00: LUNCH
12:45 – 14:00: Jaeger will speak about creating, planning and creating animated short form content for The LEGO group using Unreal Engine.
The program is subject to change without warning.
#3 - Workflow & New Roles On-set
Monday, 17th February 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Host - Allan O
Instructors:
Bertil Vorre - Director
Mikael Windelin - VFX Producer
Mikael Jaeger - Unreal operator and VFX specialist
In this workshop we'll discuss the new needs that arise from incorporating mocap into a production. What new roles are needed, and how the workflow changes compared to a traditional film production.
Schedule
10:00 – 10:30: Arrival and Coffee.
10:30 – 12:15: Vorre and Jaeger will speak on the new roles needed for mocap including: Vcam operator, Unreal operator, and more.
12:15 - 12:45: LUNCH
12:45 - 13:30: - Windelin will present three cases of mocap use in his productions.
13:30 - 14:00: - Rounding off and farewll
The program is subject to change without warning.
#4 - Previz – Bridging the Virtual and the Real
Monday, 24th February 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Host - Ricardo León, Houdini and VFX artist
For this workshop we'll be diving in to where the virtual meets the real world through pre-visualization techniques and the vCam method. Demonstrating live rendering using mocap actors and vCam operators to create sequences for review and feedback. Exploring methods and case studies, from storyboards to advanced 3D previs in Unreal Engine, and AI tools to speed up 3D workflows: sketch-to-rig character pipelines. Featuring Ricardo Leon, and Mikael Jaeger
Schedule
10:00 - Arrival and Coffee
10:15 - Introduction:The fundamentals of pre-visualization and the connection between reality and the digital world. Brief examples of storyboards and animatics.
10:30 - Hands-On Practice: Using mocap and vCam to recreate a movie scene for previs.Building the scene and asset integration with Unreal Engine. Exploring Vcam, recording scene shots, and rendering.
12:15 - Lunch
12:45 - Analyze the Output: Look at renders and analyze from a production perspective.
13:00 - Integrating AI workflows: Exploring AI tools to improve preproduction.
13:45 - Discussion: Virtual production vs. Traditional workflows.
The program is subject to change without warning.
#5 - Performance Capture Techniques
Monday, 3rd March 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Host - Allan O.
Instructor: Alex Lehman, first-class motion capture actor and puppeteer.
This workshop will focus on the actor's role in motion capture. Lehman will speak from his own experience in the industry and give an introduction to the creative and technological aspects of the actor's work for animation, discussion of equipment, and a look at various project case studies.
Then we'll have a practical look at the business side of being an actor in animation, including discussion of contracts and AI, using the current ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game strike as a starting point to frame universal topics.
To round us off we will use the BrainBar Studio optical motion capture volume, and live sets and characters, to perform a mini shoot covering video game movement, cinematics, and creature work.
Schedule
10.00 - 10.30 - Coffee and networking
10.30 - 11.30 - Basics of Acting for Performance Capture
11.30 - 12.00 - State of the Industry
12.00 - 12.30 - Lunch
12.30 - 13.30 - A live demonstration of the actor's work on set.
13.30 - 14.00 - Wrap-up / final questions.
The program is subject to change without warning.
Preservation note: This workshop might not be available as a VOD after the day. Pending license resolution.
#6 - Pcap – Acting in Suits and Wires
Monday, 10th March 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Host: Allan O.
Instructor: JP Stunt.
JP Stunt have partnered with BrainBar Studio to provide a safe & professional environment to produce stunt-based motion capture in. Headed by Joon Poore, JP will host a day of hands-on experience with various stunt techniques, including:
- Performance for wirestunts.
- Wirestunts: Getting the hang of it, High Jumps(up and down), Long jumps(front to back)
- Wirestunt performances: flips(front and back), different live scenarios.
The goal of this workshop is to equip participants with foundational skills and safety practices necessary for performing wire stunts. Through hands-on training, participants will gain confidence in handling a harness, executing high and long jumps, flips, and try what it is like to do a live performance.
Schedule
10.00 - 10.30 - Arrival, warm up
10.30 - 11.50 - Topic: Safety with harnesses and feeling secure.
11.50 - 12.25 - Lunch
12.25 - 13.50 - Live performance in mocap.
13.30 - 14.00 - Wrap-up / final questions.