Syllabus

FVEA 419/619
Motion Capture for Artists
Spring 2019

Class Location: F105 and E58
Time Monday, 1:00pm to 3:50pm
Faculty: Michael Scroggins aka@calarts.edu
TA: Vincent De la Torre vincentdelatorre@alum.calarts.edu

This course will take the form of a series of lectures, screenings, and demonstrations in support of an experimental workshop centered upon using both a multi-camera OptiTrack motion capture system, Brekel Kinect Pro Body v2 depth camera motion capture system, and the motion tracked HTC Vive immersive VR system.

Our goal is to explore the potential of real-time performance animation in extending artist’s direct physical gestures into expressive animation. In addition to exploring the more conventional uses of motion capture how can we reach beyond these conventions to achieve more innovative work? Some possibilities to be explored might be the incorporation of procedural animation, non-representational imagery, dense layering, and unique remapping of gestures.

Students are encouraged to investigate areas of personal interest and to incorporate this research into their production work. Taking an active role in class discussions and production teamwork is required to receive the highest mark within the CalArts grading system. The course is offered to both graduate and undergraduate students. Undergraduate students have the option to spend less time in production than that required of graduate students. It is expected that at the end of the course students will have gained an active knowledge of core concepts and techniques useful in working with performance capture within an art context.

The course will be structured around the dynamics of student interests thus the class schedule will evolve to meet developing needs. The schedule will be updated week-to-week. A sample course schedule from the following year is available in order to provide some sense of the shape this year’s course could take:

https://michaelscroggins.wordpress.com/fvea-419-619-motion-capture-for-artists-2018/

A dynamic web site will function as a key resource for the class. The site will be regularly updated in the form of the evolving weekly schedule and will include links to important course related materials. Students are advised to check it at least once a week –if not more frequently:

https://michaelscroggins.wordpress.com/fvea-419-619-motion-capture-for-artists-2019/

Production work will take place during class meetings with no requirement to work outside of class, however it will be possible to arrange appointments for capture and editing sessions outside of regular course hours.