Full Sail recently hosted the winter meeting of the Digital Media Alliance of Florida (DMAF). The organization’s December conference brought a number of industry professionals to campus for an evening of guest lectures and technology demonstrations related to motion capture.

These professionals included keynote speaker Corey Turner, Technical Animation Supervisor for Sony Pictures Imageworks. His credit list features I Am Legend, Beowulf, The Polar Express, and Monster House. Turner offered insight on the techniques he used to bring these films to life, and played a number of clips showcasing the versatility of motion capture in digital filmmaking.

Also on hand were Dave Blackburn (Vice President of Animation Production, Motion Analysis Corporation), Jim Jackson (Senior Animatior, EA-Tiburon), Jeff Scheetz (CEO, DAVE School), and Full Sail Computer Animation instructor Ricardo Tobon. The panel members took turns in the spotlight to discuss how they each are utilizing motion capture technology for their work in film, gaming, television, as well as military simulation, sports medicine, and education.

Another highlight was a live demonstration held in Full Sail’s Motion Capture Studio. Featuring Elena Day, a Cirque du Soleil-trained motion capture performer, instructors tracked her movements in a motion sensor suit, and translated them into a real-time computer model.

* The Digital Media Alliance of Florida is a non-profit organization located in Winter Park, FL. For more information, visit their website at www.dmaflorida.org.