EPICImovie fan contributed NTSC DVD Master

[XAP Ken]

Which compressor do you use?

WinRar 3.20 give me error.

Yikes... it seems to be my day for errors

It was compressed with Winzip, but I used the extra compression setting which could be the problem. It might open with WinZIP if you have it, and I'll replace the one on the server with a RAR pack. My mistake, I was thinking smaller file size and forgot about compatiblity. My apology.

What kind of combat are you expecting to have in the movie? Gypsy is too fragile to capture falls. Also, it may produce poor results with fast complex motion like kung-fu (hip orientation is recorded using an inertial gyroscope)

We haven't done much testing other than what you've seen. It might be possible to have the actor do the shot out in slow motion, then speed the BVH data up in MotionBuilder to normal speed. That's how they used to do car chase scenes in the movies. If I remember correctly, you already have MotionBuilder in your pipeline.

Here's a video that could help you with a shot plan regarding combat, and you will see why falling down would be a problem.

http://www.XAP.net/gypsy/gypsypromo.wmv

Unfortunately the girl didn't come with the unit...

I'll pass on having links to XAP.net, but thank-you for offering... it's really too early for me to get publicity. I took a different approach where all my effort has been focused on getting the tools together first, and then focus on creativity once the tools are in place. I don't have much to show-off other than a few test renders

As for helping... YES I would be happy to! I am comfortable with Poser (I personally use Poser ProPack because it's faster and handles large animations well) and would probably be best suited to do short sequence mocap, cleaned up, and delivered in BVH or PZ2 ready to apply onto a character. Unfortunately my farm won't be much help because I don't use C4D.

Best Wishes,

Ken

note: cola wasn't my MoCap... I got that BVH from a purchased collection.[/b]

[ZORG]

Sorry I was sleeping.
We have about 6 hours of difference.

Yikes... it seems to be my day for errors

It was compressed with Winzip, but I used the extra compression setting which could be the problem. It might open with WinZIP if you have it, and I'll replace the one on the server with a RAR pack. My mistake, I was thinking smaller file size and forgot about compatiblity. My apology.

A ZIP file without "extra compression setting" could be more compatible for many user, ad me too.

What kind of combat are you expecting to have in the movie? Gypsy is too fragile to capture falls. Also, it may produce poor results with fast complex motion like kung-fu (hip orientation is recorded using an inertial gyroscope)

Military combat "BlackHawkDown style"
so running, firing and sumping off Helicopters, and so on.

We haven't done much testing other than what you've seen. It might be possible to have the actor do the shot out in slow motion, then speed the BVH data up in MotionBuilder to normal speed. That's how they used to do car chase scenes in the movies. If I remember correctly, you already have MotionBuilder in your pipeline.

Sure I use MB for complex animation than I export BVHs to Poser.
Poser 6 have a GREAT OpenGL support, much stable.
I use rigid bodies dynamics for collision (PoserPhisics).

Here's a video that could help you with a shot plan regarding combat, and you will see why falling down would be a problem.

http://www.XAP.net/gypsy/gypsypromo.wmv

Unfortunately the girl didn't come with the unit...

I'll pass on having links to XAP.net, but thank-you for offering... it's really too early for me to get publicity. I took a different approach where all my effort has been focused on getting the tools together first, and then focus on creativity once the tools are in place. I don't have much to show-off other than a few test renders

Ok. I understand. I made the same with EPICIworld.
I waited a lot befor to become public.
I had a low profile for strategic reasons.

As for helping... YES I would be happy to! I am comfortable with Poser (I personally use Poser ProPack because it's faster and handles large animations well) and would probably be best suited to do short sequence mocap, cleaned up, and delivered in BVH or PZ2 ready to apply onto a character. Unfortunately my farm won't be much help because I don't use C4D.

I would like to cooperate, so take your time for setUP,
than we start.
I used carrara too.
But I am workink on realism, so I prefer C4D.


Best Wishes to you Ken

ZORG

[XAP Ken]

Sorry I was sleeping.
We have about 6 hours of difference.

~grin~ not a problem... my schedule is unusual, I work 9 hours, sleep 3, then another 9-3 to finish the day. This way I get 14 work days in one week.

A ZIP file without "extra compression setting" could be more compatible for many user, ad me too.

Will do.

Military combat "BlackHawkDown style"
so running, firing and sumping off Helicopters, and so on.

Sounds great! I just ordered the movie to get a feel for the style.

Sure I use MB for complex animation than I export BVHs to Poser.

We can work out details, but it sounds workable.

Here's my animation pipeline...

1. I capture with Gypsy software (120 fps)
2. then BVH into Kaydara MoCap 5... smooth the data, downsample to 24
3. then BVH into Poser for hand adjustment of abdomen, collar, shoulders and neck
4. dress the character, do any hand keyframing then export PZ3 for Carrara

I can either send BVH to you after step 2 (except at 25 fps) or export either PZ2 or BVH out of Poser after step 3.

I noticed in the tutorial video that you use RR versions from DAZ. Me too! You should have no problem with skeletons. I've tested the MoCap with M3RR, V3RR, David, Stephanie 3 Petite, and Freak.

I would like to cooperate, so take your time for setUP,
than we start.

Sounds good to me.

I'm really new to this, so I would like to start out simple by creating a library of general purpose `combat' BVH if this is okay with you.

Things like...

man walks forward holding rifle
standing man holds rifle and looks around
man walks, kneels and shoots rifle
kneeling man with rifle looks around
... etc

A long complex shot, like...

man walks down a hallway holding a gun, hears a loud noise behind him which startles him, turns around, walks 2.45 meters back the way he came, then turns to the left and kicks open a door, and the shot has to be exactly timed so it fits in 22.5 seconds... would be very hard for the actor to get right.

One other limitation is I only have about 3 x 7 meters of stage after I move some of the renderfarm into the kitchen. (see attached pic) The 72 node renderfarm, mocap studio, plus my office to do animation eats most of my small 2 bedroom house. Pretty soon I'll lose my bedroom and have to sleep in my car

I used carrara too.
But I am workink on realism, so I prefer C4D.

I have seen two works that impressed me in the last few months, and both were done in C4D! EPICI movie is one, the other is Aurora Trek (link below). It seems that Lightwave and C4D are battling it out for the #2 spot after Max/Maya.

http://www.auroratrek.com/

I have experience with Vue, WorldBuilder and Carrara. WorldBuilder is definitely the fastest and easiest, but not having a ray tracer it won't produce enough image quality for today's consumer. With Carrara, the newest Poser support works well, image quality is good, and I wrote my own software to make network rendering fast (1000+ frames an hour), so it fits my needs.

I'll get those four racks moved out and the mocap setup here, schedule my actor for late next week, and I should be able to get some samples to you in about 2 weeks.

Good talking with you,

Ken

[ZORG]

my schedule is unusual, I work 9 hours, sleep 3, then another 9-3 to finish the day. This way I get 14 work days in one week.

Me too!

I can either send BVH to you after step 2 (except at 25 fps) or export either PZ2 or BVH out of Poser after step 3.

Great!

I'm really new to this, so I would like to start out simple by creating a library of general purpose `combat' BVH if this is okay with you.

Things like...

man walks forward holding rifle
standing man holds rifle and looks around
man walks, kneels and shoots rifle
kneeling man with rifle looks around
... etc

A long complex shot, like...

man walks down a hallway holding a gun, hears a loud noise behind him which startles him, turns around, walks 2.45 meters back the way he came, then turns to the left and kicks open a door, and the shot has to be exactly timed so it fits in 22.5 seconds... would be very hard for the actor to get right.

Perfect! If you want I can send you the model of the set and/or a rough storyboard for the motions.

One other limitation is I only have about 3 x 7 meters of stage after I move some of the renderfarm into the kitchen. (see attached pic) The 72 node renderfarm, mocap studio, plus my office to do animation eats most of my small 2 bedroom house.

You could use a running carpet, the same you use to run in a gym, then move the Z of hip in Poser.
So you produce a running in place than move it, by hand.

Pretty soon I'll lose my bedroom and have to sleep in my car

I live in an attic of 95 square meters, with 11 pc, a digital pojector, 6 videocams etc.

I have seen two works that impressed me in the last few months, and both were done in C4D! EPICI movie is one, the other is Aurora Trek

Thanx!
I know Aurora Trek, great stuff!

I'll get those four racks moved out and the mocap setup here, schedule my actor for late next week, and I should be able to get some samples to you in about 2 weeks.

Cool!

The world is ours!


ZORG