Talking Pictures

Virtual Stuntmen Debut in Hollywood Epic Troy

Oxford technology chosen for Warner Bros production starring Brad Pitt

The first ever Virtual Stuntmen will be used in Troy, the Hollywood Iliad adaptation directed by Wolfgang Petersen, starring Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Seven) as Achilles.

Leading visual effects house The Moving Picture Company chose virtual humans developed by NaturalMotion, an Oxford University spin-off company, to help create ultra-realistic action scenes for the movie.
NaturalMotion's software endorphin, born out of Oxford University Zoology research into human motion, uniquely creates virtual characters whose bodies react exactly like real humans to whatever forces are applied to them - offering infinite and totally realistic reactions to, for example, explosions, falls, punches or whatever else an action scene might require.

endorphin uses NaturalMotion's Active Character Technology, which simulates the actor's brain as well as their body. The virtual actors learn how to move and react using neural networks and artificial evolution. They sense and react to the environment and can be directed just like real actors.

Torsten Reil, CEO of NaturalMotion, was doing a Zoology DPhil in Zoology at Oxford, studying the neurobiology of human motion through computer modelling, when he and his colleagues realised the commercial possibilities of their work. Founded in 2001 with Colm Massey and David Raubenheimer, the company looks set to hit new levels of success with this kind of Hollywood collaboration. "We're proud that MPC have chosen our technology for this project," said Torsten. "endorphin is a powerful piece of software, and with MPC's track record, we're looking forward to some incredible scenes."

Julian Mann of The Moving Picture Company said: "endorphin gives us the ability to identify stunt requirements and generate motion capture in a matter of minutes. The data from endorphin is the perfect complement to traditional motion capture data. endorphin stunt men never sleep, they never need an ambulance and they quite happily work after being decapitated."

Torsten Reil: "We spent a long time teaching our virtual actors the necessary skills for this. It's a great feeling seeing them used in such an impressive project."

Shooting for Troy has started in April. The film will be in cinemas in 2004.

Hmmm...so now there'll be films that will not injure or distress animals AND humans during their making, which is good but the next move is to have virtual audiences who won't drop pop corn or slurp cola all over multi-plex seats.