A WAY TO READ BODY MOVEMENT
DATE : 2020 4 WEEKS
ROLE : VISUAL DESIGNER
Use visual expression to enhance externalize embodied cognition
This is a 16-week video, algorithmic animation, and performance course. Peng Chunlan, a dancer from Hou Ying Dance Theatre, is collaborating on this 4-week workshop. I feel a powerful dynamic dominated by the body in her dance, which is the attitude of neglecting the audience and only talking to herself.
This project motivated me to explore "self-discovery through the body." Using the concept of "A Way to Read Body Movements," I employ visual techniques like flipping, zooming, and scenarization to enhance the external expression of embodied cognition.
My goal is to better grasp the physical movements in dance by studying the natural rhythm of body shapes and the ebb and flow of emotions.
Approach
Technical - Use motion capture, import key frames into C4D to animate the character, the rest is done on AE&PR. At the same time, I also synthesized the background sound effects for the video, incorporating the sounds of birdsong in the jungle, underwater bubbles, timers, etc. to enrich the emotions of the story.
Story Setting - I compare myself to an "interpreter", translating the body movements I observe with illustrations.
Style - I set the style of the video to look like a simple web interface. The character modeling imitates Giacometti's style, and the negative material reflects the sense of electronics and immateriality. The time difference between the tangled lines and the model represents a state of being pulled.
Part1 Flip
The swing and distortion of the dancer's body reminds me of a mirror image or a pendulum, which simulates the "flip" tool. The left side is a real shot image, and the right side is a re-modeled dancer image through dynamic capture. The background is tilted as the dancer waves and twists.
Part2 Zoom
The "zoom" tool is used to express the feeling that the perception and connection of the body are magnified when the dancer leans forward to impact the camera.
Part3 Scenario
"Scenization" gives meaning to body movement. The moving body has a story when I put it in space to think. I use jumbled lines for "motion trail," balls for "gravity," and broken and exaggerated models for "force."
Testing
At the beginning, we used kinect to capture 3D models and try some VFX in Unity 3D. However, in order to present a more complete dynamic, I chose to use live video + motion capture to convert into skeletal animation for visual experiment in C4D.
I made a lot of attempts to build scenes and texture characters in C4D. In addition, in order to better understand the dynamic changes and rhythm, I made a detailed action analysis of the dance.
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SAY SOMETHING
I was able to gain more knowledge from this project about the techniques and theories of filmmaking. Working with dancers is a new experience for me, as is hearing them describe their movements and seeing them up close. Through this project, I also learned how the body influences behavior and emotional responses. I now want to have more opportunities in the future to investigate the significance of bodily expression.
