hybrid update

Sorry it has been so long since the last posting, hopefully this post will make up for the time lapse.

My hybridised practices unit hit a bit of a technical hitch during december, I trialled a number of model constructing and face recognition software. I found that a number of these trials had some of the facilities required to build and animate my model, the problem was that not one had them all. Another issue was that as with trial software it stops functioning after a period of time and also has limited functionality. I believe that my original concept idea is feasable to a limited extent using a combination of the following pieces of software, Genemation face modeller, facial animation toolset 2.1, and Maya 8.5.

Genemation will create a 3d head to an adequate degree which can then be saved in a maya format, the facial animation toolset is a high quality plug-in for maya to be used to creata the facial animation, compiling and further motion tracking would happen in maya. The problem encountered is not simply one of using limited trial versions that time out or will not allow plug-ins but one of technical sophistication. A number of experimental trials would need to take place which would take a considerable amount of time and I feel would be more suitable for a longer project. I would at some point like to complete the project whether during the MA or at some future time.

However, this left me with a dilemma of how to convey the project idea in another form. Following advice from a tutor I decided to create a film piece using collected footage based around facial expressions. In the original idea I had wished to produce a piece of software that could be used to aid the recognition and understanding of human facial expressions in order to derive meaning from the expressions. The finished product is using the theme of facial expressions to show the difficulty and complexity of meaning within expressions. My aim is to have the observer wondering about how the normalising of the meaning of expressions is taken for granted and that the complexity and subtlety of expressive movement is more difficult than credited.

I aim to achieve this by showing a selection of 'head shot' footage giving a number of expressions, then slowing down each clip to show the range of movement and sometimes lack of movement to produce each expression. A number of subjects will be used so as to give a range of responses and all will be shown simultaneously, this will give the observer multiple expressions to convert, thus increasing the chances of an unrecognised or misunderstood expression. Therefore highlighting the difficulty of deriving meaning from facial expressions.

Imagine how hard it is for someone who lacks the capacity to visually track expressive facial movement to derive meaning in the everyday world.

I have filmed and edited footage of four volunteer subjects (thank you all very much) and placed these as a quarter view per subject effectively splitting the screen into four. I attempted to get 'real' emotional responses from the subjects and deliberately used subjects not used to cameras or acting. I felt this would give a more accurate representation of real expressions and not performed expressions. I felt it worked in the sense that all expressions give meaning but not always the same meaning to each person.

It also seems that the intended meaning from the expressee can be frequently mis-interpreted by the intended observer or unintended observer. This I have discovered by discussion with subjects, observers, family, friends and collegues. The range of expressions viewed turned into a 'guess the expression game' which was interesting in that it brought differing responses and debate on the mqualities and characteristics of a known expression. The idea of showing some of the unedited footage was to gauge an audience response to the work and to develop delivery ideas. The change in product also altered the intended audience, the original audience was for those who experience difficulty interpreting facial expressions. This product is aimed at the general public and is intended to raise awareness of the difficulties posed to those who are unable to accurately determine meaning from facial expressions.

Thursday is presentation day where the product and the process will be reviewed, this I will find a little odd in that I am used to writing an essay format piece of work whereas this will be a presentation and showing of the work. It feels a bit raw, sort of like an unveiling, a submission of the newly formed creation. I regard others opinion as valid and welcome any comments on the work, process or idea that may come. The next post will offer some screen shots of work in progress and of useful and used web sites.