Neil Newbon, renowned actor and director, recently shared his perspective on the role of human actors in motion capture and performance capture in an interview with Temple of Geek. He believes that AI should not be used to reproduce characters. And that human actors bring a level of nuance and authenticity that AI cannot replicate.
Newbon is best known for his role as “Astarion” in the popular game Baldur’s Gate 3. In addition to his success with Baldur’s Gate 3, Newbon can be seen in Fallout: London. He also has a role in the upcoming game Greedfall 2: The Dying World.
Interview with Neil Newbon
Neil Newbon is actively embracing the future of performance capture, serving as an ambassador for DI4D’s latest update, PURE4D 2.0. This cutting-edge technology enhances human performances and supports real actors in an AI-driven world.
“I’m all for it,” Newbon states, emphasizing his support for technologies like PURE4D 2.0 that enhance the actor’s performance and seamlessly integrate it into the game engine.
Despite the rise of AI, Newbon remains optimistic about the future of game actors and performance capture. In addition, he recently negotiated a MOCAP Data Buyout Deal for an undisclosed project. His company, Performance Captured, will soon offer MOCAP data buyouts to clients, further solidifying the role of human actors in the evolving landscape of digital entertainment.
“If you’re going to pay somebody for the likeness of their face or for their voice usage, why wouldn’t you do that for physical movement that you will then going to take and put into the game?” Newbon argues, highlighting the importance of recognizing and compensating actors for their physical performance captured in MOCAP data.
