FaceDirector for the Right Mood

The new Disney Research Labs software allows facial expressions to be adjusted in postpoduction without having to reshoot scenes.

Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 23, 2015. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.

FaceDirector combines individual frames from different takes to create the ideal scene. The software analyzes the actor’s facial expression and the audio track to identify frames that fit together.

So if the director does not like a particular facial expression, new takes can be created during postproduction without the actor having to go back in front of the camera for a reshoot. 3D cameras are not necessary for the process; normal 2D cameras are entirely sufficient.

So: cheaper film productions and less contact with difficult actors? Isn’t that something?

The video shows how FaceDirector works:

All further information http://www.disneyresearch.com

You can download the “”FaceDirector—Continuous Control of Facial Performance in Video Paper” by the Disney researchers here.