| Page (1) of 1 - 01/07/07 |
 email article |
 print
page |
|
Adrianne Curry was the winner of the very first season of America's Next Top Model. The reality television show starring Tyra Banks first aired on the UPN network. America's Next Top Model pits several beautiful models against each other to see who will win a $100,000 modeling contract. In the first season, the show not only launched Adrianne Cury into a modeling contract, but also put her face in cyberspace.
Although she is a beautiful woman, needing no verification by America's Next Top Model as such, Curry is now known to many because of her rise in public appearances due specifically to her victory on America's Next Top Model. She had also made headlines when she married Christopher Knight (widely recognized for his role as Peter Brady in the Brady Bunch television series). (http://www.christophernight.tv)
click image for larger view
NVIDIA has created what they consider "the world's first real-time virtual 3D celebrity". The company hopes that this innovation will produce a gateway leading to a time when celebrities can have their likeness digitally sculpted without ever having to make physical appearances.
The virtual celebs could then be licensed to video games and really any other acceptable venue. This might extend to several different media.I haven't seen animations produced with the model (created in Softimage XSI), but I'm skeptical. There is no doubt that NVIDIA's gear is top notch, and that the breakthroughs made to bring this virtual celebrity to life is a considerable feat. As a grounded pessimist, I'm not sure that a digital celeb will ever satiate fans' appetite for the real thing - unless they can control the celeb themselves (note - this could be a strange video game). Sure, I think that a digital stunt double is great, and even video game and cel phone video will probably be good delivery. But I don't know if I would put much stock in a digital spokesmodel for skin cream. Photoshop would be her makeup bag.
The images of the digital replica are stunning, but the true beauty of the NVIDIA graphics solutions will be more obvious when we see Digital Adrianne in her first appearance. Needless to say, the motion capture crew will also factor into the presentation.
Adrianne Curry admitted, "The Digital Adrianne is so realistic, it's really trippy."
Dan Vivoli of NVIDIA considers this real-time virtual 3D celebrity will have endless uses noting, "The digital Adrianne can demonstrate the same range of emotions, movements and attitudes and appear just as lifelike as her living, breathing counterpart."
I'm pretty sure Christopher may think otherwise.
------
You can find out more about NVIDIA graphics solutions by visiting their website at http://www.nvidia.com. SoftImage XSI software is an excellent package, delivering beautifully rendered 3D still images and animations.
You can visit the XSI site by clicking over to http://www.softimage.com. There you can read about their latest release: SOFTIMAGE XSI 6 and check out some of their beautiful character work. You can also download a FREE 30-day trial of their software a the site.
America's Next Top Model is still on the air, and online at the CW (http://www.cwtv.com). If you're interested, you can download the application to participate in the show. Who knows, maybe someday NVIDIA hardware will be rendering you.
Page: 1
Ko Maruyama is a freelance animator in Los Angeles. In addition to working on film and broadcast animations, Ko teaches at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design - focusing on motion design. When working, writing or testing software allows, you can find him lending a hand in the After Effects board and lurking among the Cinema4D, Visual Effects and Photoshop posts within the DMNForums.Related Sites: Digital Producer , Digital Animators , Animation Artist , Siggraph News , Oceania , Avid , BN - Avid
Related Newsletter: DMN Newsletter , Renders , Digital Media Net , DMNForums
Source:Ko Maruyama.
All Rights Reserved
With 1 Reviews.
