animocap.com's

Performance Animation & Digital Puppetry

Tutorial Series

Ha03 – Your First Performance

Version 40818

What you will learn:

Basic Equipment Set-up – What sort of equipment you'll need to do a performance.

Two performance scenarios are discussed, the first involving a dynamic audience and the second involving a static audience.

Prerequisites:

You need to have read the following tutorials:

DOC01 – The perfAnim software user's manual.

HA01 – Introduction to Head Animation

HA02 – More Heads

Requirements:

Software: perfAnimStarterKit or perfAnimPro

Table of Contents

1. Introduction. 3
2. Components and Equipment 3
4. Scenario 01: Bear-nard and the Toy Shop. 6
5. Review. 9
6. Scenario 02: WoodBoy and the Sales Presentation. 10
7. Review. 13

1. Introduction

In this lesson, you'll learn how to do your first live performance. There are two sample scenarios shown involving different types of audiences and situations. In either case, you'll need the same basic pieces of equipment.

2. Components and Equipment

There are 3 components in a performance system. They are listed below along with the pieces of equipment required.

The general connections and types of equipment are discussed. The specific wiring details, like actual cable types, amp specs etc. are not mentioned, but these are all easily obtained from companies or people that provide audio visual presentation services or equipment rentals.

2.1 Performer's PC

This is composed of the PC itself and a headset and microphone for the performer.

PC (Perf-PC)

The most important part of the PC is the graphics card. It must be 3D accelerated and have a TV-output. This is where you plug in the TV or video projector to display the graphics so the audience can see it. Some hardware accelerated graphics cards used for games have this TV-output feature built in.

Another option is to buy an external scan converter (also known as VGA-NTSC converter or PC-TV converter). The purpose of this device is to allow you to display the output of your PCs monitor to a TV or video projection device.

The TV-output from the PC (or scan converter) is output to the display TV or video projector so that the image of the digital puppet is shown on the TV or video projector.

The audio out from the PC soundcard is output to the TV or video projector speakers so that the audience can hear what the performer is saying.

Headset (Perf-Headset)

The headset is connected to the audience microphone. The purpose of this is so that the performer can hear what the audience is saying so he can respond properly.

Microphone (Perf-Mic)

The microphone is connected to the PC's mic input. The microphone should preferably be part of the headset so it's more convenient for the performer to speak. The performer speaks through the microphone and the audio is output on the display TV or video projector speakers so the audience can hear what the performer/digital puppet is saying.

2.2 The Display

The display system is where the final image from the PC's monitor is shown. There are two options for this:

Option 1: TV (Disp-TV)

The first option is to use a regular TV set with composite video and audio inputs. The TV's composite video input is connected to the PC's TV-output and the TV's audio inputs are connected to the PC's audio output. In this way the video and audio output from the PC are displayed on the TV.

Option 2: Video Projector (Disp-VidProj) & Speakers with audio amplifier (Disp-Speakers)

The second option is to use a video projector and speakers. The video projector's video input is connected to the PC's TV-output. The PC's audio output is connected to the amplifier inputs. The amplifier outputs are connected to the speakers.

2.3 Video and Audio FeedBack

The performer is located in a hidden spot so he must have a way of seeing what the audience is doing or how they are reacting.

Video Camera (VAF-VidCam)

The video camera located near the display TV and is pointed at the audience. The output of this is connected to the input of the performer's video monitor (VAF-VidMon). The purpose of this is to give the performer feedback on what the audience is doing so he can respond properly.

Audience Microphone (VAF-Mic)

The audience microphone is also located near the display TV and is pointed at the audience. The output of this is connected to the performer's headset. Again, the purpose of this is to give the performer feedback on what the audience is saying so he can respond properly.

Video Monitor (VAF-VidMon)

The video monitor is located beside the performer. This is where the video images from the video camera (VAF-VidCam) are displayed so that the performer can see what the audience is doing.

3. Component Diagram

4. Scenario 01: Bear-nard and the Toy Shop

One of the simplest applications that can be done using performance animation is a product promotion for a storefront. The store itself can be located on the street or inside a mall. For our example, let's say you want to do a promotion for a toy store. A good choice for a digital puppet to use would be one that's toy-like and would appeal to children. Hey, why don't we use Bear-nard the bear?

4.1 Dynamic Audiences

In a situation like this, you are performing to a dynamic audience. This means that your targets are the people who are moving along the street or path in front of the storefront.

Your Goal

Your main goal is to catch the attention of the audience (i.e. the people walking in front of the store) and be able to get them to go in and buy something, or at least to remember the store.

Performance Style and Script Type

In this situation, you will be doing the performance for a long period of time. At the extreme, this might mean you need to perform a full 8 hours. It's pretty much the same situation as having a guy in a costume or store staff with flyers go in front of the store to get people to go in.

Although the duration of the performance is long, the attention span of your audience is going to be short. At the very least, people may be walking in front of the store and turn their heads just because the display of the digital puppet caught their attention. You don't have time to tell a long story. Your script should be full of ad-libs, short statements and funny jokes.

If people stop in front of the display to watch, they will most likely assume that the display is showing canned animation. You can also take the opportunity to interact and talk with them. They'll be so used to just watching cartoons on TV. Imagine their surprise when the cartoon starts talking back to them!

4.2 The Audience and Performer Sides

There are 2 parts to the setup – the performer side and the audience side. The performer is in a separate room somewhere inside the store, hidden from the audience.

4.3 The Audience Side

Audience

The audience in this situation is dynamic. This means that your audience is constantly changing. A constant stream of people are walking in front of the store.

Wide Screen TV

The wide screen TV is placed in the front window of the store. The digital puppet is displayed on the TV.

Video Camera (and Audience Microphone)

The video camera captures the image of the people watching the performance and displays this image on the performer's video monitor.

4.4 The Performer Side

PC

The PC is running the perfAnim software and the display on the monitor is output to the wide screen TV outside.

Video Monitor

The video monitor displays the audience.

Performer (with headset and microphone)

The performer controls the digital puppet using the PC keyboard and mouse. He can see and hear the audience through the video monitor and headset. Everything he says on the microphone is output to the audience through the TV's speakers.

5. Review

In a storefront promotion scenario, the audience doesn't have too much time to stay in front of the display so the performer's script should concentrate on short statements, jokes and stories that will get the audience's attention or make them curious enough to enter the store.

6. Scenario 02: WoodBoy and the Sales Presentation

Another common application of performance animation and digital puppetry is as a host or co-host in a presentation. Examples of situations like this are sales presentations, meetings, conventions, tutorials, contests and awards presentations. In fact, this can be done for any event that is done in a central auditorium, room or convention hall where there is some sort of set program to be done in front of a fixed audience.

For out example, let's say there's a sales convention and there's a one hour session in a convention center function hall for a new product presentation. When you're listening to a sales pitch you want the salesman to be honest and true. Well, what would be a better “honest” salesman than a wooden boy whose nose grows if he tells a lie, right?

6.1 Static Audiences

In a situation like this, you are performing to a static audience. This means that your targets are people who are going to be seated and listening during the entire duration of the presentation.

Your Goal

Your main goal is to be able to make an effective pitch that your audience will remember and hopefully make them act according to the way you want (e.g. buy a product or sign up for something).

Performance Style and Script Type

In this situation, you will be doing the performance for a short period of time – perhaps 1 to 2 hours maximum.

Your script is most likely going to follow a certain program, but ad-libs, short statements and funny jokes are still good to spice up your presentation.

Again, when the presentation starts, they will most likely assume that the display is showing canned animation. As the host or co-host, you can also take the opportunity to interact and talk with them.

6.2 The Performer and Audience Sides

As with the previous scenario, the performer is again situated in a hidden room somewhere in the building away from the audience.

6.3 The Audience Side

Audience

The audience in this situation is static. This means that your audience is going to be there the entire time of the presentation.

Video Projector (and Speaker System)

For presentations like this, a TV set won't be able to give a large enough display so it is more convenient to use a video projector displaying the image of the digital puppet on a big projection screen on the stage.

Video Camera (and Audience Microphone)

The video camera captures the image of the people watching the performance and displays this image on the performer's video monitor.

6.4 The Performer Side

PC

The PC is running the perfAnim software and the display on the monitor is output to the wide screen TV outside.

Video Monitor

The video monitor displays the audience.

Performer (with headset and microphone)

7. Review

In a sales convention type presentation, the performer's script will have to follow the agenda of the presentation. In this case, the audience stays in place for the duration of the performance so there's more time to tell long stories or make a product pitch.