Game Developers Conference (GDC) is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Crafting Compelling Performances: The Actor-Director Partnership in Performance Capture

Steve Kniebihly  (Cinematic Director, Independent)

Neil Newbon  (Actor / Director, Performance Captured Ltd London)

Pass Type: All Access Pass, Core Pass - Get your pass now!

Track: Design

Format: Lecture

Vault Recording: TBD

Audience Level: All

This presentation explores the critical collaboration between directors and actors in performance capture for video games. Led a seasoned director and an acclaimed actor, it emphasizes the importance of actor-director partnership in achieving compelling and complex performances that go beyond just technical accuracy.

The presentation will guide the audience through the entire process, from auditions and rehearsals to performance capture sessions and post-production ADR. It will highlight how the challenges of video game development—such as branching narrative paths and non-linear content—require a strong actor-director collaboration to ensure consistency and emotional depth across multiple, often fragmented, performance segments.

Drawing from their combined years of experience and collaboration on past projects, the director and actor will provide specific insights, tips, and strategies for improving communication and collaboration. They aim to equip fellow directors, designers, writers and animators with a better understanding of how an actor thinks and the knowledge to better guide them. For producers, the presentation offers a new understanding of how to foster an environment that supports this creative partnership -and saving time and resources in the process.


Takeaway

Attendees will learn how to build an actor-director partnership to deliver best in class performance capture. From casting and rehearsals to the mocap stage and ADR, this session provides actionable strategies to foster trust, align creative visions, and manage technical challenges to create performances that are authentic, emotionally resonant, and cost-effective.

Intended Audience

This session is for directors, producers, animators, and narrative designers working with performance capture in games. Attendees do not need prior experience with mocap but should have a foundational understanding of narrative-driven game development to maximize the session’s practical applications.



Connecting the Global Game Development Community