As computer graphics progress to making better and better approximations of reality, one thing we hear alot is that eventually CG actors will replace real actors. Is this even possible? Well, the Wall Street Journal went out and interviewed Ed Ulbrich (Digital Domain, the group behind Benjamin Button) and John Knoll (Lucasfilm Ltd, the studio behind Pirates of the Caribbean) to see what they think.
Using an actor isn’t always possible, though, particularly where complicated stunts come into play. Computer-generated versions of characters work best in situations that would be impossible or too dangerous for a real actor — for example, a close-up of a character being hit with a knockout punch.
