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Movies

Al talks about the future of movies.
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Todd: Al, you are a big movie fan?

Al: Yes, I am.

Todd: So as a big movie fan, what do you think about all the amazing technological special effects that they're doing now?

Al: I think it's going to lead to a point where we don't need actors anymore.

Todd: Seriously.

Al: Yeah.

Todd: I mean, how could they do that though?

Al: You'll be able to completely create a believable character. You can already create a believable character on a computer and give it life and emotion, and he won't be asking for 10 million pounds a movie. He'll be free to create and he'll do exactly what you say, and he'll come to the set on time. He won't need to come to the set will he. He won't turn up on the set drunk is what I mean. He'll be just completely at your mercy to do whatever you want with.

Todd: So, you're saying in the future, they'll just write a story and then just like animation, they'll just design the character and then have the movie with the background and everything.

Al: Yeah. Actors will only be important for reference. Directors will go on back and look at great performances and copy them, or copy nuance and performance for there computer generated character. You'll need the voice actors for awhile, and then computers will be able to create the human voice, recreate the human voice, too.

Todd: Are there any examples of movies, where this is actually happening now?

Al: You look at Yoda. In Star Wars Episode III, Yoda is completely believable.

Todd: And that's all computer graphics, it's not?

Al:It's all computer, I think he's a puppet, I think in this one he was completely computer animated. It was a puppet for some of Episode II.

Todd: Yeah. That's pretty impressive.

Al: Yeah, and scary. Human will be unnecessary soon.


Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

believable

You'll be able to completely create a believable character.

If something is possible in real life then, it is 'believable.'  For example a human with wings is not believable.  Notice the following:

  1. I could see that he was lying, because he story was not believable.
  2. Although it seems crazy, the movie made it believable that dogs could talk.

give it life

Give it life and emotion, and he won't be asking for 10 million pounds a movie.

'To give something life' is to make it real, believable and seem to be alive, to give it dimension.  Notice the following:

  1. The story idea is very good, but you need to give it more life.
  2. The artist gave the painting so much life that it looks like a photograph.

at your mercy

He'll be just completely at your mercy to do whatever you want with.

If he is 'at your mercy,' you can do whatever you want with him, because he is in your control.  Notice the following:

  1. Without my own car, I was really at her mercy to bring me home.
  2. The students were at the mercy of the horrible teacher.

for reference

Actors will only be important for reference.

If you use someone or something 'for reference,' you use it as an example for a character or a place.  You could use your grandfather for reference when creating the character of an old man.  Notice the following:

  1. I used my best friend for reference when creating the main character in the novel
  2. Why don't you use Rome for reference when creating your city.

puppet

I think in this one he was completely computer animated. It was a puppet for some of Episode II.

Used like this, a 'puppet' refers to a doll which hangs from strings that a person can move to make the doll move. Notice the following:

  1. There are always puppet shows for children at the library.
  2. He uses a hand puppet as part of his comedy act.

Vocabulary Quiz

believable • life • at your mercy
for reference • puppet
  1. She is so controlling, she treats me like a .
  2. She put a ruler beside the leaf .
  3. I love the way the painter gives his art .
  4. Did you think that scene was ? I don't think that would ever happen .
  5. By making you responsible, he really put himself .
Answer these questions about the interview.

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