A Shame To Overlook The Sacrifices & The Work

Zoe Saldaña, known for her blockbuster sci-fi roles, advocates for more recognition of motion capture performances at award shows. She recently earned her first Golden Globe nomination for her work in Emilia Pérez and won the Cannes Best Actress Award alongside her co-stars Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz earlier this year. Most recently, Saldaña won the Astra Award for Best Supporting Actress alongside Ariana Grande. The actor is familiar with the artistic and physical demands of motion capture performances, a medium she’s helped grow with her iconic roles in the Avatar franchise.

Speaking with Variety following her Golden Globe nomination, Saldaña expressed gratitude for the recognition she has received for her role in Emilia Pérez while also directing attention to the unappreciated art of motion capture performance. When asked about her thoughts on not being able to be nominated for her performance as Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar, due to the Golden Globes not recognizing CGI motion-capture performances, the actor emphasized the commitment and artistry required for such roles. This is what she said:

I’m going to keep hoping that people and members of academies and organizations reach a level of understanding of what performance capture truly is and what it does for the artist. It gives the artist the right to take full proprietorship of their work.

It is not a work that is cloned or imitated.
The artist is the one that really does all the labor and the technicians, in post, paint over it. You don’t go into a studio in your sweatpants, and you lend your voice, and then somebody else creates an idea of how they think you would move if you said something like this.

Every movement that every character that has been done under performance capture has been performed either by an actor or a stunt actor, and
I hope that one day it is able to be recognized,
because it is just a shame to overlook the sacrifices and the work put into these films.

What This Means For Awards Recognition

The Opportunity To Change

Saldaña’s career is the perfect example of the power and importance of performance capture in Hollywood. Her role as Neytiri in Avatar: The Way of Water required her to master free-diving techniques and perform emotionally charged scenes underwater, all while working within the constraints of motion capture suits. However, despite the talent and effort required, such performances often go unrecognized during awards season. Similarly, Andy Serkis, a pioneer in performance capture known for his revolutionary performances as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Caesar in Planet of the Apes, has also been overlooked for major acting nominations.

This oversight reflects a large disconnect in Hollywood’s understanding of motion capture as an acting medium. Saldaña’s and her co-stars’ performances, like those of Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver, are crucial to the success of Avatar. By failing to recognize the actors’ accomplishments, the industry largely undermines the credibility of their craft. Such recognition would not only validate the actors’ hard work but also encourage more creative exploration within the medium. Award bodies now have the opportunity to set a precedent by including motion capture in their categories, bridging the gap between innovation and artistry.

Our Take On Saldaña’s Advocacy

Breaking Barriers With Performance Capture

Saldaña’s call for motion capture performances to be recognized during the awards season is timely and well-deserved. Hers and so many actors’ performances in blockbuster franchises have been able to convey as much depth and complexity as traditional acting roles, often receiving plenty of accolades from the public, but none from the industry. By advocating for her and her peers, Saldaña challenges the industry to take a more inclusive approach to acting, which can continue to open doors for other performers, such as stunt doubles, to receive the praise and awards they deserve for their contributions to film and TV.

As one of the most prominent figures in Hollywood and motion capture, Saldaña‘s words carry a significant weight. Her advocacy could lead to wider awareness of the talent and innovation behind these performances, which range from films to video games as well. This could potentially allow future generations of actors to explore many transformative mediums aside from traditional acting.

Source: Variety