Keanu Reeves is using cutting edge technology to film Man of Tai Chi in his directorial debut. In a movie that has 40 min of timed fight scenes, capturing them effectively for the big screen is as important as the choreography of the fight scenes and the actual performance by the actors and stuntmen. To that end, Mr. Reeves will be among the first to use a robotic cameraman, the Bot & Dolly Iris. The cinematic robot was designed in Germany and the design engineers describe it as:
“More than just a tool for camera control, IRIS is a platform for automating the entire set. Move lights, actors and set pieces in perfect synchronization, then watch in real-time as they match your CG elements. Automate cues, trigger hardware and coordinate across departments, all from an intuitive touch interface. IRIS is designed for the professional filmmaker. IRIS integrates with industry-standard hardware and software and includes features essential to any professional film production: data management, real-time composite playback and rock-solid stability.”
More can be read about the Bot & Dolly Iris at MotionFx and about the importance of capturing the martial art scenes at TwitchFilm.