Avatar: The Way of Water is a film that is expected to deliver a rare feat. The science fiction fantasy is becoming possibly one of the most successful films of all time.
Dreaming is not just wishful thinking.
– Jim (James) said that our actors don’t have to do the diving scenes themselves. Of course I wanted to do them,” says Winslet at a hotel in London.
The filming only lasted about a month for Winslet, but he practised freediving for it. In the end, it was Winslet’s ability to hold his breath that stunned everyone. Cameron, who had been freediving since he was a teenager, saw Winslet beat his own diving records.
– I love water and I’m a good swimmer. I still didn’t know that I had such conditions to dive, says Winslet.
Animation on display
Winslet’s own face or body is not seen at all in Avatar: The Way of Water. The Na’vi of the planet Pandora are three-meter blue humanoids. On the big screen, they are animation.
The role is still played physically from start to finish. Ronal’s every movement, gesture and expression is Winslet’s. They are recorded using motion capture technology. Winslet wants to underline that this kind of acting specifically uses the whole body.
– When Ronal breathes, my shoulders go up and down. The recording of the actual physical being is combined with the digital image.
Actually, the sequel to Avatar could be called an animated film as a whole. Even the water seen in the pictures is 95% computer generated. Technology makes it possible to be photorealistic and the nuances of an actor’s work while preserving things that cannot be.
Still, filming itself was also physically challenging. For example, the water sequences were actually filmed in water, so that the water resistance would look real.
– And riding a flying fish is not the easiest thing in the world.
When Winslet acted, she did not know what her character would look like in the film.
– I had a different perception of him than what Ronal is in the end. I thought he was muscular, but serious, Winslet says.
– But she is also elegant and sexy. His power comes from his body. It’s fantastic how the character’s presence is created.
A machine is no substitute for a human being
Motion capture technology has been used to create movie characters since the beginning of the 2000s, but it has never been used as comprehensively for movie characters as in the new Avatar. However, Winslet does not believe such a widespread use of the technology will become common.
– It is so challenging. A filmmaker must be extremely skilled. And Jim is the best.
And Winslet doesn’t think the actors are threatened during the simulation and animation, on the contrary.
– Sometimes it was really feared that an actor’s work would become pointless when virtual actors take over the industry. There was a little panic about it.
The right actor is needed to create the emotions and human nuances that the audience can catch and immerse themselves in the story. Their tonal range is not threatened by artificial intelligence.
– An actor makes the audience feel a certain way. Acting is the manipulation of emotions and the delivery of a story, Winslet reflects.
– The actor has the privilege to influence as an important part of the storytelling. Nothing beats it and we all want to see good acting.
Winslet is also a lioness
Actress Kate Winslet has a recent connection to Finland. He was heard as Vilijonkka in the first two seasons of the English version of the new Moomin Valley television series.
The actor sees a direct connection between the Avatar world and Moomin Valley.
– Family, of course. In both story frames, the very central theme is family and family ties, says Winslet.
– A friend of mine recently named her child Tove. It’s a beautiful name.