Neil Newbon
Neil Newbon is an actor, director, producer, stunt performer, coordinator and creature specialist. He’s worked in TV, film and Games for over 20 years and hundreds of projects under his belt. He specialises in Performance capture and voice overs for games and runs his own production company (Performance Captured Ltd) in which they also have a training academy for mocap/pcap. Neil is also a consultant on shoots and for mocap studios.
We met Neil for a catch up in west London... Erica is doing what she does best and is snapping some pictures and we are of course doing what we do best, which is chatting!
Tell us why and how you ended up in the film industry
I was obsessed with telling stories as a kid and was drawn by a need into acting. I started at National Youth Theatre and was lucky enough to be signed by an agent soon after.
I started work at Royal Court theatre with an amazing play called ‘Other People’ by Christopher Shinn and went on to star in feature films for the next few years as well as TV roles. I found games about 12 years ago (2010) and have been lucky enough to have worked on over 120 titles since then. I work regularly in USA, UK, Japan and across the world.
As I began my career, I also began training and spent 4 years in Method acting and then progressed into other techniques and have been studying with GILES FOREMAN and ROBERTA WALLACH at Giles foreman Centre for Acting for over 12 years since. I still work with my mentors and often bring my character work into the studio to discover more about the role, to great success- Giles and Co totally revolutionised the way I work and I am so grateful for them. I believe in constant training and as a craftsperson I think it is a necessity.
You are now in filming games, tell us about that process as it’s very different from “normal” film sets.
In the ‘Volume’ (the capture stage), performance capture/motion capture is a wonderful new methodology in which you take the best of film/tv and theatre and smash them together – your imagination needs to be key and you often are dealing with minimal sets and props that aren’t what they seem (or indeed have the qualities the objects are supposed to possess) much like theatre. You wear a blank suit , covered in highly reflective markers which create a digital skeleton which you cover with digital rigging and skin of other beings. Digital Makeup basically. It allows you to play anything within your ethnic appropriate casting and any other creature type. It’s hugely liberating and allows leading actors to become character actors and visa versa.
With a head mounted cameras (HMC) it is also the case that you are in a wide and a close up shot simultaneously and so you get to fully experience the character. I often say ‘move like theatre and speak like film in the Volume’. It’s a beautiful way of working and with setup time being super quick you get to rehearse and not sacrifice quality whilst still being able to perform more in a day, than you usually ever get to do on a tv set or film set or theatre, I adore it.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you while working on a project?
Accidently forward combat rolling off the front of a moving wooden horse prop mount, whilst wearing an HMC and carrying a rifle and then staying in character for the rest of the shot as if nothing happened. I believe there is a video on the internet about it haha.
What’s the most fun project you have done and why?
I love all my projects and characters, I don’t have a favourite to be honest and I have never had a bad day in the Volume, only challenging ones that felt great. I am committed to doing my job well whilst having fun in my work, no matter the size of the role or the situation. I am truly fulfilled by what I do. As an actor that makes me incredibly privileged to say so and I am humbly grateful for that and to the people that have supported me, taken a chance by hiring me and those I have worked alongside, cast, crew, animator devs, directors, game and mocap studios alike.
What is the one thing you’d like to be remembered for?
To have used my successes to help promote this work and make it more accessible to all actors and audience, of all background and life choices and finding opportunities they deserve. To have entertained the players and audience. ( so two things haha)
What is it about the way you do what you do that you think separates you from others?
I don’t know if I can answer that best someone else tells you. I am just trying to start transparent, honest and fair with everyone. I take my work seriously; I love working with others and to have as much creative fun in a project to fulfil the vision of the Game/film. I am a character actor that specialises in multi role and being multi skilled – I leave my blood on the the floor of every job I do ( sometimes literally) but I am not sure any of that is unique.
How do you positively contribute to our environment and “helping the planet”?
Like most people these days- conscious use of resources, buying less and consuming less and following the guidance of more intelligent people than I, in proven ways to contribute to the health and well fare of the environment. I donate, I support and add my voice to the conversation, where I can.
Who is your inspiration?
Many great actors/directors that have gone before. My friends. My mentors ( Giles Foreman, Ed Wilson especially ) creative people I am lucky enough to work with and my kid.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
I am a very private person despite having a public job, so if that’s ok, I’ll not give much detail about that. I prefer people to know more about my characters lives, inner and outer than my own ( I think it helps leave me as a blank slate, from which to create from)
Whats your favourite “life Quotes”
Life isn’t fair but people can be, so you should be where you can.
Luck is the residue of design
Bravery is to possess fear but to carry on regardless
No one is coming to save you.
What’s next for you?
A lot of work and AAA releases. My own productions and hopefully some amazing adventures. I recently directed and am a supporting lead in the upcoming multi platform game release ( 27th Sept 2022) Deliver Us Mars by KeoKen Studios, a thriller drama set in space. Recently the hugely successful XenoBlade Chronicles 3 just release in August and next year Baldur’s Gate 3 in which I am a lead character releases with great anticipation. Resident Evil Village in which I am a lead as well recently got an update and there are some fun things coming this October with that one! There are a ton of others but am currently NDA’d at the moment
Where are you in 10 years?
Planet Earth. Someplace.
Links to work
www.neilnewbon.com
Performancecapturedproductions.com
Performancecapturedacademy.com
Photographed by Erica Bergsmeds
