VF: How Lady Gaga turned into David Bowie for her 2016 Grammys performance

[lego 44,165]

Holograms may seem like a bold new frontier for the entertainment industry. But for Lady Gaga, the envelope-pushing performer in all things audio-visual, holograms are already passé. Hence her mind-bending Grammys homage to David Bowie on Monday night, which paid tribute to various phases of the icon’s five-decade career, courtesy of Intel computer graphics, interactive video, and robotics. Given that Bowie passed away only a month ago, though, how the hell did Gaga pull together such a feat in a matter of weeks?

“Lady Gaga had been speaking to Intel as early as September, brainstorming ways in which she could use technology to express herself in a way that had never been done before,” explained Paul Tapp, Intel’s director of technology, by phone last week. “She’s an amazing dancer and she really pushes boundaries with fashion. She said, ‘Help me to go beyond these standard constraints.’” So, this past fall, a team of engineers began working on the technology that Gaga envisioned using. But when Bowie passed in early January, Gaga began re-imagining her multi-media performance as a tribute to the icon.

“Bowie had tons of iconic looks throughout his very rich career,” Tapp said, “so Lady Gaga was curious how we could pay an homage to that. We introduced ‘living canvas’ technology to her, which allows her to basically have what we call digital skin—which has been used in tech art installations, but never before for a live performance.” The digital skin is projected onto Gaga as she performs so that it looks like her “makeup” is changing instantaneously throughout her six-song performance.

To create the makeup animation—essentially C.G.I. done live—Intel’s team created a 3-D scan of Gaga’s face by capturing her in about 12 different poses with complex scanning technology. The team then created 3-D motion graphics based on Gaga’s facial measurements and the Bowie looks she wanted to replicate.

During the performance, those graphics—essentially “replacement skin”—are projected onto her face live, like a mask, thanks to real-time face-tracking. (Five infrared-sensing cameras pick up on infrared markers placed discreetly on Gaga’s face.)

“Once we’ve got the tracking in place, those cameras and markers are telling the computer exactly what angle and rotation and axis her face is and her facial expressions,” explained Tapp. “Are her eyes opened or closed? Is her mouth happy or sad? Are her cheeks up or down? We have to track all of that with very intricate detail and then in real time we have to adjust that digital makeup that we’ve computer generated, get it sorted according to how her facial position is, and project it exactly to the right place at the right time.”

Viewers have probably seen this technology before,” added Teresa Herd, Intel’s V.P. of global marketing, “but it’s all been a special effect done after a film is shot. This is done in real time—it’s literally changing and morphing right in front of your eyes.”

 

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http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/lady-gaga-2016-grammys-david-bowie-performance-video?mbid=social_twitter

[ChicaSkas 22,945]

Well done. It was EPIC.

[Teri Hatcher 2,053]

yayy?

[andy232000 11,362]

queen of getting praised even after an ok performance! no but seriously slay the media 

[ChicaSkas 22,945]

2 minutes ago, andy232000 said:

queen of getting praised even after an ok performance! no but seriously slay the media you hypocritical ass licking bitches! 

are you high or just feel like getting warned

[Peroxide 9,202]

That was surely amazing 

[andy232000 11,362]

1 minute ago, ChicaSkas said:

are you high or just feel like getting warned

if i was offensive im sorry, im not trying to get in trouble at all!

[ChicaSkas 22,945]

2 minutes ago, andy232000 said:

if i was offensive im sorry, im not trying to get in trouble at all!

"okay performance" and "hypocritical ass licking bitches" kinda threw me there... 

[BornAsUnic0rn 2,070]

 

1 minute ago, andy232000 said:

if i was offensive im sorry, im not trying to get in trouble at all!

Well, your comment was harmful for me to read. Please don't get me the wrong way. I'm not wanting to be mean--

[andy232000 11,362]

Just now, BornAsUnic0rn said:

 

Well, your comment was harmful for me to read. Please don't get me the wrong way. I'm not wanting to be mean--

i wasnt insulting anyone but the media, and i wasnt being that serious either, so dont worry im not like being rude to anyone

 

1 minute ago, ChicaSkas said:

"okay performance" and "hypocritical ass licking bitches" kinda threw me there... 

i was referring to the media, not gaga or anyone. okay performance was just my opinion. 

[SEVDALIZA 1,274]

*imagine the unimaginable.

*creativity at its highest peak.

*Everything will change.

Look me in the eyes and tell me she lived to that standard.

[Psychedelic 1,098]

"okay performance" ???  yeah right!

Get that praised Gaga, you just slayed tonight!

 

[Solitaire 902]

Can I just say I LOVE this photo and I'm PRAYING that LG5's look will follow the aesthetic of these Intel x Gaga looks??

[Ferrer Zorola 3,966]

"Intel has a two-year contract with the Grammys, and will return with another technology-heavy performance next year".

who's going to be the one featured in next year's performance? Katy Perry? Madonna? 

[AgusPop 4,141]

 Bravo!