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Matthew Brezina

Mocap AD, Actor, Producer

Credits

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Guest Bio

Matthew Brezina's journey into the world of performance capture and video game production is anything but conventional. Growing up on a horse farm in a small Indiana town, he initially pursued a career in politics and government. However, a lack of fulfillment led him to a new passion—acting. Inspired by the idea of embodying his childhood hero, Batman, Matthew dove into theater and martial arts during college, which later transitioned into a focus on film and television. His love for video games, cultivated during his childhood in the woods, eventually steered him toward the burgeoning world of performance capture, where he saw the potential to blend his love for storytelling and video games into a unique career path.

"It's essential to preserve the unique qualities of the mocap and pcap world, especially as the industry grows and changes rapidly."

Upon moving to Los Angeles, Matthew quickly realized the challenges of the entertainment industry. Despite the hardships, including burnout from background work and the realization that not every project is driven by passion, he found his way into the world of performance capture. This pivot was sparked by his desire to merge his knowledge of film with his love for video games, leading him to the doors of Rouge MoCap, where he took on a producer role despite his initial reluctance. Matthew's willingness to embrace this new world, coupled with his determination to learn and grow, allowed him to thrive in the high-pressure environment of performance capture, where he now contributes to some of the industry's most complex projects.

"In performance capture, every minute could be worth thousands of dollars, so you have to understand the weight of every decision."

Nowadays, Matthew is deeply entrenched in the world of performance capture, working on major Triple-A video game titles. His role involves extensive preparation, ensuring that actors and crew alike are ready to deliver their best work. Despite the technical and logistical challenges, Matthew's approach remains rooted in collaboration and understanding, whether he's working with top-tier talent or navigating the complexities of production. His insights into the importance of knowing oneself, both as an actor and as a leader, have been instrumental in his success. Off the set, Matthew remains grounded by his love for storytelling, video games, and the community he has built within the industry, proving that even in the most demanding environments, passion and persistence can lead to remarkable achievements. And yes, his ultimate goal is still to become Batman.

"I feel like the type of community behind the PCAP Industry is what has made the videogames we love so special."

Watch Their Work

Special Notes

Questions Asked

  1. 00:02:05:06 - "Matthew Brezina, how are you?"
  2. 00:03:33:02 - "How do I get into performance capture, how do I get into video games?"
  3. 00:06:14:10 - "Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you ended up in this industry?"
  4. 00:10:23:08 - "What was the turning point that led you to focus on performance capture?"
  5. 00:13:49:07 - "How did your love for video games influence your career choices?"
  6. 00:17:55:12 - "What were some of the biggest challenges you faced early on in your career?"
  7. 00:21:01:15 - "Was there any moment that you had to, like, really take a look in the mirror and break through to the other side, so to speak?"
  8. 00:25:11:06 - "What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this field?"
  9. 00:30:22:09 - "How important is networking in the performance capture industry?"
  10. 00:35:04:18 - "What role does collaboration play in your work?"
  11. 00:38:16:11 - "How do you handle the pressure of working on high-stakes projects?"
  12. 00:43:59:01 - "Can you talk us through a day in the life of running a complex motion capture shoot?"
  13. 00:45:00:22 - "What are the steps to prepare for a big performance capture shoot?"
  14. 00:47:27:22 - "What is a day on set like for you?"
  15. 00:50:14:21 - "Does knowing the technical side help or hinder an actor?"
  16. 00:58:08:07 - "Is this gameplay transitioning into a cinematic, or is this a hard-cut cinematic?"
  17. 01:01:53:19 - "What's the most memorable project that you've worked on, and what made it so special?"
  18. 01:04:39:05 - "What happens when you meet your heroes in the industry?"
  19. 01:13:07:21 - "How do I get involved with mocap?"
  20. 01:18:13:06 - "How can we inspire the next generation in video games?"

Season 1