Here is a concise summary of the provided text:
**Behind-the-Scenes of James Cameron's Avatar**
* **Unconventional Filming Methods**:
+ Actors used motion capture suits, even for intimate scenes (e.g., Jake and Neytiri's kiss)
+ A red tennis ball on a stick represented the ferocious "Sanatorium" creature during filming
+ A metal chair and fan were used to simulate wind and movement in certain scenes
* **Practical Effects**:
+ The core of Colonel Miles Quaritch's mechanical suit was a practical effect, with digital additions
+ Real horses were used for motion capture to animate the Na'vi's digital mounts
* **Actors' Challenges**:
+ Memorizing Na'vi tribal dances while wearing motion capture costumes
+ Performing stunts, like climbing, while wearing suits
* **Innovative 3D Filming**:
+ Using two cameras to capture live-action and 3D elements simultaneously
* **Overall**: The film's influential success is attributed to James Cameron's innovative approaches, the cast and crew's commitment to authenticity, and the effective blend of practical and digital effects.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, each with a number and in short sentences:
1. **Film Title and Director**: The film discussed is "Avatar" directed by James Cameron.
2. **Unique Filming Method**: For a scene, actress Aldana worked with a gray plastic modeling contraption and a water bottle covered in duct tape.
3. **Motion Capture Kissing Scene**: Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña had to kiss while wearing motion capture suits with green dots on their faces.
4. **Flying Scene Preparation**: Sam Worthington flew on the back of a plastic structure in motion, attached to wires, while wearing a motion capture suit.
5. **Zoe Saldaña's Intimidation Factor**: Despite the motion capture outfit, Zoe Saldaña could still appear intimidating on set.
6. **Height Enhancement for Na'vi**: Additional layers of chairs were used to make the Na'vi characters appear taller.
7. **Colonel's Mechanical Suit Design**: The main core of the suit was a practical effect, with the arm and digital screens added digitally.
8. **Sigourney Weaver's Role**: Sigourney Weaver played Grace in both human and alien forms, using a motion capture suit for the latter.
9. **Motion Capture Use for Animals**: Real horses were used with motion capture technology to animate the digital horses in the film.
10. **Stunt Performance Requirement**: Despite motion capture, actors had to perform physically demanding stunts, such as climbing.
11. **Sanatorium Creature Filming**: A red tennis ball on a long gray stick was used as a placeholder for the creature during filming.
12. **Pre-Motion Capture Filming**: Some scenes, like Jake waking up as a Na'vi, were filmed with actors around an empty space before motion capture work.
13. **Planning for Motion Capture Scenes**: James Cameron planned scenes needing motion capture, like the bow and arrow scene, in advance.
14. **Tree of Voices Set**: The sacred Tree of Voices was primarily made of pieces of rope to simulate long leaves and branches.
15. **Na'vi Tribal Dance**: A group of actors had to memorize and perform a Na'vi tribal dance in motion capture suits.
16. **Dragon Assault Planes Filming**: A metal chair and fan were used on set to simulate the wind and movement for scenes without accurate models.
17. **3D Filming Technique**: Some scenes, like the colonel's attack, used two cameras to perfect live-action and 3D elements.
18. **Film's Influence**: "Avatar" is considered one of the most influential films of the last 20 years, largely due to its groundbreaking use of 3D and motion capture technology.