UGA on Nat Geo

Back in the fall, a film crew from the National Geographic Channel came to campus to make use of the motion-capture lab in the department of theatre and film studies. This week, that episode arrives to your TV.

Two University of Georgia alumni and the dramatic media program in the UGA department of theatre and film studies will be featured in the pilot episode for the new National Geographic series The Great American Manhunt. The series will premiere in the U.S. on April 19 at 9 p.m. EST.

Produced by London-based Wide-Eyed Entertainment, the series brings together a team of investigators who use forensic clues such as hair, clothing and skin to identify a stranger's job, location and name. Roaming the country, these sleuths use their own talents as well as the knowledge of various experts, which include UGA dramatic media alumni.

A clue in the first episode leads one of the investigators to UGA, where he talks with alumnus Justin Louis and graduate student Michael J. Meindl. Together, they show the investigator the process of optical motion capture.

It was a great experience for all involved - the folks from the show used the lab for most of a day and some of our students had the opportunity to explain the technology on camera. Be sure to tune in.

Image: MFA student Michael Meindl, left, explains some of the gear to the crew.