There’s a moment underwater where the body stops fighting and starts listening. The movements becomes slower, intent becomes clearer and emotion has nowhere to hide.
That moment is where my work as a creature actor begins. Whether it is as a mermaid or a serpent lurking in the abyss, I am transformed into a different being as my breath stops for that moment in time.
Underwater performance has always been a big part of my life. Growing up near the Florida Springs, I was blessed to be surrounded by natural springs where I would enjoy the crystal clear water while pretending to transform into mythical creatures of the deep.
The water has always shaped the way I move, breathe, and tell stories. Long before stepping into a motion capture suit, I learned how to communicate without words, how to let the body lead, and how to remain calm, expressive, and intentional under pressure. And these skills have translated seamlessly into creature work, PCAP and MOCAP performance, where the body is the character.
The Secret Weapon of A Creature Actor: The Body
A creature actor doesn’t rely on costumes, makeup, or elaborate sets. The performance must read clearly in an empty volume, often surrounded by cameras, sensors, and technology.
Underwater training teaches something invaluable here: the ability to create presence without excess. All you have with you the moment you sink beneath the surface is the breath in your lungs and your mindset.
When performing underwater, every movement costs energy. Overacting isn’t just ineffective, it’s impossible. You learn to refine motion, to make each gesture intentional, and to let emotion travel through posture, timing, and breath.
And if you think about it, that discipline is the same discipline required as a performance capture actor.
Underwater Performance: Training for Non-Human Movement
As an underwater performance specialist, I am trained to work in an environment that naturally removes familiar human habits. Gravity shifts and resistance increases, which means that the body must adapt.
Underwater performance trains:
- Fluid, non-linear movement (think of a dance underwater)
- Altered centers of gravity
- Suspension and glide
- Emotional control under physical stress
These qualities are essential when portraying creatures, hybrids, and non-human beings in film, television, and games.
So, when a director asks for something “otherworldly,” “animalistic,” or “not quite human,” my body already knows how to find it. Of course, direction and guidance is always encouraged, as every project is a collaboration!
Performance Capture Meets Water Logic
As a performance capture actor, you have already guessed that I tend to bring this water-based logic into the volume.
Since there’s no wardrobe to hide behind, no physical set to lean on, and often no partner physically present, working in the volume can be extremely challenging at times. Everything depends on clarity of movement and emotional truth (something that underwater performance prepares you for in a way.)
When you learn to control your mind and body underwater, a whole different awareness takes over. You begin to:
- Self-generate environment
- Maintain emotional continuity
- Stay calm in physically demanding conditions
- Deliver repeatable, clean movement for animation teams
It’s performance stripped down to its essentials, which is precisely what performance capture demands.
Motion Capture Acting Without Overthinking It
I’m sure you’ve heard it before…. Less is more. And one of the biggest challenges in motion capture or acting in general, is doing too much.
The body wants to compensate for the lack of visual feedback. Underwater work teaches restraint. You trust that subtle shifts will read. You let intention lead, rather than force.
This approach ensures performances translate seamlessly into animation, providing animators with clear, usable material while maintaining emotional clarity across multiple takes: a key aspect of creature performance for VFX.
Physical Acting for Film and Games: Built for Endurance
Creature roles are physical. Long days. Repetitive motion. Demanding sequences.
My background in fitness and physical acting for film and games supports the longevity required for this work. Underwater performance, in particular, builds:
- Breath control
- Muscular endurance
- Joint stability
- Mental focus under fatigue
This means I can maintain performance quality across extended capture sessions, which is an important consideration for production schedules and budgets.
Virtual Production Performer with an Unusual Advantage
As a virtual production performer, I often work in spaces where imagination does the heavy lifting. Underwater training strengthens that muscle.
When you perform underwater, you’re constantly negotiating unseen forces like currents, resistance, and buoyancy. That awareness translates beautifully into virtual environments, where characters interact with worlds that exist primarily in the mind (and eventually, in post).
This makes collaboration smoother, faster, and more intuitive.
Why Underwater Performance Makes a Better Creature Actor
Not every actor is comfortable surrendering control of their body, but underwater performers are.
Creature acting requires the willingness to move differently, breathe differently, and sometimes abandon human elegance altogether. Underwater work removes ego from the equation, where the environment leads, and the performer has to respond.
Another important note before I bid you farewell. Professional PCAP/MOCAP performers always follow SAG-AFTRA guidelines to ensure safe and high-quality performance on set. (please head over there, watch videos and read blogs to stay on top of your game as a working professional.)
The same goes for performing underwater. Whether you are a performer or director, please prioritize everyone’s safety. Watch out for one another, pay attention to your body, and never compromise on safety because it is always the top priority!
That’s the mindset that creates believable creatures and safe spaces. Want to read more? Check out this recent blog on lessons I’ve learned from being in the volume!
For Casting, Directors, and Production Teams
If you’re seeking a creature actor who:
- Understands performance capture from the inside out
- Brings the calm, control, and clarity of underwater performance
- Delivers physically repeatable, emotionally grounded work
- Collaborates effectively with VFX, animation, and virtual production teams, then you’re in the right place!
Email me direct at: ThatGirl@simplyshannonscott.com or send me a message through my contact page.
I’m looking forward to creating with you!
