James Cameron’s 2009 Avatar film will test new 3D hyrid technologies, combining live actors and digital technology to make a large cast of virtual creatures who convey emotion as authentically as humans.

Their bodies will be filmed using the latest evolution of motion-capture technology while the facial expressions will be tracked by tiny cameras on headsets that will record their performances to insert them into a virtual world.

The most important innovation thus far has been a camera that allows the director to observe the performances of the actors-as-aliens, in the film’s virtual environment, as it happens.