Okay Guys and Gals, this is what I'm working on. For my Final project in my 3ds class, I am trying to recreate the sparring match in the Matrix with character studio. It looks like I have to do it frame by frame and export the .BIP files which isn't a big hassle just time consuming. I was hoping to capture an mpeg and map it on a box and place it in the background, then frame by frame animate the Bipeds. The problem I am running into is this; when I try to use The ATI allinwonder card to capture the mpeg (from my DVD player), it has some protection scheme that kills the video (green picture). No I do not have an internal DVD, but I think (chuckle) the same protection device will prevent me from capturing it that way also. Anyone have a suggestion for me? Oh by the way, when it's done I will gladly post it (and the .bip's) for all you kiddies to use

I assume you want to load the Matrix in the bg and use it as a guide for your characters. If you have a video camera you can shoot the tv and then capture that tape to your computer to use as background. Quality will be bad, but doesn't matter since you are only using it as a guide. If you don't have a video camera there is another way that's cludgie but faster than frame grabbing the whole thing. You set the video up on one monitor and get the picture good and bright. Your computer monitor is next to it. You dim the room lights and use a mirror to reflect the picture onto the computer screen. I've used this for lipsyncing before I got Mimic, so I know it can be done.

There is a program that converts Mpeg2 (DVD format) to Mpeg 4 (compatible with media player & Max), but you'll spend a looong time crunching numbers