Planet of the Apes, Avatar, and Avengers movement coach Terry Notary, shares one piece of advice for actors

Dubai: Movement coach Terry Notary, who taught actors to move like apes in Planet of the Apes and the Na vi in Avatar, offered a simple piece of advice to aspiring performers in Sharjah: stop striving for perfection. The Hollywood creature performer and movement coach led a masterclass on creature performance and motion capture at the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC) 2026 in Aljada.

Notary's session, his first in the Middle East, delved into how posture, breath, and rhythm contribute to believable digital creatures, as well as how live performance is captured through motion capture suits and real-time virtual production tools. Notary emphasized that a perfect performance isn't real and encourages actors to embrace mistakes for a more authentic experience.

He identified conditioning and the need for approval as common obstacles for actors, urging them to let go of the desire to be liked and approved of. By doing so, actors can become more comfortable in expressing themselves and allowing the audience to see them. The practical portion of the session began with a neutral body exercise, which Notary uses with athletes, executives, and actors alike.

Participants sat forward with no back support, opened their chests, and imagined a helium balloon lifting their heads. Notary then introduced participants to quadrupedal movement, a key aspect of creature performance, and guided them through the process. The room comprised filmmakers, artists, and actors from various backgrounds, and many found the session to be more than just a technical lesson.

Nikhil Ramdas, a Sharjah-based filmmaker, director, and AI visualiser, found the session valuable for his filmmaking journey. His friend, Gautam Raveendran, a Dubai-based film director, appreciated the impact of movement and state of mind on an actor's ego and performance. Yana Shakhmaeva, a Russian attending the class with her son, an aspiring actor, experienced a sense of freedom and relief after the class.

Notary, born in California and trained as a gymnast, started his career as a stunt and movement coach on Ron Howard's Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 2000. He later worked on Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes and James Cameron's Avatar, performing the motion capture for Kong in Kong: Skull Island. Notary also played Cull Obsidian in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

His diverse credits include The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn and The Hobbit trilogy. The Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference 2026, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, took place at Aljada from October 22 to 25.