Jim Carrey's Timeless Christmas Carol

Disney's version of the tale - which follows greedy Scrooge's journey of realising what is truly important in life through the visitation of three spirits - is the 20th big-screen adaptation of the novel.

Yet director Robert Zemeckis and his team of experts have worked furiously to ensure this version is in a league of it's own, with a modern-day twist which separated it from all earlier releases.

Robert - who is known for his 3D work on 'The Polar Express' and 'Beowulf' - explained the process of transforming the film into a 3D masterpiece.

He said: "What we do in performance capture is we capture the actors' physicality, his voice, everything that he does. Then we wrap the digital skin and the digital wardrobe around that actor. That becomes the actor."

Rather than merely using computers to animate the story, performance capture technology records movement from subtle changes of expression to the movement of fingertips and translates this into a more accurate the digital model.

British actor Bob - who portrays both a business associate of Scrooge and a criminal - found the experience of filming in this manner a novelty.

He explained: "They put you in a box covered in sensors, then they put you in a skin tight costume. I looked like a frog, as you can imagine. You also wear a helmet that has got two cameras on which records every expression you make. Because it was covered in sensors, everything you do is recorded in 360 degrees. They can shoot you from wherever they want, and you only have to do it once. It's wonderful."

Colin was also impressed with how advanced filmmaking has become.

He enthused: "A lot of special effect stuff is difficult. I mean, pretending you're being eating by a dinosaur when actually we're sitting on a harness... there is no dinosaur. It feels ludicrous. But this is different. This actually is different because you're there with all the actors and they're where they should be. And there is no camera. You don't even have the artifice of playing in a particular direction."

Although this procedure gives the film a highly-detailed result, Jim admits it isn't an easy technique to master.

He said: "It's perceived by audiences as some sort of voice-over work and, of course, it's a lot more than that. In addition to allowing a complete performance by an actor, you have these wonderful artists who are working in this cutting-edge technology that enhances the performance and takes us to another place and time like never before.

"So in this film, the ghost of Christmas past is a flame - it enjoys illuminating your past. So while we were filming I was standing there going, 'whooosh', 'wooooo'. It really looks cool. My character Christmas present is in the moment. He definitely likes to eat up life. He's kind of like Santa Clause. I had a lot of fun creating him. And then the ghost of Christmas future is really intense. It's not a happy place when he comes around."

With technology, ideas and creativity constantly advancing, this is the first time one actor has been able portrayed seven different characters so simply.

Jim quipped: "Acting alongside myself is really challenging work. But this is such great storytelling, it's so much fun."

Now the cast have been treated to this latest filmmaking fad, it is possible to wonder whether they will want to revert back to traditional acting skills - and whether the heart-warming tale will finally convert them into lovers of the festive season.

'A Christmas Carol' is out now.

By Rachel Jones

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