A Little Tweak Here...

And a little tweak there. And boy have I been doing a lot of that! :) With the school year back in full swing and now the next course I'm taking, free time is scandalously short. :( It doesn't mean production has stopped for me - it just means it's switched gears and slowed to a crawl. But I'm still having fun, nonetheless.

The voiceacting front has picked up a bit for me which is awesome. A few weeks ago, Raven2angel's "Echoes" was released with mostly positive feedback on many aspects - set design, atmosphere, facial animation, and the VO work. I was really glad to have been a part of that production because the tone was something a bit different from what I had attempted before and I found it a bit of a challenge. But it seems to have all worked out well so big kudos to Raven for her vision and attention to detail. It really made the script come to life. And also kudos to my co-actor, ESROTU (Mike) - he had a wonderful voice for the role so I hope he continues to do more voiceacting.

I'm also really pleased to have a role in Rage's upcoming "MEG" production. I've almost finished the script and it's been really engaging. Half the stuff he's planned, I don't know how he's going to pull it off, but I know that he will somehow and it will be a sight to see! :) Also keep an eye out for his soon to be released "Grayskull Ch. 2 - Rise of Hordak" - it's going to be good, folks! Other VO roles include WX_IVAN's "Sting of the Scorpion" and act3scene24's "Untitled", so I'm gonna be quite busy!

So yeah, I'm squeezing in the VO stuff because it's doable right now. Now as for my own films? Again, haven't abandoned but it's just taking a long time. I have started up production again on "Well Done" and here's where that tweaking comes in. When I wrote the script a while ago, it was before iClone 4 came out. In my films, I like to challenge myself to attempt things that aren't necessarily so easily done. Now that being said, what I had set out to attempt in the script before might have been challenging in iC3... not so much in iC4 anymore. iC4 has a lot of introduced features that really makes it possible to easily achieve what I had planned and even more. So with that, I was at an impasse. I need and want to respect the fact that I already have the VO work complete and I still fully enjoy the story. Now my challenge is to find a way to take what I already have and somehow take it even further. I've been introducing a few new scenes that complement the original script without having to rewrite any of the dialogue. I think these new scenes will give it the 'freshness' I was hoping to achieve initially.

I also hope to continue the set building for "Hide And Seek" - this is where my training with stuckon3d's awesome tutorials are really going to be of use. I'm going to try to implement all that I've learned so far into this project so it should be interesting... once I get the time. :)

And finally, I decided to abandon my website. Before I became aware of this animated stuff, I got my feet wet with fanvids for my favorite tv shows. That's where I practiced my video editing, the art of storytelling, study of camera work etc. Anyhoo, the site where my videos were hosted over 3 years had some server problem and they lost all of my files. Not just mine, but a bunch of others' as well. They said they were trying to restore some of the files but asked if we could notify them personally if we were affected and they'd try their best to help. I didn't make a fuss. I didn't get mad. I just did as they asked, left a post, and waited patiently. One week, goes past. No reply. So I left another polite request to find out what was happening. Two weeks - no reply. (Yet I saw other posts were being addressed - by people who made a stink about things.) Three weeks - no reply. After TWO months - still no reply! FILEDEN - do not walk - run away from this company!! I mean, really! Does someone have to cuss you out before they're important enough to deal with? Am I still bitter? Maybe. But a simple acknowledgment that either A) they're working on the problem or B) they're sorry but they can't them back - would have sufficed and I would have been fine. It's basic customer service. AND after 3 years, you'd hope that meant something. There was no cause for my posts to be ignored. Anyhoo, I digress! :)

So yeah, about the same time I was having this issue, I got my mitts on WidgetCast and the lightbulb went off in my head. I still had the low-res versions of my videos on my computer - at least it was something. So I said to myself, "Self, why not just put them all in a widget and stick it on my blog instead?" And so the tweaking began! I uploaded those files to a NEW host, poured over tutorials to figure out what I was doing with WidgetCast and I'm happy now to have all my past works as well as current projects all organized in one tiny widget for display. After all the work that went into managing the site, I find this just awesome. So the widget is complete and you can find it on the right. Feel free to take a look through if you've got some time to kill. Keep in mind - the quality of the works will vary. Even then, the goal of my projects was to focus on or learn something new - sometimes it worked out well; other times, not so much. But that's where I came from and I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't start out with that back then. Hopefully I'll continue to get a bit better with each new project, one tweak at a time. :)

Back At It...

Finally! Finally I have a bit of time so that I can get the creative juices flowing once more and get a film or two done. Well, at least started. :)

So what's on the agenda? Well, first off the bat, I've got a few voiceovers I've promised some people so that's getting taken care of immediately. They're interesting roles so it should be a lot of fun. The plan is to get those done by tomorrow. I'm all prepared for a long night. Sipping the coffee as we speak. :D

After that, I want to start working on two projects that are burning a hole in my brain - "Well Done" and "Hide And Seek". Both shorties, but both with some aspect of filmmaking that I really want to practice. "Well Done" I've mentioned before but "Hide and Seek" actually was an idea I've had from before my first released film. It was one that I had previously dismissed as not going to be made but it's been calling to me recently. Yelling actually. And when the muse speaks...

I've also had the pleasure of attending several of Stuckon3d's classes, a worthy investment for those looking to get more out of iClone - highly recommended. I've learned so much and that knowledge has only served to fuel my ambitions to do better and more challenging things. Part of the delay with "Well Done" is because I'm waiting for the Lighting class which is coming in early January. Lighting is so key to that project that I want to get a better handle on it because I'm not satisfied with it as it is. It's lacking something. Can't quite put my finger on it but I feel it. I'm sure that after a class with someone who really knows how to light a scene, I'll be in a better position to achieve what I want.

So, yeah. That's my little update in a nutshell. I doubt I'll be posting again before the weekend so I'll just take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Holiday - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hope everyone stays safe while enjoying the company of family and friends. And a special shout-out to all the friends I've made this year in the Machinima community - you've provided entertainment, support and inspiration which is greatly appreciated. I am very grateful to have found and be a part of this community. All the best! :)

Forging On...

Just had to say - I'm kinda happy but kinda wary at the same time. If you'd remember my post back in June, "History Re-imagined", you'd remember that I was all excited about a real life location/myth in which to ground my initial attempt at a feature length movie. Some main action sequences and events I had brainstormed beforehand seemed to fit perfectly within this structure.

Then I caught wind of the '2012' movie soon to be released. I personally had never heard of the whole 2012 issue and further yet, didn't know a movie about it was being released around the corner. I was really disappointed because my setting also touches on the 2012 mythos and I was thinking that creating it now would be a moot point - surely the 'big boys' would do it better.

But I'm hearing bits and pieces of a ho-hum response to it and that's leaning me to rethink my decision. From what I'm hearing, my vision is going in a totally different direction than theirs, with less focus on the destruction of the world bit. I haven't seen the movie yet and I don't intend to in the near future 'cause I don't want an unintentioned influence on how I develop my own film.

So I'm thinking I'm going to make it anyway - besides, I'd already purchased some props and developed some characters unique to this project so it'd be a shame for them to go to waste. Anyhoo, I had put the project on hiatus when I was still in the brainstorming phase so there's still a ton to flesh out. Don't be expecting it out anytime soon. This baby's gonna take a while.

'Til next time!

It's Been Rather Quiet...

Yeah, I know - silence for months! Yeah, this course I'm taking has completely consumed my life. I go to work, I come home and work on my assignments, I go to class, I come home and work on my assignments, I go to work.... you get the gist. I think my friends even forget what I look like, lol!

But nonetheless, I'm still iCloning - everyday in fact! It's just that it's all for the assignments and there are deadlines and due dates and really not enough time in the day to meet them all but I still try.

But in three weeks, this round will be over and I can get back to the moviemaking for fun! Yay! First order of business - only because I have yet ANOTHER deadline - I decided to cave and try my hand at one of the Star Wars Uncut scenes. I blame Biggs and Dulci. :D I had to grab my scene early cause the choices were running low but I can't even think of starting it until maybe a week before it's due (you only have 30 days). So I'll have to try and whip that one out quick!

Secondly, I'm going to be working on my "Well Done" short - finally. It'll be nice to actually release something again - it's been far too long. Still not 100% sure how I'm filming it but I just hope to try something new and learn something along the way that I can take with me into the next project.

Other than that, I've been dipping my toes into the voiceacting world and having a blast. I was fortunate to snag a role in Killian's Odyssey series - "Episode 6: Secrets and Shadows" that was released recently - excellent episode! I've accepted a few other roles as well in films yet to be released. It's really cool helping to bring someone else's vision to life so yes - definitely something I intend to keep up.

And coming up this Sunday, I'm honoured to be participating in the "Women in Machinima" panel at the MachinExpo 2009 in Second Life along with Dulci, Sisch, Ingrid Moon, Tari Akpokiete, Kerria Seabrooke, Chantal Harvey, and Kate Fosk. Beyond the panel, it's a day of sharing and appreciating accomplishments in Machinima, that spans various platforms, with your machinima peers. You may not choose to attend the whole thing but it's worth it to pop in and take a look around. Watch a screening or two. It should be fun and I hope to see you there!

Well, that's all the update I have time for! 'Til next time! :)

Still Waiting ...

... for iClone 4 - it's torture! But I will be patient - I'd rather I wait and they work out all the kinks than get stuck with a buggy product in haste. But, it's still torture. :)

In the meantime, I've been keeping myself busy. I had my first "official" voice acting gig release in Alley's "The Incidious Wedding" - a short comedic skit. I had a lot of fun doing it, but I have to say it was weird hearing my unaltered voice in someone else's movie. It was exciting not knowing what was going to be done with it and watching the script come to life. I was also fortunate to get a role in Killian's upcoming Odyssey Episode 6 - get crackin' buddy - I can't wait! :D

As for my own projects - they're still on hold until iC4 is released. But I am working on scripts and costumes. My sci-fi "unnamed" flick has been running rampant around my head - still don't have a concrete plot, but I'm working on it. I've gotten a jump on my outfit for "Well Done". Still learning my way through the Clone Cloth design but I have to pimp Anima's wonderful resource again - AnimaTechnica's Production Diary - hats off to you, Gabe!

This week he graciously shared his method for clothing design - something that many newbies and even non-newbies struggle with. His insights will definitely help raise the bar in people's films as to the appearance of characters. Not only that, but I feel having this guide out there will help inspire people to actually give designing their own clothing a chance because they have something concrete and easy to follow. I follow his thread closely and try to integrate as many tips and strategies as I can into my style of clothing and set design. I don't want to be an "animaclone" but I want to make my own approach a little bit better.

Anyhoo, here's my latest clothing project for "Well Done" - trying to capture a western essence. I've still got more to add in the way of accessories but all in all, I'm happy with it so far. :)

Got My Fingers In Many Pies...

And damn don't they all taste good - I can't just eat a piece of one!

So my mind has been brainstorming over a few film ideas - I'm up to 4 at the moment. Sure some would say it's better to work on one to completion then move on, but I can't. I'm both a multi-tasker and a procrastinator. If something happens on that one film to derail me for a while, I need alternatives to work on. Be productive with my time, while alleviating the dry spells.

Besides, two of them are shaping up to be quite lengthy (for me). They could end up taking me 6 months or more to get done - way too long to go without cranking out a finished film. "Well Done" seems to be in the running for being the next one finished. The script is finished and the very awesome Goofparade has already completed the lines (thank you!).

I'm really just waiting for iClone 4 to come out so I can get this thing started. I'm trying something a bit different with this one and some of the new additions in iC4 will be a great help. In the meantime, the set is a simple design so that won't take long but I need to start tackling the clothing - that's going to take me a while, I think.

Other than that, I recently finished my first voiceacting endeavor for Killian's Odyssey series (I hope I did OK). If you haven't seen the series yet, go check it out! I have to say I had a blast, getting into character and figuring out how to deliver the lines. I went and got a new microphone, the Apex188 - my headset just wasn't cutting it anymore. And wow, what a difference - night and day! Only downer was that it only comes with a shock mount and not a tripod so I have to balance it on it's edges to keep it stable. But yeah, had fun this go round so it's something I'll probably open myself up to do again for other people's films.

Speaking of other people's films, I've got a ton to watch so that I can do my voting thing for TMU's The Ollies and Bitfilm. Tons of good machinima here so if you haven't seen them, you know what to do!

'Til next time! :)

To Share Or Not To Share...

That really is a big question that has been weighing on my mind for years and some recent events have bought it to the forefront. I'm not talking about freebies and such but more so ideas, strategies, tips and tricks. Now being a teacher myself, I think I come to it from a different perspective - it's more natural I guess to share. But in a community, is there an implied obligation of sharing regardless of what is asked? Is the betterment of the community more important than the benefit of the individual? Do individuals not have the right to hold on to their secrets that they've worked hard to develop without being frowned upon?

Anima's Production Diary. Gabe is generously offering some of his strategies on how he creates his awesome sets. In doing so, he gives up some of himself, some of what makes his films 'his' for the betterment of the community. Now in the grand scheme of things for him, these may not be valuable, 'keep it close to the vest' secrets. But what if we were talking about his clothing designs? Now that is something that I'm sure everyone is impressed by and definitely would like a blow-by-blow to know how to replicate. He may choose to share or not. But with something like that, for me, I'm thinking it wouldn't be fair to ask to put him in the position where he might strongly want to say no but feel community 'obligatory' pressure to say yes. And I'm only speaking for myself. Maybe it's because I try to put myself in their shoes and try to empathize the gravity of what I'm asking against what I would like to know. How important is what I want to know, to that person?

I've seen a few posts on YT for instance, not necessarily just for machinima, where a viewer was impressed by something in a video and asks the innoncent question "How did you do that?" Now that 'something' may have been a complex procedure, perfected over weeks or months - that person's pride and joy. They would prefer to not just give it away on a whim - it's a part of themselves that is for them, not the community. So they politely decline to share that information and then the asker posts an irritated reply or nags them again for an answer. And that's what upsets me - when people don't respect the right of a person to refuse. Does anyone have the right to begrudge them that?

I'm not saying not to ask - that's just my personal hangup (which I know I should work on). I would just feel bad imposing on someone and possibly putting them in an uncomfortable position. I'd rather research and struggle to figure it out myself until I truly feel I can't get any further without asking.

But what I am saying is that sharing should be voluntary, not obligatory and people need to respect that. We should all do our part to help the community rise as a whole, yes, but not at someone's expense through pressured compliance.