Well, it has been a few weeks since I last posted on this blog and that is mainly because I was extremely busy shooting and editing my footage for my Machinima.
The challenge itself was extremely exciting but sometimes frustrating at times. Shot on green screen inside second life I was able to key in props and backgrounds to all my scenes in After Effects.
A big thanks to everyone who assisted me with getting this production finished....I am quite happy with the end result.
I am seriously thinking of making a series of different Machinima based on the characters in this story....I think I will wait and see the feedback.
I have attached the finished Machinima to this post but it is kind of small, I may consider posting it on youtube or machinima.com at a later date.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
FRAPS experimentation
Today I experimented with FRAPS in second life and was able to use the controls that Dale specified. I will begin shooting soon after costumes are finalised.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Machinima swings into production
Today I worked on getting my props sorted for my Machinima.
Prop #1: Window cleaning rig
This rig is the centerpiece for the Machinima and is where all the action takes place.
Prop #2: Green screen
The action will be shot on a green screen and will be put together as part of the final editing process.
Thanks to assistance by Dale I felt like I made substantial progress in development of these props.
Friday, August 22, 2008
First look at Second Life
I was absent from class this week but managed to set myself up on Second Life.
I logged in, had a look at VU Island....
Interesting because the place looks like the dancing jesus website from an episode of the Simpsons....
I really think children should put their toys away when they have finished playing with them instead of leaving them all over the floor for other students to trip over. :)
I logged in, had a look at VU Island....
Interesting because the place looks like the dancing jesus website from an episode of the Simpsons....
I really think children should put their toys away when they have finished playing with them instead of leaving them all over the floor for other students to trip over. :)
This last pic was taken when I visited freebie warehouse. ....See the lack of toys lying around? :)
I am concerned over how my script is going to come together considering the complex nature and multiple characters that are required to make my script work....I just dont see Second Life as ideal for machinima....perhaps "The Movies" may have been a better option.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The world of taken to the cleaners
Today I was asked to review the world that was being created for the upcoming machinima release "Taken to the cleaners".
Firstly the world is basically similar to the one we live in at the moment, the dominant beings of this world are based on the human species. They are not super human, they are not super bright....they are just ordinary people.
Movement follows the same rules as earth, the beings walk around on two legs....Gravity also plays a part in the world. Like humans the inhabitants of this world breathe oxygen.
Time plays no significant part in the make up of the world, the sun rises and the sun sets. Each day consists of 24 hours, each hour consists of 60 minutes and so on and so forth.
Transport consists of motor vehicles similar to those in use at the moment although these are not featured in the world in the machinima.
Why make a world that is so similar to the real world you may ask?
I created the world like this simply because the world fits the characters and story quite well. If elements of a world is similar to real life then we can easily believe what is happening within that world because we can subconciously relate it to our experiences.
Firstly the world is basically similar to the one we live in at the moment, the dominant beings of this world are based on the human species. They are not super human, they are not super bright....they are just ordinary people.
Movement follows the same rules as earth, the beings walk around on two legs....Gravity also plays a part in the world. Like humans the inhabitants of this world breathe oxygen.
Time plays no significant part in the make up of the world, the sun rises and the sun sets. Each day consists of 24 hours, each hour consists of 60 minutes and so on and so forth.
Transport consists of motor vehicles similar to those in use at the moment although these are not featured in the world in the machinima.
Why make a world that is so similar to the real world you may ask?
I created the world like this simply because the world fits the characters and story quite well. If elements of a world is similar to real life then we can easily believe what is happening within that world because we can subconciously relate it to our experiences.
Machinima Script draft
Machinima Script – (C) Nathan Powell
No part of this script can be reproduced or used without express written permission by Nathan Powell
Story overview
Two window cleaners, Dave and Bill are cleaning windows today at the VU apartments on the VU Island.
Scene 1: EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING – DAY
A window cleaning scaffold slowly rises up the side of a 100 storey building. On the scaffold are two men in overalls, each armed with a bottle of Windex, a cloth, and squeegees. As they unenthusiastically finish cleaning the dirt off the 78th floor, one of the men presses a button on the control panel of the scaffold. The other man startles, and turns to face the first man.
DAVE
Dude, I haven’t finished.
BILL
Close enough.
DAVE
Come on there’s just one corner…
BILL
It’s close enough! Let’s just get this over with.
Dave looks back at the window as it slowly moves out of reach.
DAVE
Shit.
The scaffold arrives at the 79th floor, where they find a man sitting on the balcony, smoking a cigarette.
GLEN
Evening, gentlemen.
BILL
Hey Glen
DAVE
Glen.
GLEN
Busy day today?
BILL
Yeah, as always.
GLEN
How can that be? All you do is wash windows all fucking day.
BILL
As opposed to sitting on a balcony, smoking all day?
GLEN
Ha. Touché. No my friend, I have bigger issues on hand.
DAVE
Like fixing that dripping tap that I see over there?
Glen briefly glances over at the dripping tap and shrugs his shoulders.
Dave gestures to Glenn’s pack of cigarettes.
DAVE
Spare one? If I don’t get some nicotine soon I am gonna die!
GLEN
Sure thing, freeloader.
DAVE
Screw you man. I dropped my packet on floor 20.
GLEN
Ouch. Maybe you shouldn’t of done that. Did it hurt?
DAVE
What do you think?
Dave looks down to the ground, 79 floors below.
BILL
I think I saw some emo douche kid pick them up.
DAVE
The little bastard!
GLEN
You have my sympathies.
BILL
Yeah yeah cry me a fuckin’ river. Next floor.
DAVE
Fine. Catch ya.
Glen salutes them as they go up to the next floor.
Scene 2: EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING – DAY
Bill and Dave scrub away at an unbelievably grotty window.
DAVE
Fucking hell! Can there be any more bird shit on a single plane of glass?
BILL
Ah just shut the fuck up and scrub.
Dave continues to scrub intently at a colossal bird-shit stain as he notices a figure entering the apartment. He pauses and looks as a woman who could very easily be taken for a supermodel moves around, unpacking her groceries.
DAVE
Bill! BILL! Check it out!
BILL
No. The last time you told me to check something out in somebody’s apartment scarred me for life.
DAVE
No! No, this is way better than those two dogs humping old man Winston’s face! Seriously man you need to see this chick!
BILL
No! Just shut the fuck up and do your job so we can go home.
The woman leaves the room.
DAVE
Aww… She’s gone.
BILL
Good.
DAVE
No dude, seriously, she’s hot.
Bill ignores him and continues washing his window. The woman re-enters the room, now reduced to wearing a singlet top and undies.
DAVE
OH! She’s back and slightly less clothed.
BILL
Whatever…
DAVE
No, dude… Dude, no… Seriously… She’s in her undies. I haven’t seen a body like this since Sharon.
BILL
Sharon Freeman?
The woman leaves again, this time into the bathroom.
DAVE
Sharon Clayton.
Bill freezes stiff, and slowly turns to Dave.
BILL
MY WIFE?!
DAVE
What?
BILL
You’ve seen my wife in her undies?!
DAVE
Yeah. And less, if you catch my drift.
Bill glares at Dave.
DAVE
What?
Bill drops his equipment and clenches his fist.
DAVE
Wait a minute… It was before you guys met. We had a fling at my 24th birthday.
BILL
… THAT WAS TWO WEEKS AFTER WE MARRIED!
DAVE (scratching his head)
Really?
Bill furiously begins to strangle Dave, as Dave attempts to tell Bill to stop, however all that comes out is incoherent gargling. The woman returns wearing nothing but a towel, and still doesn’t notice Dave or Bill. She walks over to her phone and checks her messages. Dave notices and looks at her. Bill looks too and sees her, suddenly stopping with the strangling.
BILL
Shit… She does look like Sharon.
The woman sees them both staring at her and startles.
DAVE
Oh cock.
BILL
Fuck! She’s probably gonna call the cops! I can’t lose this job! I don’t want to go back to McDonalds!
But she doesn’t. Instead, she smiles and begins moving her body around in an exotic manner. Bill lets go of Dave and they both watch intently, as if hypnotised.
BILL
Son of a bitch!
DAVE
Niiiiiice.
The woman turns and faces her back to them, then starts to take the towel off.
DAVE
Towel’s coming off!
BILL
Thanks, I couldn’t see that myself.
They both keep watching, their faces now pressed up against the window.
BILL
Towel’s off!
DAVE
That’s right… Turn around…
There is a pause.
DAVE
TITTIES!!!
Bill’s expression suddenly changes from excited to confused.
BILL
What’s that?
Both their faces become horrified.
BILL
OH GOD!
DAVE
MY EYES!
BILL
CHICK’S A DUDE!!!
DAVE
MY EYES!!!
Dave uses his arms to cover his eyes as he stumbles backwards and tumbles over the railing and as gravity takes over begins plummeting towards the ground.
No part of this script can be reproduced or used without express written permission by Nathan Powell
Story overview
Two window cleaners, Dave and Bill are cleaning windows today at the VU apartments on the VU Island.
Scene 1: EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING – DAY
A window cleaning scaffold slowly rises up the side of a 100 storey building. On the scaffold are two men in overalls, each armed with a bottle of Windex, a cloth, and squeegees. As they unenthusiastically finish cleaning the dirt off the 78th floor, one of the men presses a button on the control panel of the scaffold. The other man startles, and turns to face the first man.
DAVE
Dude, I haven’t finished.
BILL
Close enough.
DAVE
Come on there’s just one corner…
BILL
It’s close enough! Let’s just get this over with.
Dave looks back at the window as it slowly moves out of reach.
DAVE
Shit.
The scaffold arrives at the 79th floor, where they find a man sitting on the balcony, smoking a cigarette.
GLEN
Evening, gentlemen.
BILL
Hey Glen
DAVE
Glen.
GLEN
Busy day today?
BILL
Yeah, as always.
GLEN
How can that be? All you do is wash windows all fucking day.
BILL
As opposed to sitting on a balcony, smoking all day?
GLEN
Ha. Touché. No my friend, I have bigger issues on hand.
DAVE
Like fixing that dripping tap that I see over there?
Glen briefly glances over at the dripping tap and shrugs his shoulders.
Dave gestures to Glenn’s pack of cigarettes.
DAVE
Spare one? If I don’t get some nicotine soon I am gonna die!
GLEN
Sure thing, freeloader.
DAVE
Screw you man. I dropped my packet on floor 20.
GLEN
Ouch. Maybe you shouldn’t of done that. Did it hurt?
DAVE
What do you think?
Dave looks down to the ground, 79 floors below.
BILL
I think I saw some emo douche kid pick them up.
DAVE
The little bastard!
GLEN
You have my sympathies.
BILL
Yeah yeah cry me a fuckin’ river. Next floor.
DAVE
Fine. Catch ya.
Glen salutes them as they go up to the next floor.
Scene 2: EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING – DAY
Bill and Dave scrub away at an unbelievably grotty window.
DAVE
Fucking hell! Can there be any more bird shit on a single plane of glass?
BILL
Ah just shut the fuck up and scrub.
Dave continues to scrub intently at a colossal bird-shit stain as he notices a figure entering the apartment. He pauses and looks as a woman who could very easily be taken for a supermodel moves around, unpacking her groceries.
DAVE
Bill! BILL! Check it out!
BILL
No. The last time you told me to check something out in somebody’s apartment scarred me for life.
DAVE
No! No, this is way better than those two dogs humping old man Winston’s face! Seriously man you need to see this chick!
BILL
No! Just shut the fuck up and do your job so we can go home.
The woman leaves the room.
DAVE
Aww… She’s gone.
BILL
Good.
DAVE
No dude, seriously, she’s hot.
Bill ignores him and continues washing his window. The woman re-enters the room, now reduced to wearing a singlet top and undies.
DAVE
OH! She’s back and slightly less clothed.
BILL
Whatever…
DAVE
No, dude… Dude, no… Seriously… She’s in her undies. I haven’t seen a body like this since Sharon.
BILL
Sharon Freeman?
The woman leaves again, this time into the bathroom.
DAVE
Sharon Clayton.
Bill freezes stiff, and slowly turns to Dave.
BILL
MY WIFE?!
DAVE
What?
BILL
You’ve seen my wife in her undies?!
DAVE
Yeah. And less, if you catch my drift.
Bill glares at Dave.
DAVE
What?
Bill drops his equipment and clenches his fist.
DAVE
Wait a minute… It was before you guys met. We had a fling at my 24th birthday.
BILL
… THAT WAS TWO WEEKS AFTER WE MARRIED!
DAVE (scratching his head)
Really?
Bill furiously begins to strangle Dave, as Dave attempts to tell Bill to stop, however all that comes out is incoherent gargling. The woman returns wearing nothing but a towel, and still doesn’t notice Dave or Bill. She walks over to her phone and checks her messages. Dave notices and looks at her. Bill looks too and sees her, suddenly stopping with the strangling.
BILL
Shit… She does look like Sharon.
The woman sees them both staring at her and startles.
DAVE
Oh cock.
BILL
Fuck! She’s probably gonna call the cops! I can’t lose this job! I don’t want to go back to McDonalds!
But she doesn’t. Instead, she smiles and begins moving her body around in an exotic manner. Bill lets go of Dave and they both watch intently, as if hypnotised.
BILL
Son of a bitch!
DAVE
Niiiiiice.
The woman turns and faces her back to them, then starts to take the towel off.
DAVE
Towel’s coming off!
BILL
Thanks, I couldn’t see that myself.
They both keep watching, their faces now pressed up against the window.
BILL
Towel’s off!
DAVE
That’s right… Turn around…
There is a pause.
DAVE
TITTIES!!!
Bill’s expression suddenly changes from excited to confused.
BILL
What’s that?
Both their faces become horrified.
BILL
OH GOD!
DAVE
MY EYES!
BILL
CHICK’S A DUDE!!!
DAVE
MY EYES!!!
Dave uses his arms to cover his eyes as he stumbles backwards and tumbles over the railing and as gravity takes over begins plummeting towards the ground.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
An interview with Dave the window cleaner...
Today we were asked to provide details about our main character in second life.
One of my main protagonists is a window cleaner called Dave..
I caught up with Dave and interviewed him about his upcoming role in my machinima "Taken to the cleaners"
Below is a transcript of the interview in which I tried to get to the man behind the mask of Dave the Window cleaner.
Nathan: Dave, what is your super objective?
One of my main protagonists is a window cleaner called Dave..
I caught up with Dave and interviewed him about his upcoming role in my machinima "Taken to the cleaners"
Below is a transcript of the interview in which I tried to get to the man behind the mask of Dave the Window cleaner.
Nathan: Dave, what is your super objective?
Dave: To wash windows....and drink beer...but mainly to wash windows.
Nathan: How do you see yourself?
Dave: I like what I do man, it is a bit of a no brainer of a job cleaning the windows at VU and it is definately better than that last job at Mc Donalds that my mate Bill and I had...That sucked!
Nathan: If you were a car / food item / alcoholic drink what would you be?
Dave: A lamborghini...A cheeseburger and beer....definately beer...Gee you dont want to know much man do you?
Nathan: I am a trying to give the audience an idea of who you are Dave, that's what I do...
Dave: Sorry man, continue...
Nathan: Dave do you dress to accentuate any part of your body?
Dave: Yeah, my ass! C'mon man I wear plain overalls...I don't dress to accentuate anything!
Nathan: Umm, then you are going to find the next question a little stupid....Do you dress to hide any part of your body?
Dave: Your right man....It is a stupid question....My legs...so I don't get dirty while I clean windows....Is this interview almost over man?
Nathan: Sorry Dave, almost. Ok Next question...What part of your body do you lead with?
Dave: My head!
Nathan: Umm ok....What is your idea of a good night?
Dave: Bill and I go out to a little bar after a hard weeks work and get each other fairly hammered and try get laid.....Not each other of course!
Nathan: Oookay.....And what is your idea of a bad night?
Dave: Who writes your questions man? Umm...My idea of a bad night would be not getting hammered and NOT getting laid!
Nathan: You value your best friend because?
Dave: Bill is my best friend and was with me on the Mc Donalds job and was best man at my wedding.... Bill has been with me through thick and thin and I value him because he has always been there for me...If he was a chick I would probably have married him!
Nathan: Uhh...That's a little creepy Dave.
Dave: Screw you man! It was a joke....
Nathan: Umm...So were my comments Dave!
Dave: Ahh ok, well continue VU Reporter.
Nathan: Almost done...What is your favorite TV Show?
Dave: Knight Rider...I love that f******n car!
Nathan: And finally....How do you relax?
Dave: I already answered this question man....
Nathan: No you didn't!
Dave: Ok, sorry. Umm....My idea of a relaxing night is to sit down in front of the TV with a beer....or two.
Nathan: Ok, thanks for your time Dave and good luck with the upcoming machinima release!
Dave: No problems....See you on set!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Seinfeld....The show that's been watched a million and one times! :)
Today I was forced to endure several episodes of Seinfeld.
It's not like I don't like the show....It's just that I have watched every episode several times....And then some....
It was good however to realise that there was a purpose to the viewing, and that became apparent when we watched the same episode a second....And yes a third time.
I found that each time the episode was played, discussed and Stefan dissected and mapped out the structure for us I was able to see immediately the structures that the writers had followed to make the story work for them.
Being quite an avid writer in my younger days, I have found some of my writing skills have certainly been reawakened since starting this course after being dormant for such a long time.
I look forward to expanding my writing skills over the coming weeks.
It's not like I don't like the show....It's just that I have watched every episode several times....And then some....
It was good however to realise that there was a purpose to the viewing, and that became apparent when we watched the same episode a second....And yes a third time.
I found that each time the episode was played, discussed and Stefan dissected and mapped out the structure for us I was able to see immediately the structures that the writers had followed to make the story work for them.
Being quite an avid writer in my younger days, I have found some of my writing skills have certainly been reawakened since starting this course after being dormant for such a long time.
I look forward to expanding my writing skills over the coming weeks.
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