Machiniwhat? Competition

What is your unique perspective on machinima and anymation? Directing? Scriptwriting? Research? Producing? Voiceacting? Reviewing? Special Effects?

I could go on and on...but I'd rather hear from you!

RULES

*Approved software are: TheMovies, iclone, MovieStorm, SecondLife, The Sims (combinations of these are accepted as well). Other game footage is allowed as long as the predominant engine for creation is one of those listed above.
*Voiceovers and subtitles are both accepted
*Entries must be added to the Machinwhat? Movie Competition channel on TMU by April 15th
*Submissions can be any length
*1 entry per participant
*Collaborations are allowed
*Subject material must be related to machinima/anymation

CONFIRMED JUDGES

Hugh Hancock - Author of Machinima for Dummies

Ricky Grove - Actor, machinima maker, author/journalist

db4321 - Dedicated reviewer - a steady member of the TMO (now TMU) community for as long as I can remember.

CONFIRMED PRIZES

*Featured movie on TMU homepage
*Featured on TMU blog
*Live interview on TMOA Radio
*Copy of the book Machinima for Dummies
More prizes TBA


So if you're, say, a voice actor, you could make a movie about voice acting, being a voice actor, the trials and tribulations of voice acting, whatever - comedy, drama, melodrama, horror, documentary....I could see anything from a documentary on how to read a character from the script, to a horror movie about dealing with an insane, controlling director.


Some examples to get your creative juices flowing:

To TMO or Not to TMO by Rileyman

Film Form the Vernacular of Cinema by alainmoreau

iclone Training

Yesterday I had the opportunity to join in on an iclone3 training session run by James Martin. Boy oh boy, was that worth every minute of my time!

Covered areas were some great camera & lighting techniques, as well as some helpful tips on using the timeline.

I've been leaning on James' iclone training videos & written tutorials lately as I've tried to expand my knowledge of iclone, and the session yesterday was a marvelous jumpstart.

Between his tips, the great group and resources at www.coolclones.com, the ever-patient Rainman, and the option of additional sessions with James, I'll have no excuses to not create something interesting with iclone.

My brain is moving & grooving with ideas. I have 4 projects in process right now (I can't help it, my muse is very demanding!). I am hoping to have one ready for thebiz's TMU in SL premier night. That will be a first for our group, so I want to support it if I can.

New project in the works

I don't have a title yet but I do have a new movie in the works. This one will be filmed entirely in iclone3. The best way to describe it at this point is as a glimpse at an alternate Garden of Eden.

Dulci, do you have any teaser screenshots for us yet?
I'm so glad you asked! As a matter of fact, I do...

Here's a shot of one of the main characters:



Not enough, you say?
Here's a shot of the other main character:




Can you tell I've delved into the lighting features in iclone3 (thank you James Martin!)? And no - the green lighting is NOT accidental.

A Life Alone

A Life Alone shows the last few minutes of a woman's life.

This movie is a marriage between iclone3 and TheMovies. Most of the footage is done in TheMovies, but the outside set was done using iclone3 and 3DXchange.

I used the bluescreen in TheMovies to incorporate a few actors onto the iclone3 set, utilizing Ulead VideoStudio.

This movie features original music by StokeStudios and an animated prop by Bongoman.