Machinima history will look back on Dec 3rd, 2008, as the start of the great GTA IV machinima flood. The PC version is on sale today (I’ve got it in my hot little hands) and the included editor is freakin awesome. Now, don’t get me wrong, your custom content is limited until the mod community starts hacking away. But in the meantime, there is a ton of potential for machinima in this game. The huge variety of characters and locations, the music and sound effects from the game, the animation sets and the control over your camera are all very neat. It’s almost like the old “re-cam” days are here again. Can’t wait until I’ve got a chunk of time to get down and tangle with this baby.
Here’s a quick overview of how the built-in editor works (just click the image):
And here’s a film released today called “The Amazing Conrad“. It’s a rushed affair, but I think you can see the potential. The camera moves and the characters are really something.
Struggling with trying to keep all of the balls I’ve got going in the air (perhaps I should have re-phrased that a bit….nah). Of course, this is smack dab in the middle of a post Expo haze, or malaise, if you will. When a project you’ve been working on for months finally is finished, it takes a while to get the same level of interest and enthusiasm for other work. I’ve teamed up with James Martin to write a two-part tutorial with iClone 3 for PC PLUS magazine and it’s proven to be a time swallower even though the basic idea is very simple. Phil and I wrote an article for them last month which I think should be published soon. Will keep you updated.
Working hard on trying to get the critiques out for the Expo filmmakers who wanted them Please be patient as it’s so hard to fit it in among all of the other work.
Working with Lightwave 9.5 for a renderosity.com review. It’s my first major 3D modelling/animation package and I’m working with a book and the many tutorials at the NewTek site. They do an excellent job of documenting their product. Trying to get a pipeline going that will take me from Lightwave to 3DXchange and into iClone. We’ll see how it develops. The learning curve (for me) is pretty steep here.
Much excitement surrounding the upcoming release of the PC version of GTA IV and it’s editor. Rockstar has created a kind of “lounge” for people to get together and share their films. They’ve also put together some example films which aren’t too shabby. The real fun will come when all of the modders get their hands on this game. I’d like to direct a sequel to “The Day’s After”.
Sad to read about Zach Scott’s (Lit Fuse) hard-drive meltdown and loss of 8 months of work. I’d stay away from windows and bridges if I were him. I have no idea how much that must hurt. Makes me want to back up my stuff right now.
Gonna try to get some “Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound” shows up. Want to re-create (somewhat) the panel Phil and I did for MFF. Lot’s of good info that I’d like to get to a wider audience.
I am so looking forward to coming to New York for the Machinima Film Festival. Not just to get away for a weeks vacation from work, but to meet my friends and collaborators. After watching 130 machinima films over the last few months, I’m really interested in what people have to say about machinima. I admit it, I’m hooked with this goddamn “production method” (as Matt Kelland calls it). I really want to sit down and have a long talk with friends, make new friends and score some work as a sound designer and actor. James and John Martin are good friends now and I really want to sit down over a plate of pasta and talk forever about iClone and anything else that comes to mind.
I’ll have a temporary cell phone while I’m in New York, so send me an email at rgrove@iliadbooks.com if you want the number. Or just email me and since I’ll have a laptop there, I’ll just check my mail regularly. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Phil and I are going to be doing a panel at 5pm on Saturday on Sound in Machinima. I have to admit we’ve both been so busy, it hasn’t been until recently that we’ve started to outline what we want to cover. Both Phil and I are so full of BS that I’m sure the time will fly. We want to talk about our work on various films, field questions and provide a few practical tips on how to improve the sound in your films. In fact, we mostly hope that those who come to the panel will simply go away with a greater appreciation of how much sound can impact on your film. Please feel free to make suggestions here or catch me during the day on Saturday.
I had a great time this evening taking a guided tour of the Expo set in Second Life. Phil took me to all of he event stations, panel locations, screening rooms, info booths, special company demos (moviestorm, iClone, Antics3d, ZenCub3d), surprise installations and the main stage screen. I am
blown away by how much work Phil has put into this project. And I can’t believe how perfectly designed everything is. At one point, Phil told me he had learned so much in making all of the structures that SL machinima should be a snap for him. I believe it. Not only does everything fit perfectly with our all day program, but it looks so damn beautiful!
Thank you so much, Phil, for all your hard work on this project.
I’ll be playing Far Cry 2 next week, but will probably get killed a lot because I’ll be paying more attention to the props, environments and models than actually playing the game. Why? Because the editor looks damn good. Here’s a youtube vid I found where someone creates a complete map in about an hour (speeded up, of course).
Ricky Grove (aka Richard Grove, "gToon") is an actor, sound effects editor, writer, machinima filmmaker and bookstore clerk all rolled into one. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner, author Lisa Morton, in an apartment filled with books, Hong Kong DVD's and Halloween Antiques. Oh, and there are two swell cats; Roxie and Sylvia.
Current News
Here's what's going on with me this week
-Expo submissions closing this week. A lot of work to do for the Screening Team
-Adobe Soundbooth CS5 review up
-Attending Disney press preview of their new film "Tangled" on Wednesday
