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.