neoRetro Films

Train of Thought 1st Reveal: Path/Enrage

2009-01-03T02:09:00.001+11:00

"Here is my return to machinima, after my disappearing act (just over two years ago) following the last time I posted here. It has been a long time between machinima drinks. Train of Thought is a follow up series to the Ill Events which was created using Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. This series, created using the ingame technologies from Grand Theft Auto IV, will look at how we construct memory and thought visually. I wanted to show how a train of thought about an important event places greater emphasis on the certain moments (images) that define it. This is only the first reveal, and I look forward to showing where this train of thought takes our 'hero'. More to be revealed."

7 Days of Machinima and an Inspiration

2006-10-30T10:33:00.000+11:00

Well as Ive posted in a couple of the machinima forums, starting December 1st I will be having 7 Days of Machinima in which I will be making one 2-3 minute machinima a day for a whole week. I am doing this to challenge and pressure myself into getting my ideas out into the world and also to improve my craft using my engine of choice, GTA San Andreas. I will most likely be uploading a YouTube link for each video first before following with downloads that I will post here and submit to both machinima.com and machinima premiere. Im also looking for any music people could donate just so each machinima piece is standalone and original, so please email me any random bits of music you have created or would like to create for this project.

I will still be working on "Guidance" but mainly through the storyboarding process and testing technical ideas. After the 7 Days of Machinima (I might think of a better title) I will begin working on Guidance full force.

And now onto my second item, the stunt video that I would name a really awesome machinima music video as well. The creator is Barrett Phillips and he can be contacted via the email seen in the videos credits:
Walk Into the Stunt

I really love this video. The visual style is really impressive and the cinematography is top notch as well. The way the video flows to effortless with the music makes it almost relaxing and a very uplifting experience. Please take the time to watch this. *This is not in any way a neoRetro video, I just wish it was*

Enjoy and will see you all very soon!

New Project: Guidance

2006-10-24T13:09:00.000+10:00

After a wave of inspiration last night I have worked out what my next project will be, the working title is "Guidance", currently I am testing some technical limitations and seeing how I can get my ideas into this machinima project. Once I know I can make it look the way I want to I will move onto scripting, at this point I will most likely be after 4 voice actors, 3 male and 1 female.

More news soon....

The Ill Events: Revelations

2006-10-03T23:46:00.000+10:00

"Well here it is, my little machinima baby. The Ill Events Revelations is a bridging together of the 3 episodes of the Ill Events story. It basically is the complete story in one go. The version of the story has altered dialogue and some little attempts at poetry, some inclusion of voice acting, a completely new edit of the 1st reveal section (to improve the Punish section, and because I no longer had the raw footage of the 1st reveal) and the most exciting part:a 100% original soundtrack created by Cameron Sears. This is an abstract story, and ive taken an experimental approach. The story deals with memories and I tried to make the spaces that characters occupy ones of movement even when the environment is static, as they are always jumping in timelines so I never wanted to linger in a location either. The dreamlike qualities I used to visually present the issues of memory that the central characters encounter. The download I am providing is a lower resolution version so that it will be accessible to more viewers. I will most likely include a HQ version sometime in the future if people request it."
Gerard

The Ill Events: Revelations
Length: 9:26
Size: 54.9mb
Download Links:
The Gamers Alliance (Registration Required)
Filefront
Streaming Links:
YouTube
YouTube Alternate

Unfortunate happenings for Ill Events

2006-09-23T17:11:00.000+10:00

A small update. Due to rendering problems and my lack of free time to tackle them I wont be entering this film into the machinima film festival however the machinimasia festival is still up for grabs so that will now be my focus.

The 'Buy Zone' Revealed

2006-09-17T21:12:00.000+10:00

I thought I'd experiment with a few things and try my hand at machinima with Counter-Strike Source. I think the result was satisfactory, and I hope everyone enjoys it just as much as I did making it.

Special thanks to colibri and treeunit for acting. Colibri and I voiced the characters.

And it is done....sorta

2006-09-13T22:53:00.000+10:00

Well the Ill Events Revelations is now a completed film. I am just running through a rendering issue at the moment but as far as editing and content go, the film is looking at complete as it can be. I am very happy with result and hope that this film will be enjoyed by others and possibly even inspire some to explore their own abstract ideas when it comes to filmmaking, made so much simpler by machinima. Once the render is done I will send a copy of the film to those who were involved in the process of making it. I have yet to decide the mode of its release. I plan to put it up for the possibility of selection for the machinima film festival and therefore I may wait until that piece of business is over with before making the film public.

On another positive note I would like to announce that The Ill Events: Revelations will also be a proud entrant into the first machinimasia film festival. I will be entering the piece into the Open category of the festival. Machinimasia is the Asian branch of the AMAS which started in America. I hope to an active contributor through my work. Through machinimasia, machinimators in Asia will have a local body that will promote this artform locally and also allow for the unique diversity our part of the world to shine through strongly

Modus Operandi Crew

2006-09-01T03:08:00.000+10:00

I have started a new crew for both Vice City and San Andreas called 'The Modus Operandi'. Yes, we are a stunting crew, but not in the fashion you're thinking of. Our mission is to come up with new stunting methods and creations for others to take and try themselves. Therefore, you won't see us doing much BSMs or packerbumps in our stunt videos.

If you are interested in becoming part of the crew, or you just want more information, click here.

New things are coming your way

2006-08-31T08:33:00.001+10:00

Hey guys.

I've been starting to get into newer and better things in the GTA community, therefore I am putting future episodes of Abandoned on hold for a bit to work on other projects, both for NeoRetro and the GTAStunting community. Expect new themed videos, along with radio broadcasts from me as well as the other DJs.

Final phase pt. 2

2006-08-24T02:01:00.000+10:00

Im looking at getting the Ill Events done very soon, in the final tiny minute moments of editing so I can feel it is just right for me. As for the future, my next project I am going for a simple and more conventional story with a nice happy ending to it all. The working title for this piece is "Blind Date", the central part of the piece will involve a male character who has been a bit down in the dumps as he has been recently blinded by an unfortunate accident. The film will be a conversation between the male character and a female friend who is in the process of driving him to a blind date, all the while assuring him that this person will be what he needs....the ending to it all is what I am most excited about. Stay tuned, I will be looking for two major voice acting parts for these characters and a minor female part, as well as skinners to work on some custom content for San Andreas for this film. More news once I get stuck into some scripting

Projects: New Phase

2006-08-14T10:09:00.000+10:00

The Ill Events is now in its closing stages, I have been making some final editing touches and the 3rd version of the soundtrack is pretty much perfect. On future projects I have some basic conceptual stuff done, I basically have the world of my next film in my head I just need to flesh out a plot. I also have been compiling a list of areas that will require custom texturing. This is a bascially an informal shoutout for a gfx artist/skinner for the next film. If you are interested please contact me via email and show me some of your previous works. Also a familiarity with texture editing in GTA San Andreas is preferring but not required, in fact a copy of the game is not essential as I can assist you with relevant files

Cheers all

My absence

2006-08-09T04:13:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone.

I would like to apologize to everyone for my recent absence. I didn't have internet connections for a long period of time, and on top of that school is starting again, so I was having trouble getting back on track. But it's safe to say that now I am back for good, and I am getting back into the routine of producing more episodes of Abandoned.

I wanted to keep this as short and brief as possible. Thanks.

Chock full

2006-08-04T15:56:00.000+10:00

Well I have been busy. Im back at uni for another semester and MIFF is on once again (Melbourne International Film Festival), so right now machinima is having a short rest. I am just working on fun little projects for little forum based contests and challenges. However I have my new idea for an arty kind of machinima piece that I am really focussed on. Speaking of the fun little machinima projects here is my entry for the 3rd 1 minute movie contest over at Brittanica Dreams (check links on the right). Its a monologue from a classic movie that has many classic scenes (this one just happens to not be one of those) Try and guess it, then head down to the 1 min movie challenge site and check out all the other great entries

A Person Like Other People

All I have is the link as YouTube is getting maintenance as I type this...well check it when you can and I will embed the video ASAP. Cheers all

And again....

2006-07-28T13:38:00.000+10:00

Well I've just finished another week back this semester at uni. I can see it will be fun over the next few months trying to get some machinima work done. On that front, I've have visually reached a point I am happy with for The Ill Events, at the moment Cameron is working through the soundtrack and I have just received the main voice acting audio. I have also just completed my entry for the 3rd One Minute Movie challenge over at Brittanica Dreams, this was quite an indulgent piece for me. It containts one scene from a great movie that has always stuck out for me. The movie itself is known for some classic moments in cinema, but this one really works for me, so I've done it shot for shot, as best as I could to recreate it in GTA, which at times caused me to use a bit of creative license, but nothing that ruined the feel of the minute of cinema. On another note I shall begin making another film for a small forum based contest over at GTAstunting.com. This film must be made using a GTA game and must be an action movie between 2-10 mintues long. I look forward to making this for the challenge it provides on a technical level, I have the idea in my head and a number of key shots I want, it is the parts in the middle that will frustrate.

On another point The Days After machinima has been rereleased by Apollo Productions with a new original soundtrack done by Overman, this is presumably to make it more festival friendly given the upcoming Machinima Film Festival. And I find it hard to believe they would've been able to get permission from Coldplay's label...bit too much money their for those music industry bigwigs to not kick up a fuss

Activity buzzing...

2006-07-22T11:17:00.000+10:00

Well its almost time for my holidays to end. I really look forward to this semester in ways because I will be doing a subject that is purely for indulgence, Hong Kong cinema. Anyway only time will tell whether or not this will affect my production rate. On the Ill Events front, I have acquired one voice actor who I have worked with in the past, and at this point I will attempt to do the other minor voicing part. The soundtrack is being created by Cameron as we speak, I would give you an ETA but I hate deadlines so I dont have any expectations for it at any time just yet.

Im in the process of brainstorming my next piece, at this point it involves carrying my notepad everywhere and scribbling down any ideas that jump into my head. I want something a bit more talkie and I have a concept ready I just need a plot.

I have my storyboards done for my new entry for the 1 min challenge on Brittanica Dreams, check their website (links on the right hand side of this page)

Cheers all

1 and 2 and 3

2006-07-18T01:51:00.000+10:00

This post has three things of note....

The first is that I've just rendered the first beta of The Ill Events: Revelations (the working title). So I shall be sending it over for Cameron to start work on the soundtrack. I am also still in the market for some voice actors. So please let me know if you are able to assist me in this regard

Second point is one of the best GTA machinima films ever put out. The Days After by Apollo Productions. It excels in all areas. The composition is exsquisite and the dialogue some of the best I have encountered in a machinima film. I'm sure you will be hearing much about this in machinima circles very very soon.
Check it at
Apollo Productions

And on the point of good machinima I'm happy to spread my delight at the announcement of the 2006 machinima film festival. All details are posted here:
2006 Machinima Film Festival

More progress

2006-07-14T13:37:00.000+10:00

Today...

I've edited the new footage and made my desired changes to the 2nd and 3rd reveals. I have tried to link up the story more coherently now that all the 3 films. One of the main aims of mine in including new footage to these latter stages is to have graphical tie ins to certain parts. And also to introduce certain areas of the story before they are actually narratively employed. To take a filmic example, the Tyler Durden subliminals in Fight Club. We know the character before the narrator ever meets him, as we have the prior visual cues given to us in a sneaky way.

Other changes that I've made are some adjustments to dialogue in the 2nd reveal section, the original "Genesis" section dialogue doesent quite stick well now in the scope of what I went with in closing the story. Another treat I've included is some nice little prophetic style poems as well, which I am quite proud of.

Tomorrow...
I go about completely editing the remake of the 1st reveal. The footage is shot I just have to throw it together in a way that does the original justice.

Well thats me for another post. I hope you enjoy your weekend

Stuff from me, stuff from others

2006-07-12T11:12:00.000+10:00

An update on The Ill Events front. I've been using bits and pieces of my spare time to get some of the new footage and I can almost safely safe all the new footage is captured. Now I move onto completely remaking the first reveal. On a separate note Cameron "DJ Mabus" Sears has offered to assist me on the music front for this machinima production, so you will be getting a whole new soundtrack when this baby lands. Check his websites out if it pleases you:
http://www.cameronsears.tk/
http://www.dnbmassive.net/mabus/

On another note, the Bloodspell development blog has made an interesting and extensive post regarding their promotional techniques. An interesting read and one I enjoyed getting my teeth stuck into (check the comments)
http://community.livejournal.com/bloodspell/

And now for something completely different...

2006-07-09T23:46:00.000+10:00

Monty Python quotes...love em. Anyway the next treat I will present on this site in terms of a machinima film will be The Ill Events, a complete unabridged version of the story I have told in the 3 reveals thus far. I will capturing some new footage to flesh out the tale even more and also completely recutting the 1st reveal. This is primarily because I no longer have the footage on my pc, due to the fact that the 1st reveal was originally just an engine experiment. Tomorrow I have a full day in which I will re-shoot the original reveal as close to the original as possible and then start working on both new footage and incorporating them into the current story structure. The end result I hope will be a clearer story, although my aim is always to be a bit vague and obscure, and a single film to encompass this tale.
On a side note I am also looking for a composer to write a original piece of music I can use for the titles, inserts and credits of The Ill Events. If you have viewed the 3 reveals and feel you can throw something together that is thematically consistent (even a simple single instrument tune might be all I'd need) If this does interest you hit me on this site, or email me.

Cheers all and enjoy the World Cup and Wimbeldon finals

2 Men 4 Wheels

2006-07-06T20:00:00.000+10:00

The entry I made for the July 6th One Minute Movie Challenge (see links on right to look at the challenge page on Brittanica Dreams) Try and guess the sin that this film relates to :) I wanted to work with vehicles in this video, as I had yet to use them in a machinima film where I had direct control of their movement. I have a YouTube streaming version for you. This is just for fun so I figure a download wasn't really needed. However if you do like it and want your own copy there is a download link for it at The Gamers Alliance website, its just you need to register to download files from TGA. Well without further ado, I present the film. Enjoy!

On a Digital Fringe

2006-07-06T18:19:00.000+10:00

In my browsings I noticed a news item on Machinima Premiere adversting for the Digital Fringe element of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The site is here with all the details and I think I may produce an entry for the festival, given its focus on new media and also the visual elements. As any work will be screened without sound I see this as a great opportunity to flex my creative muscles within limits, something that I quite enjoy doing. The website link is below please check it out....

Digital Fringe

The ILL Events 3rd Reveal

2006-07-02T23:27:00.000+10:00

Here it is the closing film for my Ill Events series. I worked very hard to tie up the series and enjoyed making this episode so much I plan to use the Ill Events storytelling format in my next machinima series I plan to make. At this point I don't have any download links (they are up now!) so bear with me but I have the embedded YouTube streaming option as per normal (although some of the more subtle parts of the audio are lost, making some of the editing choices look odd in this case).

The 3rd reveal, the end of this story.
Battles: The final climax: the battle before the two figures in this story? Or a past battle, a source of the Ill Events
Revelations: What is revealed? Who gains more knowledge, and to what end?

There have been six Ill Events in this story, only now with the 3rd Reveal are they all available to view and decipher. Go over them and determine what you feel the Ill Events story is, and what you think it is concerned with. I hope you have enjoyed this series and please email me if you want to make a comment beyond the standard websites. Cheers

The Ill Events 3rd Reveal: Battles/Revelations

Soundtrack taken from:
Silent Hill 1 & 3 Games OST's
The Fifth Element OST

Downloads:
Filefront
The Gamers Alliance (reg. required)

Completed

2006-06-28T19:18:00.000+10:00

I spent most of today getting final captures and editing the Third Reveal. I am now in the process of getting links for this little gem, this may take a while as I said in my last post my bandwidth has been exceeded this month. I am beyond happy with the result of this piece, it has the action, the emotional impact and the story elements I wanted to include. Im also happy to say that it holds up rather well as a stand alone piece too, but obviously the complete Ill Events package is a must. Anyway while I get this film ready for release I will leave you all with the title.

The Ill Events
3rd Reveal: Battles/Revelations

Have a good day all, and I look forward to posting the film soon!

When it happens you know...

2006-06-28T01:55:00.000+10:00

I recently completed my entry for the current One Minute Movie Challenge. I am quite happy with my first attempt at the contest. The film is a pretty standard fair which I made taking the challenge at face value. I hope in the future to be more creative in my approach to these challenges. It is this film and another non-machinima GTA video that have taken up my time recently therefore...

I have made little progress on the Third Reveal in the Ill Events. The concept and story are pretty much sorted so it is really just a matter of me getting onto doing it. I plan to do alot of work on it tomorrow. My other project while needing to be completed will not be able to be uploaded until next month as I have exceeded my monthly bandwidth.

My third point and the most exciting is that as of tonight I have most definitely worked out my major machinima piece which I will start once I have completed the Ill Events. It will be my take on a section of a well known piece of literature which conjures up some great imagery, imagery which I would like to translate into the machinima form. The story will contain 8 parts and I hope to have full voice acting and an original soundtrack as well (please feel free to contact me if you would like to assist me in these areas). I as yet do not know whether I will release these parts in episodic form or as a whole, it will depend on how long the piece will be once Ive done some storyboarding/scripting. I have spent the last few hours jotting down ideas and doing in-game "location scouting" and feel confident I will be able to articulate the vision I currently have inside my head and want to let loose.

On this point I will sign off, a very excited machinimator

The One Minute Movie Challenge

2006-06-25T23:42:00.000+10:00

Britannica Dreams have started up a nice little challenge where you make a 1 minute machinima film, based around the theme. The aim is to an interpretation of that theme and make machinima film from those. I personally love this idea and plan to be regularly involved.
1. I see it as a great opportunity to interact more closely with some other members of the machinima community in a friendly and creative way
2. It is a great way for me regular work within San Andreas using San An Studios therefore honing my skills for my other films
3. It sets boundaries for me to work within and be challenged by which I think is always a bonus

So do yourself a favour and head on over to the site and take a look. I hope to get my film for the "Name That Sin" challenge that is currently up at the moment in which I plan to showcase the car customisation feature of San Andreas.

One Minute Movie Challenge Site

I've also posted it in the links section of our little site so you don't need to find this post

See you all later

Machinima Links

2006-06-21T02:54:00.000+10:00

Howdi folks,

If you like this whole machinima deal that seems to go own round this site and many others please check out and become involved in the Online Machinima Festival. It is run by the good folks at Machinima Premiere it will give machinima creators another avenue of recognition in addition to the current machinima film festival. If this is interesting to you please go over and sign up to show those involved there is a dedicated base to which this project can move forward from.

3rd Reveal, initiated....

2006-06-21T02:21:00.000+10:00

Well I have officially begun shooting the 3rd Reveal today, again this reveal will have tell us of two ill events that make up our story...however Im mixing it up with flashbacks within one of those. I thought I would tease you all with a capture of two of the shots I've just finished making, it is raw footage, so it is not centred or properly bordered yet

Enjoy!
Pic 1
Pic 2

A little update on things

2006-06-19T05:35:00.000+10:00

Well, I haven't been posting much lately, and that's because I just got off for summer break yesturday. I've had family over for the past week now and they'll continue to be here up until about Wednesday, and that's why I haven't been updating as much as Gerard.

I did, however, happen to complete Abandoned - Episode 3. It is sketchy - There was 2 editing mistakes that I didn't spot while in the editing process and it's there. I don't have access to my original clips or my edited file, so hopefully you guys won't suffer too much.

FileFront Link

TGA and YouTube links are soon to come.

Third in a row...originality through repetition I say

2006-06-18T16:05:00.000+10:00

Machinima.com has made Maxwell's Abadoned Episode 1 the feature film for today...coolies

Check: Machinima.com

Only 24 hrs more and I will be free from another semester of university work, and onto making the 3rd Reveal...I cannot wait for that

B-ball on Planet Grand Theft Auto

2006-06-17T19:16:00.000+10:00

Always the one for self promotion I am happy to show off another site that has featured B-ball. www.planetgrandtheftauto.com, one of the best spots for GTA news. I contacted Jordan(d8cam) with information about B-ball has he has been kind enough to put up a download link for B-ball and give it a good write up as well. If anyone comes here after seeing the video from PGTA, thanks for watching and I hope to get more works out to you soon.

Link: PlanetGTA

B-ball on Machinima.com

2006-06-17T10:57:00.000+10:00

B-ball is now available on Machinima.com
Machinima.com Link
Please visit and stream it here and comment on the forums. Thanks

Abandoned Episode Two

2006-06-16T12:06:00.000+10:00

Hey guys...sorry for the slight delay. Been having some problems with my PC.

Here are some links for Episode Two of Abandoned. It is a short episode, but it was worth the length...you'll see what I mean.

FileFront

The Gamers Alliance

YouTube (Stream)

Episode Three is in developements at this moment, so expect another post from me later this evening.

Approaching with caution

2006-06-15T16:33:00.000+10:00

After the release of B-ball I've gone into a bit of a rest period in filming things. I have three ideas in my head, one being the 3rd reveal and the other two original ideas for new pieces. I have one more exam to go on Monday and after that I will be selecting one of the three to commence production on. Be sure to watch this space for more GTA machinima soon.

Also Maxwell has just finished the Abandoned Episode 2, so keep an eye out...it will coming to a server near you very soon.

Updates updates updates

2006-06-13T18:46:00.000+10:00

Well after finishing off B-ball I took the weekend off to just chill and celebrate my birthday. Now I have one more mid-year exam coming up next Monday. Current plan: attempt to do some study and sort out general shot and story ideas for the 3rd Reveal in the Ill Events story so I can dive right into shooting once the exams wind up. A couple of interesting machinima pieces that have caught my eye recently have been:
Synthetic
A nicely shot Sims 2 machinima with a great soundtrack choice and good editing to boot, really helped the mood for the piece alot

Trashtalk
I'm really getting into this show, and its regular releases are both entertaining and informative

Select-Start
Interesting, I've recently gotten around to watching episode 1.5 and episode 2. Two entertaining and unique comedic works. With this and all the other good machinima series coming up I can see my monthly bandwidth dying very quickly

See you all later :)

B-ball Release!

2006-06-09T18:24:00.001+10:00

Well here is my first fully voice machinima video I have made specifically to enter in Red vs Blue Toronto Machinima Festival

Anyhoo this is the epic tale of a contest between two superman warriors that will shake the foundations of society to the very core. Or maybe its a couple of guys playing basketball I forget. Anyway enjoy this streaming version. I will have some download links up for this as soon as I can. But for now enjoy!

Voicing:
Shane Basket: Solaris/Maxwell (my partner in crime here)
David Hoops: Neo Anderson (another awesome machinimator in the VC engine)

B-ball

Download links can now be found here:
Machinima.com
Direct machinima.com link
PlanetGTA

Its been a good day or two for me

2006-06-08T10:44:00.000+10:00

To note my post from a few down, The Ill Events 1st Reveal....is the feature film on machinima.com, which is quite funky! Yeah I'm just gloating, its been a good day or two for me. Anyhoo off to do some film work, all inspired now...

The OLD Abandoned Episodes

2006-06-07T10:19:00.000+10:00

Upon scouting out the GTAStunting Network Forums, I came across a link to a download that contains all of my old Abandoned episodes.

Let me explain...
I started the Abandoned series back somewhere in 2005. I made three episodes then quit for a while, due to personal issues. It was put on hold for a long time and just recently I have jump-started the series back to health, due to the popular demand.

So, if you want to check out some of the old-school stuff that started it all, click here.

Be warned though, I wasn't too familiar with the Vice City Cam Hack back then, some shots are horrible, the audio is pathetic, the quality is terrible...but hey, it's what started it all. :)

Enjoy.

The ILL Events 1st Reveal on Machinima.com

2006-06-07T00:28:00.000+10:00

A short little thing from me but The Ill Events 1st Reveal can now be found at machinima.com for download. I also wish to welcome Maxwell on board neoRetro films.

New face at neoRetro Films

2006-06-04T19:34:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone. The name's Maxwell, and Gerard graciously invited me into the neoRetro Films production team (even though it's only me and him so far - but hey, two's a team).

Mainly I'd like to talk about my machinima series called Abandoned. It is shot entirely in the game Grand Theft Auto Vice City, and is inspired by the blockbuster hit 28 Days Later. The film is about a deadly epidemic that is released in the heart of the United States and quickly spreads, crippling the nation and leaving only few survivors. Within four weeks the whole country is quarantined. No military, no government...no life. Everything is dead...or is it?

Abandoned - Episode One
Runtime: 4:07 minutes
Soundtrack: Godspeed You Black Emperor! - East Hastings

Stay tuned for more episodes of Abandoned.

Download Links can be found here:
http://www.machinima.com/PHPBB/viewtopic.php?t=6315

Daily musings

2006-06-04T16:58:00.000+10:00

Well tomorrow is the first day of three days straight for my mid-year assessment. I won't be on much hopefully (unless it has all gone to hell, which means you will hear about it). I plan to put out my B-ball machinima piece next, basically having a clean slate and focussing on the whole third reveal to tie up the ILL Events, it will be longer and reveal some basic elements of the plot so everything will make more sense for some, but also it might cut off possibilities viewers have thought up that I hadnt conceived. B-ball will be a much more conventional machinima, and definitely more fun to watch.

A note on other machinima out there I would recommend the following videos which I have watched and enjoyed of late:
Gorahyantee:
A machinima music video made using the extremely nice looking Uru engine. A unique and soothing piece and well worth your look. Marten manages to use a quite unique engine and really take advantage of some of the cool sequences the game affords
http://www.machinima.com/films.php?id=2382

Super Smashed Brothers:
Whilst quite amateur in presentation and concept the use of the Smash Bros engine effectively is what made this machinima stand out for me. The story has possibilities and their are a host of other characters that could get a look in. I hope the creators get more of these out
http://www.machinima.com/films.php?id=2485

Thats all for me

The ILL Events 2nd Reveal (Release!)

2006-06-03T11:52:00.000+10:00

I have now completed The ILL Events 2nd Reveal: Trek/Genesis

I have tried to maintain the abstract feeling of the first reveal and the dream-like nature of it but also move into some of the core elements of the story. I leave little dialogue and alot open so that the viewer can make of it what they will. The soundtrack again utilises the score of Silent Hill 2 games

The ILL Events 2nd Reveal: Trek/Genesis
Music taken from the Silent Hill 2 OST

Download links can be found here:
http://www.machinima.com/PHPBB/viewtopic.php?t=6296

History of Cinema to be the History of Machinima

2006-06-03T01:59:00.000+10:00

Machinima itself can be defined by its title as machine cinema, and most commonplace machinima projects appopriate many of the elements of modern cinema. I was thinking about the beginnings of machinima the other day in what are called "quake movies" short highlight reels or demos of often spectacular frags in multiplayer gaming sessions. These highlights were then edited together into movies, which showcased a selection of similar spectacle like frags in a single viewing. From this practise we saw the what is arguable the first machinima movie "Diary of a Camper" made by The Rangers. The Rangers saw this medium as an avenue for telling stories that up to that point were found in the cinema, on television or in fiction.

The point of this short history lesson is that it can paralleled with the history of cinema itself. Early film productions were shown in vaudeville like shows which traditionally consisted of a number of separate acts following eachother, each not linked by a common narrative. Some of the earliest filmic produce was utilised by magicians to create visual illusions or spectacular events. Even now we see the similarity of this early form of cinema with quake movies as I have already mentioned. Then at some point somebody, just as The Rangers did, decided to adapt the story telling methods of the theatre and fictional stories onto the screen.

I reflect on these histories and look to see what I enjoy most about both cinema and machinima. I enjoy films and machinima movies that do something unique or are willing to experiment. However I bring up the 'Summer Blockbuster' and feel now that machinima has created a similar form. I compare the effect of The Matrix on films that followed it to the myriad of Halo machinima films that are made as a result of the fandom of the ever popular Red vs Blue series.

The machinima films I find are the best indication of a unique movement forward in machinima are those who use engines that have not been made popular, as a result I am more likely to download and comment positively on a Deus Ex machinima film of low production value than a polished and shiny 'blockbuster' Halo machinima. These are just my thoughts and I am aware that some peoples investment in machinima is quite varied and therefore the ease at which certain engines allow for machinima production are a factor. On this note I outline the fact that Halo is extremely similar to many many other multiplayer fps engines but is so widely known and has such a mass consciousness associated with it, it restricts the creativity of the machinimator. I would therefore make a call to all to put down your Halos and pick up your Uru's or utilise your Smash Bros. This could give you another avenue to express yourself.

1st Reveal on Machinima HQ

2006-06-02T09:49:00.000+10:00

I'll just say cool.

Machinima HQ are now hosting The ILL Events 1st Reveal on their website. Head over there and go to their drama section and give it another look. Also be sure to use their "show this video to a friend" button.

www.machinimaHQ.com

Also if your logging on here and getting a really crappy looking site, I am just working through some template issues and it will be looking nice and purty soon.

PEDS Episode 13 Released!

2006-06-01T11:14:00.000+10:00

(subheading: I procrastinate alot!)
The guys over at Pawfect films have released the season 1 finale to their PEDS series. Episode 13 titled "All Good Things". The PEDS series is a must see for all those who enjoy/watch GTA machinima, machinima in general or are breathing and have keyboard. If you dont know PEDS, then head over and start cracking on the whole swag of season 1 episodes

All these are available at:

www.pawfectfilms.com
Enjoy

Stumbling forward...

2006-06-01T10:35:00.000+10:00

Well knee deep in my exam period I can't help but procrastinate sometimes. At the moment I have two machinima projects in the works:

B-ball
I'd say this project is about 80% finished, I have been working on it since I completed the first reveal (which was quite a while ago) All the visuals and most of the audio are slotted in. I am just looking to get a friend to create a custom soundtrack for it and it should be ready to go

The ILL Events 2nd Reveal
I have begun the video capturing and have the base story of the two ill events I will reveal in this release. For this reveal I am aim to continue the mood set up in the first but also give the plot a bit of a kickstart. Remember:

The events have happend and the order is muddled, once all the reveals are shown the story will come out

Up and running...and a time to reveal

2006-05-31T17:16:00.000+10:00

The opening of a brand new blog to distribute and publish to works of my little machinima film making label of sorts "neoRetro Films". This is a central location to get my works out in a manner that I have more control over. I have experience with the GTA engine from making stunt videos so I also plan to continue to do so for machinima.

The main tool I am using is called San An Studios, made by the guys at Pawfect Films, the creators of the PEDS series. If you have an interest yourself in San Andreas based machinima I suggest you check it out. There homepage is in my link section

The first manner of business is the presentation of my first real machinima release. The first part of The ILL Events. This is the first of a series in which 6 ILL events will be presented in 3 reveals (episodes). The story has occured, we are just watching what each reveal shows us, not necessarily in order and not necessarily linked closely in time. There is more to reveal, and I hope to do so soon.

The ILL Events 1st Reveal: Punish/Awaken
Music: Tracks were taken from The Silent Hill OST, The Silent Hill 2 OST and the Fifth Element OST

Alternate download links can be found here:
http://www.machinima.com/PHPBB/viewtopic.php?t=6241

This is my opening...and a long time yet till I plan to close