Machinima - Gaming And Flimmaking Converge by Madison Lockwood

This word is a combination of the terms 'machine' and 'cinema' and it was created to describe an intriguing artistic form developed by computer gamers that also happen to be a new form of "modder". For years, modders have been adapting the structure of computer games - usually a first person "shooters" - to build new "levels." Most of these games are broken into sequences; what modders have been doing is devising their own level or "maps" that are, in essence, additional game content, presenting the player with new obstacles and new interactions with the villains.

With machinima, these technicians have taken the process several steps further. They have dismantled the game's apparatus completely and utilized it to build movies, TV shows and other creative video presentations. The video material is driven by the game's 3D engines and, of necessity, features many of the characters within it. These characters, however, can be provided with a voice overdub and manipulated in their on-screen movements so that their game persona is completely altered.

Endless Possibility

One machinima created from the Interplanetary shoot-out Halo has been converted into a talk show with weekly segments. The special effects are harnessed to create new actions for the characters and their personalities are defined by the voice-over, as provided by the amateur film maker who has assembled the pieces of this video art. Action sequences can be created that are completely different from anything in the game; it's the characters, the backgrounds, and the inventory of potential movements that remain the same.

To a perverse, creative mind the possibilities are endless. Rather than creating a small bolt-on addition to the game, they have utilized the game's artwork and technology for completely original productions. The product can then be edited to videotape for a conventional film or, more commonly, distributed digitally. The practice eliminates the need for expensive animation machines and studios for potential movie makers. You can be a backyard film maker and simply upload your completed project for tens of thousands of viewers. If it's well done, the recognition will be quick and meaningful. To those who remember the early days of the web when it was ruled by anarchists, this practice must be a touch of nostalgia.

Machinima: Find It!

The art form has progressed to the point where there is an annual festival that shows films created with the technology. Emmy winning animators are experimenting with the technology and producing products worthy of presentation- and awards - at film festivals. Others have produced music videos using game characters instead of musicians for the video sequences.

Describing Machinima can be difficult, and seeing it for yourself is the best way to understand it. There is a website dedicated to the format at machinima.com which has many of the better and well known productions available for download. There is also a lot of commentary on the state of the art, so to speak, along with production promotions. There is an entire set of "game channels," consisting of machinima productions originating from a single game. In recognition of machinima as a legitimate emerging art form, there are also two national advertisers on the home page. Ads for voice actors and announcement of film premiers - it has all the trappings of a rapidly maturing niche in the film industry.

About the Author

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate, specializing in small business development, for Apollo Hosting. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a wide range of customers.

Machinima: Using Adobe After Effects by Sachin K Airan

When you are creating a machinima independent film, there are a number of different steps that are involved. More specifically there are three levels involved. Basically, this relates to the pre-production, production, and post-production.

Pre-Production

In the pre-production stage of making a machinima film, a bunch of different things need to happen before moving onto the production phase. Sometimes, this is the time when all the planning and preparation occurs

Everything that needs to be done inside this time occurs before the particular filming of any sort of photographs occurs. Across the planning stage of the film, all of the cast and crew must be decided on. Additionally, the backdrops have to be selected in accordance to the story.

All though this time, the story is written and a storyboard is made. With a schematic of the story, this should help with the selecting of the characters as well as any types of changes that must be made. After this stage is completed, then the person is prepared to move onto the production stage inside their machinima film.

Production

During the production stage, this is when the actual recording of the footage takes place. Often, the amount of money and experience a person has effects the kind of recording they use. Some opt to use the tools available within the game, while others choose to use programs like adobe after effects cs5 and premiere pro.

Throughout the production period, dialogue may or may not occur. Mostly, this is dependent on the type of film. In a number of cases, the dialogue isn't recorded until the post-production stage of the film.

Post-Production

This stage occurs after all the filming is finished. This is the time the revising happens. Additionally, through this stage is when changes and additions are made.

Programs e. G the adobe applications often may be employed within all areas of production. One of the downsides in relation to these varieties of applications has to do with their cost. Additionally, there are a few people who find them to be more difficult to use. However, these kinds of applications offer lots more options. Generally, most find they are definitely a good investment if they have the money to get them. Almost all of the adobe applications offer the power to plan and import the projects they do.

In addition, adobe after effects offers the power to tweak and adjust photographs. Additionally, there are a number of animation tools available within the application also. Inside aftereffects, expressions or keyframes are used individually or together so as to animate the layer properties.

The keyframes are used for many different types of properties such as the parameters for audio, effects, and motions. Some of the assorted different animation tools available are the motion blur, smooth motion and velocity. In addition, there are options to add randomness to a property with the wiggler tool. Some other options include the ability to convert audio to keyframes.

About the Author

Machinima is not just a real-time form of 3d animation, it is the art of cinematography in a virtual environment. http://www.machinimart.com is currently in the conceptual phase of a series of short films that, we hope, will prove the value of this exciting new art form.

How Machinima Has Changed: Filmmaking for Everyone by Sachin K Airan

Originally, Quake Films was used to describe what's now known as machinima. Currently, this kind of filmmaking refers to how different bits and pieces are taken from assorted games in order to create a film. Essentially, there are two ways in which people can produce this sort of film.

The first way is referred to as Live Action Machinima and usually involves a FPS game that is networked with various different players. Each of the players connected within the network has a headset, along with a microphone. In most cases, the microphone is only used during times of dialogue within the game.

The microphone generally is only used when there is dialogue within the game. Even so, this may not take place throughout the duration of the production, but rather added during post production. The film footage is represented by either the cameraman or woman. Usually, the characters and settings are used from the game being filmed.

Live Action Machinima is one of the best ways to learn and it allows the particular person to experience filmmaking, which is comparable to the real deal. Almost all of the explanations for this relate to the way in which it allows for people to improvise, as well as act casually, which helps to give the characters more of a pragmatic behavior. Scripted Machinima is the second type and involves having each of the actors controlled through a script that is pre-determined.

Across the filming, the script can be determined either through the mechanics of the game or thru the utilization of the games modding tools. One advantage of the scripted movies has to do with the higher amounts of customization the user has. Now, the sector of machinima has become common to several animation festivals.

A lot of the reason has to do with the rise in competitions, as well as the creators needing to demonstrate their creations. Some of the most common film holidays attended is the London global Animation festival, Ottawa international animation holiday, Sundance Film holiday, Ion Film festival, and the Bitfilm festival.

Due to the increase in popularity, more individuals have started creating their own independent films. In effect, more game developers are starting to include the needed tools within their games, along with other options for the player to make their own film. In some cases, a number of video games allow for the creation of a virtual studio set.

Some examples re the kinds of games that provide these types of tools are the Sims 2, unreal tournament 2004, half-life two, Machinimation for Doom 3, and the Movies. As well as this, there are a number of other games that do not need the use of special tools so as to make a film.

Machinima is not only limited to gaming, but rather has made a lot of developments within the realm of automated storytelling and artificial intelligence. With more technology advancements, this will allow for the newer developments to aid in making it easier for people to make movies.

About the Author

Machinima is not just a real-time form of animation; it is the art of cinematography in a virtual environment. http://www.machinimart.com is currently in the conceptual phase of a series of short films that, we hope, will prove the value of this exciting new art form.