NIN: Only - SE
In 2007, I created a special version of my Nine Inch Nails: Only music video, specifically for the DivX Film Festival. Using a tool called DivX Author, I was able to create a version of the film that had a menu system similar to what you’d find on a DVD. This video is the “background” that plays underneath the main menu of that special edition.
When I designed these menus, I wanted to make use of some of the more memorable shots from the film, but also wanted to try to emulate a style that I thought would fit what I’ve seen of the way NIN produces their videos and DVDs. As such, you’ll see themes of stillness, distortion, subliminal moments you really have to listen for, and so on. This particular menu background is my favorite of the three I made. There’s something about it that turned out particularly eerie. I’m not sure if that’s because of the soundscape I created, the appearance of a ghost-like figure about halfway through, Trent’s intense whisper at about the 75% mark (and the odd distortion that follows it), or what. Something about the relative stillness seems to amplify those tiny moments of movement and sound. Similar “easter egg” moments were put into the other two menus as well.
Oh, by the way, the film ended up winning Second Prize as well as Best of Genre (Music) in the festival, up against films made with other animation techniques and even live action. That fest as a whole was a very nice showing for machinima.
If you’d like to get your hands on the Special Edition and see the whole package, you can get the file here:
http://z-studios.com/dl.php?of=16
You must play this with the free DivX Player in order to get the menu system working properly:
http://www.divx.com/divx/
EDIT- Also, you can watch all three of the menu backgrounds here at Vimeo:
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These are cool, they have the feel of security cam shots, maybe that’s part of the creepy feeling..waiting for something to happen.
Comment by Kate — September 5, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
The ghost figure was cool. . . reminded me a little of the cover of Beside You In Time. I’d love to do a NIN-themed movie. . . I’ve played around with the idea before with those little black and white shorts I was making but now I kind of want to do a movie around Ripe (With Decay).
The church bell in Menu 2 was a very nice touch too. A subtle, but haunting touch, as was the phone effect in 3. Original music in 3, aside from the vocals?
Comment by kradproductions — September 5, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
Ha, great editing Phil, feels like a scray face is going to pop onto the screen and scare the *beep* out of me. You could have the vicar’s face suddenly pop up on the screen the same you did with the body, it would make people jump. Hehe.
Comment by Trendy_Hendy — September 10, 2008 @ 7:39 am