Overman's Blog http://z-studios.com/blog Thoughts on Machinima and Life, and whether the two can peacefully co-exist Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:28:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 en WOMB http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/09/womb/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/09/womb/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:28:23 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=448 This week I was in the mood to do something different… REALLY different. This is 2d animation all the way, and yes, I am aware that it’s a little strange.


WOMB from Overman on Vimeo.

Tools at play are Pivot Stickfigure Animator and Sqirlz Morph (both freeware), Sony Vegas Pro 8 for video editing, and Cubase SX3 for the music creation. Primary synthesizer at work in the music is called Absynth 4 by Native Instruments.

Worked on it, from concept to completion, for about 6 hours.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/09/womb/feed/ HatHead’s Lively Machinima http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/08/hatheads-lively-machinima/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/08/hatheads-lively-machinima/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:50:20 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=445 HatHead, gracious host to many a Second Life machinima event, is - as some may not know - also a machinima director in his own right. In fact, it was he who first got me looking at iClone years ago when he produced a number of shorts in the platform. It’s been awhile since he’s produced a film, as he’s been busy mastering the world of Second Life building, scripting, tech, etc. On top of that, the man has some mean piano chops and a bluesy style to his playing that is close to my heart.

So when HatHead told me several months ago that he was working on a machinima piece using Google Lively, I knew something special was on the way. And when Google Lively closed down on very short notice, I was sad for that reason more than any other.

Fortunately, he has seen fit to show us what he was able to get done before the virtual world was shut down. If you yawned at Lively’s passing, just take a look at this.


Watch Captain Aqua in Animation  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

More info is available at Hathead’s blog.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/08/hatheads-lively-machinima/feed/ Wrath of a Couch Potato http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/07/wrath-of-a-couch-potato/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/07/wrath-of-a-couch-potato/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:40:07 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=440 Director John Hsu and his team (AFK PL@YERS), whose work I first encountered when he was screened at the MachinExpo 2008, returns with this comedy short in the tradition of Blahbalicious and Screen Scenes (and, of course, The Kentucky Fried Movie). His mastery of television parody is impressive.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/07/wrath-of-a-couch-potato/feed/ Saving Grace http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/06/saving-grace/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/06/saving-grace/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:53:42 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=444 A wonderful hybrid sci-fi machinima film by Sisch, yet another director whose work I first encountered as part of the Expo.


Saving Grace from sisch on Vimeo.
]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/06/saving-grace/feed/ OSV Week 6: Junior G-Men http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/05/osv-week-6-junior-g-men/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/05/osv-week-6-junior-g-men/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:15:10 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=443 This week, Ricky Grove puts on his machinima director’s cap for the first time and treats us to some iClone 3, making good use of the program’s import pipeline from Google 3D Warehouse. Ricky and I had a lot of fun recording these voiceovers on the same evening we recorded the ones for Gift Horse.

You can see the entire roster of these machinima films in support of Child’s Play, as they are released, over at www.onesharedvision.com.


New Junior G-Men from Ricky Grove on Vimeo.
]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/05/osv-week-6-junior-g-men/feed/ What the Fork? http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/03/what-the-fork/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/03/what-the-fork/#comments Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:54:48 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=442 Having some more fun (and utter nonsense) with Grand Theft Auto IV while getting to know its toolkit. The title cards / film effects / music were not done in the game, fyi.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/03/what-the-fork/feed/ Daddy is Home http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/01/daddy-is-home/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/01/daddy-is-home/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:25:19 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=439 A wonderful bit of storytelling with Moviestorm, detracted only by robot voices which are slated to be replaced in an updated version soon. Even so, this film is getting a lot of attention right now, and is considered by some to be one of the stronger pieces to come out of the Moviestorm platform so far.


Created in Moviestorm
]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2009/01/01/daddy-is-home/feed/ Holiday Mismatch http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/31/holiday-mismatch/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/31/holiday-mismatch/#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:46:31 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=437 But who cares? Cool is cool. This brief short by Poulet Noir shows some of the smooth camerawork possible in Moviestorm right now, and also does a great job with some synchronized movement to rhythm in its choreography. Hard to believe this is from someone who’s only been using Moviestorm since October!


Danse Macabre from Poulet Noir on Vimeo.
]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/31/holiday-mismatch/feed/ OSV Week 5: Leet World Holiday Special http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/30/osv-week-5-leet-world-holiday-special/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/30/osv-week-5-leet-world-holiday-special/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:06 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=441 Missed this yesterday the video wasn’t on Vimeo yet, so here I present the One Shared Vision submission by Smooth Few Films. Eddy from Smooth Few is one of the co-founders of the concept behind this charity project, so a special thanks to he and Zach Scott for thinking to do this.


The Leet World Holiday Special, 2008 from Smooth Few Films on Vimeo.
]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/30/osv-week-5-leet-world-holiday-special/feed/ Unofficial Crysis Trailer http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/30/unofficial-crysis-trailer/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/30/unofficial-crysis-trailer/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:10:00 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=429 Over on the Z-Studios Forum, Anton “Termi” Borkel let us know a few weeks ago about a film he put together, a cinematic trailer for the game Crysis. It was created in unofficial (i.e. for fun) capacity, but you’d never know that by looking at it.

For all the talk of the tremendous toolkit bundled with Crysis, I haven’t yet seen any machinima made with this game (other than this), have you? Am I missing out? If you have recommendations, let me know in the comments.

Either way, enjoy this magnificently crafted trailer by Shaolin Productions that could easily be mistaken for professional work.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/30/unofficial-crysis-trailer/feed/ The Ex-Partner http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/26/the-ex-partner/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/26/the-ex-partner/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 11:36:01 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=438 A test GTA4 short film by Overman. (Captured with Fraps and brought into Sony Vegas for some cleanup).

My friend Ricky and I were playing around in “Free Mode” the other day, and I recorded some clips without much rhyme or reason. I thought it would be an interesting experiment to see what I could make of impromptu footage (i.e. footage not captured with the intent to make a movie). The result is a little scrappy, as would probably be expected, but gave me a good chance to better get to know the editing tools built into GTA4. It’s clear that to make a film with really solid production values in this game will take some planning and care, just like in any other machinima platform. Much as the GTA “clip capture” feature tends to cater to the unplanned “Ooh, look what just happened” moments (versus full demo recording of games gone by), there’s clearly a ceiling for what can be achieved by that haphazard approach.

But with the right amount of planning and intentional capture, some really amazing stuff is possible in this game. It’s seductive.

Song is “Homicyde” by The Prairie Cartel, from the GTA4 soundtrack.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/26/the-ex-partner/feed/ Sims 3 Goes a bit Grinch http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/25/sims-3-goes-a-bit-grinch/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/25/sims-3-goes-a-bit-grinch/#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:30:07 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=433 The latest from Todd Stallkamp and the folks at EA, brilliant as usual. A little dark and edgy this time, too, huh? Awesome!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/25/sims-3-goes-a-bit-grinch/feed/ Merry Xmas from Moviestorm http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/24/merry-xmas-from-moviestorm/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/24/merry-xmas-from-moviestorm/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:46:28 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=431
Created in Moviestorm
]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/24/merry-xmas-from-moviestorm/feed/ Kael’thas and the Santa Claus http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/23/kaelthas-and-the-santa-claus/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/23/kaelthas-and-the-santa-claus/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:48:25 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=432 ]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/23/kaelthas-and-the-santa-claus/feed/ OSV Week 4: UT3 vs. Halo http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/22/osv-week-4-ut3-vs-halo/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/22/osv-week-4-ut3-vs-halo/#comments Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:33:14 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=436 This week, Dave Tyner and his team Treadster Media present a “battle” between the characters of Unreal Tournament 3 and Halo… but no shots are fired, no punches thrown. Instead of busting heads, they’re busting something else…

You can see the entire roster of these machinima films in support of Child’s Play, as they are released, over at www.onesharedvision.com.

Catch this one in glorious DivX over at this link at Dave’s site:
http://www.treadster.com/UT3vsHaloDanceOff.html

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/22/osv-week-4-ut3-vs-halo/feed/ Holiday Goodies http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/21/holiday-goodies/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/21/holiday-goodies/#comments Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:19:52 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=435 Ian Chisolm’s Clear Skies is now up on Machiniplex. One of the must-see productions of 2008.

Speaking of which, if you missed the Q&A with Ian at November’s International Machinima Expo in Second Life, you can now watch the video of the entire event. Or, if you prefer audio only, you’ve got that option here.

The Women In Machinima discussion panel was a highlight for many Expo attendees. Did you miss it, or want to revisit it? Video available here, audio available here.

The video version of overcast #044 (Live from MachinExpo 2008) is now available too.

All of these Second Life vids are definitely not high action, but they do give you the opportunity to follow the text chat conversations which were going on constantly throughout all of these events. Hope you enjoy, and have a very happy holiday!

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/21/holiday-goodies/feed/ ZS Dissection Lab #9: Reflective Window http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/19/zsdl9-reflective-window/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/19/zsdl9-reflective-window/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:11:56 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=434 Creating an artificial reflective surface in post production, including the use of a “mask” to control where the reflection appears.

Intro music is “Impulse” by Processor, from their album “Are You For Real?”, available at Magnatune.com


ZS Dissection Lab #9 - Reflective Window from Overman on Vimeo.
]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/19/zsdl9-reflective-window/feed/ Laroling’s Spinning Plates http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/18/larolings-spinning-plates/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/18/larolings-spinning-plates/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:59:04 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=428 About a month ago, Sam Midwood pointed me to this exceptional piece of Sims 2 machinima by Laroling, a Radiohead music video for the song “Like Spinning Plates” that has a very “motion graphics” feel to it. Sasha on the Machinima.com blog highlighted the film, prefacing it with disclaimers which must have been intended for their gamer audience, but I don’t think those are necessary here.

Laroling is one of the machinimators to watch, for sure. Her work has a level of quality and daring way above the norm.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/18/larolings-spinning-plates/feed/ Pipedream http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/17/pipedream/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/17/pipedream/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:01:47 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=430 A remarkable display of what Second Life can do in able hands. Wow! Thanks, Ricky and NWN. Read more about how it was made on Wagner James Au’s blog.

]]> http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/17/pipedream/feed/ Animation in Process http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/16/animation-in-process/ http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/12/16/animation-in-process/#comments Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:44:58 +0000 Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=427 I am happy to announce that I among several artists featured in an upcoming book by Andrew Selby called Animation in Process, which features profiles of animators from various forms and styles. The book is scheduled for publication in August 2009, and features the following artists (and, if you couldn’t guess from the title, information about their work process).

Some really breathtaking work represented here, I hope you’ll take some time over the holidays to view some of these films; I’m really honored to be featured alongside such talent.
Animation In Process by Andrew Selby

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