This is my first serious attempt at making a film with iClone, it's a series on my Youtube channel and the initial reaction for it as been pretty good so far.



Direct link - http://youtu.be/BgzmQsKZEOw


This video's the first practice project I did with iClone, the above project was worked on after this project.



Direct link - http://youtu.be/-HeqdOCd4H4

Overall, it was enjoyable. Just a couple of things though... Some of the pacing seems a bit slow, and could use with cutting of some... dead (no pun intended) empty moments. Also, the initial scene in the office building seemed flat and perhaps too bright. Perhaps some lighting changes and better shadows. Overall though, if this is your first attempt, it's damned good. Much better than my first, or second, or even third attempt.

My first attempt was the 'Goodbye Earth' short film, which I basically worked on after watching about a dozen tutorial videos of 'SmallWStudio', 'suckon3d', 'Warlord720', and reallusion. Btw the tutorial videos really helped a whole lot and my previous experience with Source Film Maker also helped as well.

It took many failed attempts to create some of the scenes to come up with something decent, but I really struggled with making the motions smooth and natural. I started working on 'Death As We Know It' a few days after completing my first iClone project, and by then working with iClone was a bit easier.

I still got much to learn, especially lighting and set design, but iClone is no different from any other software, the best way to learn is by making mistakes and I find myself improving every time I complete a new scene. There's much room for improvement, but it's been fun and that I guess it's the most important thing.

Are you currently working on any project?

I have spent most of this weekend installing iClone 6 and the myriad of content packs I've purchased throughout the years onto a new computer. I'll be honest, I usually start working on something but eventually give it up due to frustration. There are a lot of things I like about iClone, but when I'm in the thick of things, I rediscover a whole lot I don't like about it.

My "vision" usually turns out to be unrealistic, or a whole lot more work than I had originally anticipated. I'm trying to come up with an idea that will keep my interest long enough to see it finished. Kudos for those who actually have the patience to see something through to the end.

I had to do the same thing after installing a new motherboard on my rig, it was a real pain in the rear to install all the content packs. After installing them all, I realized that some of them don't install their files in a separate folder, but rather in the root folder of their associated class, like 'props' or 'motions' and I had to basically organize them all manually. Anyways, it's not a fun task.

As far as giving up in the middle of a project, I used to do that a lot when I first started working with Minecraft to make machinimas, but with time I realized that it was okay to have some flaws in my videos, especially because we're basically one man film studio with small budget. I learned I had to cut corners here and there, otherwise I'd never be able to produce anything.

'Death As We Know It' is a good example of settling with an acceptable work. I could work on a scene for weeks on and make it perfect, but then that would basically kill any momentum I have in my channel's growth. I try my best with the time I've got and I upload them on my channel for my viewers to be the judge of the final product.

I'm not really a 'Zombie Apocalypse' kind of guy but I thought you did a great job. Any improvements that I felt were needed will come naturally with your growing experience in iclone. The voice-overs were very good as well.

I've settled into an episodic style. I've been making small 9 to 15 minute videos to tell a story or a piece of a story much like the old cliff hangers of the 40's and 50's. I'm seeing them as animated comic books more than novels, quick in - quick out. A larger story within the saga may take up 3 episodes but I don't envision them going longer. (3 being the perfect number)

The shorter videos allow me to maintain my focus on the story longer because I can 'see the end is in site' much quicker. Shooting dialog scenes are the worst for me and I put them off for as long as I can. I also make them as short as possible. :P

:cool: pete

Edit: Capitalization. :doze: My fingers don't always do what I tell them to do.


http://www.youtube.com/user/peterblood50?feature=mhee

I still got a lot to learn and that becomes so evident with every new scene I finish. I finish a scene, render it, and watch it, then I always find several things that could have been done better. I wish I had all the time in the world to work on each scene meticulously, but my subscribers expect a certain number of contents every week, so I have to make due with the time delegated for iClone on that particular week.

I could relate to why you like making episodic style series that's limited to around 3 episodes, but for me personally, I found it the hard way how difficult it is to create that emotional bond between the viewers and the characters in my series. You need to give it time for any series to grow and for it to become a must-watch for your subscribers.

I once cancelled a series and I lost around 300 subscribers in a span of 3 days... that was eye opening to me, because until that point, I never realized how emotionally attached some of my subscribers had become to that particular series.

The whole animation, machinima, and solo film making are like never ending lessons, in that there's always room for improvements and there are always new things you haven't tried.

Btw, I checked out your channel and I really like what you did with 'Desperate Measures'. Why did you stop working with NTW?

I purchased iclone mid-way through the third of the series. It took all of my time to learn enough to produce my first vid. Actually, I have a new naval story and am slowly putting it all together. I am wanting to marry iclone to NTW for a 'deeper' story line with some off ship action.

Thanks for spending the time to watch it. DM was my first effort at animating a story. :)

:cool: pete



http://www.youtube.com/user/peterblood50?feature=mhee