Making Machinima

MakingMaking

MachinimaMachinimaIN SEVEN SIMPLE STEPS

Jeremy Kemp, A.M., M.S.J.Jeremy Kemp, A.M., M.S.J.Assistant Director, Assistant Director, Second LifeSecond Life Campus Campus

SJSU School of Library & Information ScienceSJSU School of Library & Information Science

[email protected]@slis.sjsu.edu

Machinima isMachinima is……

MachMachine + Cine + Cinemainema

““animated filmmaking withinanimated filmmaking within

a real-time virtuala real-time virtual

3-D environment3-D environment””

Seven Seven ‘‘SimpleSimple’’ Steps Steps

1.1. Watch two documentariesWatch two documentaries

2.2. Learn some historyLearn some history

3.3. Gather your toolsGather your tools

4.4. Choose a 3D platformChoose a 3D platform

5.5. Find Actors and ShootFind Actors and Shoot

6.6. Edit the Video and add SoundEdit the Video and add Sound

7.7. Distribute it on the Distribute it on the ‘‘NetNet

Step #1:Step #1:

Watch these twoWatch these two

documentaries aboutdocumentaries about

Machinima:Machinima:

““What is MachinimaWhat is Machinima””

youtubeyoutube.com/watch?.com/watch?v=dPLzKur06Vov=dPLzKur06Vo

““Inside the MachinimaInside the Machinima””

youtubeyoutube.com/watch?.com/watch?v=mYYPtacx5Bwv=mYYPtacx5Bw

Step #2:Step #2:

Understand the history ofUnderstand the history of

MachinimaMachinima

Platform timelinePlatform timeline

1992 - 1992 - Stunt IslandStunt Island

1993 - 1993 - DoomDoom

1996 - 1996 - QuakeQuake

1998 - 1998 - UnrealUnreal

2003 - 2003 - Second LifeSecond Life

20062006 - - TheThe MoviesMovies

First came: Recording GamesFirst came: Recording Games

Originally players:Originally players:

Showed game solutionsShowed game solutions

Bragged aboutBragged about rank, objectsrank, objects

Created keepsakesCreated keepsakes

……evolved into evolved into ModdingModding

Companies started encouraging modificationCompanies started encouraging modification

Bard's TaleBard's Tale Construction Set Construction Set

Elder ScrollElder Scroll Construction Set Construction Set

Unreal Unreal Level EditorLevel Editor

Now: Free-form EditorsNow: Free-form Editors

Create custom movies withCreate custom movies with

- The Movies- The Movies

- Second Life- Second Life

- Dark Basic- Dark Basic

Step #3:Step #3:

Gather the right toolsGather the right tools

You MUSTYou MUST have:have:

Multimedia ComputerMultimedia Computer

3D modeling environment3D modeling environment

Video capture softwareVideo capture software

A beefyA beefy computercomputer

2 GHz processor or faster2 GHz processor or faster

1Gb RAM1Gb RAM

10Gb drive space or larger10Gb drive space or larger

Some extra hardwareSome extra hardware

External drives forExternal drives for video filesvideo files

Game-ready graphics cardGame-ready graphics card

((GeForceGeForce, , RadeonRadeon, etc.), etc.)

Optional but Important:Optional but Important:

Broadband connectionBroadband connection

Video/Sound editorVideo/Sound editor

Video Website to UploadVideo Website to Upload

Step #4:Step #4:

Choose your 3D platformChoose your 3D platform

Machinima-readyMachinima-ready

World of World of WarcraftWarcraft

Half Life 2Half Life 2

Second LifeSecond Life

The MoviesThe Movies

HaloHalo

The SimsThe Sims

QuakeQuake

Almost all Almost all WoW WoW videosvideos

are game walkthroughsare game walkthroughs

Sample: Sample: "Not Just Another Love Story"Not Just Another Love Story””

tinyurltinyurl.com/2gwach.com/2gwach

(It(It’’s barely narrative)s barely narrative)

Half Life 2Half Life 2

You cannot change wardrobe, propsYou cannot change wardrobe, props

Actors in fatigues, carrying guns!Actors in fatigues, carrying guns!

Gorgeous renderingGorgeous rendering

Lip Synch AnimationsLip Synch Animations

Follows voice sounds for realismFollows voice sounds for realism

dagroupplcdagroupplc..com/swf/vms/vmscom/swf/vms/vms..swfswf

Half Life 2Half Life 2

Sample: Sample: ““A few good A few good GMenGMen””

tinyurltinyurl.com/yr2g83.com/yr2g83

““judgejudge””

Second LifeSecond Life

Highly customizableHighly customizable

Huge mall of costumes and propsHuge mall of costumes and props

Actors for hireActors for hire

Stunning backdrop setsStunning backdrop sets

Scriptable filming toolsScriptable filming tools

Second LifeSecond Life

Sample: Sample: ““Second HealthSecond Health”” - UK ER concept - UK ER concept

youtubeyoutube.com/watch?.com/watch?v=Mp8IyXZAv-Uv=Mp8IyXZAv-U

““Alt-ZoomAlt-Zoom”” camera in SL camera in SL

““Free Machinima Starter KitFree Machinima Starter Kit””

Buy atBuy at

slurlslurl.com/secondlife/Lukanida/33/6.com/secondlife/Lukanida/33/6

"waypoint" objects mark shots"waypoint" objects mark shots

Avatar cameraman sits dolly to filmAvatar cameraman sits dolly to film

Alt-Zoom ClapboardAlt-Zoom Clapboard

Sample:Sample:

youtubeyoutube.com/watch?.com/watch?v=uVzow1-Yh-wv=uVzow1-Yh-w

Disappears when filmingDisappears when filming

Show shot detailsShow shot details

A game A game aboutabout making Machinima making Machinima

100s of cinematography templates100s of cinematography templates

Period costumes and setsPeriod costumes and sets

In-game editor sucksIn-game editor sucks

Web 2.0 rating toolsWeb 2.0 rating tools

Sample: Sample: ““French DemocracyFrench Democracy””

About race issues in FranceAbout race issues in France

tinyurltinyurl..com/ypvdlucom/ypvdlu

HaloHalo

Strictly sci-fi combatStrictly sci-fi combat

No faces or wardrobeNo faces or wardrobe

Limited poses and setsLimited poses and sets

Huge fan baseHuge fan base

HaloHalo

Sample:Sample: ““Red Red vsvs. Blue: Why are we here. Blue: Why are we here””

machinimamachinima.com/channel/view&id=8.com/channel/view&id=8

The SimsThe Sims

Well-designed sets and propsWell-designed sets and props

Actors are uncontrollableActors are uncontrollable

Limited to household themesLimited to household themes

Constricted shot anglesConstricted shot angles

The SimsThe Sims

Sample: Sample: ““Male Restroom EtiquetteMale Restroom Etiquette””

tinyurltinyurl.com/27pmdk.com/27pmdk

Potty humorPotty humor

Very mature platformVery mature platform

Extensive Extensive modding modding toolstools

Sample: Sample: ““AnnaAnna”” (about the life of a flower) (about the life of a flower)

tinyurltinyurl.com/yq3vm6.com/yq3vm6

Completely customCompletely custom

Step #5:Step #5:

Recruit your cast andRecruit your cast and……

““Action!Action!””

Non-Player CharactersNon-Player Characters

Complicated to ModComplicated to Mod

Difficult to herd in a crowdDifficult to herd in a crowd

Want to fightWant to fight

Avatar ActorsAvatar Actors

Need payment, creative buy-inNeed payment, creative buy-in

Good for complex shotsGood for complex shots

Direct using Direct using VoIPVoIP

Difficult to find & keep motivatedDifficult to find & keep motivated

ItIt’’s boring work!s boring work!

Video Screen CaptureVideo Screen Capture

Snapzpro Snapzpro - $69 by - $69 by ambrosiaswambrosiasw.com.com

tinyurltinyurl.com/2nt9l5.com/2nt9l5

Fraps - $37 by fraps.comFraps - $37 by fraps.com

Both offer trialsBoth offer trials

Step #6:Step #6:

Massage the MediaMassage the Media

Choose your Editing SuiteChoose your Editing Suite

Moviemaker (freeMoviemaker (free with XP)with XP)

tinyurltinyurl.com/yu5czn.com/yu5czn

iMovie iMovie ($99 with ($99 with iLifeiLife))

High-end:High-end:

Premiere - AdobePremiere - Adobe

Final Cut Pro - AppleFinal Cut Pro - Apple

Add TitlesAdd Titles

tinyurltinyurl.com/3awu3b.com/3awu3b

apple.apple.com/ilife/tutorialscom/ilife/tutorials

Edit a Voice-OverEdit a Voice-Over

Audacity (PC)Audacity (PC)

GarageBand GarageBand (Mac)(Mac)

Wiretap (Mac)Wiretap (Mac)

GarageBand GarageBand - Mac- Mac

Free clip library with movie musicFree clip library with movie music

apple.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/com/ilife/tutorials/##garagebandgarageband

Audacity - PCAudacity - PC

Free and flexible but technicalFree and flexible but technical

audacity.audacity.sourceforgesourceforge.net.net

Step #7:Step #7:

Choose a Distribution ChannelChoose a Distribution Channel

Upload to the WebUpload to the Web

Upload .Upload .mov mov or .or .wmf wmf filesfiles

Add tags for Add tags for YoutubeYoutube, Blip., Blip.tvtv

Tell your friendsTell your friends

YouTubeYouTube

Use their best format: MPEG4, etc.Use their best format: MPEG4, etc.

Use the community featuresUse the community features

Tutorial: Tutorial: tinyurltinyurl.com/27snef.com/27snef

Blip.Blip.tvtv

Allows download of Allows download of originaloriginal file file

Serves Serves Quicktime Quicktime streamstream

Leverage the Social WebLeverage the Social Web

Views, votes and ratingsViews, votes and ratings

Groups and SubscriptionsGroups and Subscriptions

Comments and video responsesComments and video responses

This is Hard WorkThis is Hard Work

Keep it short and punchy.Keep it short and punchy.

Budget 3 hours for a minute of finished film.Budget 3 hours for a minute of finished film.

Use sound for emotion, video for description.Use sound for emotion, video for description.

You wonYou won’’t get rich, but it wont get rich, but it won’’t cost much.t cost much.

Have a blast!Have a blast!

Jeremy Kemp, A.M., M.S.J.Jeremy Kemp, A.M., M.S.J.Assistant Director, Assistant Director, Second LifeSecond Life Campus Campus

SJSU School of Library & Information ScienceSJSU School of Library & Information Science

[email protected]@slis.sjsu.edu