TMUnderground is a community actively involved in machinima making. Writers, directors, modders, special effects experts, musicians, voiceactor, etc. work together to create movies (not to mention our enthusiastic movie reviewers). Engines used include iClone, MovieStorm, Antics, Blender, TheMovies, Poser, and TheSims.
The Industry 101 Show with Jase180 & AnotherNewDawn is also available for download. The Industry 101 Show is a can't-miss for anyone interested in taking their writing/producing up to the next level.
Break out the champagne! Gather the kiddies around! It's time for another joyful issue of Moviewood-E Magazine! Delve into our many pages of thought-provoking articles and entertainment. Here's some of what you'll find in this month's issue:
*An informative article about modding, Moviestorm style! *An in-depth interview with Shayne Dude about his upcoming grindhouse drive-in double feature! *Part two of CraigKs article about movie music -- the dos and don'ts! *Uncle Monk's advice on the glories of growing old -- an absolute must-read for those of us on the cusp! *Reviews, previews, news of upcoming contests, cartoons and much much more!
So why wait? Rush on down to your local virtual newsstand and pick up your latest copy! It's free! And it carries a money back guarantee if you aren't entertained! That means none of us loses any money! It doesn't get any better than that! Best of all, you won't even get your feet wet unless you read it in the shower (NOT recommended)!
So forget about the dancing stars, I have it on good authority House will cure his patient, videotape Heroes and just take it for granted that Jack Bauer will save the world (again). Instead, spend a relaxing Monday evening with us at www.moviewood-e.com -- the only magazine that doesn't have a half dozen of those subscription cards falling out of it every time you open it.
Reach out and get involved in this fun project! Just contact other TMU members you would like to work with and get those pitches to us asap!
Nine days to go!
1) This is a group project, so the first thing to think about is whom you would like to group with. A ‘group’ is 2 or more people. Voice actors and musicians are not counted as group members. 2) Nominate a spokes person for this group – this just makes things easier for us 3) You can be in more than one group but can not perform the same role. (E.g. if I was writing in Dulci’s group then I could not also write in Ken’s group, but I could direct or do PP in Ken’s group) 4) Decide which Sins you are interested in basing your production on and then formulate a pitch explaining your basic premise, theme etc. 5) You must pitch for a minimum of 3 Sins (to ensure we get a movie made for each one) but can pitch for all 7 if you want. Pitches and grouping details should be made in private to Sparky (on TMUnderground forum) or MefuneAkira by pm and should be ranked in order of preference (1 being your top choice etc) 6) Once all of the pitches are in (there will be a deadline for this) We will start making offers to the groups based on your pitches. Ultimately we’ll have 7 groups making 7 movies each based on a Sin theme that they have pitched for 7) Then once we have agreed deadlines with the 7 groups, each movie will be showcased (not sure how and where yet) one per night over the course of a week. A dedicated panel of community members (to be decided) will provide comments on each aspect of the movies – a bit like a review panel. 8) Movies MUST be original works. This means no remakes, adaptations or submitting one of your ongoing projects because it seems to ‘fit’. 9) Movies can be made in Iclone The Movies or Moviestorm or game capture. No RL movies, this is a machinima project.
Now, it doesn’t matter weather you believe in God, religion, or indeed if the 7 sins are even ‘sins’ – it is a theme base for a 7 movie series, so the movies don’t have to be pro-religion etc.
The whole idea is to use the Sin as a theme for the movie and explore whatever aspects of it you want from there. There is no real guide to content but we’d look for premises that are original, interesting and well thought out based on the theme of the project. We're offering an extension to the pitching deadline until the end of this month - New deadline for all pitches is 1st May. Those groups that have already submitted, your pitches are being looked at over the coming week and you will be hearing from us shortly.
So, if you have been trying to decide whether or not to get involved - now is the time. Step up to the plate and make yourselves known. I guarantee there are other community members out there wanting to form or be a part of a group for this project.
As we bid a fond farewell to TMOA Saturday programming as we've known it for the past three years, all I can think about is the nausea I feel from one of the most disgusting meals I've consumed in some time.
But I digress....
Hey, ho, let's go! Big big big show tomorrow, and the more I tell you about it, the less I dwell on the fact that at one point, I looked to my right to see my waitress making a hunched run for the bathroom, dodging customers like a football player dodging blockers on his charge for the goal.
Capemedia - A longtime TMOer who moved on to iClone a year and a half ago, and whose Sword Dance was the film that started me down to road to iClone use. Cape has a new movie coming out tomorrow called Angels v Demons, which I've seen and enjoyed - your seeing and enjoyment will start tomorrow. We'll be chatting with Cape about his filmmaking and about the super neat home studio that he's spent the past 6 months constructing - and we'll even be playing some of his music in breaks.
Killian - also known as Mr. Odyssey, Homer, or just Big O, Killian has, in-between scripting War of the Worlds and voice acting, managed to get the second episode of Odyssey, Season One released. Called Prophet Motive, it features great performances, terrific visuals, and the inevitably complex and fascinating scripting he's known for. We'll have Mr. Fabulous in tomorrow to grill about how he's so productive, and why what he produces is so gosh-darn good. I'm guessing dynamic tension, like Charles Atlas. Tense..release....tense...release...
Ubernewbie and Tinman - (I don't actually call him Tinman - when I was growing up, he was always K4, the loveable Tinman of TMO...) - Uber brings home the second part of Conquest: Artifact, and my, isn't it a good one - we'll be talking to Uber about the film, K4 about what this all means to the Conquest universe that he created, and Roger about what kind of bad mushrooms he ate before he reviewed Artifact Part 2...
Did I mention that the waitress was named Bianca, had a thick accent, and may have just come from visiting family in Mexico City, where a swine flu epidemic is sweeping the city and will eventually cover the world, leaving a few pitiful survivors to scratch out an existence, hiding by night from the vampires as in Richard Matheson's I Am Legend (not the crapola Will Smith movie of the same name)
Also tomorrow we'll have theMonk with another special pre-recorded Rednecks Massacre Cinema, Rposhard with a Reel Discovery (undoubtedly rivaling Rednecks Massacre Cinema in specialness), and myself and Roger, the specialists of specialness, who will entertain you with some of the most amazing and barely listenable crap that you could possibly imagine. You will pray for death.
Sound like a fun way to wile away a Sunday afternoon? If so, mark your calendars. It begins at 2 pm Eastern, 7 pm in the UK, 8 pm in Europe, and a time I can't mention in Australia because if I do and I'm wrong, Uber has promised I won't see another sunrise. To listen, head over to the TMOA website and select any of the four streams you have available to you.
And if you need refuge from the swine flu plague, you will find it in the TMOA chatroom. JudyAnn88 will issue you a surgical mask upon entering the chatroom, which will do nothing to help, but will make you feel "proactive". And should you cough, sneeze, or show any other signs of illness, Judy will smite you where you stand and throw your body into the burning pit along with the other victims. You will probably be mostly dead and feel nothing, and if not, the crackling of the flames will keep your screams from disturbing the happy healthy listeners in the chatroom.
The Roger & Ken show from April 19th is available for download. Featured guests were Nahton (TheMovies & Moviestorm user, as well as a voiceactor) and BlazeLeeDragon (Voiceactor, TheMovies user, and venturer into live action filmmaking). The show can be found here.
Also available is the Industry 101 show from the same day, which can be found here. Jase180 and AnotherNewDawn share more of their industry expertise with the community, including some information regarding copyright issues.
Both shows can be listened to live tomorrow, beginning at 12 Noon CST with the Industry 101 show, followed at 1pm CST by the Roger & Ken show.
What led you to get involved with machinima? I grew up loving two things. Baseball and storytelling. Not good enough for baseball, but I was always a natural storyteller. At least I called it that; instead of the ugly word "lying", I would say, "I'm just telling a story." Okay, not really, but I was always fascinated by movies and television growing up and writing stories as a little kid.
I wanted to grow up to be a filmmaker and/or screenwriter, especially after seeing how a few of my heroes became professionals (Robert Rodriguez, Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino). Not having enough money for film school, I wanted to seriously try to do what Robert Rodriguez did, which is shoot guerilla style in Mexico and try to get it seen in the states. He did it at 23, and I was about 13 when I read all about it, I was so prepared. But, as the years went by, my extreme shyness towards others led me nowhere, but with stories to tell.
So I learned how to write sceenplays during my high school years. I wrote about four or five to get out of the way as I learned "my voice." I then wrote two that I was very serious about. One that I planned on making myself on a micro budget, and one I'd hoped to sell as a spec script. I like them a lot both, and I still sometimes say to myself, "I feel like watching 'Beguiling Smiles' or 'Faded Sunrise', which are the titles of the two.
I sent Faded Sunrise out to competitions and instead of winning a competition, it got the attention of a studio, which optioned it for a year. It never got made, but I noticed similar movies ended up coming out the following years. I like to think they stole my screenplay and changed it around enough to say they don't know anything about it. When I get really drunk and talk about filmmaking, it suddenly turns into me becoming a victim...so sad.
And since I haven't even answered your question yet, I guess I'll just say this...I've wanted to be a filmmaker all my life (and still do even after putting it off for about six or seven years of Writer's Block) and machinima is the most realistic way a guy like me with no money or connections can tell a story to an audience that I hope grows.
What aspects of movie-making do you enjoy the most? Wow, I don't know how to answer that, I love so many things about it. When it comes to writing, I LOVE writing dialogue, as you may tell from my movies. I love the writing process when dialogue is what takes me wherever the story goes. Sometimes, I just begin writing dialogue without plot and the conversation leads to a plot eventually. An example of this would be my Clarks episode "Dad Uncle Nick" where Damon and Nick are "drunk" at a strip club and just talking. It eventually leads to Damon sneaking into the Clark parents' bedroom.
If I work with a cast of actors like I do in 'anonymous', I love the feedback I get on the script. There's only been one handed out so far, but I like the feeling of working with other people who are willing to a drama with me as opposed to a comedy, which is so completely different.
Another thing I love to do is the editing. The post production editing is very simple for me because I never need to add or cut a pause because the timing is done within Moviestorm. But editing is a lot of fun for me, especially when I need to do more like in 'anonymous' or my entry into Mefune Akira's mock trailer competition (which took me a very long time to edit).
But, I guess I would say that my favorite aspect of movie-making would have to be the viewers' comments. Whether good or bad, I appreciate that they took the time to watch my movie and comment on it. Also, I got a few fans of The Clarks and it feels good to say that I actually have fans. It's a weird feeling for me, but I want more fans!
What programs do you use to craft your work? Why did you choose these? To make the movies, I use Moviestorm. I was about to begin machinima making several years ago when The Movies first came out, but my PC crashed and I lost my TM game before I could really begin. After that, life got in the way, but recently wanted to make movies again, so I looked up TM again. I didn't have any money, but I noticed a list of machinima programs on the TMU front page where it says, The Movies, iClone, Antics and Moviestorm. I googled the last three and found that MS was free, so I downloaded it. A couple of weeks later, I tried it out and haven't stopped since.
For my voice recordings, I use GarageBand. I tried Audacity, but I'm no audio expert and didn't know how to get rid of all the pops and static. GarageBand doesn't have static or pops when recording voice at all and I could also change tone and pitch if I wanted to there as well. Sound editing is not something I'm especially good at, which is kind of embarassing to admit to my family because they all have been in the music industry in some way or another. Well, I have made a few songs in GB for some of my movies, but no symphony.
To edit the movies, I use Final Cut Express HD, which I purchased along with my Mac when I got it. Even before I knew I was going to be making movies, I would always purchase a good video editor. I was intimidated by it at first after using such a simple program like iMovie HD, but I knew I needed something better to make my movies, and I had FCE there already. All I had to do was learn the basics and I was ready to go. I also gave Adobe Premiere Pro, but MS movies can't be edited there. But I don't see a reason yet as to why I should switch from FCE as of now.
I'm not a very technical person, so I don't know how to make mods or make computer graphics for special effects. My movies are simple when it comes to the directing style.
How would you describe your movie style? With my comedies, I describe them as simple, yet effective. There's not much motion, no crane shots or anything like that. I play with the lighting a little but and that's it. With comedies, there's really no serious deeper meaning when it comes to an extreme closeup, and crooked angle on a closed window with bars, just show what you want people to laugh at. With comedy, it's about execution of the voice acting and timing.
When it comes to my more serious work (which there will be more of), I like to describe the style as poetic. I know that probably sounds cocky or something like that, but I put a lot of thought with the props I use, shots, angles, timing and especially lighting. One thing I'd like to learn about more is lighting the sets exactly the way I want them. Most of my future movies will be gritty crime noirs and I like shadows, blue or yellow lense filters and things like that. I like to set the mood with lighting. I used a blue tint in Randy's home in 'anonymous' that is very subtle, probably not noticeable, but I hope the feeling is there.
When it comes to my dialogue movie style, I think it shows a lot in anonymous that I like saying things without saying them until it's pushed there. For example, subjects get changed a couple of times with Randy's conversations with his daughter to avoid awkward moments ("I'm cold," "Wanna watch a movie?") and Haley felt pushed into asking her father to stop drinking when he called her mother a bitch one time too many. I'm proudest of my dialogue in both my comedies and dramas.
Which of your movies best depicts that style? Why?
'anonymous' definitely shows my style a lot because in addition to dramatic shots, camera movements and dialogue, it also has some comedy. One of my favorite moments when it comes to comedy is when Gully tells Randy that he's married and with a straight face says "Woo-Hoo" and pumps his fist with no meaning. A light-hearted moment I love visually is when Haley tells her father that his house better smell like potpourri the next time she visits with that really cute look on her face. I just had to keep the camera on that adorable smile.
What are your proudest achivements in this field? Well, I haven't had many yet, I just began machinima in November of '08, but I would have to say a couple of things (okay, a few): One being finishing my first drama in 'anonymous' and the positive feedback it's gotten so far (even though it just came out). It's a great feeling to come out with a 20 minute dramatic movie that people are interested in. And the other would be getting the attention from Machinima.com who I've just signed with recently to become a Machinima.com director. So, I'll be making the cheddah! It feels nice to be noticed by a big site like Machinima.com. I also have to say thanks to DL Watson and having The Clarks series associated with Moonlight Pictures now and getting The Clarks a website (shameless plug time! http://www.theclarksshow.com & http://www.moonlightpictures.org).
Can you share any voiceacting techniques or tips with us? First is a tip. It's SO much easier acting in your own movies than in others'. I've learned this first hand and hate the way that some of my earlier perfomances sounded in other peoples' movies, but I've learned to get better at that.
So, when I record lines, I don't visually focus on anything. I'm feeling what I'm saying. I physically act out my lines as I say them. If I have a character who is crying, I'm actually crying, angry, cocky, emotional, whatever. So my tip is to not have anything that could visually break your character. Learn your lines ahead of time, one at a time if you're not good at it. Also, make sure you read the entire script if you have meaningful lines, you need to know the mood of the story and especially of the particular scene you're in. I heard of people who just go straight to their lines and read them, not caring what's happening in the actual movie. Probably why I'm not good with Casting calls with an audition line where I have no idea what's happening in the scene. Lines can be easily taken out of context.
Also, please don't be afraid to change a word here and there, we all want the lines to sound natural. An actor doesn't memorize the words, they memorize what they have to say. A big difference.
Have you worked on projects with anyone else in the TMUnderground community? I was working on a 7 Deadly Sins project with Dulci and thebiz, but I was so busy with finishing the season of The Clarks, anonymous and my personal life that I was ineffective (dulci's note - that project is still in motion and you aren't getting out of it that easily pal!), which is unfortunate. I hope I get the chance again in the future to work with someone in the TMU community. However, I am working with a member of the MS community at the moment and that's become my main priority now that 'anonymous' is out.
Do you have any projects on the horizon? Well, as I just mentioned, I'm working with someone in the MS community. I'm working to direct and co-write a subplot story from the Star Quest series with Jim Hurst (aka reptor7). It's his baby in his universe, but he gave me the freedom to write anything I want around the skeleton of the plot/plot points.
I'm also writing the rough draft of part 2 of anonymous which will feature two other characters from the group. I hope to have that script done soon so I can send it out to the VA's in the series. I'll also need to get new actors for the stories that will be told in the episode.
I'm also planning Season 2 of The Clarks and I really want to get that first episode done before I start lagging on it, but there are still other things to be done.
Also, I'm planning some short comedies to make for Circus Machinima (circusmachinima.com). The second episode is nearly complete and I'm already planning on shorts to include in episodes beyond it.
Also...wow, I'm busy, I really want to make "A New Dusk" which is a crime drama, but that might have to wait until after I'm done with the things above. I also may as well wait for the upcoming "Criminals" pack for MS to add to it. I hope they have more weapons, drugs and animations. Maybe a moving car with a broken windshield and bullet holes would be good too. :-)
I have so many ideas queued up that I know I will eventually make, but it's The Clarks and anonymous that will be taking up most of my time for machinima.
What advice would you give someone starting out with machinima? Don't be afraid to start. Don't be intimidated by people more advanced than you because you could be right in their ranks within months. Don't be afraid to record your ugly voice (hehe) if you don't like it. Get those first few movies out of the way and listen to and welcome any constructive criticism that comes your way. And don't be afraid of some people who rate your movies low just because you're new, those people seem to have forgotten what it's like to start out in a new world. You will be welcomed by some very nice people. So like Nike..."Just Do It." Just make the movie, if you're thin skinned, don't read the comments. It's your right to make whatever movies you please, that's the beauty of freedom of speech. Start out simple, then add as you progress, because you will progress. Don't try to come out with an epic film with your first movie, you'll only be disappointed you didn't do it after you learned a lot more about movie-making. Also, please don't be afraid to ask people questions in open forums. You'll get a lot more answers that way as opposed to PM'ing your favorite actors/directors.
Two highly anticipated science fiction movies were released this weekend on TMUnderground.
Conquest Artifact Part 2 by ubernewbie carries on directly after the events in part 1 (although its not necessary to view part 1 to understand what's happening in part 2).
Captain Page leads his awayteam across to the Alien artifact, Ensign Jaikiri is still being held by the brutal warrior Skar Deathgiver, and the race is on to claim the Artifact first.
Odyssey Epsiode 2 by Killian is dubbed "The Prophet Motive". The ship is tasked with ferrying a representative of a new religious group to a conference of religious leaders, a matter that brings Ryan into conflict with his own feelings.
Meanwhile someone, or something, will stop at nothing to make sure that meeting doesn’t take place… as unrest grows and the situation balances on a knife-edge, Nolan must discover who… or what… is doing the killings and stop them, before the green-fields of Princeps run red with blood…
Dulci and Wolf discuss the launching of their new iclone-focused radio show, The Wolf & Dulci Hour
Plus, the usual general machinima discussion, frivolity, and community-created music and commercials.
The Industry101 Show from April 6th is also available for download. Industry experts Jase180 and AnotherNewDawn discuss pertinent subjects for those interested in enhancing their movie production & scriptwriting skills.
A message from Ken of the Roger & Ken Show (and the mastermind behind TMOA radio):
Yeah. That's right. I'm doing the show promo thread on Saturday afternoon. You have a problem with that?
I didn't think so.
So where was I. Oh yes.
Now that everyone has finally gotten their clock situation straightened out, we can all settle in for a spring and summer of fabulous entertainment. Not on TMOA, of course, but somewhere. If you find it before I do, I'd appreciate an email...
But that's neither here nor there. We have guests. And on tomorrow's show, a very special announcement as well...something you've all been waiting a year for....a week early this year because we've got new people using new software.
Some of you may have already guessed what it is. As soon as Roger reads this, he will know. And he will weep. But more of that tomorrow.
IceAxe - A filmmaker using Moviestorm, IceAxe has produced an amazing film with his most recent release, Clockwork. Haven't seen it yet? Go see it now. I mean right now. Well written and acted, beautifully filmed....it's an exceptional movie by any standards. We'll have him in tomorrow to talk about Clockwork and his filmmaking.
Robin Hat - Mr. Hat has recently followed up the hilarious Attack of the Lumberchicks with Attack of the LUMBERCHICKS - The Rise of RED TEAM- proving that there's is no escape from the fiendish alien Lumberchicks - so hide your wood, and pray that the Red Team will protect the Earth. We'll try to pry some information on that subject from Robin tomorrow.
Special Guests - No names until they make their official announcement (well, okay, if you read the forums, it's not exactly what you would call a huge secret...) - Anyway, those two people will be on tomorrow as well, to chat about their upcoming new TMOA show that will be on the air real soon now. I know I'm looking forward to it (if I wasn't, I would have said "no") and tomorrow we'll hear from their very lips what this is all about...
Plus
Regular features such as Rednecks Massacre Cinema, with regular rednecks like theMonk and his regular gang (when you get to his age, you don't call them the Irregulars, because it has a different meaning), Reel Discovery with Rposhard, another regular Joe with a hard-luck story, and of course, Roger and myself, spinning lies to confuse and frighten you, singing to drive you away, shouting out to you in the chatroom in hopes you will become embarassed and leave....usually with limited success. But hey, Roger is the optimistic one...and he promises me that one day my software will say 0 listeners, and I will be free. One day....
It all begins at 2 pm Eastern, 7 pm in the UK, 8 pm in Europe, and some slightly different, though still late, time in Australia To listen (and thus keep glued to my chair by more than bodily fluids), head over to the TMOA website and select the 32K or 64K streams (32K if you're "slow", 64K if you're "not")
If there's a bright spot in all this aural misery, it's the TMOA chatroom, presided over by the kind and just JudyAnn88, where everyone plays nice for fear Judy will remove her face and be revealed as a member of the Iguana Race.
Ciao, as we jetsetters and Iguana Race wannabees mutter....
Do you love to make trailers, but don't have the time for the full length film? Well you've come to the right place!
A catch? Hell ya, there's always a catch. Would it be fun without em?
Here are the rules:
#1 All movie trailer submissions must contain all of the following quotes:
* "That's no chicken, that's my wife!' * "Screw me sideways, that was close" * "I love you and I don't care who knows it" * "Im sorry sir, he's dead" * "Don't talk mother f***er, just run!!"
*Even though some or all of the quotes may not work with your idea for a trailer, there are ways to work it in, such as whats on TV or crowd chatter. Just make sure I can hear it clearly!
#2 All submissions are due by May 10th, 2009 11:59pm PST.
#3 You may submit as many trailers as you like, but only one of yours may be in the finals.
#4 You must have permission from the TMU member if you use their name in your trailers.
#5 MovieStorm, iclone and The Movie Game are all welcome.
#6 All submission must be specifically made for this competition and include "Created for Mefune Akira's Trailer Competition" at the end of the trailer.
#7 All submission must be under 5 minutes. Yes, you can make a 10 second trailer if you like.
#8 All contestants must have fun doing this or they can bugger off.
#9 Failure to comply with rule #10 will result in disqualification!
#10 What are you looking at?
On May 10th, the competition will end and I will chose 10 finalists.
On May 15th, I will announce the 10 finalists, they will enter the final stage of the competition and be voted on by their TMU member peers.
On May 20th, I will announce the winner and prizes.
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