Cutting Room Floor

While I do have lots of newness to share with you, I am planning on sticking to my Sunday post schedule; eventually I may run out of goodness and I don't want to hurry that along. I reclaimed some prims yesterday so I have about 1500 again. I plan on leaving 500 available for rezzing, but there is still room for great new stuff. Other items will be retired and hopefully replaced with smart mesh builds that save on that nasty finite "prim" allowance.

Meanwhile since I am a blogger first and foremost, I decided to chat a bit as my newly finished (ohIreallyhopeso) film finishes processing. It is taking half an hour for 4:30 which means to me that I used a lot of filters (yep) and layers (you got it) and that I could use more RAM (well yes, but not for once a month).

So here is my philosophy of the day:

The Cutting Room Floor

If you have been making machinima for awhile, you know how long getting a four to ten second "fantastic" clip can be. Props, costumes, locales, animations, lighting -- it all takes time. Finally, if you are lucky, you get just what you wanted -- or sometimes serendipity sneaks in and you actually get something better than what you wanted. You smile with a sign of relief and move on to the next scene.

But what happens when those hard won seconds don't really fit into your film? That actually happened in my last two projects -- including the one that is now happily uploading to YouTube *wink*.

I am not the best machinimatographer in town, but I do pride myself on high production values and good editing. I spend MUCH more time in the virtual editing room than filming -- even with those hour for four second scenarios. I watch and watch and watch again: not only when the film in starting out but after I think I am done. And of course I am rarely actually done when I think I am.

Along the way there comes a point (not always but sometimes) when something just isn't right; something doesn't fit. And, it could be that scene I worked so long on. Ego comes into play here of course. I want to show off that great scene, but at what price. Twice now I have thrown away clips, cluttering the cutting room floor. Where the films better? Yes, they were. Am I glad I made the decision to let those scenes go? Yes I am.

Did I save them "just in case" there is a spot for them in another film?

You betcha!

What's New Mid May

There is a sunny new abode at Beach Walk. Filled with bright colors and an inviting deck with view, it currently features a kids room, a music room and a living room nook. More will appear as time goes by of course. Venture over and have a look!

The City of Lost Souls has some new decor. I had to smile when I saw this come in.  I was mightily happy to see some "good quality grunge decor" appear in my inventory.

Honestly this is lots of fun with some great animations including an under the table one (some adjustments in those X, Y, Z axises needed). I am working on getting a bit more grunginess on the walls but it will happen.

Grab a bottle of beer and enjoy!

Someone wondered awhile back if there were any Sci-Fi builds at MOSP. I had to answer "no" as that is not really my forte. But a hunt with some stellar items came my way and there is now a small but very impressive futuristic skybox available for those wanting a beyond modern locale. This table that I am sitting on plays music. Touch the different disks to illicit sounds, then press the control button (or do it in the opposite way as that works too).  I am thinking you could actually make your own soundtrack and record it here!

Newness for May

There's a spiffy new top of the line kitchen complete with animations over at the Newport Beach House (gray Cape Cod) at Beach Walk.  And yes, I cheated and used one of my fashion blog photos here. Let's call it human interest.

And while food is on our minds, there is also a great new picnic set complete with sputtering barbecue. A plastic pool lets the kids or adults (couples animations) cool off from the summer heat.

And there is a giant beer cooler -- well of course there is.

Find this all in the park at SAGE.

This spectacular boat is now docked (well there is no dock so maybe parked is a more correct term) down by the Newport Beach house at Beach Walk. 

It is in the sim proper and while you cannot drive it, you could certainly rez some pose balls and film a scene.

There are nearly 300 prims of detail. It is impressive.

Along with other small touches here and there is this fishing stool currently placed over by the lighthouse.

Sit down and the pole asks to be attached to your hand. Then fish with animation in the calm waters of Beach Walk.

I must say that the lighthouse is one of the most popular spots at MOSP. Whenever I am down on the ground there is often someone staring out at its solid presence against the sky.