48 Hour Filming

The 48 Hour Film Project begins soon.

If you are taking part and need special assistance (items moved, longer rez times, additional props) contact Chic Aeon. IMs go to email and are your fastest road to info.

Now is the time to scout out locations. There is plenty to explore.

Start here and pick up a hud for easy pre-production adventuring.

School Days

I was happy to find I was Model Number 1 for the school days theme in Models Magazine's September issue.

The photo was taken at the schoolroom at one of the sound stages at  MOSP of course. Why leave and search when you have all you need right there.

By adjusting the Windlight setting JUST RIGHT you can get some great shadows inside the sound stages.

The trick? Make the outside wall of your build transparent so that the sunlight can shine though.

The chalk board had texture change by touch so you can go for a nostalgic feel or a more modern day look.

New in SNOW

If you haven't visited SNOW at MOSP (LEA7) lately you are in for a treat. This cute little house is perfect for the upcoming holidays. It makes you smile just looking at it. Cozy insides are already decorated with tree and presents and cards hanging from the windows.

Industrial Loft is Open

Need an upscale renovated warehouse apartment for your filming? The warehouse loft is now open. Grayscale and natural tones abound. A very "in the city" place. Find it here.

48 Hours

Can you make a great short film (4 to 7 minutes) in just two days?

No fair planning ahead. In fact you can't and that's the challenge. Get a team together and have some fun!  Remember all LEA sims are filming friendly and MOSP(LEA7) has well over 50 locations for your artistic visions.

The 48 Hour Film Project weekend will start on 8th until 10th November 2013.

Learn more here:

https://www.48hourfilm.com/en/about/history.php

Registration page here:

https://www.48hourfilm.com/machinima/48hfp/registernow/info.php

Filming schedule

• Starts on Friday 8th November at 11 am SLT
• Ends on Sunday 10th November at 11 am SLT

Choices

A few weeks ago Netflix offered me a free month a viewing. With Fall schedule not yet on the horizon, I took them up on it. One of my first video choices was the remake of Footloose, a movie I had enjoyed long ago. As the month ended I decide to revisit the original 1984 version and see how the two compared.

There was a brief point in time when I lived and breathed film. I was in a movie group, small but with its own share a drama. I learned a lot there, not only technical things, but about choices. And indeed, movie making, be it film or machinima is all about deciding among alternatives. As I watched Kevin Bacon, and later to become Sex in the City star Sarah Jessica Parker, I found I preferred the original movie. It wasn't the cinematography; the fake mountains were fairly distracting. It wasn't the acting.

The difference was partly in the script, but mostly in the director's decisions.

Filming is about telling a story, be it a wistful poem or an epic  -- well in machinimatic terms -- adventure. Your viewers need to know the characters. They need to be able to put themselves in the red boots or scuffed sneakers, to understand the protagonist's motivations, to feel the joys and sorrows of the performer and believe for a moment that they are one with those that move upon the screen. Movie making covers plenty of ground; filming and editing rank high in importance. You need footage, farsightedness and discrimination for the work to blossom into your vision. Striking camera angles help of course.

But mainly you need sensitivity, understanding and the willingness to let the viewers see your characters as they honestly are.

It's Baaaaack

Some of you may remember the subway set from MOSP at LEA20. That sim long tunnel was impressive. While the original build, lost from the database during the move, will never return, I installed the smaller version of the subway. You can find it here.

There are some cool new props courtesy of The Challenge creators. You can see those photos in a few days on my design blog. Meanwhile, just come on over and bring your camera. I have placed the different areas far from each other so that you can choose your shots easily. The subway can be an airport or a train station if that's what you need.

Coffee Cart

Another great addition to the city, this gorgeous coffee cart dispenses warming drinks after you exit the gym. Come on over. Bring your camera, natch!