Hammering Away

OK. Let's be honest; I am just being hammy here with my hammer. BUT there is a story. I have been uploading my OpenSim Pied de Terre brownstone to SL. This is the first building I have ever ported in the SL direction -- mostly because physics can be a pain. But miraculously I got both doorway and stairs on the first try.  Yep surprised.

As I moved from the beta grid to my building pad I noted that I was a tad overdressed to be hammering, and that made me smile. Smiling is good, so I am sharing. The build will be up later today in the full sim city.  I have some stunning interior pieces to add, but it will be mostly facade for awhile.  Happily it came in very low land impact. Yes, clapping at that.

2015 Trailer

A new trailer is out for 2015. See it at the landing point at LEA7 (you need your media on of course)  or online. Have you visited all the spots? There are of course PLENTY that didn't make it into the 03:15 minute film.

http://www.slartist.com/machinima-open-studio-project-2015_d0a104a0f.html

Limited Engagements

Since land impact points are a finite entity in Second Life and LEA7 is packed full of so much, I have decided to institute a Limited Engagement factor.

We all like newness but at the same time the backbones of MOSP are in place. Throwing away the old favorites (and still very filmable) sets JUST because there is a new flavor of the month doesn't make much sense to me.

So a compromise; new things for a few weeks at a time.  First up -- a surfer bar. Dig out some Beach Boys music, put on your best Beach Blanket Bingo attire and get in the mood. I grew up in surfer country so this was a fun set to design.

Bring your own beer -- or heck, bring a cooler and some friends.

Find it right across from the lighthouse at ground level. The setup is designed to be filmed from this direction but there are areas on both sides that could become shops or bars or whatever you need.  Remember "restore to last position" will let you replace your props as needed with little effort.

The Story

There isn't a film without a story -- well most times anyway. Pretty pictures can only go so far.

As with all art, part of the process is telling YOUR story. It may be purposefully executed or it may simply be part of the process. Each of us, I believe anyway, leaves a piece of ourselves in every film. We may do it purposefully, or it might just surprise us. Either way it is part of the film making process.

So the next time you are stumped for a theme, try picking a single word or a thoughtful phrase. See where it leads you. If you are honest with yourself and free in your interpretation (no self editing now) the story may uncover things about yourself you did not know.

Sometimes good, sometimes bad -- ALL of that makes up who we are.

Be brave.

Find yourself.

Up on the Hill

Just up on the hill and sans furnishings as yet, the cutest little cabin. Tons of great photo angles and gorgeous rustic textures.

The view isn't bad either *wink*.

LEA7 - ground level

More photos in the MOSP Flickr pool.

That Fame Thing

Smiling here.

My listing at Avi Choice Awards was added in.  I never expected to win, so now I have a good excuse why I did not :D.  

Lessons come in many ways and sometimes we need to learn them a few times before they stick.  I am very happy to know the title of the film that was nominated, however. As I suspected it was "the comfort of memories", definitely one of my favorite films.

I woke up this morning with a need to film. Long before the idea of fame entered the picture there was a desire to tell a story.  So I am heading out on a journey today with only a single word as my shot list.

We'll see what happens.

Beds and Desks and Changes

Find this finely detailed new desk set up in Sound Stage 1

MOSP is almost two and a half years old now, with two at LEA7; that's a very long time in the virtual world. 

With who knows how many areas available for filming and photographs (I gave up counting at 50) it is sometimes difficult to know or remember where things are. Take a full sim and multiply by six and you get the idea.

I was reminded of this when someone came to me with a project and  short shot list. Indeed most of the the action could be filmed at MOSP in areas already made --- he just needed to know where they were.

So, should you be in that same puzzled mode, feel free to IM me inworld. IMs go to email and I can respond fairly quickly most times even if I am in Blender or over in OpenSim. Catch me in an all consuming creative mode and it will take awhile longer.

To make way for newness, older builds are being taken down. Even using smartly made mesh, those prims are finite and I always leave 500 for you guys to rez.  In the case of the photo above, the art deco bedroom disappeared. If you are in real need to complete a project with an older set, let me know. Hopefully I still have it in coalesced form and could rez it for you temporarily.

There are still several bedrooms at LEA7 -- a black satin sheets one in Cherry Blossom Romance, a rustic manly version in the Industrial Loft, a kids bedroom in Sound Stage 1 to name a few.

Remember that the sim is rated moderate so keep some clothes on. And a capturing tip -- some of the steamiest scenes in history were filmed with completely clothed actors.

An Invitation to Film

Filming friendly spots are difficult to find sometimes. MOSP is there of course but sometimes you want a new place to explore.

You are invited to film at Aview Falls, home to LaPiscean Liberty. Twenty minute rez times mix with vistas to offer many new filming possibilities.

Night or day there is a natural beauty to be captured in film.

I will be mentioning other filming friendly sites in the future. We can all use new vistas.

Visit Aview Falls.