And Now For Something Completely Machinima

After we first talked about this project last April 2022, we were thrilled to see what a stunning job @MartinKlekner has made in the 21 Jan release of the first episode of Heroes of Bronze. We were not disappointed: the film and work stands up to AAA Assassin's Creed Odyssey studio work, but with amazing detail of historical artefacts and storytelling, which is even evident in the way clothes move...

This week's film is a SFM Saxxy 2017 entry from  @TipsyDucks called Mann Co: Employee Training Video. Lots of in-jokes and satire in the style of a PSA, with a fantastic voiceover by Keith Ferrell aka MrTush. 4:13 We don't pay you to think. We pay you to work. 7:07 Team Fortress 2 stylized graphics. 9:02 Phil’s sense of humour and satire. 10:31 Pushing the edge of appropriateness. 13:42 The value...

We always love a good RDR2 machinima, and this is one by a Sam Menell, released on 9 Feb 2023.  We watched this several times, and Tracy didn't spot the UFO in the opening shot! 2:03 Phil’s thoughts on the film.  3:36 The soundtrack and editing.  6:24 The searchers  8:05 The ending was such a surprise.  Credits -  Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine  Producer: Phil Ri...

This week, Ricky provokes us with a selection of shorts released on TikTok.  We discuss the usefulness of the platform for machinima and virtual production creators, as well as pass comment on the three films we take a look at, which unsurprisingly we variously struggle with. Phil's analogy to fish restaurants of different quality sums it up well for us all. 8:19 Fish restaurants 11:51 Dumpsters f...

This week's film review is The Gateway by  @ritualenfilm3976 , made with  @UnrealEngine and released in May 2020. Its a mix of some well-known alien life sci-fis we all love, the pacing is nicely done and there are some interesting effects that we comment on although we're not quite sure what the ending is all about. Ricky also tells us about a new Philip K. Dick inspired (Blade Runner stylized) r...

This week we review the winner of the 2022 Kitbash3D moving image challenge contest, based on their free Mission to Minerva asset pack.  The film is called Secret Moon by Orencloud, and what a visually stunning and ethereal representation of Minerva this is, with a clear trajectory between this piece and Orencloud's portfolio.  We discuss some of the ways in which the film works and works less wel...

Ricky's pick for the month is Let's Play Nomad X by Kristian Andrews, uploaded to Vimeo on 11 Mar 2013. The film is a 'slice of life' comedy with intriguing mix of playing a 90s style space game, Nomad X, and reflecting on losing the love of your life - a perfect antidote for those Valentine's week shenanigans! 0:10 Let’s Play Nomad X by Kristian Andrews 3:59 Let’s play, let's play 6:27 The shared...

This week's episode reviews a film by Fandom Games called Half Life 3: Honest Game Trailers, released 31 March 2015.  The film is a throwback style of satire and even if you've not been following Valve's Half Life developments, you'll enjoy this.  For those less in the know, HL3 is a game that never made it beyond the hype, despite its avid fan base waiting patiently (or impatiently) to play it fo...

Show Notes & Links: https://completelymachinima.com/2023/02/02/s3-e63-film-review-the-backrooms-reunion-feb-2023/ Credits -  Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood  Editor/Producer: Ricky Grove  Music: CreateStudio Pro Licensed Music Assets. Youtube Audio Library - Nebular Focus by Dan Henig. 

Show Notes & Links: https://completelymachinima.com/2023/01/26/s3-e62-film-review-so-i-tried-to-take-a-holiday-jan-2023/ Credits -  Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood  Editor/Producer: Ricky Grove  Music: CreateStudio Pro licensed audio.

Show Notes and Links: https://completelymachinima.com/2023/01/19/s3-e61-film-review-interloper-half-life-2s-greatest-unsolved-mystery-jan-2023/ Credits - Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine Producer: Ricky Grove Editor: Damien Valentine Music:  licensed from CreateStudio Pro

Links and show notes: www.completelymachinima.com Credits - Speakers: Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood, Ricky Grove, Phil Rice Producer: Ricky Grove Editor: Damien Valentine Music: licensed from CreateStudio Pro

0:14 Introduction to this episode.  9:45 The stylized look of the film.  11:44 How they arrived at the world of the film.  15:43 The flaws in the story.  21:52 Is there still a significant audience for quick and dirty machinima?  27:26 The audience’s reaction to machinima.  33:33 Machinima’s plight is a hidden one.  37:57 What are your thoughts on my criticism of the story aspect of the voice in t...

Links on our website here:  Credits  Speakers: Phil Rice, Ricky Grove, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine  Producer: Phil Rice  Editor: Ricky Grove  Music: CreateStudio Pro licensed music. fallbackcrush / whistling auld lang syne @ freesound.org https://freesound.org/people/fallbackcrush/sounds/413563/

Links and notes on our website here Credits: Speakers: Phil Rice, Ricky Grove, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood Producer: Phil Rice Editor: Damien Valentine Music: Lights in the Dark by CSP CC OO

Time stamps - 0:11 Introduction to this episode 3:51 Compositing and editing in Second Life 7:25 Teal’s inspiration as an artist in Second Life 10:19 The film is halfway between machinima and photography 13:11 Why I didn’t look for a deeper story 15:11 When advertising comes on, I immediately start shouting at it 17:19 Promotional work and informational info ads are really great forms of advertisi...

Links and notes on our website here Speakers: Phil Rice, Ricky Grove, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine Producer: Phil Rice Editor: Ricky Grove Edited in CreateStudio Pro. Music licensed from their collection. 

Show notes and links on our website here Credits - Speakers: Ricky Grove, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine (MIA zsOverman)  Editor/Producer: Ricky Grove Music: Tattoo by CreateStudio (licensed)

Time stamps - 1:13 The Remnants 22:26 So Palpatine Needs Padme Dead...[LEGO Edition] Enjoy, and as ever, feedback and suggestions welcome! Our website has all the links and notes here Credits - Speakers: Ricky Grove, Damien Valentine,Tracy Harwood, Phil Rice Editor/Producer: Damien Valentine Music: Scott Buckley - www.scottbuckley.com.au CC 00

Show Notes & Links on our website at www.completelymachinima.com/ Credits - Speakers: Ricky Grove, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood (MIA Phil Rice, courtesy of Hurricane Ian) Producer/Editor: Damien Valentine Music: Scott Buckley - www.scottbuckley.com.au CC 00

Show Notes & Links on our website: www.completelymachinima.com Credits Speakers: Ricky Grove, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine, Phil Rice Produer/Editor: Ricky Grove Music: House Loop by Sakebeats /CC 0 / freesound.org

Little White Poney Inn by Olibith It Lives Within the Sea by Squadron Orange (dir. Dominic Edwards) Links and notes on our website here Credits: Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood Editor/Producer: Ricky Grove Music: sclolex__a-bad-day-at-the-crypt / freesound.org

Links to the film on our website, https://completelymachinima.com/2022/10/19/s3-e49-film-review-most-precious-gift-by-shangyu-wang-oct-2022/ Credits Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood Editor/Producer: Ricky Grove Music: evanjones4__sleepnomore1 - Freesound.org. License CC 0

We discuss the eyes, the monster, the surprise and and camera shots. 1:06 Tracy introduces ‘The eye: Calanthek’ by Aaron Sims 5:56 What makes it so realistic? The eyes! 11:02 Things that break the storytelling 15:02 Does knowing the craft of filmmaking restrict creative approaches to filmmaking?   Show notes and links on our website for this episode, www.completelymachinima.com/ Credits: Speakers:...

0:47 Ricky highlights some of the news items we’re released in a series of blogs this month, being released on Mondays, starting with out Tech Update on 3 Oct, then Projects Update on 10 Oct, Fests & Contests Update on 17 Oct and finally a Report on Creative AI Generators on 24 Oct. You can find these on https://CompletelyMachinima.com/Blog 2:19 Feedback on previous episodes 6:51 How I learned...