This week, we discuss the art of machinima filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship, freshness, and humor in exceptional storytelling, as evidenced in ‘Lonely Episode Two: The Package Thief’ by TheBizTheBiz. We analyze the efficiency and density used in delivering witty lines and twists in what is essentially a modern retelling of the Lone Ranger, using mariachi music, masks, and character development, clever use of language and a well-executed comedic setup.
YouTube Version of this Episode
Show Notes & Links
Lonely Episode 2: The Package Thief by thebizthebiz, released 10 May 2024
This week, we discuss two stunning music videos: Children of Pain by @VincereSylph with video created by @TomJantol and @tanyasubaBg; and Firefly by Esterica in Unreal Engine. Children of Pain is a perfect example of Tom’s ‘anymation’ approach whilst Firefly demonstrates just how far Unreal Engine has come as a creative toolset in one year alone!
YouTube Version of This Episode
Show Notes & Links
Children of Pain (Official Single) by Vincere Sylph, released 6 April 2024
Tom Jantol’s video for WiL/William Mimnaugh called Lion’s Feet (in 2022) –
Not for the first time do we discuss the gorgeous cinematic qualities of GTA5, and this week we share a beaut by @Salva.Padilla. This one has a distinct vibe to it, but it is its general ambiguity that we especially love about the machinima. We each see something a little different in it! What do you see in it?
YouTube Version of This Episode
Show Notes & Links
Film, Cinematic Experience GTA V Machinima by Salva Padilla, released 15 April 2024
About Walter Ruttmann’s Berlin, Symphony of a Great City, 1927 –
Nina Simone estate interview excerpt, To Be Free, released 16 Feb 2013 –
This week’s podcast episode is our curated news omnibus for this month. We cover lots, and enjoy reflecting on the significance of the stories we highlight for the world of machinima and virtual production.
btw, the international internet pipes failed and microwaves fried our apps during this recording session, video corrupted and monsters ran loose among us, so enjoy the voice data we’ve managed to resurrect and video clips we’ve added – we’ll be back next week in full glory!
YouTube Version of This Episode
Show Notes & Links
Fan communities under pressure?
Valve’s Steam policy and recent take downs for Team Fortress 2 and Portal fan projects – article on Games Radar here
Half Life 3 aka Entropy Zero (and 2) projects – Fandom.com overview here and video –
New Moviemaking Toolsets
Blockbuster Inc, Prologue version now on Steam here
Demo by Orbital Potato here –
Replikant now in free beta on the Unreal Marketplace.
Replikant has a Youtube channel with plenty of tutorials on it already, and there’s a great demo of it which gives you a sense of the animation quality it produces –
And for those wanting a quick and dirty tutorial on UE5, check this out –
Steamboatin’ Along!
Minecraft Steamboat Willie which is a fun take on it, made by Red and Blue –
Fewture Studios’ trailer for The Return of Steamboat Willie, made in Unreal Engine –
Screams
The origins and impact of the Wilhelm Scream – BBC shorts here
This week we compare and contrast, in a way extending that ongoing debate about whose IP is the daddy… but the ep is about much more than that too. We discuss @solofilmmaking4857 ‘s use of #chatgpt to generate a film’s story, using the plots of 60 of his portfolio works on Batman, mixing styles and genres along the way. We don’t see it as wholly successful and we discuss why. We contrast that with an unusual hobbyist technique to create ‘analogue machinima’, inspired by Spiderman toy figurines digitised and animated by @MakeItMoveMedia. In the end, our conclusion is that its all Marvellous!
YouTube Version of This Episode
Show Notes and Links
Vengence: Batman Fan Made Cinematic | Unreal Engine 5.3 | DLSS 3.5 by Solo Filmmaking
‘Making of’ film, link –
Spider-Man Action Figure Animations Episodes 1-8 by Make It Move Media
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