This document discusses machinima, a filmmaking technique that uses real-time computer graphics engines to create animated films. It aims to examine the development of machinima over the past 20 years and issues of authorship and copyright. As primary texts, it analyzes Tales of the Past III, a trilogy of machinima films made in World of Warcraft that took a year and a half to create. It also discusses the long-running Red vs Blue series and how game developers have accepted machinima works. The document proposes analyzing these texts and creating a short machinima film to better understand machinima production.
2. Aims of Research
To look more in depth at the development process
of making a Machinima and how it has developed
over the past two decades.
Issues of Authorship and Copyright in Machinima
3. Primary Texts
‘Tales of the Past III’: A trilogy of 60-80 minute long
Machinimas made in World of Warcraft. Took a year and a
half to make. The film was directed by Martin Falch, and
Produced and Edited by him and ‘Falch Productions’.
Nominated for Best Long Format, 2008 Machinima
Festival Awards.
Trailer Links:
Tales of the Past II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACBqpHRn45g
Tales of the Past III:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHSAAm_0uK0
4. Possible Second Texts
• Red vs Blue: A Machinima series made by Rooster Teeth
Productions, it has been running for more than ten years
now and has a huge following. It want to look into how the
creators of Halo (the game they film in) have now
accepted their work and do not have any copyright
problems with it.
• I will also look into how Blizzard Entertainment now use
Machinima to create in game cinematics.
5. How it will link into my Creative Project?
I want to try and make a short Machinima myself doing my
own animation and casting people for voice acting.
It will be difficult to do certain aspects, but much easier to
others than in a proper film
