This slide show outlines the process of creating videos using 3D environments and video capture tools. The seven steps: 1) Watch two documentaries; 2) Learn some history; 3) Gather your tools; 4) Choose a 3D platform; 5) Find Actors and Shoot; 6) Edit the Video and add Sound; 7) Distribute it on the ‘Net.

1. Making
Machinima
IN SEVEN SIMPLE STEPS

2. Jeremy Kemp, A.M., M.S.J.
Assistant Director, Second Life Campus
SJSU School of Library & Information Science
jkemp@slis.sjsu.edu

3. Machinima is…
Machine + Cinema
“animated filmmaking within
a real-time virtual
3-D environment”

4. Seven ‘Simple’ Steps
1. Watch two documentaries
2. Learn some history
3. Gather your tools
4. Choose a 3D platform
5. Find Actors and Shoot
6. Edit the Video and add Sound
7. Distribute it on the ‘Net

5. Step #1:
Watch these two
documentaries about
Machinima:

6. “What is Machinima”
youtube.com/watch?v=dPLzKur06Vo

7. “Inside the Machinima”
youtube.com/watch?v=mYYPtacx5Bw

8. Step #2:
Understand the history of
Machinima

9. Platform timeline
1992 - Stunt Island
1993 - Doom
1996 - Quake
1998 - Unreal
2003 - Second Life
2006 - The Movies

10. First came: Recording Games
Originally players:
Showed game solutions
Bragged about rank, objects
Created keepsakes

11. …evolved into Modding
Companies started encouraging modification
Bard's Tale Construction Set
Elder Scroll Construction Set
Unreal Level Editor

12. Now: Free-form Editors
Create custom movies with
- The Movies
- Second Life
- Dark Basic

13. Step #3:
Gather the right tools

14. You MUST have:
Multimedia Computer
3D modeling environment
Video capture software

15. A beefy computer
2 GHz processor or faster
1Gb RAM
10Gb drive space or larger

16. Some extra hardware
External drives for video files
Game-ready graphics card
(GeForce, Radeon, etc.)

17. Optional but Important:
Broadband connection
Video/Sound editor
Video Website to Upload

18. Step #4:
Choose your 3D platform

19. Machinima-ready
World of Warcraft
Half Life 2
Second Life
The Movies
Halo
The Sims
Quake

20. Almost all WoW videos
are game walkthroughs

21. Sample: quot;Not Just Another Love Story”
tinyurl.com/2gwach
(It’s barely narrative)

22. Half Life 2
You cannot change wardrobe, props
Actors in fatigues, carrying guns!
Gorgeous rendering

23. Lip Synch Animations
Follows voice sounds for realism
dagroupplc.com/swf/vms/vms.swf

24. Half Life 2
Sample: “A few good GMen”
tinyurl.com/yr2g83
“judge”

25. Second Life
Highly customizable
Huge mall of costumes and props
Actors for hire
Stunning backdrop sets
Scriptable filming tools

26. Second Life
Sample: “Second Health” - UK ER concept
youtube.com/watch?v=Mp8IyXZAv-U

27. “Alt-Zoom” camera in SL
“Free Machinima Starter Kit”
Buy at
slurl.com/secondlife/Lukanida/33/6
quot;waypointquot; objects mark shots
Avatar cameraman sits dolly to film

28. Alt-Zoom Clapboard
Sample:
youtube.com/watch?v=uVzow1-Yh-w
Disappears when filming
Show shot details

29. A game about making Machinima
100s of cinematography templates
Period costumes and sets
In-game editor sucks
Web 2.0 rating tools

32. Sample: “French Democracy”
About race issues in France
tinyurl.com/ypvdlu

33. Halo
Strictly sci-fi combat
No faces or wardrobe
Limited poses and sets
Huge fan base

34. Halo
Sample: “Red vs. Blue: Why are we here”
machinima.com/channel/view&id=8

35. The Sims
Well-designed sets and props
Actors are uncontrollable
Limited to household themes
Constricted shot angles

36. The Sims
Sample: “Male Restroom Etiquette”
tinyurl.com/27pmdk
Potty humor

37. Very mature platform
Extensive modding tools

38. Sample: “Anna” (about the life of a flower)
tinyurl.com/yq3vm6
Completely custom

39. Step #5:
Recruit your cast and…
“Action!”

40. Non-Player Characters
Complicated to Mod
Difficult to herd in a crowd
Want to fight

41. Avatar Actors
Need payment, creative buy-in
Good for complex shots
Direct using VoIP
Difficult to find & keep motivated
It’s boring work!

42. Video Screen Capture
Snapzpro - $69 by ambrosiasw.com
tinyurl.com/2nt9l5
Fraps - $37 by fraps.com
Both offer trials

43. Step #6:
Massage the Media

44. Choose your Editing Suite
Moviemaker (free with XP)
tinyurl.com/yu5czn
iMovie ($99 with iLife)
High-end:
Premiere - Adobe
Final Cut Pro - Apple

45. Add Titles
apple.com/ilife/tutorials
tinyurl.com/3awu3b

46. Edit a Voice-Over
Audacity (PC)
GarageBand (Mac)
Wiretap (Mac)

47. GarageBand - Mac
Free clip library with movie music
apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#garageband

48. Audacity - PC
Free and flexible but technical
audacity.sourceforge.net

49. Step #7:
Choose a Distribution Channel

50. Upload to the Web
Upload .mov or .wmf files
Add tags for Youtube, Blip.tv
Tell your friends

51. YouTube
Use their best format: MPEG4, etc.
Use the community features
Tutorial: tinyurl.com/27snef

52. Blip.tv
Allows download of original file
Serves Quicktime stream

53. Leverage the Social Web
Views, votes and ratings
Groups and Subscriptions
Comments and video responses

54. This is Hard Work
Keep it short and punchy.
Budget 3 hours for a minute of finished film.
Use sound for emotion, video for description.
You won’t get rich, but it won’t cost much.
Have a blast!

55. Jeremy Kemp, A.M., M.S.J.
Assistant Director, Second Life Campus
SJSU School of Library & Information Science
jkemp@slis.sjsu.edu