PROJECT 3: Machinima

DRAFT: April 16, 2007

DUE DATE: April 23, 2007 @ 2PM

• Team composition: Most teams will be the same as for Projects #1 and #2. If you wish to modify your team, please see the instructor.
• Program to be represented in 3D: Use the same program created for Project # 1.
• Machinima:
  • You will be creating a movie in SL, and using SL camera(s), that is connected-with or centers-around the artifact in Project # 1.
  • The artifact from Project # 1 can be a major prop in the movie or in some cases may form part of the set where characters move through it.
  • Your movie will be approximately from 2 minutes to 5 minutes (maximum) in duration and composed of the following items:
    • Characters if desired. A single narrator is a minimum.
    • Props
    • A story with a plot. The story can be non-fictional (i.e., a documentary) or fictional.
    • Significant camera moves and transitions
    • Sound, music, voice where appropriate
• Extras: if you require extras (other avatars), you are encouraged to publish your requirements with a summary of your movie script on the class web page. Students outside of a team who appear as significant working extras on others' movies will be given bonus points. These bonus points will be considered when formulating the final class grade.
• To deliver:
  • Deliver your project materials to either of the TAs in Room E349 in the CSE Building (3rd Floor).
  • You will deliver two MPEG-2, quicktime (.mov) or .avi (or divx) files on a CD or DVD to either one of the two TAs. FILE # 1: should be your full sized movie (a minimum resolution of 640x480). FILE # 2: a smaller version (320x240 for example, using Quicktime or Windows Media) for web streaming via one of our CISE web pages.
  • Create a Word or PDF document of at least 3 pages (3-6 pages on average) that describes the development and explanation of your movie. Include story board elements and your entire script, along with sample movie snapshots.
• How to Create Movies in Second Life
  • STEP 0: Keep the goal in mind: to use the movie as a framework for learning and exhibiting a computer program in 3D. This is similar to Project # 1 except that you will be making a movie instead of delivering an object. The goal is not simply entertainment for its own sake -- center everything around the idea of 3D programming.
  • STEP 1: Read about making movies with game engines at the Second Life Machinima area. "Silver Bells and Golden Spurs" is particularly good. Search places such as YouTube for "second life" or "second life machinima" and you will see many movies. Here are some camera/movie tips
  • STEP 2: Use the Alt-Zoom camera. You can find it by going to Search and searching for "Alt-Zoom". Teleport to the Alt-Zoom theatre. Walk into the theatre to get the Alt-Zoom Camera. Read the instructions and see this video tutorial. This camera will enable you to make ultra-smooth segments of SL action.
  • STEP 3: You will need to be able to make raw video. This can be done with a video capture program such as CamStudio 2.0 (which is free), however, FRAPS is by far the best I've tried. There is a free version but it is limited in recording time and has a watermark logo. The full version is $37 and well worth it for doing machinima related to SL and game engines.
  • STEP 4: Once you have all of your movie clips, you will need to stitch them together with video transitions. Free methods for doing this are found in the form of Virtual Dub and Microsoft's Movie Maker (comes with XP). Adobe Premiere (either the Elements or Pro version) is more sophisticated but is not free. You'll find that Movie Maker and Virtual Dub are very good.
  • STEP 5: As you perform STEP 4, you will need to dub in sound and voice. You can record sound and voice with many free programs. Audacity is a program that provides good, free, sound editing capabilities. If you record voice, make sure to place the tip of the mic at or below chin level to avoid "pops". Also, make sure to record at a good, and consistent (between takes), volume level.
• Grading: An average project that is complete and comprehensible will get a B. Only excellent projects will get an A. In-between projects will receive a B+. The instructor will assign the final grade based on feedback from the 2 Teaching Assistants. "A" grades go to impressive and innovative movies, and grades depend somewhat upon what your peers produce in terms of relative performance. Graduate students and teams have higher expectations.
• Special event: A small number of excellent compressed movies will be placed online in a web exhibition as well as their larger file counterparts in the WARPhaus gallery.