Our Lecture at Solent University

Somehow we didn't kill each other in the car on the way to Solent University in Southampton, and made the three hour drive. The traffic made me antsy because folks on motorcycles here will weave through traffic at high speeds and it just makes me nervous!

The Jurys Inn that we stayed at was great! Even though I'll admit to having too much to drink, I'm always more outspoken due to letting the wine speak for me - everything was sooo much better than expected. Harold Frickner and I had a long chat about Second Life and its potential uses and how machinima on the platform can be so much more than avatars dancing.

At one point I thought I had an ear infection, but it turns out I have a wisdom tooth coming in which made my inner ear and jaw sore :( Anyway!

About 20 people came to our lecture - and though that seems like a small number there were only about 150 who registered for the event and there were 4 other lectures going on at the same time. I even pushed it so far as to do most of my end of the lecture in PowerPoint, which I hadn't messed with in forever.

It was painfully obvious that we aren't used to public speaking, but I think that our video content end of the lecture is what really captured peoples' attentions. We had a lot of interesting questions, and I was quite surprised to hear that some schools are already incorporating Second Life into their curriculum! I think my mention of SL being open source so that the school can host its own 'private' version of SL really piqued their interest.

Keith and I are hoping to continue giving 'lectures' to show the impact of machinima and how not only virtual worlds, but the open artistic freedom of platforms like Second Life can put a whole new spin on not just education - but the art of film making itself.

There are pictures somewhere - but we've misplaced the flash drive so I can't transfer the pictures onto my PC as of yet.

Earlier today I sat here at the PC and just said "WOW". Three years ago when Keith and I teamed up for our first machinima video, I never would have thought it would have taken us down the path we've been on. No we aren't making a sick amount of cash - but for the past two years we have been able to apply the money we DO make from our videos to things that have made our videos better.

Not only did I never expect for the two of us to be taken seriously, but I never expected anyone else to hold any kind of interest in what we do beyond just laughing at the funny videos we make. It really has been a very awesome experience that has taken me by complete suprise.

No, we haven't been offered any contracts - but we are able to still do what we love without having to worry about anyone dictating it. Machinima has become so mainstream that no one really bats an eye when we try to explain what we do as a hobby. I remember trying to explain everything to my family once upon a time, and I'm still not sure they get it - but at least someone does.

I gave my mom links to videos we've done, and though I really get the impression that she wasn't impressed - I think she at least now understands what it is.

At any rate - I was pleased with our lecture regardless of our lack of experience - and I hope that all virtual worlds (not just Second Life) have finally gotten cast in a light which goes beyond just scantily clad women and cheating spouses.

2007 Machinima Festival - Europe

Okay then! Most everyone knows that Keith and I attended the Machinima Festival (the first EVER in Europe) which was held in Leicester (pronounced Lester). It was technically a three day event of which we attended one day. A two hour drive (each way) may not sound like a lot - but by the end of Saturday I was worn out. We did have a VERYYY busy day though!

We arrived early - and we were both kinda bummed when the girl didn't find our name on the list. I told Keith not to worry about it .. but he later ran back downstairs and had them look again. Lo and behold we were on the list. Anyway we got our goody bags and sat down in one of the many rooms in order to hear some presentations.

The first we heard was Paul Marino. For those that don't know who Paul Marino is ... he's like the grandfather of machinima. Other people may have brought machinima into the mainstream (which I'll get to later) but he more or less started it all.

"So what are they like?" Keith and I spent a lot of time talking to different people at the Festival throughout the day. Paul seems to be a very reserved guy with a strong 'matter of fact' sense about things. Even though he was being ushered everywhere and people were wanting interviews and such - he still found time to talk to everyone who wanted to talk to him - which I find highly admirable. Paul is definately a guy I'd like to sit and talk to more - the type you want to pick their brains, really.

Keith with Paul Marino

I didn't do a whole lot of interacting with the folks attending the festival - I'm shy like that. Keith was walking up to people left and right "So what video have you done? I've seen that!" And I just sat back and took pictures.

The funniest thing about the entire festival is that even though we felt like we knew a lot of those people through their work alone - we couldn't pick them out. ASIDE from one incident which I'll document later ;)

We were talking to Paul for a bit when I snapped the picture. He heckled me about not submitting a film for the festival. I thought that since the director of the festival had asked if she could show our films that it would be in bad taste to submit one ... I was wrong and it'll never happen again! So Paul gave me a razzing before another guy walked up and he and Paul started talking, shaking hands - anyway it was obvious they knew each other. Paul asked us "I'm sure the both of you are .. but I'll ask anyway. Are you familiar with FRAPS?" Duh yes! Its practically all we use. Then Paul said "Well this is the guy that made it."

Keith laughed a bit and shook his hand "Well you have about $30.00 of mine!" He was kinda coy and shy and just laughed "I thought it was cheaper than that these days." We all talked briefly and of course I took a picture.

Keith and FRAPS Guy (I forgot his name SORRY!)

I sat in on the "Distributing and promoting your machinima" panel while Keith jotted off to attend the "legal" panel. He got a lot of questions in (to hear him tell it) whereas I simply listened on most of the event I was at.

Keith even hung out with a group that was filming the festival - Lit Fuse

who had a film or two shown during a couple presentations. One of the teammembers even contacted Keith in SL so I think he's made a new friend out of it.

As far as the SL end of things went at the Festival .. it seemed everyone was familiar with it - but no one really knew how to utilize it. De Montfort University even has a sim there (as well as La Interactiva head Ricard having a Machinima Sim) but the guy behind the computer really didn't know how far Second Life reached. We sat in the room a couple of minutes before taking the keyboard away from the guy and cutting loose. moo Money and Geius Dassin were in the sim and watching the festival on the feed so Keith said - "Hey watch this! I'm gonna run down to the main room .. get in front of the camera - and wave!" He did - and it was funny. Not only that it was nice to show the other guys "Hey look we DO have friends!" Anyway - moo and Geius took a screenshot/snapshot:



At any rate - that's all I'll post for now. The other post would dominate all this as its more of my documentation and not a mash-up of info from both Keith and I. Just a first person narrative on what went down :)

Pleasure DURING business?

Keith stopped off and picked up some pop last night - so I was happy!! For some reason I'm far more productive with pop than I am with coffee. Coffee is more of a relaxing type drink for me - whereas pop says to me "Get your butt in gear!"

I responded to some business e-mails while sipping on some Mountain Dew and it really felt like I got everything done much more quickly than what I normally do with just coffee. Its probably all in my head but that doesn't really matter when it comes to being fast, accurate, and articulate!

My Undead Priest is up to level 24 now. I abandoned my raiding 70 Warlock on a RP server in favor of playing on a PvP server (Crushridge) with a few SL friends. I forgot how lame it was to play such low level characters - but I really don't mind it all that much. Anyone over on Crushridge who wants to group with a 24 priest (Horde) give me a holler! The name's Morcheeba.

I've been doing weekly Mean Girls posts, but haven't yet come up with a post for this week. I'm starting to feel kinda stingy that I keep posting every week and soon everyone's going to be like "WTF is this the Orchid and Meat of the Week blog?!" I think this is all in MY head but yanno.

My birthday is Saturday - and either Keith hasn't planned ANYTHING or he's better with suprises than I thought. We'll see!

Next weekend is the UK Machinima Festival and of course I'm looking forward to that! It'll be great to see/hear everyone's reaction live in PERSON while they are watching our videos. Its always easy to type "lol" but seriously - how many times do people actually -mean- it when they type it?

Guess that's all for right now. I have some shrimp out to cook for dinner and I'm thinking about cleaning the house. It isn't dirty ... but a vaccum wouldn't hurt it :P

TOO MUCH TO DO!

Yes yes capslock is cruise control for awesome - but really we do have too much to do.

Keith has another case study to do for his human relations course ... we have the UK Machinima Festival as well as the lecture in Southampton to prepare for. We're also going to hit the game expo in London this month. I think its pretty safe to say that we aren't gonna film any weddings in October .. maybe a very small FEW but we honestly don't have the time this month.

We're designing some NSS t-shirts to wear when we go to the Machinima Festival as well as the London Expo. Yes, we're gamer nerds so what? Keith and I have even talked about taking up a few card games (I outright refused to play Pokeman).

So far pretty much every weekend in October is filled with something. I'll just list all the days that we will NOT be filming.

Weekend of Oct 6 ---- My RL Birthday
Weekend of Oct 13 --- UK Machinima Festival
Weekend of Oct 20 --- London Gaming/Anime Expo
Oct 25-28 ---- Lecture @ Southampton Solent University Conference Centre

The simplest things are often the funniest

Before I elaborate on the title ... Just making note that there are 2 weddings to edit this weekend. I was supposed to film a wedding last night - but when I tried (REPEATEDLY) to log into SL it just hung on the "initializing world" screen and wouldn't go any further. Has anyone else had this problem? Of course I tried to send a bug report - but the crash logger thing freezes too so that's a big no-go.

I refunded the girl her money and apologized. Definately wasn't fun for me to get up at 1am and try for an hour straight to log into SL. After that first hour I just gave up and went back to my warm bed and snuggle up with that one cute guy I know. Ohhhh what's his name ..Keith! Yeah that's it.

And I found a video today that absolutely cracked me up. In my younger years I used to play games that scared the living daylights out of me. The ones where random stuff pop out .. Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Evil Dead, and recently (though i haven't played it) F.E.A.R Anyway here is a YouTube video of a guy playing Resident Evil 2 .. and recording the audio WHILE he plays it. Its subtitled for those that don't know Japanese (I only know a few cuss words myself LOL)

New Video Yayyyy!

I just did a video to show how far dance animations have come in SL :)

No real point to the video itself other than my avatar dancing - from old dances to the newest release from Sine Wave.

Anyway - I just wanted to try out some new editing techniques mostly. I'm still working on my on-beat edits which I got quite a few of them in! I'm proud.

Nail Polish feels like happy

Most know that it doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy. Ice cream makes me skip, and wild colored nail polish makes me sing.

I took Keith to his class the other night and decided that I needed some loud purple nail polish. My nails is the only 'girly' thing I do. I will spend money on a manicure before I buy myself new underwear or shoes. Its just my 'thing'. Anyway - I haven't owned any good, bright, or colorful nail polish since I moved to be with Keith. I keep forgetting that HE'S the one in the military - not me - so I don't have to conform to their rules. I don't have to keep my hair a certail length .. I don't have to dye my hair 'natural colors' only .. and I certainly can wear any color of nail polish I want! So I did!

I had forgotten how hard it was to paint my left hand (I'm right handed) and needless to say I made a bit of a mess on my fingers - but its the overall effect I was going for. Looking at my hands makes me go "WEEE!" so mission accomplished.

While I was out I also picked myself up some perfume. Seems every time Keith and I go to the BX I have to make a detour at the perfume rack and smell all kinds of perfumes. Most of them I don't like .. but I did find some that gave me a happy feeling inside when I smelled it. Keith said it smelled like cotton candy - which is probably why I like it so much ... but I bought a bottle. I later found out that it was 'made by' Britney Spears (its called Fantasy) but y'know if she ran around smelling like cotton candy maybe she'd be a happier person!

Today Keith decided to put a video idea into motion and started filming .. I was kinda BOOOOO about it because it was a REALLY pretty day .. and its going to start getting nippy here soon.

So Oct 13 or 14 he and I are going to the UK Machinima Festival since they are showing one of our videos .. and on Oct 26th we'll be giving a lecture in Southampton so we have a lot going on next month!

Proof that we do stuff

I was gonna do a song of the day - but I'll save it for a later post :)

Quite a lot to talk about

As the title says I've got quite a lot to talk about. One subject mostly, but still quite a lot nonetheless.

Keith was scheduled to give a short e-lecture on October 26 but plans have changed. Now we are going to Southampton to give a lecture in person at University of Kent on the subject of film and machinima. We're both really excited as we see this as a wonderful opportunity to show who diverse Second Life is for filming.

Movies are expensive - everyone knows that. The staff it takes to run a film set is almost staggering and each of those people have to be paid. Filming in virtual platforms can narrow the staff down to just ONE person - on top of the set(s) being able to change according to your mood. You haven't got to worry about actors breaking character or anything of that sort - not to mention you can collaborate with people from all over the world to share your vision!

I'm fully aware that I'm not the film/editing Guru that Keith is - but I bring just as much to the table as he does and pick up in areas that he's weak. He may have named his 'company' back in Highschool but the company didn't come to light until 2005 when he and I started the ball rolling. Natural Selection Studios is anything BUT a solo effort. Never has it been just one or the other.

On October 26 (we'll be leaving on the 25th and coming back the 27th) we'll give our hour long lecture as well as taking questions to a crowd of film students as well as metaversal enthusiasts. I'm really curious to see the diversity of interests, but I'm most happy about our efforts being taken seriously.

For a long while now many companies have been open enough to see Second Life for what it is - though many have fallen by the wayside. American Apparel pulled out because sales were bombing ... but what can you expect? You aren't going to make a fraction of the cost off a shirt in SL when you could sell the same one IRL and make double the profit. I somehow feel that some companies were misinformed.

Do I feel I'm tooting my own horn? Not really. NSS has never really catered to RL companies. We've never pitched an idea to a 'real' company - and have never attempted to bring a company or organization into SL. We do what we do because we love it - not because of anything else. Yes I use videos as a means of extra income - but we ALWAYS use the money we make from videos to better our equipment in order to make BETTER videos. We're in the process of saving up to buy me a new computer so that I don't have to use Keith's.

I get a lot of people asking me to teach them how to film/edit - and I always turn them down. On the shallow end there is the common sense of: If I told everyone how to do what I do the way I do it - I'd never profit. But on the deeper end is the fact that if you go back and watch some of our earlier flicks you will see that visually - they are terrible. Both Keith and I have greatly improved over the past two and a half years and I feel that sort of experience should be had by anyone trying out anything new. You have to be bad before you can become good. That's just how it is! I can't teach anyone how to learn - does that make sense? Experimentation is key in anything you're trying to learn .. and that kind of thing can't be taught.

I do plan to film our lecture in October - but I'm not sure if we'll "air" it or if we'll just keep it as a momento for ourselves. I don't see any reason in over-saturating the machinima public and be all "Look at US! We have some credibility!" like SOME people do. At any rate - you won't see any advertising diarrhea from me. I'm sure I'll do a blog post at/after the lecture to highlight a few moments - but that's not the same as force-feeding anyone.

On a different note: I need to get more pics uploaded to Flickr. Keith uploaded a lot to his today - but I still haven't updated mine. I know, I suck.

SONG OF THE DAY

I TOTALLY love this song. And after being kinda "blah" for a few days - this song really gets me dancing around the house like a complete idiot ... but at least Keith thinks its cute!

I Need to Feel Loved by Reflekt

Come and touch me baby
I need to feel loved
Come hold me babe
I need to feel loved
I need to feel loved

Come and catch a fire
Don't let me fade away
Come and catch a fire babe
Don't let me fade away

Come and catch a feeling, it's electrifying me
With eyes wide open, I'm dreaming
Breathe for me baby, awake before I'm down
Come and free me baby, awake before I'm down

Come and touch me baby
I need to be loved
Come and hold me babe
I need to feel loved
I'm in love
I'm in love
I'm in love
I'm in love, love love
I'm in love
in love in love
I'm in love
I'm in love

Come and touch me baby
I need to be loved
come and hold me baby
I need to feel loved
Need to feel loved
I need to feel loved
I need to feel loved

I'm in love
in love
in love
I'm in love
in love
I'm in love
in love
in love
I'm in love

Weddings Weddings Everywhere

I've done a pant-load of weddings this month. Okay so Keith actually filmed and/or edited 80% of those - but if he's home and doing nothing why NOT have him do it? At any rate this is my 2nd wedding in two days and oddly I'm totally fine with it.

Lately with the wedding video scene folks have started picking songs I haven't heard - or just haven't already used in a wedding vid which seems to make the editing process go a lot more smoothly. When you have to hear a song you don't like over and over 40 million times it starts to eat at you.

We did a drow wedding this month which was awesome! Finally something totally different than the 'norm'! I only filmed the reception (cuz Keith had to go to work) but still! It was nice to see something different for a change.

Not sure if I've updated about it or not: But I'm renting a plot of land for about 6k a month and when I don't want it I don't have to worry about selling it or anything. Keith kinda didn't get it at first - but now he's cool with it. And its really upped business! Which was my overall goal anyway. Haha! I win!

Staying at home is really starting to wear on me. Even though I try to keep myself busy with videos, scheduling, cleaning, cooking what have you - I still feel really blah. I think its because I don't get any alone time. Yeah yeah I know - I'm home alone while Keith is at work - but that's the only time! I don't even go shopping alone which just the thought seems like a luxury. I love my husband so so much ... and he's so so great ... but there are times I'd like to go to the bookstore and browse books by myself. The two of us go out and do things almost every weekend (unless there's a video scheduled) and I love doing that ... but there are days I want some solitude I guess.

When I'm home alone - I'm still here. The only time I leave this house is when its with Keith. Hell he even takes me to my dentist appointments. I love spending time with him and all that - but like I said there are times I just want to go to the coffee shop and sit and have a cup or two while reading a book or something. I know I could easily do that at home while he's at work - but I think its because I associate home WITH work now. When I'm here and he's at work ... I'm at work too. I spend a lot of time in SL doing marketing and advertising work. I know he doesn't see it as work because for one: He's good at it and two he really likes it --- but for me I have to struggle to do even a fraction of the quality he does. So YES it is work! Anything that you have to really try to do and fret over I would consider work. Anything that you do that you're good at and can do with great ease is a hobby. Natural Selection Studios is a hobby for Keith - but its constant work for me.

Well the wedding I'm filming starts in about 15 minutes so I'd better cut this off. I'll update more later!

PILLAGE!

Alright .. so my computer took a huge shit. I really think little gnomes snuck in over night and trashed it because .. well .. its just cooler to think of it that way. It was a small group of about 20 that went all John Wallace on my 'puter. Whatever! FREEDOM! Ffs. So yes, its toast.

Thankfully last year Keith and I bought this laptop to tide me over until we could make it to Missouri in order to gather the rest of my crappy belongings otherwise we'd be fighting over who's turn it is.

The upside is now we get to build MY computer .. the downside is that I have to wait until he goes to work to use his .. or just use this laptop. Luckily all the weddings I've booked are scheduled for when he's at work so there's no problem there.

He did however receive an e-mail from a 'fan' that is now offering wedding videos in SL. Okay so fans emulate that/those which they are a fan of. That's nothing new - but the fact that she was all like "Bebop Vox is my most favorite person ever -- but this is for those just wishing to capture a simple memory" .. Wow there's so much shit I want to say but I'll just leave it be. He keeps telling me things like "Who cares?! Let 'em do whatever they want. We have almost three years of a reputation behind us - they can't hold a candle to that." And he's right. I really need to stop being so competitive over this kinda thing.

I guess since I work so hard on everything that I just see it as a slap to the face. Not only what she said - but how she's gone about it. She's gone from being a mere fan, to making her own laggy ass videos, to now mimicking the business that he and I have spent three years building from nothing. Makes me wanna pillage! But, I have to be civil because as everyone knows there will come competition in any business - and you just have to rely on your own quality of work to bring you out ahead. And though I have complete and TOTAL faith in both his work and my own - it still grinds my gears. I'm petty like that, I guess?

The machinima thing has been a full time job for me for almost two years now. I'm constantly working, networking, researching, experimenting ... and Keith does too (though he's far more efficient with it) and it just makes me want to slap someone sometimes when my toes get stepped on is all. Of course I never do - but that doesn't mean I don't think about it!

I remember a time when all the designers used to feel the same way. They'd get all pissy when someone released an outfit similar to theirs etc and it kinda bothers me that I'm doing the same thing ... but at the same time my overly competitive nature won't let me just 'let it go' but I'm really trying this time. I know for a fact that my SL business is secure, but that doesn't mean that I'M secure, does that make sense?

It took over a year to convince folks "Hey Bebop isn't EVERYTHING" and to allow me to film or edit their wedding videos. I actually had to edit them secretly then let HIM break the news to them before I got any form of 'cred' on the machinima circuit. Even though I stood on my soapbox for MONTHS shouting "I am NOT riding his shirt tails, people!" it didn't matter. Now that I've established myself as a director, editor etc - this 'new kid' has really just rubbed me the wrong way. In a way it makes me want to bust my ass double time in order just to say "Nyah nyah" but I know that's immature. Why do I have to be so immature!?!

Alright so I'm just going to keep doing what I always do - which is just be a bit bitchy about it, then slowly rebuild my self esteem even if it may be for the wrong reasons. Spite is a powerful thing, my friends!

What I'd Really Like to Say:

I'll say it again tho (and I know she doesn't read my blog but ..) people pay for our service for a reason. We don't shoot bad angles. We don't have laggy footage (oh god we'd better not after all the money we spent on Keith's computer) and we don't use noob transitions. We pay for our software, and we're cinematic. We have never just slapped footage together and said "There you go! That's your video" (with the exception of JellyBean's wedding back in like 05 - we were noobs) and I really need to stop worrying so much about those that do.

Having FRAPS, Windows Movie Maker and some spare time doesn't mean you're BAMF. Sure, you can compete all you want to - and even though it bothers me - I welcome it. No I'm not a total bitch and I've even mentored a few people so as to make their videos better --- BUT --- none of those people whom I've helped have stepped on my toes as far as wedding videos in SL. Maybe I'm just too damn protective? I'm really not sure.

I have 4 weddings in the next 7 days. Not to mention there are some already booked for September. And damn I still feel bad at directing this ENTIRE post to that ONE girl who will probably NEVER see this - but I really want to get it 'out there' and Keith wont' let me talk to her to do it. He thinks its stupid and that I should just laugh at her while I cash out Lindens. I probably should - but damn! DAMN!

/What I'd Really Like to Say

Okay - I guess I'll go play Neopets or something in order to cheer myself up by looking at cute cartoon animal things and while playing games aimed at adolescents that I still can't beat :( I suck.

Song of the Day

Go to Hell by Milk Inc

Alright so we've done a lot recently and I haven't gotten to updating my blog to reflect that.

I am taking over the filming/editing of most the wedding videos at NSS indefinately. Do to us being in the UK now its impossible for Keith to film any weekday weddings because he'd lose sleep for work. Weekends are another matter - as long as he has notice he'll probably do those.

He and I went to Stonehenge last weekend - and got soaked. The ONE time we go out without an umbrella and it rains. What do you expect out of England, though? Any time we go out we normally take an umbrella and a sweater or jacket a piece. That's because the weather can (and has) changed so quickly that we've needed it. We enjoyed it anyway though. Wet hair and dripping clothes don't slow us down!

Then we went to Salisburry and saw the cathedral. It was simply gorgeous. After Stonehenge that cathedral was the 2nd oldest thing I've ever seen/been near in my life. I love how the entire place was pretty much open and you could touch anything there. The whole touch deal is why I love children's museums. You get to put your hands on a HUGE piece of history and that's just not something you can do every day. We stopped at a few altars and lit candles and whatnot - and by 'a few' I mean every alter we walked past. We also saw a page of the Magna Carta which is the U.S. equivalent of the Decloration of Independance. Same thing, really (as those who wrote/signed the Decloration of Independance were British :P) but much, MUCH older.

We had sandwiches at a little bistro before heading home. It was a full day full of laughs and such. I didn't pick up any postcards from the places though because i was afraid they would get wet and ruined. The druids were at Stonehenge though - which was awesome. The downside was that there was some American interviewing them and comparing what the druids do to your run of the mill sunday afternoon 'football' spectator. I got pissy and couldn't stand there to listen to it. Could the guy have BEEN any more condescending?!

I have been trying to catch up on my blogs over at Appearance Mode its pretty much pointless. Any time I post something its going to get buried by Sassy. I probably wouldn't mind if she didn't name drop the same people over and over again. Maybe its just me? I don't know. And that layout has GOT to go over there. You can't even read all the entries it shows on the page because it glitches and you get this whole double vision thing ... anyway. I did make a post over at Mean Girls which I'm sure will get me flamed but I couldn't give two shits. Everyone's entitled to their opinion - even if their only opinion is that they don't like my opinion.

Keith got around to making a blog but I can't find the link for it right now. I'll update soon - perhaps even a new layout. Who knows!

"Where does he get those wonderful toys?"

Jack Nickelson as The Joker once said that about Michael Keaton as Batman. As soon as I saw this thing .. that's immediately what I said. Out loud, no less. (its true I tend to talk out loud and make Bebop look at me and go "wtf?")

Bebop and I have a lot of really great creative friends. We also film a lot even though we rarely let most that footage see the light of day ^^; As many know my head gears (as small as they are) grind continuously with ideas for stuff. Yea that's the best way to describe it - stuff.

For the past year or so Bebop and I have been developing a character for a series which I won't name right now (and no its not cuz I don't have a name for it yet - GOSH) and have been filming. Our filming has picked up a whole lot lately due to our surroundings. We've recently had more leisure time in SL and have rekindled old friendships which have lead to new ones which makes for very fun times. I'm totally off topic.

We've been working on episodes for this series - and there is this badass thing that our main character uses. Its called a "Boomlash" and its simply the greatest thing I've probably ever played with in SL. WARNING: If you have a crappy graphics card or you lag - don't even bother because such things are really just a disgrace to this genious toy!

I started out taking pictures of it - then quickly said "Pft pictures don't do this thing justice - I must film!" So I did. I filmed me throwing the Boomlash - different angles to show you the intricate details - and just to show off the fun animations.

Mind you this thing isn't 'cheap'. If you want a Boomlash you're going to be dropping 2,000L - but seriously I've spent more on lesser things. It comes with a very detailed notecard to tell you how to use it - and its just damned entertaining and one of the best looking, best scripted, well thought out, flat out FUN things I've found in SL.

It does hit people and will knock them back about a meter or two - so it isn't a real 'weapon'. The fun part about the Boomlash is when you throw it at like .. the side of a building it STICKS and you can jump up on it and use it like a climbing thing. I know, descriptive right?

So without further adieu - here is the short video showcasing the Boomlash made by the very talented Anisa Naumova of Curious Relics.

Protect it Like You Own It!

And they do! I see it more and more these days in Second Life. There are free things everywhere. I know this as I've been around almost 3 years. Some people prefer to give out things for free because hey - sharing is instilled in most of us at a very young age.

For a long time now people have been re-marketing the free stuff in order to turn a profit. For what means who knows, but they do it. I totally do NOT agree with that at all - but at the same time there's an argument of "Well I acquired it so isn't it up to me whether I want to give it away for free or re-sell it?" I think of all the stuff I've bought over the years .. all the crappy clothes from high priced stores that I've turned around and sold at yard sales (I'm talking RealLife here) .. did Abercrombie intend for me to sell that $40 sweater for $3? Probably not but what can they do? They made their money already. But that's the difference .. the stuff I'm talkin about is F-R-E-E to begin with.

There are things in Second Life that enhance things. Textures, scripts, humungous blocks that you can't even make anymore but were exploited in 03 due to a bug .... at any rate ... should these free things still be free? Or should they be shut into their creations merely because the person who used these free things want you to not take their exact copy of an exact copy which they got for free anyway? Its just a never ending circle.

If you got it for free - you should give it for free. That's what's fair and right. If you paid for it - sell it .. but don't expect a profit because let's face it: Things in Second Life progress quickly so used items just a few weeks old could be outdated. Don't try to turn a profit on an outfit/hair you bought 3 years ago from a designer that no longer sells their things.

And new residents: Don't expect to not have to buy lindens. You come in with nothing and that's what you'll have until you either buck up and learn to market something .. or you start peeling off clothes. If you want to be a beggar that's fine - but remember - beggers are homeless for a reason usually ;) It isn't rocket science for the most part.

Machinima Teaching

I am not naming any names - but I am taking this all in a whole. I do not mind at ALL to help someone learn anything about machinima or anything else I know about if they share a genuine interest. If you're just asking me questions to turn around and just ask me (this goes for Keith too) to turn around and do the work for you and pass it back so you can slap your name on it -- forget about it. Its not going to happen. That's like walking up to Grim Misfit and saying "Yeah dude check out this awesome idea I have! What you do is .. I tell you what to build .. you build it .. give it to me full perms then I sell it and split the profit! That's badass, isn't it?!" Fuck no, it isn't.

Machinima is really starting to take off in SL compared to the two and a half years ago when Keith and I started filming - and I'm really glad to see that! Its awesome to see people who want to do things with this 'medium'. Making a film costs a lot of money - even if you just film little home videos in Real Life you have to buy a camcorder (which can get pricey) But in this virtual forum its free (as long as you use trials of things - it can get expensive if you buy full registered versions as Keith and I have learned).

Seriously though - I will sit and help anyone out that's willing to learn. There are some things, however I feel should be learned on their own. Everyone has their own artistic eye so I never tell angles and stuff - but I don't mind holding a hand or two for those that really lack any kind of vision for it. I can't count the times I've sat and talked to people and told them step by step how to do things - then a few days later they're all on their own like big boys and girls. No leashes and no arm floaties (JellyBean is the first one that comes to mind.)

Everyone has to learn a little something from somewhere - so no question is a bad question because I'm sure I sat and asked someone the same thing at some point. Really though - I'd never ask a designer step by step how they made a certain shirt .. and I just expect the same kind of artistic amnesty, I guess. There are lots of effects achieved a lot of different ways - and there are some things that I just call "film magic" and leave it as that -- and that's just because if everyone filmed and edited like Keith and I did then they'd have no need to have us film and edit anything to begin with because there were 40 million others that could do the same thing. You understand, right? /rant

England

The British Consulate hates me. They've jacked up the prices of a visa from $120 to $430. Yeah huge inflation. At any rate Keith was able to push back our date of departure until the 21st in hopes that my Visa comes back in time so that I can leave with him. Hopefully I can - but there's never any guarantee with anything as far as the military is concerned .. and especially when you're dealing with things out of the country. It'll at work out - but I am quite high strung over it and I just want it all to be over with already! RawR!

Song of the Day

Trigger Hippy by Morcheeba

Tune in, drop out of love,
Pull the trigger, I'm a hippie,
So said a truth, and blood,
Alive and well,
You push the buttons.

Standing in line of fire,
For the whole,
My soul,
Step codes,
The drums,
And sing,
Love the children,
Learn to live with everything.

Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.

Zoom in, cut out at sound,
Make it feel so trippy
Hung up, let down to ground,
Forget the kill it's far to sticky

Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.

Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.

Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.

Just Random Tidbits

This post is just going to be bits and pieces of things as I think of them. No real subject matter already laid out or anything.

May 18th

That is the date in which Keith and I are expected to leave and move to England. Tomorrow is May 1st and I'm starting to get jittery. What if my visa doesn't come in on time? What if he has to leave without me? I'm sure everything will be fine, but it still weighs on me. I realize that there are women who live without their husbands and can handle that, but I'm not sure I can. I guess our story is a bit more 'odd' than most. I spent two years living without him, only to be with him for 7 months - only to go with the possibility of being away from him again?! That's just too much.

Videos

Keith has been compiling lots of WoW (World of Warcraft) footage and plans to make a huge video soon. He's already been very picky about the soundtrack so I've had to dive deep into my musicbox (aka harddrive) to find him a song which he will find suitable. So far, no luck. I did find a Prodigy v Faithless mix that he might settle for. We'll see. Oh and there were a couple Propellerheads tracks that he dug. Are they editing quality? I'm not sure.

Its hard for me to pick music for him like this when I haven't seen not even a sliver of the footage he's recorded. I realize that by sitting literally two feet away that I should know what he's shot - but I don't. I know the kids of things that I would record, but he and I have totally different artistic and cinematic eyes so I really can't speculate.

All my video work is still on hold until we get to England. I don't want to get involved in a project only to have to ditch it in a few weeks. Sure I could film and edit something within the same day - but I've really got lots and lots of ideas and I'd like to execute everything to the highest possible quality I can. But yeah ... once we're across the pond I'll work on it more.

Work & Home

I really think the issue of me not working is bothering Keith. In fact, I think he's a little jealous in some ways. He's made remarks that hurt my feelings a bit - but I'm sure he wasn't thinking when he said them. He goes to work 5 sometimes 7 days a week. This 'video stuff' is merely a hobby for him and therefore he doesn't see it as work. I understand that. Bah this is going to turn into a rant and I don't want that.

Second Life

Not a whole lot as far as SL is concerned. I mostly pop in to chat with friends and see if there are any cool locations built that I haven't seen yet. I haven't really put much time into it seeing how no one is wanting their weddings filmed and whatnot - therefore I spend my time reading, doing dorky dances, and researching the area we'll be living in once we move to England.

I think that's all.

Oh I bought a new skin. I've decided to go back to wearing my fun colored skins because I've missed them. I don't care who's wearing what ... I love wearing a purple skin. I had one as a noob .. then there was the Passport skins .. then the Hayley skins .. and now I'm back to my purple roots! :D

Cheers

Song of the Day