If you have not yet viewed my movie short, please note that you must have at a minimum QuickTime version 6.5.2. If need be, you can upgrade earlier versions of QuickTime through the software update feature of QuickTime. If you have an older version 6 of QT, it will upgrade you to 6.5.2. You do not have to upgrade to version 7.

Having said that, some of the judges have had problems viewing my short with version 7 of QuickTime. If that is the case for you, please let me know.

Enough about technology.

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE:

For those of you having problems viewing my movie short, I have placed a direct download link on each of the pages just under the main QuickTime viewing window. Click that link and it should open a new page and begin downloading the movie. Loading may take awhile so please be patient. Thank you!

Alternatively, you can click one of these links and go directly to the movie:

QuickTime 7 Versions

Medium: http://www.sayremedia.com/Quicktime/Got2Movies/GOT2_MD.mov

Small: http://www.sayremedia.com/Quicktime/Got2Movies/GOT2_Dial.mov

QuickTime 6.5.2 Versions

Medium: http://www.sayremedia.com/Quicktime/Got2Movies/GOT2_MD.mp4

Small: http://www.sayremedia.com/Quicktime/Got2Movies/GOT2_Dial.mp4

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As the name implies, this movie short is a continuation of the story I began in DVC2. I was interested in not only trying out new green screen techniques, but also in exploring the story of Thomas Brin in more detail.

I'm interested in hearing your comments about the technical aspects, aesthetic appeal of the fictitious world, and whether or not the story is in the least bit compelling. I may continue Thomas Brin's adventure in the future--after all it will give me another chance to hone my VFX skills and try new software.

My vision for the genre of science fiction is to create worlds that, although they are obviously fictitious in look and feel, send the viewer into a fantasy-like realm. I like to think that I am beginning to learn how to use VFX to create moving, impressionist paintings where the mere hint of an idea is sufficient to let the viewers imagination take over. In today's world where even the worst movies can have stunning, well-crafted, real-looking VFX, I wanted to do something different, creating an almost picturebook-like realm.

I did have a last-minute problem with a corrupted Soundtrack Pro file that caused me to quickly remaster the audio, so I'm aware that the audio is harsh in places. You are viewing the exact version the judges viewed. I will fix the audio issues after the challenge.

Thank you in advance for your honest feedback!

I have QT 7 but it is asking me to install a codec on the smaller QT 6.5.2 versions. QT takes me to their web site but doesn't tell me which plugin I need.

It has been suggested, and I will second it that we should probably have direct links to the videos themselves. I can "View Source" and find the videos but that's the back way in. Would you perhaps consider posting the direct links to the video versions rather embeded in a page, or perhaps both?

I won't be able to watch these until I get home tonight.

Thanks, and looking forward to seeing Chapter II.

Sean McHenry

That's a good idea, Sean. I did see that suggestion earlier and forgot to update my website. I will do that shortly.

As far as the plugin, you need the QuickTime ActiveX plugin version 6.5.1. I have no idea where that is found on Apple's website. QuickTime should find it automatically but I have had difficulties locating it myself.

Once Windows directly stopped supporting QuickTime, this ActiveX plugin, created by Apple, was needed to make QuickTime work in Windows-based IE browsers.

Jeff, dude. That looks like a ton of work. Good job. I loved the concept and thought you executed it well. Looking forward to part three.

holy smokes! for a wildlife videographer, you sure are adept at the special effects. i should come study at your knee, master!

i'm not exactly sure that i'm following the storyline. but one thing i admire, is that you're using the challenge as an opportunity to learn something new (greenscreening, etc.), and i think that's pretty cool, to stretch in a new direction. we're all learning stuff, but to take on a deliberate and specific challenge and gain some new mastery of it in a weeks' time is admirable.

Jeff, dude. That looks like a ton of work. Good job. I loved the concept and thought you executed it well. Looking forward to part three.

Thanks for the compliment, Sean. It was more work than I could afford. Let's just say I did not understand the concept of sleep for most of that week. I'm still paying the price. But, boy, I had a ton of fun!

Jeff,

Outstanding Visual Effects, as usual. The movie is amazing, and stays true to your original concept (I was wondering - how will he squezze 'cameras' into it?).

Anyway, now you got yourself into trouble: you raised the expectations on Thomas Brin's future, and you owe us the rest of the story ;) PLUS, next DVC is in Halloween, and THAT will be a though thing to get into the story :))

Very Good to watch. Nonetheless, I felt you developed the story a bit too little for my personal curiosity.

As a huge fan, maybe I´ll try a sci-fi stravaganza of mine on one of the next DVC's.

Cheers,

Hugo

Thanks, Meryem! Yes, while it is true wildlife study and videography is my passion, I like to get away from the real world once in a while.

In DVC2, I had considered making a documentary but then thought that that would be nothing new for me. So I asked myself what the direct opposite of that would be and I came up with SciFi. I am a fan of the genre but would never have considered attempting to make a scifi movie before. In DVC3, I wanted to continue my learning process.

However, it was--as you put it--a chance to learn something totally outside of my realm.

You say that you're not sure if you follow the story. Have you watched Part I? If so, then perhaps I have a long way to go on story writing! :)

Jeff!

This was truly a remarkable achievement and beautifully executed! You are definitely the master of Sci-Fi and green screen work around here. Not to mention a great storyteller.

I think you have achieved your objectives in this film!

Question- Thomas Brin just discovered he is NOT a machine...but rather a Biotic. If we gave him an injection of a big dose of Amoxycillin...what would happen?

Well done and bravo Jeff!

This is the only entry I haven't been able to view. As I only have Quicktime 6. And I can't find the update for 6.5.2 anywhere, and I refuse to download ver.7 until it is not the Windows Beta version, and you don't need to download iTunes with it.... Does anyone have a link to the update at all?

Tyler:

If you open up your QuickTime application directly, you should see the following option under the Help menu: "Update Existing Software..." Click on that and you should be on your way to version 6.5.2.

Alternatively, I have placed direct download links on the pages where the QuickTime streams are located. You might try one of those and see if that works.

Hi Jeff,

I've got QT7 but just as the movie starts my Explorer shuts down. On your page there's a tab for people like me; when I click on it there's no page available. Trying to view with the old version locks up my PC immediately. I tried the update and it told me it was already installed.

But I sure would like to see your movie! :)

Any other options? (And you won't say, "Get a Mac," now, will you. ;)

I know both Meryem and Elvis had to provide other avenues for cripples like me. Have you a way to do this, too? Sorry to be a pain.

Hi Jeff,

I've got QT7 but just as the movie starts my Explorer shuts down. On your page there's a tab for people like me; when I click on it there's no page available. Trying to view with the old version locks up my PC immediately. I tried the update and it told me it was already installed.

But I sure would like to see your movie! :)

Any other options? (And you won't say, "Get a Mac," now, will you. ;)

I know both Meryem and Elvis had to provide other avenues for cripples like me. Have you a way to do this, too? Sorry to be a pain.

Of course I always would support your decision to buy a mac, Lorinda!

Try visiting my direct link page here and let me know if that works. It may take a while for it to load.

QuickTime 7 Version, medium bandwidth:

http://www.sayremedia.com/Quicktime/Got2Movies/GOT2_MD.mov

WOW!!! Those are some virtual sets!!! (Oh, the link worked fine and fast--thanks!)

I got all hung up on that gal's cool visual communicator and had to watch the whole thing again. (Old Star Trek fan here.) How'd you do that?

Storywise--yeah, I think it's plenty compelling enough for you to keep it going. I need to know how that dastardly machine assimilated Thomas. (Just make sure it doesn't say, "Resistance is futile; you will be assimilated." LOL!) I didn't see the first one, btw, so will feel like an idiot if everyone else knows this part.

Now, I'm saying this as a viewer, because there is no way I could begin to delve into what you're doing: I'm sure you notice the scenes where Thomas isn't quite separated from the background. That's the only time I detach from the story.

The stepping-stone work is amazing.

Think I'll go watch it again. Thanks for the extra link, Jeff! And for the great movie!!!

Jeff,

Outstanding Visual Effects, as usual. The movie is amazing, and stays true to your original concept (I was wondering - how will he squezze 'cameras' into it?).

Anyway, now you got yourself into trouble: you raised the expectations on Thomas Brin's future, and you owe us the rest of the story ;) PLUS, next DVC is in Halloween, and THAT will be a though thing to get into the story :))

Very Good to watch. Nonetheless, I felt you developed the story a bit too little for my personal curiosity.

As a huge fun, maybe I´ll try a sci-fi stravaganza of mine on one of the next DVC's.

Cheers,

Hugo

Hugo:

I appreciate your kind words and I'm glad you are in my fan base-even though I didn't know I had one! Yes, I realize that I cannot keep the story hanging at the end of Part II.

I do plan on a Part II but I'm not sure it will be in DVC4. This type of movie takes significant amount of time and it just about broke me this past challenge. I need more than a week to comfortably do Part III. I will probably do something different for DVC4.

Question- Thomas Brin just discovered he is NOT a machine...but rather a Biotic. If we gave him an injection of a big dose of Amoxycillin...what would happen?

Well done and bravo Jeff!

Thanks for the compliment, Bradley. It means a lot!

And yes, like matter to antimatter, Amoxycillin would do the biotics in! LOL. What a great idea. Perhaps I'll have a bottle of antibiotics on a table in the machine world just for a laugh.

WOW!!! Those are some virtual sets!!! (Oh, the link worked fine and fast--thanks!)

I got all hung up on that gal's cool visual communicator and had to watch the whole thing again. (Old Star Trek fan here.) How'd you do that?
....The stepping-stone work is amazing. ....Thanks for the extra link, Jeff! And for the great movie!!!


Lorinda, I'm glad the link worked. I'm not sure what's going on but the direct download does seem to work better for Windows-based viewers.

Thank you for the compliments. I enjoyed the challenge of creating the effects in my short. The visual communicator was a simple, small, glass picture frame. I liked how that scene tuned out as well.

What I did was layer four separate video streams using nested green screen composites. The top most layer was Crick's assistant, then it was the green screen of crick followed by the animation that was behind him. The bottom layer was the background matte of the lab's wall. I took the second and third layers (Crick and the animation) and scaled and distorted them to overlay the glass picture frame. That is it.

I'm glad you understood that Brin was going across a very high room on the "stepping stones." I did that effect in Apple's Motion.

I thought I would try to learn After Effects, but now, I bow down before the Special Effects GODS! I bet it did take you forever to virtually create your set. Was it my imagination, or was there an HDV logo on your camera?
Amazing work!

Finally got it to work. The visuals were a lot better this time around, and you have definately improved your technique on Part II.

Impressive. The compositing was great.

Wow, Jeff, thanks for posting the updated links in thread... I was so looking forward to seeing your short, but I wasn't able to see them from the earlier posted links. I thought your last one was so cool looking I really couldn't wait to see how your technique has improved.. and wow! This really looked beautiful and all the elements really came together quite cleanly...maybe not Lucas, yet...but pretty incredible for what you are doing and time frame you are working with....

Plus, I really felt left out of the mystery, and it only deepens....I have to say you have me hooked on the adventures of Thomas Brin...Can't wait for the next one. You'll definately be able to do something with this when you a filled out the entire series. Great job.
-Jon

Tyler and Richard, I appreciate your comments. I agree that GOT Part II showed improvements from a VFX standpoint.

I thought I would try to learn After Effects, but now, I bow down before the Special Effects GODS! I bet it did take you forever to virtually create your set. Was it my imagination, or was there an HDV logo on your camera?
Amazing work!

Thanks, Dick! You did indeed see an HDV logo. I took still pictures of my Sony Z1U and used them in the composites.


... You'll definately be able to do something with this when you a filled out the entire series. Great job.
-Jon


I'm not sure my VFX wizardry is worthy of such praise, but I appreciate your compliments. Although we have ideas of where the story is going, we do not have a script, less a treatment for a script. So, I can't say when Part III will be released, but I can tell you that at least there will be a Part III.

My whole goal in these two challenges was to work on one technical element, something I had no previous experience in doing. That element was VFX compositing and for that, I had to learn the basics of green screening. I was not concerned about lighting, blocking, cinematography or even the story. However, I was fortunate to have Randy Kelly, who plays Thomas Brin, as the lead actor. He is very talented and managed to do a lot with the little I gave him.

In future segments I do plan on concentrating on additional aspects of movie making. Lighting and cinematography will be a big focus of our next one. This series will give me a great opportunity to begin learning the many difficult challenges of movie making.

We've joked that each installment of the GOT series will be better then the next. And I believe that will be true. By the end of the series, it may even look semi-professional. The end result is that when a viewer watches the entire series in one sitting, they will see the evolution of a film maker. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out.

I've made significant changes to the website that hosts GOT (mainly in an effort to learn line-by-line HTML and XML coding). It has been a fun learning experience.

If you wish to view the revised and newly encoded version of GOT2, then please visit the url below and click the "Movies" tab:

http://www.sayremedia.com