Machinima

• The term has been defined as “films made by real-time three-dimensional computer graphics rendering engines”, but it essentially means films made using video games.
• My own machinima film is titled We Are Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On.
• The exact origins of machinima are debated, but it’s generally agreed that the first machinima film was Diary of a Camper.
• In 2003, the production company Rooster Teeth created a web series Red vs Blue using the video game Halo (2001).

Machinima’s critical reception

• I think a closer look at Ebert’s comments on machinima reveal the biases and misapprehension around video game culture that explain this.
• While recognising the revolutionary potential of video games as a filmmaking technique, Ebert saw machinima as “visually impressive but empty”.
• He thought it was restricted by its associations with the style and themes of video games, forever existing outside the realm of “cinematic art”.

The future of machinima

• This year also marks the first time that a major international film festival has presented an entire programme of machinima.
• Oberhausen may not have the global brand recognition of Cannes or Venice, but when it selects its programme, the film world sits up.
• Oberhausen’s sold-out programme of films made within video games can be seen as the moment when machinima transcended its gaming subculture, to become a mature artistic medium in mainstream visual storytelling.

• Celtx, a leader in media production software development, has announced its sponsorship of the 30th annual Raindance Film Festival , Europes leading independent film festival.
• As an official partner, The Raindance organization has named Celtx as the official scriptwriting software of Raindance, and the Raindance Film School.
• As the official scriptwriting software for all Raindance Film School campuses, all Raindance Film School students will receive Celtxs multi-format script editors and easy-to-use script writing software to support their learning and growth.
• Since 1993 Raindance Film Festival has uncovered the hottest new filmmakers to hit the cinematic scene.

• Motion assets and motion capture is the most time-saving and effective ingredient to give life to all characters, and studios do much of their production relying on mocap libraries.
• ActorCore is a steady source for the highest quality motion capture.
• All ActorCore motion assets are guaranteed to the highest optical capture quality standard.
• ActorCore is a searchable, interactive library with themed motions available by single purchase or by motion packs for best value.

• "We are thrilled to provide emerging creators access to powerful tools for digital human creation and animation by making the iClone Unreal Live Link Plug-in available for free," said Charles Chen, Reallusion CEO.
• iClone Unreal Live Link Free for indies video:
  Providing a simplified path for content to enter Unreal Engine, the iClone Unreal Live Link plug-in allows for the direct transfer of assets between iClone and Unreal Engine without the need for FBX export.
• The Indie program for the iClone Unreal Live Link plug-in requires indies to own iClone 7 and 3DXchange 7 Pipeline.
• Reallusion simultaneously launched the free plugin and updated the iClone Unreal Live Link Plug-in for UE 4.24, and will continue development to match all future Unreal Engine updates.