So, October is basically over. We completed one 30 second movie, and maybe some work here and there.
Here’s a Halloween picture.
There’s a possible other project in the works, though I mostly work on it more out of obligation than real enthusiasm. It’s based on the image below:
That was created many, many years ago in Caligari TrueSpace (RIP), a 3-D animation application. Adapting it for my current animation setup means a lot of cutting, duplicating, recreating and reusing. It can be fun, and it keeps me (mostly) out of trouble. Will it be any good? Will there be anything else to it? Gather ’round kids and stay on camera, we’ll all learn together!
So, nothing much to report. Nothing really concrete, anyway.
I’ve been messing with Acid Pro, which was originally was produced was Sony Software but is now published by Magix. Not all that enamored with Magix, honestly. I upgraded both Acid Pro (and Vegas Post, also once by Sony and also now by Magix) earlier this year (March or so). But now there are new upgrades to both, and you’d think, “You upgraded only a couple of months ago? Here’s an upgrade for FREE or at least very cheap!”
Nope. Around $150 for Acid (and $300 for Vegas). Sorry, no. There used to be (and really ought to still be) some kind of loyalty benefit for those who have upgraded within a certain time period, but I guess I’m a victim of old thinking.
As for Acid itself, I’m trying to get it to cooperate with what I want to do. However, like almost every software I’ve ever used, it’s a struggle between what you want and what it will permit you to do. VST instruments appear or don’t based on…something I cannot discern. Data is clearly written, but no sound comes out.
I use Acid because I paid for it (see above) so I hesitate to jump to a different platform, even a free one. (In fairness to Vegas, it’s mostly okay.) But sometimes you have to take the plunge.
I also went against my instincts and signed up for the Adobe “Photography” bundle, where it’s a monthly charge. I’m not really happy with that decision, to be honest. It seems much harder to find the simplest things.
Here are some works, which I could have done with CS6 (I’m pretty sure). Maybe I’ll find some hidden gems. There is a “Sky Replacement” feature which seems to work really well, so there is that.
These were both mostly hand drawn.
Robert the Cat (TM) cameos in the second one as you can see.
In other Robert the Cat (TM) news: well, he’s still here. He loves receiving affection and attention, and while he he doesn’t know how to dispense the same, he’s…learning, slowly. The other day, rather than napping in his cat tree, he lay near to me. He reached out his paw and touched my leg. Mind, he had his claws out, so it wasn’t comfortable for me, but still I guess that counts for something. Doesn’t really tally against the constant biting and slashing, but then one can’t have everything I suppose.
No real ideas for any animation projects. Things occur to me, and I’ll work on them a bit, but then they flitter off.
Speaking of which, thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you again next month.
Well, life continues. I actually have two projects in the works, neither of which is all that–uh, “important” or whatever, but they’ve both been fun to work on. Neither is expected to have a long running time, but plans are always subject to change around here…
Anyway, that’s the monthly entry for March. See you next month, and thanks for stopping by.
So, after I posted the last video to YouTube, I went completely dry. Totally bereft of ideas. And it scared me, honestly. I poked here and there at things, but nothing caught fire. I wondered if I was done doing things.
I still wonder that, but at least there’s something now to work on. It’s only out-takes from the last video, but at least it’s something.
Did I mention the out-takes? I think I did. If not, there were out-takes. Over five and a half minutes of them. Why were they cut? Put together, they were dull. But I think I can pull a couple of bits out and make something. Not five and a half minutes of something (at least I hope not) but enough to give a bit of hope.
Anyway, I may post later this month, and if not, thanks for visiting and see you next time.
Well, it has been a fairly busy month, art-wise. The new project was streaming right along, then I hit a snag and started wheel-spinning, but it looks like I might be unstuck.
Still no idea about when all this will be finished, but it’s…getting there.
Next month I’ll try to post some stills. Until then, thanks for visiting.
I’m not a fan of colorization. Movies are an art form like any other, and the way they are introduced to the world should be the way they are presented thereafter.
That said, if you’re going to colorize a black and white movie, at least do so with some style and creativity. Ladies and gentlemen, can your heart stand the shocking revelation of…Plan 9 From Outer Space, colorized? (lightning and thunder)
This is really very cool. In the shot below, Eros has just finished telling the Earth people that they are really stupid.
Jeff doesn’t like this one bit, and belts Eros a good one.
And it’s very hard to see, because Eros turns away from the camera, but he actually turns green when Jeff hits him!
When he turns back toward us, we can see his green skin in full flower. And he keeps that green skin, until–
–he wipes it away as he tends to his bloody lip!
This is genius. And while it might make some sad with the realization that this colorization job cost more than the entire original movie, at least someone recognized that there was something else there that could be brought out and celebrated.
Most colorization looks like weak pastels painted over a black and white image. This looks very much the same, but at least they had fun with it.
Well! How is everyone today. There’ve been some new developments in the world of projects and other works. I did start another painting, but it’s not going quickly. Here’s a WIP, colors are way off but, you know, WIP. As you can see, it’s the same old stuff.
(Remember when I did the PaintBlogs? I should really try another one of those, but I just don’t pick up the brush that often.)
The animation project mentioned last month is still proceeding, with more sequences done and artwork created. There’s a Vegas project going that already has the opening pretty well mapped-out, but that’s still evolving (sigh).
I heard of a fun contest which I’m going to enter. I’d show you the latest stage, but as it’s a contest I’m not sure I can. No hope of winning, but it’s fun to work on.
Also, the air-conditioning has been fixed, so I shouldn’t have to suffer either temperature-wise or financially. Always a plus!
So, keeping busy and trying to keep comfortable. And I won’t bother you with the health worries. Thanks for stopping by, and I may see you later this month.
So, it’s the end of June. How are things progressing? Well, the script group is kind of in endless rehash mode, but I’ve got five scripts in various stages, so there’s that.
The editing thing has been abandoned. I’ve been working too much on my own stuff, which is the ambitious animation. I’ve got several sequences finished, and will probably be able to post a “part one” in July. Here’s a shot of an impact crater, cobbled together from a dozen or so different images.
Also, met an interesting person. Possibly more to say on that later.
Well, I see it’s time for the monthly update. Well, I’ve got four projects in various stages of completion (none of them really close to that, though).
One is a script for a group, and I’ve kind of soured on it. Sometimes shorter is worse.
The second is a possible edit for a film for the same group. Barely started on this, already thinking it’s futile.
Third up is a new painting, which has already stalled.
Finally, we have a new animation that may be too ambitious for me. Haven’t done much lately on that, but it’s still in place.
So, that’s that. I hope to update this more regularly, but we’ll have to see. As always, thanks for stopping by.
A Planet That Has No Sky 