WoW Moviewatch: Ask a Warlock, Episode 1
by Moo Money 
May 12th 2008 at 12:00PM
Ask and ye shall receive, young warlock! First of all, we'll start with the premise. He solicits questions on his blog and then answers them in video format. Ask a Warlock is obviously a WoW knockoff of Ask a Ninja, which is a much better production. Maybe you're trying to emulate Ask a Chola, who isn't even a real chola, but the point is that you'll need to improve your schtick. For a much better example, see Ian Beckman's Ask an Assassin.
[Thanks, Andrew!]
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
Previously on Moviewatch ...
Read on for more feedback ...
The next criticisms are towards the video itself. The aspect ratio jumps every time, which I can only assume has to do with the fact that you model viewed instead of actually filmed in-game. In addition, your voice just isn't assertive enough. You're putting on a production, not having a casual conversation. Where's your delivery?
I don't want this to be a hatchet job, because I think that WoW players would actually watch something like this. However, there are some definite kinks that need to be worked out before it can be successful. What say you, readers?
Filed under: Machinima, WoW Moviewatch, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TotalBiscuit May 12th 2008 12:06PM
Hahaha what the hell
TotalBiscuit May 12th 2008 12:07PM
Oh look, yet another prime example of why talentless hacks should stay the hell away from model-viewer, microphones and the internet. This doesn't require any further explanation.
DrkSnpr14 May 12th 2008 12:47PM
Wow... I didn't actually expect this to be worthy of WoW Insider...
Um yeah, I'm the creator, and what I read is mostly true here. Production should be much bigger to go after the bigger 'ask a ___' shows. I wasn't joking when I said I wanted feedback, helps me improve. (I'm brand new at this thing, can you tell?) So thank you Moo Money for the criticism, and the feature
In my defence, I've had software issues with fraps and model viewer not working together, as well as some terrible questions to work with. Hopefully I can make episode 2 much better with some better material.
BEEP May 12th 2008 1:23PM
BEEP BEEP, HERE COMES THE FAILDOZER
Toneslice May 12th 2008 1:48PM
Wow, another person who cannot think of an original idea, heres a tip; stop making machinima.
scal May 12th 2008 1:12PM
pure crap
G May 12th 2008 1:05PM
Do not use the same motion over and over again. Do not say "umm" when recording the audio, or edit it out. If you are going to read your script like a plain old vanilla human, do not show a Forsaken character and expect the audience to buy it. Anyone playing WoW knows what the undead sound like: whisper, gurgle, add a fast 'tremolo' effect if you have one in software. Btw, a heavy amplitude tremolo is also how to do a kick-ass Dalek impression if you ever want to do "Ask Dr. Who." Just sayin'.
Blackhorn May 12th 2008 1:12PM
Not bad. Obviously the idea has potential.
Moo Money.. I am always curious about this, so I'll ask: Why do you always toss around the term "aspect ratio" in such an unusual manner? I didn't pick up on any unnatural squishing or stretching in the image. I saw that some shots were closer, and some were wider, but still.. no aspect ratio issues.
Either way, the effect wasn't off-putting to me. It certainly livened the thing up a bit. It's a talking-heads thing... done in machinima, using very limited emotes. The 'cuts' added a touch of dynamics that anything like this would need.
Blackhorn May 12th 2008 1:17PM
And ultimately, this isn't the best material for visual style. This could easily be done on the radio, so the work has to be put into the dialog, not the cinematography.
Good Jokes win will over Award-Winning Director of Photography any day for something like this.
Arras May 12th 2008 1:44PM
aww it was silly, take it for what it is...a good first attempt
and biscuit, you aren't as good as you think you are
TotalBiscuit May 12th 2008 3:30PM
You're right.
I'm infinitely better.
Psychosis May 12th 2008 2:15PM
a mildly interestinf idea at least, why take a perfectly good idea, download modelviewer and proceed to butcher that idea untill that idea becomes annoying.
at least make the "player submitted questinons" WoW-related "why is blue", failed attempt on humour.
Also atleast make your voice interesting to listen, your pretty much uninterested tone of voice made it so boring to listen to. You sound like you hate making the series already
and on an end-note why would you make something like that in modelviewer, you could just do it ingame with some choice locations (shadowmoon valley pops to mind) and if your not a warlock you can do it with any class, if your gear sucks, model-edit, do some PvE or PvP, it's not exactly like aesthetically good looking loot isn't hard to acquire anymore. Modelviewer and your chosen video editing program of choice does not equate to skillful editing.
Psychosis May 12th 2008 2:16PM
crap screwed the first sentence, supposed to be "a mildly interesting idea at the most"
I win at spell checking (big post button oooooh...)
Dessux May 12th 2008 2:28PM
Epic Bag Of Fail! The Pain, The Horror. Ask A Ninja was only funny because of the jokes and the interesting delivery.
It might have some potential if it was reworked
"Kraken!"
Tumnus May 14th 2008 1:00AM
Actually, I thought his answer to the first question was rather funny.
Doma May 12th 2008 6:24PM
welcome back... TO OUR FIRST EPISODE of...