Posts with tag how-2-machinima

(Dell is holding a machinima contest, which we'll discuss shortly. They asked me to write a tutorial to help new machinimators get their start.)

Every day, I feature a video by some brave soul that dived in head first into the world of machinima. For those that aren't familiar with the term, it stands for machine and cinema. The literal definition is movies made in a 3D gaming platform. Using this basic guide, as well as the other tutorials and resources available to you, you'll be creating your first project in no time!

Here is what you'll need if you want to make a machinima for free:

• WeGame camera - A free capturing program
• GIMP - A free image editing program
• Audacity - A free audio editing program
• Windows Movie Maker/iMovie - Free video editing programs that should have come with your appropriate system

[Thanks for originally suggesting this, Bryan!]

Read on for optional and advanced tools, plus additional resources ...

In Episode 1 of How 2 Machinima, Ian Beckman taught us how to chromakey right off the bat. This ended up being controversial, as some machinimators felt that he should start with basic tutorials. Now Ian is back with an even more advanced tutorial about lip-syncing.

Episode 2 of How 2 Machinima focuses on how to realistically lip-sync your actors using images of their own mouths. According to this tutorial, you would need pictures of the mouth in various stages of opening and closing. Then you would study the sound chart, which Ian has linked to on How 2 Machinima. From there, it only gets more complicated, so you'll need to pay special attention to the video. I personally use CrazyTalk, by Reallusion, for all of my lip-syncing, but the choice is yours!

[Via How2Machinima.com]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Previously on Moviewatch ...

Ian Beckman, the creator of Azerothian Super Villians, and Drewbie "I've never met a cameo I didn't like", have teamed up to help WoW machinimators everywhere. How 2 Machinima is a new series that will explain the art of machinima in-depth. Episode 1 focuses on WoW Model Viewer, WoW Map Viewer, recording programs, chroma keying (greenscreening), and how to put your footage together to make the scene. I look forward to the second tutorial!

[Thanks, Ian!]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Previously on Moviewatch ...