I am frustrated that I have so many incomplete projects hanging around. This is not a new problem. But, with my lack of energy these days, it seems worse. What I need to do is start setting priorities and whittle down my backlog.
“Ted Writes a Novel” Demonstration Video
“The Dread of the Daring Rocketeer”
This will be an animated video using NAWMAL based on a writing exercise I did in 2022. I collaborated with an actor to record the character voices. I got stuck when I couldn’t work out how to show a rocket. Eventually I was able to get a rocket image I thought would do using Unreal Engine. I did an initial version of the video in Nawmal. It needs a lot of work, but I haven’t looked at it since May. I think this one should be my priority after the “Ted Writes a Novel” Demonstration Video.
“Time Enough for the Anxious Social Media Manager”
This will be an animated video using NAWMAL based on a writing exercise I did in 2022. I collaborated with a couple of actors to record the character voices, but I haven’t even looked at creating the video yet.
“The Audience for AI Films”
This is a satirical/cynical take on AI films. I used NAWMAL to make a video about two minutes long. As it stands, I feel that it is too short, but I got stuck when I tried to write some additional material. I haven’t added in the camera angles I want yet. I did show the work in progress to a couple of people. I haven’t done anything on this project since last May.
“After You're Gone”
This is a fictional story based on conversations I had with my wife before she died. I’ve had encouraging feedback from people who’ve read it. Because it is so personal, I have struggled with whether I should continue to develop it. I translated it in the Chinese and sent it to my brother-in-law.
“Bright Freedom”
This is a project I’ve picked up and dropped multiple times since I first conceived the idea back about a dozen years ago. I alternate between feeling I owe it to the main character to finish her story, and frustration that I don’t know how to fix the problems with the story. I took another shot at it earlier this year and shared an outline with several people. That generated a new pile of problems I don’t know how to solve. I think I’ve abandoned it for good now.
“The Barrier”
I completed a version of “The Barrier” back in 2014 and posted it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATcKnFAwlU0 I wasn’t happy with it and planned to revise it. I did start on a revised script in 2015, but I haven’t looked at it since then. I would be a large project and I find it intimidating.
Script Collaboration
I’ve been collaborating with an actor on a script off and on for over a decade. We do have a script now, but it needs work. With my current lack of energy, I find it hard to get back to work on it. I feel the obligation to see it finished, but it is hard to get motivated.
New Website Host
I wanted to switch my website to a Canadian based host. Back in April I decided to go for it, but there were snags in the transfer and we had to cancel. At the time there were a bunch of other issues I had to deal with, so I decided to leave it until later. So far, I’ve done nothing. My current hosting agreement comes up again in a few months, so I think I should get back at this.
New Software
I started to investigate how to use Blender, Unreal Engine or iClone for my animation. I have used Blender but think I can do more sophisticated animations with it than I’ve done so far. Both Blender and Unreal Engine are free, but I found it difficult to learn how to do the things I want to do. iClone looks like it may be easier for me to learn, but it is a paid product. It has a free test version, but it has a time limit on its use, so I didn’t want to try it until I had the time to try it out.
This post is a mirror from my main blog http://www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog
