Incomplete Projects – September 2023

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

I started this project in response to a suggestion to do a video demonstrating how I record the writing exercises I post. This has been my main project since early August. I wrote the short story, then recorded a video where I did the audio recording and edited it. Later, I recorded some additional voice overs to describe what I was doing. Now I am editing the video. I am almost done the first cut. My main worry now is that it seems boring to me.

“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

Project Updates 2023 February 5

This week I worked on my new script for the Older Filmmaker’s Club, and started to explore Unreal Engine.

Older Filmmaker’s Club short film script challenge

I worked on my script for the Older Filmmaker’s Club short film script challenge. Last week I had written part of it as a short story. This week I got a draft script done. I decided to leave it for a bit before I had another go at it.

I have mixed emotions about it. It seems to me that it is too superficial. At the same time, I find myself getting very emotional about it. I feel that it was good for me to write it, but I am not sure that I really want to share it with other people.

Changing Priorities

I had planned to do some more experiments with ChatGPT this week. My idea was to feed it one of my story outlines and ask it to write the story based on it. I wanted to see if that would be of any use in helping me write.

However, I changed my mind.

Last year I bought my new computer so I could use some of the newer animation programs. Even the new release Blender, which I had experience with, wouldn’t work on my computer. I felt that it would be better for me to spend my time learning and testing those rather than diving deeper into ChatGPT.

Cascadeur

I looked at Cascadeur, an animation program with AI features. In other programs, when you adjust one body part of a character, you need to adjust all the other parts to fit. For example, when you take a step forward, the rest of your body will shift to maintain balance. With other programs, you have to do this body part by body part. This program uses AI to do it automatically.

It is an interesting approach, but, after a bit of investigation, I decided that it really wasn’t what I was looking for.

·       https://cascadeur.com/

Unreal Engine

Last year I looked at iClone and Unreal Engine, but neither of them would run on my old computer. That is why I bought my new computer.

I had leaned toward iClone, but since Unreal Engine is free to use on movie projects under $1,000,000, I decided I should try it first.

I found a 4-hour long training video on YouTube teaching Unreal Engine for Blender users. Since I have used Blender, I figured this would be a good option. So far, I’ve only watched about 20 minutes of the video. I kept stopping to go try out what they showed. It does seem easier to get the photo realistic look. I was never able to get that with Blender.

·    https://www.reallusion.com/iclone/

https://www.unrealengine.com/

This post is a mirror from my main blog http://www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog

Video about a Senator and an Audio about a Soil Scientist

I finished and posted "The Desperation of the Wretched Senator" last week. This week I posted audio of my writing exercise: "A Journal for a Silly Social Scientist".

"The Desperation of the Wretched Senator"

A politician tries to keep his past deeds from coming back to haunt him.

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isWKL7U34CI

I have been more lethargic than dynamic the last few weeks. I let this video sit idle for weeks. I finally got back to work on it last week. I made a few changes and got it posted.

 

"A Journal for a Silly Social Scientist"

A panel of Scientists are taken aback by an unexpected request.

·         https://soundcloud.com/dynamiclethargy/a-journal-for-the-silly-soil-scientist

I lollygagged on my most recent writing exercise too. But I got it done this week. I wasn't too inspired by the title, but I felt the end result wasn't too bad.

Stalled Projects

I have several projects that I have let lie over the past few weeks. I have pretty much all I need to make videos of “The Sad Lady and the Hesitant Father-in-law”, “The Dread of the Daring Rocketeer”, and “Time Enough for the Anxious Social Media Manager”. I just need to get myself back on track.

Animation Programs

After a period of procrastination, I planned to try out Unreal Engine 5 this week. Unfortunately, it turns out that it won’t run on my computer. My graphics card is too old. I think the rest of the system may be OK though. I think that if I want to run it, I'd be better off to get a new computer rather than trying to upgrade my old one. I'm not keen to do that just yet.

As a result, I decided to have another look at what I can do with Blender for animation. People have used it to do a lot of the same things as Unreal Engine. I just haven’t figured out how to do them.

I also found out about another program, iClone. I think I'll take a look at. Unlike Unreal Engine and Blender, you do have to pay for it, but it doesn’t cost very much.

None of these other programs seem as easy to use as NAWMAL.

This post is a mirror from my main blog http://www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog