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

Putting “Sweat Box” on the Back Burner

I’ve been stuck on my story “Sweat Box” for several months now. I’ve found that when I pick one top priority, then I tend to neglect everything else. Focus is a good thing, but sometimes it just gets in the way.

For the past couple months my top priority has been my wife’s health. While I’ve focussed on my wife’s health, I know that I need to take a break and take care of myself. Unfortunately, my top writing priority, “Sweat Box” takes a lot out of me.

I’ve grown frustrated with the project and can’t move forward with it. That isn’t what I need now. I don’t really like to drop projects, but I know I have to put “Sweat Box” off to the side for now. Aside from some concerns about the story itself, I just don’t feel excited by the story now. Maybe after I’ve left for a while I can come back to it with renewed vigour.

I have several other projects that I want to work on. I have ideas about how to finish off “My Most Difficult Case”. I want to try more short and long films with Xtranormal. I’ll have to pick one that gets me excited though. Maybe I should just go with the first impulse I have when I get up tomorrow.

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