headbin

Cool encoding error

RogerB contributed this example of "cool encoding errors" showing how we could mess up the virtual point of views.

Satellite reference footage

I like the way the zoom range value moves in time with the picture and the gritty nature of the switching. This was from a documentary on the Amazon that was on TV last night.

Neverwhere - Blake's space reference

Neverwhere, BB2 series written by Neil Gaiman (Sandman), has a cool reference sequence in which the characters enter Portico's "associative house" where every element is in a different location.

SANCTUARY NEWSLETTER > JAN 26 > 2005

WELCOME ABOARD..
Renae, Alexandra, Rob, Ben and lastly Maria.. our 100th member!! Currently head of IT, Maria Ingold has an extremely diverse background which spans technology, writing, art, and even modelling. To find out more about her go to: http://www.mireality.co.uk

MOD JOB NOTICE
We are currently seeking a Corporate Lawyer - fundamentally someone who can set up our equity (shares) structure for MOD Films investors. We are also looking for a media accountant. If you know anyone suitable for either of these positions, please don't hesitate to contact: la@modfilms.com

REMIXABLE FILMS IN SOCIAL NETWORKS
Over the past few months Michela and I have been busy putting our 'cyber-feelers' out in various Social Networks all over the web to garner interest in Remixable Film Technology. At present you can see either of us moderating away in the following Online Communities and under the following names..

Tribe: 'Re-mixable Films': http://remixablefilms.tribe.net
Gonobo: 'Remixable Films': http://www.gonobo.com/grps/remixablefilms
Orkut: 'Remixable Film Technology': http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=1161618
MySpace: 'Remixable Films': http://groups.myspace.com/RemixableFilms

NEW SCHOOL SWORD & SANDAL EPIC QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Fortune favors the bold" - Alexander (Oliver Stone, 2004)

Blake's classroom finger

Scrolling up-wards from the bottom of the teacher's presentation, behind his back, an ASCII retro styling in response to classmate's jibe...

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CD gymnast

Spotted this on the TV the other day. Nice little scribble man.

SANCTUARY NEWSLETTER > JAN 19 > 2005

WELCOME ABOARD..
Mariai, Mim, James, Nicola, Leeanet, Tiare, Luke and Shaun!! Dave Newman, from Faith Martin & Associates, has also just joined us as Casting Director. Faith Martin & Assoc. is a leading Sydney Film and TV casting agency which has worked with many leading actors (e.g. Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Rachel Ward) and directors such as Baz Lurhman, Bruce Beresford, Fred Schepisi, and Rolf de Heer.

DIGITAL EVENT IN LONDON NEXT WEEK
The UK Film Council is organising an event on the 27th of January to look at how digital technologies are impacting on the ways film content is made, marketed, accessed and enjoyed. Particularly aimed at those with diverse stories and different-from-the-mainstream voices, it will consist of hands-on workshops, sharing ideas with innovators and peers and panel discussions with pioneers and experts. For more info and a copy of the brochure go here: http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/filmindustry/digiconf/

TSUNAMI RELIEF FUNDRAISER THIS FRIDAY
Aidasia have put together a fabulous line up of DJ's and Live Acts to raise funds for victims of the recent Asian Tsunami devastation this Friday night Januray 21st at Wild (Mumbai Rouge) - 4 Wild Court Holborn, WC2 London from 9.30-3am. For the full line up and Guest List details go to: http://www.aidasia.org.uk/

GOT A QUESTION
Just a quick reminder that there is a forum set up for General Enquiries, help, support and what-have-you that no one seems to be using. You're all tending to email Michela directly for problems, finding things etc. when there's a more useful place to stick general questions, no matter how trivial: http://modfilms.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=10

B-GRADE SCI-FI QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"The world needs a wake up call gentlemen... we're gonna phone it in!" - Gilbert 'They Live'

SANCTUARY NEWSLETTER > JAN 12 > 2005

MILESTONE HAT TRICK
We hit our milestone on time and NESTA have approved the next funding installment. Well done everyone who helped get us there.. that's three in a row... HOWZAT!!!

PLUGGING A PLUGGER
Plugincinema.com was founded by Ana Kronschnabl just over 5 years ago. Over that time Ana has put such a huge amount of effort into the site, and promoting web film-making in general, that we figured a little recognition for her efforts was way overdue. If you wish to support us (in supporting her) we ask that you nominate Ana for the Electronic Freedom's 2005 Pioneer Awards. If you wish to do so, then simply send an email to: eff@pioneer@eff.org - state who you wish to nominate (Ana Kronschnabl of plugincinema.com) and why (for her work in advancing the ideas and practice of internet film-making and by furthering the democratisation of the media.) For more information on the Awards see: http://www.eff.org/awards/pioneer/

BIT TORRENT WARS
Two of the largest Bit Torrent tracker sites have gone down, Supernova.org and TorrentsBits.com, with commentators suggesting that the Motion Picture Association of America is behind this. The end of file sharing as we know it? See article at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/19/suprnova_stops_torrents/

MASS-EMAIL MADNESS
My apologies to any (or ALL) who got the previous Newsletter about a gazillion times. Michela and I have been testing the phpBB Mass email function (and design layout) in the MOD Films Forums but er.... it's still a little rusty! Better luck THIS time heh...

INSPIRATIONAL AUTHOR & CRITIC QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Interpretation is the revenge of the intellect upon art.." - Susan Sontag (1933-2004)

SANCTUARY NEWSLETTER > DEC 22 > 2004

OPEN SOURCE TV TUNER
Mark Pesce, author of 'The Playful World: How Technology Is Transforming Our Imagination' and Digital Media Programme Lecturer at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, has published a very interesting talk on how Open Source TV Tuner technology could be combined with DRM Micropayment Systems and P2P Networks to open the floodgates on internet distribution. Read all about it here: http://www.disinfo.com/site/displayarticle4565.html

RE-MIXABLE OR REMIXABLE??!?
To hyphenate or not hyphenate.. that is the question! MOD Films features rather prominently in any Google-search for 're-mixable films', but will this segmentation of the words effect the shelf-life of remixable films? Hmmmm.. let me check my tea leaves!!

PASSWORD? WHAT PASSWORD??!?
If you've forgetton your password but are too chicken to say so.. I'm just gonna turn the lights off, and while I do that you can follow the next link... and NOBODY will ever ever know ok!! *turns off overhead light and waits patiently in silence.. trying desperately to remember the words to that stupid Dire Straits song about Romeo and Juliet* http://modfilms.com/forums/profile.php?mode=sendpassword

ANYBODY REMEMBER VIRTUAL REALITY?
Here's a pretty decent overview of where virtual reality fits into the 'money game' from 1980 to the present day. So did Will Gibson get his just desserts.. or JUST a steak and kidney pie?? hmmmm, I wonder!!
http://boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=virtualreality.htm

HO.. HO.. HUM
While Michela is working around the clock on the fliq (and her computer tan) Santa wanted all you Sanctuarians to know that you've all been very good this year, so he won't be bringing you yet another bloody Aromatherapy Candle this Christmas!!

SANCTUARY NEWSLETTER > DEC 15 > 2004

MICHELA WRITES
"I’ve been running around like a maniac for a week over here, meeting producers, co-conspirators and generally get the low-down on how and where to shoot this thing. Fluctuating between searing heat, windy overcast patches and torrential downpours, Sydney is a different kind of beast and that’s the idea after all. We can make the bush stand out as a character and capture something of its essence.."

NEW SUPERMAN MOVIE BEING SHOT IN OZ
Superman V, is currently revving up for production behind closed doors. Guess we're all keeping our collective EAR to the ground to see what remix potential might be in store! I wonder if they'll super-impose Chris Reeve in it in the same way the 'Sky Captain' people digitally resurrected Sir Laurence Olivier!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3926465.stm

BLAKE PROFILED
Get a full specs profile of our heroine (and cool-ass pic) here:
http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/blog/archives/000191.html#000191

PROLIFIC AUSSIE ROCKSTAR QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"It’s just as difficult to live in a self-made hell of privacy as it is to live in a self-made hell of publicity." - Michael Hutchence

SANCTUARY NEWSLETTER > DEC 01 > 2004

FREE FOR ALL COMMUNICATION TOOLS
Looking to cut down bills? MOD Films is trying to put as much of the
funding on-screen as possible! So we recommend you try this FREE
web-to-SMS service for up to 8 texts a day: http://www.sms.ac

OR how about a FREE Internet telephone at: http://www.skype.com

OR maybe a FREE IM.. guaranteed to function across MOST networks:
http://www.trillian.cc

And yes... it's ALL ABSOLUTELY FREE... *or your money back!*

SYDNEY-BOUND
Michela is jetting off to Sydney on Friday to set up camp for the
production and secure us the services of a line producer. Laetitia
will be managing the London office in her absence.
http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/blog/archives/001865.html#001865

ART DIRECTOR
Damon O'Connell has been appointed Art Director for the overall
project (taking over from Michela) in order to steer the development
of Concept Art in a forward path. Yep folks... we have our first Head
of Department!! *crowd roars... well sort of!*

CONSOLE TEAM DOUBLES IN SIZE
Will Newton will be coming on board this Monday to begin work on the
prototyping of The Rig and other cool re-mixable film tools. The first
project code was checked by Robin earlier this week as work on Demo
Milestone1 gets underway.

GLOBAL JOB NOTICE
We're currently seeking a post house and character animator in
either the UK, US or OZ so if anyone from the Team has any 'good friends'
they'd like to recommend, please email Laetitia: la@modfilms.com

70'S KILLER ANIMAL SCREENPLAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Lifeless eyes, black eyes... Like a doll's eyes" - Quint

SANCTUARY NEWSLETTER > NOV 24 > 2004

WELCOME.. to our second new-better-improved edition of the Sanctuary Newsletter. My name is Alex Zinzi and I'm your MOD Films Community Host, but until our community is certifiably up and running, I will be editing news items & general info relating to our project in a simplified format and post it to all the team members in the middle of each week.

AT LONG LAST... AN ANIMATIC!
To kick things off with a mighty left foot, we finally have a 1st draft animatic of our MOVIE!! *waits for applause to finish* Obviously it's a bit crude for the time being, but do bare in mind that this is the first full run-through we've had. So if you wanna see Blake & co in action you can stream the animatic directly from our Headbin Site:
http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/blog/archives/001841.html#001841

LINGUABOT EXPERT JOINS TEAM
Linguabot expert Phil Hall has joined the team this week to look at ways in which a CD can function as a film character, online community bot, and dev knowledgebase personality.

MICHELA PITCHES AT SCIENCE MUSEUM
NESTA gave us the opportunity to pitch our projects to an attentive audience at the Science Museum. You can hear Michela's pitch here: http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/blog/

OZ JOB NOTICE
MOD Films is still looking for a Line producer from Australia to start ASAP. If anyone you know would be suitable for the role please send us an email... Cheers! http://modfilms.com/archives/20040615_wanted_line_pro.html

SILLY SCI-FI QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"No matter where you go... there you are!" - Buckaroo Bonzai

BAXTER 2005 Convergence for Human Rights

Thanks to Mish for digging up an old Vertigo (UTS student mag).

Who needs fiction? Check out what real activists have planned for while we shoot Sanctuary. EASTER WEEKEND March 25-28 2005. Facing up to troopers.

http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=8082

Would be great if we could arrange some footage swaps of troopers. Nice blue desert sky as blue screen?

Some pics of this lot in action outside the Baxter desert detention camp with riot police up in the State Trooper image gallery.
http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/gallery/album18

Information for contributors

Information for contributors ("the deal" document.

Latest version is 20040915 - Word | PDF

Previous versions: 20040906 (Word)

Meeting notes - Casting Directors

Kirsty McGregor and Nicky Barrett.

Kirsty McGregor

• Keen to help. No queries re. casting budget but would help “up to a
  point”. Implied we would have to be flexible around what days casting
  tests were, e.g. weekends.


• Doesn’t “get” sci-fi. Less input and suggestions about Blake
  in relation to character


• Convenient location for testing to Luke and myself (Stanmore)


• Helps out “a lot” of short films


• Would be happy to do initial cull if required


• Specifically focuses on high turnover ad work so that there is space to
  support short films
  
  

Nicky Barrett

• Happy to help but not able to commit to much besides advice and hosting
  tests, very busy at moment


• Could send out brief to contact agents, then we could come in and do initial
  cull


• Luke would have to contact schools


• Testing could be done out of their space


• Made lots of helpful suggestions re. character and schools to check out
  (http://modfilms.com/twiki/bin/view/Sanctuary/SchoolLocations)


• Suggested trying Extras agencies as well as Actors agencies
  
  

Meeting notes - Roger Bolton

Points of note from meeting

• He totally gets the “dodgy systems” aesthetic (the “get out of jail free” card as I call it). Suggested all manner of tricks to disguise budget in terms of nanobat POV etc… off his own bat.
• He worked for Peter Boyle for three months (setting up LOTR bespoke pipeline)
• On Ned Kelly, they actually set fire to bush and he just comp’ed fire/embers in and around the horses
• Suggested we might be able to get away with matte painting with flame/smoke elements added (http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/gallery/album03/bushfire3)
• Pointed out HD will introduce keying artifacts but newer cameras may be less prone
• Has recent experience doing end-to-end HD pipeline on desktop machines (2G5s for 3min video). Suggested downgrading to PAL as cost-saving trade-off.

Meeting notes - Film producer kick-off

Attendees: Michela, Luke, Tiare
Location: MichelaSydneyOffice

http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/blog/archives/001918.html#001918

TOP ISSUES

* Get casting underway asap
* Preliminary budget needs to be pared back
* Script cuts may be needed

DECISIONS

* Move forward on the basis of existing budget £40K
* Tiare to be production mentor
* "jump in" to using forums system for film production
* Online access is compulsory for heads.
* Online database required asap for VFX.
* Clients are xian, luke (VFX info management is top priority. Product Manager will be la. Technical Manager will be michela.
* Production Manager and

ML ACTION ITEMS

* Kick off requirements capture for VFX database in Wiki
* Get back to Nathan at Mullinars to say thanks, no thanks
* Decide on casting director Tue/Wed
* Collate possible schools to observe for bg casting (spot troublemakers) and location spotting
* Chase Roger re. fire
* Contact Chris Winter ABC re. library footage
* Contact Dan Tapster re. Wildlife footage
* Cold Call 3footsix (Peter Jackson prod company, e.g. Jim Rygle head VFX) "I've got a project interested.."
* Review script with view to cut once vfx breakdown/budget/schedule tightened up by xian,luke, tiare

Character study - Blake

Blake Reference Image Gallery

Blake Melanie Harken (16). Born in Bargo, NSW, Australia. Growing out of being a tomboy. Unassuming. Questioning. Fiery intellect. Determined to be taken seriously. Naturally inquisitive, a natural talent for controversy.

5'1, 55kg. She slumps about the home in a less than lady-like manner to the despair of her generation Y parents. Not an unattractive kid but one that stubbornly refuses to primp, in the real world at least.

Thick black hair. Sits awkwardly above cute elf-like ears. An unkempt fringe partly obscures blazing green eyes. One concession to vanity - a discreet nose stud which, truth be told, her parents were relieved to discover, given her otherwise inward focus. Her look is utilitarian, functional. Her clothing goes with her preferred footwear, shoes that become a form of roller-blades on-demand.

Blake is a very serious person and she has not dealt with either puberty or social pressures gracefully. At school, she can be a bit of a slacker, confident but detached. She is quick to anger and yet shy to friendlier approaches by other kids or teachers. She has already been tagged by the educational system as a trouble-maker because she got caught in the school's computer system at age seven (the age at which she learnt to cover her tracks).

Blake was one of the first generation of kids to grow up using the Reactive Interface Grid (a non-invasive mind-machine interface). Blake was always going to have an affinity with virtual space that her parents lacked. Dad's influence meant that Blake went one stage further.

Never on to seek out the company of others, Blake emersed herself in her virtual world, Kerela, learning by osmosis the history of Australia and developing an understanding of the natural landscapes that it contained. Kerela is Australia, a virtual simulation of its present and past eco-systems.

Kerela is her dreamscape, a literal dream. A world that can be crossed at the speed of thought, a vast continent that has been simulated to perfection.

Dad and Mum met as young activists, trying to stop the uranium mining in the far north of Australia at Jabiluka . Blake has little or no idea of his goings-on outside the home.

She yearns for more social contact with her peers but after the events in Sanctuary she becomes ever more removed. She becomes obsessed with the downfall of the State - the regime under which her town and its wilderness has suffered. Her only touch of romance has been an awkward crush on a boy in the senior year who has had several brushes with the law already.

Her parents are trying hard but a little nervous about her development. Blake has a phobia about dancing and considers it supremely unnatural (a communal malfunction? a nervous tick?). She has little social contact with peers outside of school and has spent considerable time being home-schooled by her dad, a world authority on computer security and a local computer science professor. She loves her parents but rejects Dad's attempts to teach her total respect for authority. She is unaware of Dad's activist involvement.

Mum, on the other hand, has a more hands-off relationship with her daughter, whose intellect she finds somewhat intimidating. She is around but could be dead as far as her relationship to Blake at the moment. Blake shows no interest in the activities that her mum enjoyed at her age and this has put a distance between them. Blake finds it hard to respect any woman she views as a victim of the patriarchy.

Whereas most girls her age are busy creating their own identity through their wardrobe and networking in the school yard, Blake has undergone a different route. Growing up in a household overly familiar with bleeding edge technology, courtesy of her gruff but affectionate academic father, Blake has focused on constructing virtual identity and has quietly run rampant in cyberspace for several years. Her online identity is older (Blade), the identity she feels most comfortable with. The frustration of having to hide her virtual accomplishments from her class-mates is starting to wear away at her.

Blake is clever enough to have covered her tracks and even has invented a virtual companion for Blade, CD (aka the Customised Dude) as a way of disguising her origins. Blade does however wear Blake's real world affiliations on her sleeve. Blake is a wanna-be eco-activist who is experiencing constant frustration by the failure of others to take her seriously. She is too young, and too much a girl for the local eco-activists to take seriously.

Logging on at night and becoming Blade in the virtual world of Cityscape is a perfect escape valve for the young hot-head. Her fluency with computers is a welcome distraction from growing up in the modern world of the near future.

Voice overs

NEWSREADER

The newsreader sounds disturbed and personally involved in the news. Fear, uncertainty and doubt about our future is the message.

TECH

A male technician monitors State surveillance systems for a living. Nothing is too bizarre, too outrageous to raise a strong reaction.

VIDEO NARRATOR

A clinical yet soft and soothing voice that could be selling you soap powder, along with State environmental marketing messages. Something about the inflection suggests that this could be synthetised… perhaps…

Character study - Beefy

Beefy is the class bully. Big for his age, a little ungainly, he uses overbearing body language to mask feelings of insecurity. He wants attention but doesn’t know how to get it. Left to his own devices, he gravitates towards picking on class-mates that stick out or appear weak.

Character study - Mark

Mark (21) is an activist geek, all nervous enthusiasm, rough social skills. An invaluable contributor to the activist group, he provides technical support wherever required. He and Daniel exist in a little bubble within the group, and have formed a friendship despite their age differences. Mark looks up to Daniel on account of his old-school credibility. He wears activist and digirati-themed T-shirts with phrases that mean little to outsiders.

Character study - Teacher

The school teacher (40) is world-weary and jaded, happy to leave his classes on auto-pilot in front of a video. His clothes reflect a meager salary. Intelligent but easily intimidated by both his students and the State school surveillance which constantly measures performance. The teacher stoically tries to meet his targets without rocking the boat. He avoids confrontation wherever possible.