Machinima - Produce Your Own Animated Video

Discover Hopkins 2007
Monday - Friday 10:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
July 2-13, 2007

Instructors: Leslye James, Mattew Porterfield

Course Description
Machinima is a production technique wherein real-time computer gaming software is used to create 3D animated videos. We will be using “The Sims 2” to produce a short video (4 minutes or less) based either on an original script/idea brought to the course, or the recreation of a scene from an existing program.  Students will also learn techniques to make their videos more successful through film screenings and analysis.  There will be a field trip to a local production facility to explore how these skills are applicable in the real world.

At the last class meeting student projects will be screened and critiqued.  NOTE: Scripts selected may need to be edited based on availability of locations, props and commands in ‘The Sims 2’.

Course Outcomes
Students will gain knowledge of the following:

• Visual storytelling
• Film and video production basics
  
• Breaking down a script
• Planning shots and creating storyboards
• Utilizing effective locations, costumes, props
  
• Sound design

Downloads
Download Storyboard form

Celtx - Scriptwriting and Pre-production software

Resources
http://thesims2.ea.com

Scripts and Screenplays
http://www.imsdb.com
http://www.simplyscripts.com
http://www.movie-page.com/movie_scripts.htm
http://www.joblo.com/moviescripts.php

Sims2 Guides
http://guides.ign.com/guides/564180/index.html
http://britannicadreams.com/movietips
http://www.mprem.com/e107/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.194.1
http://www.jd-movies.com/moviemakinghelp.html
http://www.sims99.com/resources.php

Mods, Skins, Clothes, Objects, Locations etc.
http://modthesims2.com
http://www.thesimsresource.com *some content requires $ http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/index.php?pid=Exchange
http://helaene.com
http://thesims2.filefront.com
http://sterlingsims2.com/
http://www.snootysims.com

Applications
TS2 Studios - http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=100738

Inspiration
http://simspremiere.com/