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Spontaneous idea for a B5 fan movie

SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
I just had such a great idea...

has anyone considered the possibility of making a new B5 short film ourselves? Just a happy little firstones.com project. It just dawned on me that since it is very easy to do editing/compositing and 3d animation, it should not be all that hard. And we have some damn good writers here!

I'm sure we can all agree that full-size sets would be too costly and time consuming to build. But I'm sure a few could be modelled in full 3d in someone's spare time. Since we've seen so many areas in such detail, it'd be a little easier.

But how would the actors/actresses get there? Compositing. Using a large blue or green screen behind the camera, film footage could be inserted into the scene, and using multiple layers, could interact with it.

All that really has to be acquired are uniforms, cameras, and big blue/green sheets or screens. Wouldn't it be interesting if we could collaborate to create a video to satisfy our craving for this show? I do... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]


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[b]Sanfam[/b] - Pixel Pirates
[b][url="http://www.firstones.com/sanfam/guru.doc"]disillusionment[/b] v1.0[/url]; "We will have our day, we will have our future, and we will have our revolution."
Come and listen to the official shoutcast server of Firstones.com! It's Spootastic! [url="http://sanfam.dyndns.org:8000"]http://sanfam.dyndns.org:8000[/url]
"It is the year 2000. Where are the flying cars? I was Promised flying cars. I don't see any flying cars." -- Avery "Sisko" Brooks
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Comments

  • Rogue TraderRogue Trader Somebody stop him...
    i could edit the film. it is what i am studying at the NC school of the Arts School of Filmmaking...
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    And I'm going to be heading up to Rochester Institute of Technology this summer where many of the on-campus systems are dedicated video editing and 3d editing machines. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I like modelling. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    hey.. you could make the cutscenes for the StarLancer mod *hehe*
  • samuelksamuelk The Unstoppable Mr. 'K'
    I just bought the latest version of Truespace, along with the Pyrocluster plug-in.... mmmm, Hypervoxel engine exaust....
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    Actually, I was thinking of creating an animated series using the characters I created for Thirdage: Legacy following on from the game. I already have a rough idea of the storyline...of course, I can't really say anything about that until I finish the game because I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone.

    Worf

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    Captain Gideon: I thought you said you dont hold a grudge?
    Galen: I dont, I have no surviving enemies...at all

    Ave Primo-Populi (Hail the Firstones)
  • WHY_oldWHY_old Elite Ranger
    Gah, that's be putting too much weight on my shoulders, between my own pet project (MY dream of being a creator of a TV series similar in spirit to B5... *sigh*...), my friend's fantasy novel (I do a lot of his concept artwork... if I got paid, it's be my dream-job), and school, which has nothing to do with any of this.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I'd have to agree. While it would be great to do, I already have uni (which includes a huge 4th-year project), a contract to complete for money to survive on, my game engine (which I haven't had time to work on in months, much to my dissapointment), and much more.

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • Falcon1Falcon1 Elite Ranger
    A spoof fan move would be cool, like those over at the force.net.

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    'The future is all around us' G'kar
    'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen

    Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://www.nialb5.com"]www.NialB5.com[/url].
  • The only problem is getting people together, to act the sceans out. We are pretty spread out all over the world here. Although if it were within a days drive I could be convinced to spend a long weekend doing this.
    If we were to go compleatly animation, yea the quality wouldn't be good (I'm thinking something like the early sev treks) but we could make it entertaining. I know I would lend my pipes to this project.

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    "Ambassador we all know that the first casulty of war is the truth."
    -John Sheridan

    Ok so it's not exactly Max's journal but I think it's good
    http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40551
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Star Wrecks, you mean. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]

    Well, I don't quite mean as just a spoof.

    I'm talking about a real, genuine non-snake oil B5 Fan Film. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • Rogue TraderRogue Trader Somebody stop him...
    like [url="http://www.sinsofthejedi.com"]www.sinsofthejedi.com[/url] i met these guys while waiting on line for tickets real bunch of good people.
  • Falcon1Falcon1 Elite Ranger
    Well I think we should all film on location in New Zeland... all the biggest and coolest films have been done down there and I'm sure Biggles wouldn't mind putting us all up for a few months while we make this epic! Could end up like Apocolypse When? though.... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]

    ------------------
    'The future is all around us' G'kar
    'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen

    Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://www.nialb5.com"]www.NialB5.com[/url].
  • AwlrichAwlrich Earthforce Officer
    Heck, its a lonk time since I posted...

    I think this is in essence a good idea, althogh i don't think these things are usually internet collaborations, mostly groups of freinds.

    I was considering doing a StarWars fan film with some of my old uni friends, but B5 would be way better.

    These days it would be "easy" to make a good quality fan film, digital camcorders are everywhere and some of the editing software is free, it is very dooable.

    I think green screen and models (CG or miniture) is the way to go, but we need to sort of plan, we are all a long way apart.

    Perhaps we should start to write a story, and continue to suggest how we get together, to do something...

    I'm sure that makes up for a long absense...

    ------------------
    Capt. Awlrich: Squadron Leader 7.star squadron UK
    [url="http://www.seven-point-star.co.uk/"]http://www.seven-point-star.co.uk/[/url]
    currently down...
  • [quote]Originally posted by Falcon1:
    [b]Well I think we should all film on location in New Zeland... all the biggest and coolest films have been done down there and I'm sure Biggles wouldn't mind putting us all up for a few months while we make this epic! Could end up like Apocolypse When? though.... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]

    [/b][/quote]

    Pay for round trip air fare from Denver to Auckland and I'll be there.



    ------------------
    "Ambassador we all know that the first casulty of war is the truth."
    -John Sheridan

    Ok so it's not exactly Max's journal but I think it's good
    http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40551
  • WarleaderWarleader Inmate: Babylon Project Mental Health Facility
    THE SECRET WARRIORS..........THE LLORT GREEN SQUAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    And it's spreading...

    [quote]Originally posted by Falcon1:
    [b]Well I think we should all film on location in New Zeland... all the biggest and coolest films have been done down there and I'm sure Biggles wouldn't mind putting us all up for a few months while we make this epic! Could end up like Apocolypse When? though.... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img][/b][/quote]

    Yes, all those mountains that B5 has inside it can be represented beautifully by the Southern Alps. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • Drazi GuyDrazi Guy Elite Ranger
    I was sitting there reading lsat night, and I thought that maybe it would be cool if we did the trilogies that have been released. Start with the technomage trilogy and work from there.

    Summer is coming, so I would have a few free months to get the ball rolling on this if no-one else wants to step up and get the show on track.

    We could work on 3d models of the characters instead of using live actors, then hold auditions for the characters who already have had their voices onscreen.

    Alternately, we could just use 3d for ships and backgrounds, then do more traditional animation for the characters. Similar to parts of Titan AE. Does anyone know of any software that would make this feasible? With an effort of 20 guys or so, we should be able to complete a novel in a few months.

    And it just occured to me, a few characters already exist: [url="http://mods.firstones.com/thesims/"]http://mods.firstones.com/thesims/[/url]
    We could probably devise a way to convert these over to LWO or 3ds to render and use. The characters wouldn't have to be much more complex than that if we opt that route. Recognizable is good. If it does well, we could always go back alter and render better ones.

    Meshes already exist of most or all of the ships that we would need, so that part isn't hard. And I am sure someone could give up a bit of their time to design the backgrounds, since they would only have to be rendered once.

    The important thing in a project of this undertaking would be to devise and timetable and stick to it.

    Contributions can range from artists to people with spare CPU time to render the 3d scenes.

    If anyone out there expresses their interest in contributing, I can start doing a short breakdown of what we need to accomplish etc this weekend, and get working once exams finish on the 26th.
  • BekennBekenn Sinclair's Duck
    Hmm... this sounds like a difficult project, given the locations of everyone... but what the hey. I like the trilogy adaptations idea; I may be able to drum up a script, once we know what form this thing is going to take.

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    We are here to place President Grenewetzki under arrest!
  • WHY_oldWHY_old Elite Ranger
    What about just creating a traditional 3d movie using something like 3dsmax, and then finding a way to cell-shade the "Actors" to give them a sort of animated look.

    that's something I've always wanted to do.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    DG's right, the hardest and most important part is sticking to a timetable.

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • Rogue TraderRogue Trader Somebody stop him...
    why need actors? it could all be done in space (or hyperspace) and use cgi only and have voices. we do have some of the best 3d modelers around here or FOs
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    I was going to do 2d everything, like this:

    [img]http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk/jedi.jpg[/img]

    Worf

    ------------------
    Captain Gideon: I thought you said you dont hold a grudge?
    Galen: I dont, I have no surviving enemies...at all

    Ave Primo-Populi (Hail the Firstones)

    [This message has been edited by WORF (edited 06-05-2002).]
  • Well the only talent I can add to this would be my voice, and maybe a little writing.
    But I think we should give it a go.
    Maybe make a short little 5 minute spoof to test everything out and work out all the kinks.

    ------------------
    "Ambassador we all know that the first casulty of war is the truth."
    -John Sheridan

    Ok so it's not exactly Max's journal but I think it's good
    http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40551
  • Drazi GuyDrazi Guy Elite Ranger
    ********** Spoiler Alert for Technomage Trilogy**********

    Glad to have had a few responses.

    My idea was CGI only, since it would cost each of us a fortune if we had to do up our own costumes and dig up cameras and find friends et all. Too hard to do it I think.... technically. We could film each actor seperately and composite them together, but that would be nearly impossible to sync up without some dedicated professionals working for us.

    I think that going ahead and trying to produce a short would be a great idea. Maybe an excerpt from the Technomage Trilogy... I am thinking the sequence where Burrell tries to save Galen & Isabelle from the Drakh and Shadow on Zafran 8.

    I will start storyboarding it out at work this weekend.

    My friend who has a vague interest in B5, and training in doing modelling with 3ds, plus great artistic talent, is going to be helping with the organization work at my end.

    Here is what I think we will need:
    - 5 or more modellers/animators
    -
    - 2-3 people who have a really good knowledge of the Trilogy (I am one. Reading it for the fifth time right now) to do the scriptwriting/storyboarding.
    - As many systems with people who have/can get whatever rendering program we do the scenes in (likely 3ds max), to speed up the length of time it takes.

    My friend and I can likely handle the editing aspect. Since this is animated, we will likely decide on all the angles and everything before we even start animating.

    I think this is going to be rather enjoyable...

    I am going to put up a post on the frontpage directing anyone interested in helping over here.
  • Drazi GuyDrazi Guy Elite Ranger
    I almost forgot a big part..... music. Do we have anyone out there who is musically talented enough to compose some music for the movie? Several hours worth, very likely... there are some good music synth programs out there aren't there?
  • Just read this thread [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] i'm a part time/hobby DJ and love making music,i'll uplaod a couple of songs,dont worry i,ve started to drift from pumping trance [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] to more movie type music so i'll see wat i can do in the way of b5 music ,thats if you want b5 music ,i can do allsorts just name a few styles and i'll make them for people to see if i could be of help [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]


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    [url="http://www.thegamingunion.com/users/b5coi"] [IMG]http://www.thegamingunion.com/users/b5coi/Metalsig.jpg[/IMG] [/url]
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Oh my god...it's actually going somewhere!

    Well, I can always donate CPU cycles to rendering. I've got numerous systems which can bear the load.
  • In BetweenIn Between The Ultimate Lurker
    I could do some voice stuff and some scribbling. If you need more help.
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    I'd be happy to lend my voice, but that would be all I could contribute. Everything else related to the production would be beyond me.

    Jake
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