I have a description for this Keith that you can use for this category .. it is called <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/machinima">Machinima </a>and decribes filmmaking using low end computer games technology to 'shoot' films in
the virtual reality environment of a game engine. The <a href="http://www.acmi.net.au/">ACMI </a>are doing something along this line on this web page. <br> <a href="http://www.acmi.net.au/essay_playing_movies.htm" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
http://www.acmi.net.au/essay_playing_movies.htm
</a><br><br><span><div>Tony Forster has even managed to source a framegrabber USB device for under $1000 that we can use to capture the 'movie' output of a <a href="http://www.gamemaker.nl">GameMaker </a>game, sharing the processing load on a second computer so that there is no recording lag.
<br></div>
<div> <a href="http://web.belkin.com/support/download.asp?download=F5U208&lang=1&mode" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Mines a Belkin F5U208</a>. <br><br>"Elephants
Dream is the world's first open movie, made entirely with open source
graphics software such as <a href="http://plakboek.livejournal.com/59327.html">Blender</a>, and with all production files freely
available to use however you please, under a Creative Commons license. The
short film was created by the Orange Open Movie Project studio in
Amsterdam during 2005/2006, bringing together a diverse team of artists
and developers from all over the world." - (posted by by Donna to my blog) .. I am going to order a copy of this DVD.<br> <span><a href="http://www.elephantsdream.org/">http://www.elephantsdream.org/</a><br>
</span><br>Fascinating stuff..<br><br></div></span>Regards Roland<br> <br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 29/05/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Roland Gesthuizen</b> <<a href="mailto:rgesthuizen@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
rgesthuizen@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>It is exciting to see these free tools being used to create animated
stories and gives justice to the commercial use of software bots, game
engines with modern movies.<br>
<br>Hmm, we could include <span name="st">GameMaker</span> and Blender. I guess I would focus it down to reducing the level of intereaction to just a click to start the program .. are there some tools around to help a teacher to 'render'
<br>the animation in the display window frame it to make an avi file (suggestions?) This approach would let students add their own vocalisations to the AVI file by mixing in a title and audio track .. giving skope for some teamwork. Means that the judges just view a final animiation avi file as with the current movie.
<br><br>There may be some overlap with the GameOn competition run by Vincent at the ACMI but the emphasis here seems to be with the competition to create a movie file. .. akin to the lego competition to program a robot that dance as distinct from programming a game or robot to play soccer.
<br><br>Would it be too much to ask for students to generate and only use their own sprites and clipart? I encourage this of my students and it is as easy as drawing / scanning / digitising and animating a hand drawn picture. For
<span name="st">3in6</span>, we allow students to collect props and prepare titles in advance. Here we could permit students to storyboard their movie and prepare any drawings in advance, ready for scanning and animation.
<br><br>I would ask that students using Blender</div><div><span><br><br> <div><span class="gmail_quote">On 23/05/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Keith Richardson</b> <<a href="mailto:k.richardson@yavneh.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
k.richardson@yavneh.vic.edu.au
</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Help Please..<br>We are re-visiting the rules for the Animation section of the
<br>VITTA-3in6-2006 Schools Video Competition, and need your help please<br>with some expert knowledge beyond ours.<br>Any replies would be most appreciated.<br><br>Here are our thoughts so far:<br><br>ANIMATION - only 1 minute long to be created in 6 hours
<br>Can be produced as one of the following:<br>* Stop Animation (Stop Motion Pro or MonkeyJam*)- Stop Motion Pro and<br>MonkeyJam to be exported as an .AVI<br>* 2D animation (Flash or Director)- Flash to be exported as a .SWF,
<br>Director as shockwave or .AVI<br>* 3D Animation (Kahootz but only for Primary and Junior), or Bryce or<br>Maya - Kahootz as a .ktz file, Bryce or Maya as an .AVI<br><br>Here are our problems -<br>1/We must set output format types so that we will be able to 'play' them
<br>during judging. Do you think that the above output formats are<br>'correct'?<br>2/ Are there any other software types etc that you would like to see<br>included. If so, please give us as much information as possible so we
<br>can place helpful suggestions onto the website.<br><br><br>Possible Animation Assessment Criteria will probably include the<br>following…<br>* Story – Construction of an interesting story that keeps the audience's<br>
interest<br>* Character – Development and use of interesting characters<br>* Audio – Use of sound that contributes to the story<br>* Application of animation technique – Skilful use of the chosen<br>animation technique<br>
* Visual Design – use of scale, proportion, perspective, movement,<br>colour<br>* Screen Principles – Use of style/genre, framing, lighting, editing,<br>transitions<br>* The 'X' factor – Imagination and creativity<br><br>
3/ Any further suggestions for Animation Assessment Criteria would be<br>most welcome.<br><br>Our final decisions should be finalised by next week, so the timeline<br>for comments is restricted.<br>Final rules etc will be posted on the 3in6 website then.
<br><br>Regards, Keith<br><br><br>In anticipation<br><br><br>Keith Richardson<br>Organizer VITTA 3in6 Video Competition<br><a href="mailto:3in6@openlab.net.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
3in6@openlab.net.au</a><br><br><br>_______________________________________________
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all">
<br></span></div><div><span>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
</span></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead