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From : Michael Verdi
QuickTime vPIP Yeah I said it. We ll see for sure in 31 days. Vlog Anarchy Take 2 W-WTF? ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/obama-landslide/11787016/ 23580-11787016 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:02:07 -0400 Obama Landslide
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP This is a screencast of YouTube s great new metric, Hot Spots which lets you see what parts of your videos connect with viewers and which parts don t. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/youtube-hot-spots/11770057/ 23580-11770057 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:46:57 -0400 YouTube Hot Spots
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP I got a package in the mail the other day for an ARG about the film Blindness which opens today. iamblind.org ARGNet post Unfiction thread ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/i-am-blind/11770056/ 23580-11770056 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:27:19 -0400 I Am Blind
From : Videomaker Presents
TIPS & TRICKS: Video Green Screen Magic Tricks ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/episode-127/11696120/ 23580-11696120 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:15:15 -0400 Episode 127
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP [Note: This video is a real out-take from the making of SAND, the machinima series from What Is Scion City? I m showing this video to you because I think it shows part of the difference between traditional animation and machinima. This event happened spontaneously, in real-time. The audio occurred on Skype and wasn t recorded but I can tell you there was a lot laughing involved. No matter the fiction of the story and the virtualness of the set and avatars - this was a real event, experienced in real-time by real people.] I think I was about 11 years old the first time I though about making a film. I was inspired by reading, in Starlog magazine, about how special effects were done. The problem though was that it cost millions of dollars to do that kind of stuff. I remember thinking that animation was the way to go because you’d be able to create anything you could draw. So I spent a lot of time imagining and drawing. I used to make comic books and spaceship models and movie posters but an actual film was still beyond my grasp back in 5th grade. Now, 30 years later, I’m living that dream. Thanks to machinima and Second Life we can fairly quickly create most anything we can imagine and film it in real time. It’s a lot like real world filmmaking but much faster. Forget about waiting for the sun to be in the right position, now you can just stick it where you want it. Need to get that giant set piece out of your way for a moment? Or need to duplicate a set? No problem. These things are trivial in a virtual environment. For my latest project, What Is Scion City?, we had a whole digital backlot created - the virtual desert that covers the Scion City of the future. Additionally we had all of the underground sets floating a few hundred meters above the desert. And because our backlot is part of a persistent, shared, virtual world accessible from anywhere, it allowed us to work with great people no matter where they were located. The directors of What Is Scion City worked from three different continents - Douglas and I here in North America, Trace Sanderson in Europe and PG Provenzano in Australia. Finding a good time to meet was a little difficult but when we did, Second Life and Skype made it all work. Most of everything I shot was done with the help of Poid Mahovlich in the U.K. and duckyfresh Wantanabe somewhere in the Eastern time zone. We spent hours on Skype and in Second Life - forming a little team. It was great to have people to work with who were truly interested in what was being done as opposed to just the people that happen to be available in that location. Another thing about our process that was interesting for me was the way we able to trade digital assets back and forth over the internet with ease. We used a P2P app called SpinXpress, made by a company that I used to work for, to create a private network between the directors. So none of our work had to entrusted to a third party or posted somewhere on the Internet until we were ready. As the pieces were coming together we shared rough cuts with each other and then when they were done the other directors sent me their HD files directly over our private network. And because I could have things download automatically and continuously reconnect if there was network congestion I was able to get things from Australia without problems even though I was rarely sitting at my computer when PG was. For me the most exciting thing about all of this is really how enabling all of these pieces of technology are. I’m already amazed at what we can do and this is just the beginning. I can’t wait to work on the next thing where we apply all the lessons we learned working on this. It’s a quickly compounding iterative process. Photo set by Poid Mahovlich ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/machinima-filmmaking-of-the-future/11640443/ 23580-11640443 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:09:14 -0500 Machinima: Filmmaking Of The Future
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP Watch in HD (181MB - will open in the QuickTime Player) Passage to Zhong Fu was originally made for the 48 Hour Film Project in Second Life but since I work for Millions of Us, one of the sponsors of the event, our team wasn’t eligible to compete. That said, making this film, for me, was never about any kind of competition. Rather it was all about having a focused opportunity to create something with a set of artistic constraints not under your control. That’s the competition - one against yourself - that I’m always interested in pursuing. Another reason for doing this was that it was an opportunity to put our little machinima team to work on something of it’s own creation. I’ve been working with Poid and ducky on a bunch of projects for work and we’ve been having a great time. After Poid worked with Dizzy on DynaFleur she suggested we ask him to join us on this. I can’t tell you what a fantastic idea that was - just listen to the soundtrack on this, you’ll be blown away. If your unfamiliar with the 48 Hr Film Project, how it works is that all teams are given 3 random items that they must include; a prop, a character and a line of dialog. Addtionally, each team is randomly assigned a genre that they must work with. For this, all teams had to have a flamingo as a prop, the character Tony Martin - teacher and the line of dialog, “That’s the way that it goes.” As for genre, we were tasked to make a “road movie.” One of the most satisfying things about this project is that I think we made good use of all of the restrictions. They had us come up with a film that we wouldn’t have made otherwise and yet it feels completely our own. So what I’m posting here is a little different than the one we turned in after 48 hours. This is probably the 50-something hour version. We added back in the scene with the cage which we originally had to cut to meet the time requirements. Doing that meant that Dizzy had to compose some new music as that scene really joins the two before it and the one after as a single musical section. Poid and I also shot a new ending scene. The original had Poid walking down a city street but that came from the initial idea which sort of evolved as we shot and edited the piece. I like this ending much better because it brings us back to where the film starts, having changed - which, I think, is the theme and was the inspiration for adding the I Ching quote at the beginning. If you’re into Second Life, please join us for the screening this Sunday, February 3, 2008 from noon - 2 p.m. SLT (PST). Screening SLURL. Poid put together a whole site for the film — here. Also, check out her photo set on Flickr. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/passage-to-zhong-fu/11640442/ 23580-11640442 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:22:15 -0500 Passage to Zhong Fu
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP Last year Adobe announced that Flash would support H.264 video. I hadn t had the time to follow up on that until I saw this cool tip on the Videoblogging list yesterday. So this post is just testing that functionality - even though there is a Flash version that plays in the Jeroen Wijering Flash player, it s the same H.264 file you ll get if you click the iPod link. By the way, if you can t see this video you ll need to update your Flash Plugin. Another nice thing is that the video is compressed with the new version of Apple s Compressor, which finally comes with some nice presets. The one I used for this makes a 640 wide progressive dual-pass video at about 1100kbps. It looks great on the web, on an iPhone and blown up full screen on a 24 monitor. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/flash-h-264/11640441/ 23580-11640441 Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:11:25 -0400 Flash & H.264
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP I proposed two how to demonstrations: Machinima Kung Fu - Sure machinima looks easy - record a game, drop it into iMovie and do some voices - but there’s actually a little more to it than that. This session will cover all the tech of making machinima - from hardware and software to in-game strategies to post production issues. Custom Video Players For Your Show - You’ve got a unique video show, why not have a player that matches? This session will take you through detailed examples using two popular Flash video players. We’ll show you how to create custom skins and get them set up on your site. Please vote for your favorites on the SXSW 09 Interactive Panel Picker. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/please-vote-for-my-sxsw-panels/11640440/ 23580-11640440 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:47:34 -0400 Please Vote For My SXSW Panels
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP Yesterday the evening light on the wall across from my desk was so beautiful that I just had to grab my camera. It reminded me of how I used to listen to music and watch the light and shadows reflected on my ceiling from a lava lamp. The moon just happened to be on the same tape. I d forgotten it was there and rediscovered it as I searched through the tape to see what else I d recorded. The music in NIN, track 34 from Ghosts IV. I ve been waiting for a good excuse to use something from Ghosts I - IV since it s released as CC - BY-NC-SA. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/light/11640439/ 23580-11640439 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:35:28 -0400 Light
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP This video was originally posted back in January 2006 on a now defunct version of this site. It was shot at the SFO Bart station. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/shiny/11640438/ 23580-11640438 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:44:18 -0400 Shiny
From : Michael Verdi
iPod vPIP Once again, I continue to be entertained by shiny things in the sky. The music is the end of 11 Ghosts II and the beginning of 12 Ghosts II from Nine Inch Nails, Ghosts I-IV. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/sun/11640437/ 23580-11640437 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:57:58 -0400 Sun
From : Michael Verdi
QuickTime vPIP This whole subprime mess is extremely frustrating. I can t stand when people argue that the government shouldn t regulate anything. This is the shit that happens when we do that. Of course, in the end, the government is forced to intervene anyway. To me the whole point of having a government is to do the things we can t do for ourselves - i.e. help to protect us corporations that put profit over people. So given this mess, here s a look at our choices (collected from a few of the pieces floating around on the internet). ABC News - Despite Claims Today He Warned of this Crisis, McCain in 2007 Said He Didn t See This Crisis Coming John McCain interviews by The Keen Sentinel Barack Obama on CNN Obama, Durbin propose federal mortgage reforms Obama Urges Bernanke, Paulson to Fight Foreclosures, Hold Homeownership Summit ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/mccain-obama-on-the-economic-crisis/11609341/ 23580-11609341 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:44:12 -0400 McCain & Obama On The Economic Crisis
From : Michael Verdi
QuickTime vPIP At the end of July I went to a retreat with my theater company out in Sabinal, TX. It s not a big place. This is pretty much it. The music is from Girl Talk. It s what I was listening to in the car (and pretty much everywhere else for the last few months). ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/sabinal/11325077/ 23580-11325077 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:26:22 -0400 Sabinal
From : Videomaker Presents
TIPS & TRICKS: Foley Sound 2 ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/episode-126/11137848/ 23580-11137848 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:49:40 -0400 Episode 126
From : Michael Verdi
QuickTime I ve been working at Millions of Us for the better part of a year now and I love it because I get to work on all kinds of crazy projects with all kinds of creative people. Bart Cheever, our VP of Production also happens to be Bart Blackstone the DJ. I beamed him into my virtual studio the other day and we talked about his Kill Bill mashups (download Hanzo Steel Vol. 1), The Postmarks, Yo Gabba Gabba and more. I used one of Bart s tracks on another video last year. This video is reposted from the Millions of Us blog. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/bart-cheever/11113402/ 23580-11113402 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:27:18 -0400 Bart Cheever
From : Josh Leo's Vlog
With a house, comes a yard. With a yard, comes responsibility Music: Pearl Django - Nuages Downloads: iPod Version ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/my-yard/11106581/ 23580-11106581 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:55:52 -0400 My Yard
From : Videomaker Presents
TIPS & TRICKS: Natural Transitions ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/episode-125/10993461/ 23580-10993461 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:40:33 -0400 Episode 125
From : pjkproductions
You can't just walk around Vienna and not hear music. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/a-musical-city/10935641/ 23580-10935641 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:30:30 -0400 A musical City
From : pjkproductions
this structure is over 500 meters high and you get a great view as well as a coffee at the top. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/a-trip-to-the-donautuwum/10935640/ 23580-10935640 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:42:56 -0400 a trip to the donautuwum
From : pjkproductions
the panda here has just had a baby panda ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/vienna-zoo/10935639/ 23580-10935639 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:04:36 -0400 vienna zoo
From : pjkproductions
just a short view from the hotel room. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/half-way-thru/10935638/ 23580-10935638 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:25:36 -0400 half way thru
From : pjkproductions
Pandas are strange creatures more human than you think, when eating they won't face you. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/panda/10935637/ 23580-10935637 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:27:28 -0400 Panda
From : pjkproductions
When it rains in vienna it pours. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/rain/10935636/ 23580-10935636 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:29:48 -0400 Rain
From : pjkproductions
It took me 3 days to get the urge back. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/tea/10935635/ 23580-10935635 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:34:15 -0400 Tea
From : pjkproductions
a short tour and montage of things to come. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/vienna/10935634/ 23580-10935634 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:39:52 -0400 Vienna
From : pjkproductions
Every city should have it's own static fun fair.... filmed with a disgo. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/prater/10935633/ 23580-10935633 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:14:21 -0400 prater
From : pjkproductions
Beryl is my mother in law and used to live in vienna and work at the UN, so imagine my surprise when family and friends where delighted to help me make a tributes vid. ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/tributes-for-beryl/10935632/ 23580-10935632 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:25:21 -0400 tributes for Beryl
From : Videomaker Presents
TIPS & TRICKS: Chorma Keying ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/episode-124/10870487/ 23580-10870487 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:04:32 -0400 Episode 124
From : Videomaker Presents
TIPS & TRICKS: Camera Audio Control ]]> http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/episode-123/10634421/ 23580-10634421 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:18:25 -0400 Episode 123