Machinima

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Definition

"Machinima" is a neologism based on the phrase machine cinema. The term is used to distinguish between traditional animation techniques (which use specialized 3D animation software) and animation projects that record the action in real-time interactive 3D environments, such as single-player video games or Second Life. See the Wikipedia entry for more details.

Return to Terminology page

Machinimatographers

Visit Machinimatographers for an ever-expanding list of Machinimatographers working in Second Life.

Machinima Content Companies

For information on Second Life content companies offering Machinima services, see Machinima Content Companies.

Machinima Friendly Sims

Visit Machinima Friendly Sims for an ever-expanding list of sims that allow for filming in Second Life.

Software

Also see the Movie Recording page — some of the following info overlaps and it may be a good idea to merge content into it.

Any Platform

• DGiG - personal & local simulator great for filming Second Life Machinima [1]

Mac

• iShowU - fine video capture tool (Mac OS X) [2]
• SnapzProX - real time video capturing tool (MacOS) [3]

PC

• Camtasia - Capturing and editing software that works great for tutorials [4]
• FRAPS - real time video capturing tool / screenshots to disk (Windows) [5]
• HyperCam - Video capturing tool [6]
• Adobe Premiere - Editing Software [7]
• oRipa Screen Recorder (Windows) [8]
• Sony Vegas - Editing Software [9]

Supplemental Software

• List of screencasting software [10]
• Audacity - Free sound editing software (Windows, Mac, and Linux) [11]
• Blender includes a video editor [12] and compositing system [13] for special effects. Free download for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. [14]
• Reallusion - Makers of CrazyTalk [15] and iClone [16], which can be used in post-processing to refine machinima. [17]
• recordMyDesktop - video capturing tool (Linux) [18]

Equipment

• 3DConnexion Space Navigator - An orb that is used in conjunction with the Joystick Flycam function in Second Life for smooth shots. It retails for about 60 USD. [19]
• Alt-Zoom Camera - A free camera designed to create dolly shots. You can find it in Lukanida. (BuhBuhCuh Fairchild) [20]
• Bijocam - Fixed angle cameras for when you need to do timelapse machinima.(Yumi Murakami) [21]
• Cam Voyager - A camera control hud that lets you use the keyboard to move your camera around freely, now with the ability to save camera positions and return to them later, as well as the ability to enter in coordinates manually. (Cerra Wilder) [22]
• Filming Path - the machinimator's universal tool - HUD for creating camera movement paths and more, very helpful (Geuis Dassin & Nand Nerd) [23]
• Illumine Professional Lighting - talent wears the Illumine Pro. You control the intensity, color, and position of the lighting on that talent. Learn more about and obtain the Illumine Pro via the profile picks for its creator, Illumine Demina. (Illumine Demina)
• MachinimaCam HUD - An avatar centric scripted camera that operates without any visible interface. Avaliable through SLX, OnRez or inworld. (CodeBastard Redgrave) [24]
• SMS Lighting - A series of color coded lights designed for the unique needs of Film, TV and Photos in SL. Avaialable inworld and on SLX. (CoyoteJack Dassin)[25]
• Silver Stream Network media system that breaks the 'one movie per parcel myth'. A fully functional media solution that includes a open playlist in each player/screen combination unit. A single server on a Sim, can support upto 30+ screen/player units, irrespective of parceling or land ownership.

Events

• Tube2SL - Regular weekly film trivia contests, DJ hosted parties, live musicians and other quality entertainment. Search the events calender inworld for Tube2SL.

Tutorials

• How to use the Alt-Zoom Camera - A quick tutorial designed to show you how to set up and configure your camera. [26]
• How to turn off the UI - Please note that the hotkey has changed to CTRL+ALT+F1! [27]
• How to use the Second Life camera controls - Part of the Noob Be Gone series [28]
• How to do machinima on a Mac - An informative look at how Mac users are able to capture and encode machinima [29]
• How to use the MachinimaCam HUD - Complete and detailed instructions on how to setup and operate the MachinimaCam HUD. Includes tips and tricks for making machinima. [30]
• Alt-Zoom camera tutorial by Nimrod - Another tutorial made by Nimrod to show you the basics of the Alt-Zoom camera. [31]
• How to move your camera further and better - By Torley Linden.

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Tips and Tricks

• Using the 'Ken Burns' movement/panning and cropping animations technique and adding 'atmospherics' to your movies using lighting effects masks Forum Link

• See Torley Linden's page on Voice recording

Resources

Groups:

• Tube2SL.com - A growing Second Life Machinima community group based around the Tube2SL Island sim of Gateway. Film projects, opportunities, contests and events will be publicised via group notice.

• Tube2SL Actors Guild - A group for those interested in acting and voice acting

• Second Life Film Society - This group exists to explore new ways of using Second Life to create film (machinima). We will also explore streaming live video from SL to the web as well as from SL to other locations in SL (SLTV). The Revolution Must Be Televised!

• The SL Machinima Librarians Group and Machinima Institute are very friendly groups for librarians, students and SL residents interested in an introduction to machinima. The main focus will be to inform on machinima related news and share ideas. The blog is located at here [32] - Postings cover software for windows and OSX platforms. The home for all library machinima, mentoring and assistance to students (MLS graduate students) and SL machinima volunteers is Eduisland 3 (one of the 40+ library/education related sims in the Info Archipelago [33]

• SL Machinima, Building, and Design - This group is made up of real life video, audio, and design artists/producers. We have united to push the limits in second Media. The SLMBD uses the most modern tools when it come to SL and RL. We specialize in Machinima (sl video), sim construction, custom graphics, and about anything else SL media/design related.--If you wish to join, you must be hard working, creative, and experenced (note: entrance fee!)

• Machinimatographers of Second Life Mailing List - A mailing list to keep interested individuals alerted to machinima (machine animation) opportunities, features, advice, software, and events in Second Life. You will find new colleagues and filming locations to aide you in filming. Read more about our unique machinima opportunities by subscribing to the list here.

Locations and props:

• Tube2SL Island - The island of Gateway is the home to the Tube2SL Cinema Complex and Machinima Recording Studios. Broadcast your videos in our 8 screen cinema complex via our website www.tube2sl.com. FREE use the Tube2SL Cinema Complex for your videos launch party. Contact user: '''SL Loonie''' for more information.

• Movix - Movie and Music production - Their entire sim is being designed as a complete machinima studio. This is based on the real world model with various street and interior sets. They have shops for Costumes, Props, Vehicles, a sandbox plus everything else you need to make your movie. You can show your film in their cinema (hosting extra if needed) or maybe even run a film festival. The Studio is free to book exclusively for your production ensuring lag free, uninterupted shooting. [34]
• Alt-Zoom Theater and Sandbox - The island of Lukanida is home to Alt-Zoom Studios and an entire sim dedicated to building and filming your custom content for machinima purposes. [35]

Video Hosting Sites:

• blip.tv - Free site that allows you to upload a movie file of unlimited size and in as many formats as you'd like. It compresses the first upload into a handy flash file for posting on the web, but also keeps the original file intact. If you upload a Quicktime movie, you are able to use it in parcel media for in-world viewing. [36]
• JumpCut - Free site that allows you to upload movies and edit them online you will them be able to publish the videos on the website for other users to watch. [37]
• Tube2SL - An online broadcasting option that allows you to upload a .mov of 20mb or less for free posting on the site. You can then book your video for scheduled broadcasting throughout Second Life on our network of resident owned TV's, Public Media Broadcasting Booths and the Tube2SL Cinema Complex. Get your FREE Tube2SL TV from the Tube2SL Island
• YouTube - An online hosting option that allows you to upload a movie in any format and it will then convert it to a flash file for posting on a site. [38]

Unassigned bugs in JIRA that pain

• VWR-2387: Animations always drift when uploading with an inner loop of anything except 0% - 100% [39]
• VWR-1793: Hand Poses Not Uploaded Correctly [40]