Darker Shades of Gray - A BrikSpace BrikFilm

[Olothontor]

So I'm starting up a Brikfilm, for a few varied reasons. First and foremost, I'm celebrating my new fleet. Second: I haven't seen any stop-motion microspace stuff. Finally, I have no experience here whatsoever, and would really be interested in learning how it all works.

So... here I am. Now, this being a pretty big project for someone who knows NOTHING about stop-motion, or BrikFilm in specific, I figure it'll be a long time in the works. So, I'm gonna let you guys give input while I write the script. Ideas on what should happen, character details/flaws, etc, etc.

Here's the script so far as it's been written(i.e. what I wrote today in Music and Computer Technology class).

Alternate link for those with whom Filesmelt gets pissy.

Please provide feedback and commentary! I'd like to hear what you guys think.

[Ogel96]

It's a start. I think I need to see more to offer advice.

[Olothontor]

I'll keep working, then.

In terms of photography.. you've seen my pics, they're fairly nice most of the time (due to my 5 megapixel camera). How would photographing "in space" work? I presume a black backdrop would be a start, but how do I make it pitch black? Is there a way to do it without photoshopping?

[BFenix]

For some reason I can't access the link  
Anyways, very curious about what you pull of this project Olly, I wish I could help, but anything rather than photography tips I really of my book

[Olothontor]

Bah, that's alright. You can help with the story.

I'll try to get a different download link up for you guys as well.

Edit: Done.

[BFenix]

Thx for fixing that up

Suggestion for hyperspace jump: Get as many transparent bricks of a color(s) of your choice as you can, then try to make some sort of horizontal spinner and take several pics of it forming and vanishing while the Bold warps through it

[Olothontor]

Thanks, BF! Someone else on steam suggested using tinfoil alongside the cotton. I think it would look interesting, but I also think it would be immediately obvious what it was unless the warp itself is really fast (although I do like that style of 'sudden warp').

Anyway, started compiling a small list of background music that could be used for various scenes. If you have any to contribute, please feel free. I'm going to browse around Newgrounds as well and see what I can find, since there's usually one or two good orchestral/soundtrack style pieces floating about at any given time there.

Code: Select all

Music Ideas:

-= Smith's Choice and A Pressing Need to Save the World (Doctor Who Soundtrack)

-= Epilogue (Halo 2 Soundtrack)

-= Intro: The Sky is Free? (Wormtooth Nation Intro)

-= Solar Sailer and Disc Wars (Daft Punk (TRON Soundtrack))

-= Dreams of the Inspired (Eberron)

Edit: Also minor script update.

[BFenix]

Thanks, BF! Someone else on steam suggested using tinfoil alongside the cotton. I think it would look interesting, but I also think it would be immediately obvious what it was unless the warp itself is really fast (although I do like that style of 'sudden warp').

Music Ideas:

-= Smith's Choice and A Pressing Need to Save the World (Doctor Who Soundtrack) Good for intense situation. Combat, Alien threat perhaps?

-= Epilogue (Halo 2 Soundtrack) Good starting or Ending song

-= Intro: The Sky is Free? (Wormtooth Nation Intro) Did no find this one

-= Solar Sailer and Disc Wars (Daft Punk (TRON Soundtrack)) The first one is nice just for ambient, the second creates a epic kind of atmosphere

-= Dreams of the Inspired (Eberron) Unsure

[Olothontor]

Thanks for the breakdown, BF!

I couldn't locate any sound for the Eberron track, so you'll have to take me at my word on that when I say it's close to what I'm looking for.

As for The Sky is Free, it's the intro song to this beauty of a Steampunk college video project. Take a listen, and if you have the time watch the whole thing. It's quite good, about what you'd expect from a college-level miniseries.

[ForlornCreature]

Do I get a credit for my long PM reply?  

[Olothontor]

Minor fiddling:

I was attempting to break down two birds with a single stone here, but I missed one of the birds.

My lighting, for fluorescent, normal ship lighting, works great (daylight lamps are a beautiful thing). The second thing I was attempting to accomplish was finding a good backdrop to fill in what the LEGOs do not in the shots that go past/higher than the the ship walls... and it failed miserably. The texture is too grainy, and it sticks out oddly against the LEGOs.





Door front:


Door back:


Anyway, the reason I'm posting these is to get feedback on the designs. There's an experimental portion of wall, minus the actual "flat" wall (I didn't have enough briks to fill in the boring part of the wall, you'll have to use your imagination a bit. Bricklink orders will fix this). The second thing is a sliding heavy-duty blast door design (not sure if I've decided whether it will move up into the cieling , to the left/right, or pivot diagonally up into a 'corner' of the doorway when it opens. Not that it really matters, I guess). I wanted to get you guys' opinions.

Do you think a repeating backdrop like the wall would be too distracting (keeping in mind that there'll be a flat light gray wall one stud directly behind the features shown here)? Do you think the door is okay?

Do I get a credit for my long PM reply?  

Now you do, yeah

[Olothontor]

Thanks, Silva!

P.S. I just found a use for that crappy foam backdrop... if I take it and darken it by a bit, it works perfectly as a night sky. Now, admittedly, I'd need to do that for EVERY frame, but the end result might just be worth it.

[ForlornCreature]

Oh, yeah I forgot a couple things:

Don't use overhead lighting, it'll make it flicker, do it in a dark room with just the lamps.
Avoid black lego walls, they'll reflect the camera.
If you want a cheap but ok video editing program, get Sony Vegas, I recommend you get the platinum version. I regret not paying the extra $10 for HD.
If you get a program that has colour keying, go to (I think) detonationfilms.com for some explosions, fire, gun shots, blood spatters. Although IMO in-camera effects look better, like red clay for blood, possibly using masking to make it fly through the air- hey I just got an idea for a test...

[Olothontor]

Definitely going for mostly in-camera FX, thanks, though. More helpful stuff all around!

[BFenix]

Oloth you could search the net for some metallic textures and print them for the scenes inside the ship background