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This topic has moved here: Subject: [Machinima] Spartans Mentality Series [Update1: Two More Episodes]
  • Subject: [Machinima] Spartans Mentality Series [Update1: Two More Episodes]
Subject: [Machinima] Spartans Mentality Series [Update1: Two More Episodes]

We are meant to live, meant to dream and meant to strive for our dreams. We live to enjoy. We live to love. We live to live.

- Ryan Walker

This my first Episode in my first Machinima Series... So Enjoy Rate and tell me what yall think.
Spartans Mentality Series - Episode 1

This episode is a little silly maybe yall will get some laughs from it. Me and my friend were board at 3 in the morning, what else was there to do.
Spartans Mentality Series - Episode 2

This episode is the best one so far by far.
Spartans Mentality Series - Episode 3

New Years Suprise
Spartans Mentality Series - Episode 4

Spartans Mentality Series - Episode 5

[Edited on 01.02.2010 3:39 AM PST]

  • 12.31.2009 1:35 AM PDT
Subject: [Machinima] Spartans Mentality Series

//OB:PWNED!//
//END TRANSMISSION//

How 'bout YALL learn to spell!

Plus it was boring and stupid.
It was just you moaning about losing in some game. That's not life kid. Just a game.

[Edited on 12.31.2009 4:42 AM PST]

  • 12.31.2009 4:40 AM PDT

We are meant to live, meant to dream and meant to strive for our dreams. We live to enjoy. We live to love. We live to live.

- Ryan Walker

anyone have comments on the other 2 episodes?

[Edited on 12.31.2009 2:38 PM PST]

  • 12.31.2009 2:38 PM PDT
  • gamertag: vrbtny
  • user homepage:

T.O.A.S.T stands for: Totally. Over. Analyzing. Short. Trailers.

Posted by: Abutt
anyone have comments on the other 2 episodes?


They were a bit dull.... I can see what your trying to do... but it just doesn't quiet work. I can imagine laughing at them.... it's just the voices are boring and a bit monotone. Try doing a Sarge voice....

P.S. move the mike away from your mouth, so we don't hear you breath.

  • 12.31.2009 2:59 PM PDT

We are meant to live, meant to dream and meant to strive for our dreams. We live to enjoy. We live to love. We live to live.

- Ryan Walker

alright thank you for your constructive criticism. Anyone watch episode 3 though, that one was the best and the voices were improved i think.

  • 12.31.2009 3:13 PM PDT

I just watched these episodes and I thought they were pretty good, I mean it isnt easy making machinima and I think it was quite well. There's only one thing I would change was in episode 3 where you made everything fastforward.

  • 01.01.2010 4:43 PM PDT

We are meant to live, meant to dream and meant to strive for our dreams. We live to enjoy. We live to love. We live to live.

- Ryan Walker

Episodes 4 and 5 were just added

  • 01.02.2010 3:37 AM PDT
Subject: [Machinima] Spartans Mentality Series [Update1: Two More Episodes]

//OB:PWNED!//
//END TRANSMISSION//

Ok, a few tips:

1. Don't use 3rd person camera... ever! it never looks good in non-gameplay videos.

2. Try use dynamic shots: Panning, zooming (try and perfect this as it's hard to do well and make it look good) and still shots.

3. Camera angle; If the main person in a shot is in a state of power, have the camera slightly below him tilting upwards (DO NOT make the mistake of over tilting the camera, that is not necessary). If the main person in a shot is vulnerable or being overpowered have the camera above them tilting slightly downwards (yet again don't overtilt, this also means the camera's height is not greatly affected).

4. Stop moving your camera randomly. Find a nice place to settle your camera that will provide a good view of what is happening and create good cinematography. Try using one thumbstick per shot. Line your shot up so that you won't have to wiggle your camera around to see the action. When using the left thumbstick you should only go forward, backward, left or right. No diagonals. And make it go smoothly, try and keep the thumbstick in a steady position so it doesn't jig about. Use the right thumbstick when you want to either: a) introduce a new scene with a pan of the environment (this should be used in some of the new scenes when a new map is used). or use the left thumbstick when you want to follow something. When using the right thumbstick DON'T use the zoom function. It sucks and is hard to use well. Again, try and keep the thumbstick tilted steadily to assure you have smooth camera movement. Try not to use this too often, and make sure you keep it steady. Fast movements using the right thumbstick is generally bad at your level. So avoid using this in fast moving scenes.
Don't overuse this stuff. Only use them to add to a scene, if it looks better without dynamic camera angles/movement then keep it simple (basically don't use dynamic camera angles/movements if it doesn't look good, or if it looks out of the ordinary).
Oh, and don't use RB or LB at your level, it's too hard to perfect and it's really odd in your machinima.

I might also draw a small storyboard showing some interesting cinematography you could use.
Also, better voice acting, i wouldn't mind if it was overacted, but try and improve on that as well.

Hope that helped.
Sorry about the wall of text :/

[Edited on 01.02.2010 10:31 AM PST]

  • 01.02.2010 10:15 AM PDT

We are meant to live, meant to dream and meant to strive for our dreams. We live to enjoy. We live to love. We live to live.

- Ryan Walker

Thank you that really helps a lot. Quick question though: What exactly do you mean when you say "don't use RB or LB at your level?"

  • 01.02.2010 1:40 PM PDT

//OB:PWNED!//
//END TRANSMISSION//

Well the right bumper and left bumper are hard to control. Their movement is fast, and is worst used in a close up. If you are to use the right bumper or left bumper, use it in a long shot or very long shot. However, if you are in a long shot, and then use one of the bumpers to go into a close shot, that would work a little better.
but right now just focus on keeping nice, flowing camera movement.

  • 01.03.2010 5:53 PM PDT