Amazing, simply amazing. (I mean that in a good way
)
)
Star Trek: Aurora Part 2 now available
- Thread starter Auroratrek
- Start date
Saw it a few days ago, just got the chance to respond. Still not completely sure where the story's going, which (believe me) is a VERY good thing, as I like to be surprised.
Brilliant animation. The vulcan's voice sounds a bit... computer-generated? Not sure. You've got perfect audio and great background sound throughout. Graphics are fluent, almost flawless.
Looking forward to more!
Brilliant animation. The vulcan's voice sounds a bit... computer-generated? Not sure. You've got perfect audio and great background sound throughout. Graphics are fluent, almost flawless.
Looking forward to more!
I just saw this....
Pretty cool :thumbsup:
Kudos for having it take place in the TOS era, and having two independent female leads...
Looking forward to part 3 and 4...
Pretty cool :thumbsup:
Kudos for having it take place in the TOS era, and having two independent female leads...
Looking forward to part 3 and 4...
This is a very impressive project and an original idea that separates it from other fan films. The animation is fantastic and even more so considering that it isn't the work of a team of graphic artists. I agree that T'Ling's voice sounds a little artificial, but for that to be the only major problem in a fan film is pretty amazing.
Can't wait for Part 3.
Can't wait for Part 3.
Thanks, all! I really appreciate the feedback. I was off on vacation for the past week without internet access (which was the same sitch I was in last Summer, where I put part 1 up, then couldn't check on it to see if it was uploading okay for people!)
I have had a number of people note that the Vulcan voice could be better, and, as the "director" I have to take any blame for that--it makes one appreciate the work of the Trek actors who have had the task of emoting without emotions in the various series! I'll try to work on that in the future.
Kagan: my main tools are Poser and Cinema 4D. The workflow was a little complicated by the fact that I'm working on a Mac (1.5 dual) and rendering in Cinema 4D, and the only Poser Mac plugin for Cinema 4D for a long time was an old OS9 plugin that has never been updated (tho Kuroyume's InterPoserPro is a very good plugin that does everything for me but "Point At" which I use a lot for the eyes, so I use that for some wide shots--if you're on a PC there are plugins you can buy on the Poser site), so my basic workflow for animating characters (Daz V3 and M3) is: 1. Record voice using a decent microphone (M-Audio Nova mic, Mobile Pre preamp, Apple Soundtrack); 2. Create mouth/head moves in Mimic; 3. Open Mimic file in Poser 5 (Poser 6 gave me problems with the old C4D plugin); 4. Animate character body movements adjust head movements (head turns, blinking, etc.); 5. Boot into OS9, open Poser file into Cinema 4D environment and render it to TIFF files; 6. Go back to OSX, create .mov file from TIFFs, save; 7. Import .mov file into Final Cut Pro, edit into animation; 8. Add voice file/sound effects. Other programs used: Photoshop, Illustrator. Hope that helps!
As to Part 3, I had actually planned to take a little time off to rest after Part 2, but I've been doing this so long now that I just got all restless and moody today, and finally had to break down and get working again--it's a sickness!
Anyway, thanks again all for the kudos and the crits!--Tim
I have had a number of people note that the Vulcan voice could be better, and, as the "director" I have to take any blame for that--it makes one appreciate the work of the Trek actors who have had the task of emoting without emotions in the various series! I'll try to work on that in the future.
Kagan: my main tools are Poser and Cinema 4D. The workflow was a little complicated by the fact that I'm working on a Mac (1.5 dual) and rendering in Cinema 4D, and the only Poser Mac plugin for Cinema 4D for a long time was an old OS9 plugin that has never been updated (tho Kuroyume's InterPoserPro is a very good plugin that does everything for me but "Point At" which I use a lot for the eyes, so I use that for some wide shots--if you're on a PC there are plugins you can buy on the Poser site), so my basic workflow for animating characters (Daz V3 and M3) is: 1. Record voice using a decent microphone (M-Audio Nova mic, Mobile Pre preamp, Apple Soundtrack); 2. Create mouth/head moves in Mimic; 3. Open Mimic file in Poser 5 (Poser 6 gave me problems with the old C4D plugin); 4. Animate character body movements adjust head movements (head turns, blinking, etc.); 5. Boot into OS9, open Poser file into Cinema 4D environment and render it to TIFF files; 6. Go back to OSX, create .mov file from TIFFs, save; 7. Import .mov file into Final Cut Pro, edit into animation; 8. Add voice file/sound effects. Other programs used: Photoshop, Illustrator. Hope that helps!
As to Part 3, I had actually planned to take a little time off to rest after Part 2, but I've been doing this so long now that I just got all restless and moody today, and finally had to break down and get working again--it's a sickness!
Anyway, thanks again all for the kudos and the crits!--Tim
I finally had a chance to download and watch this.
Well worth the wait!
Here are my comments (SPOILERS!):
Con: I like the slow pace. We get so little of that in tv and movies these days, and it's a nice change of... pace. BUT I think you hold on many of the shots too long, particularly the space shots. I know you want to show off your fine work, but good story pacing comes first, and many of those first shots up until the dialogue can be trimmed down.
Pro: some of the character movements are a bit slow and mechanical, but considering it's a one man job, it's amazing it's as good as it is. There are however some really standout bits, like when Kara shakes her hair (by the way, I don't remember her hair looking so cute!).
Con: I believe that tricorder sound was distinctly TNG era. This takes place right after TOS, yes? A tiny nitpick, but sound fx are important, especially here in geekland.
Pro: Humor, like when the Tellarite smiled. Humor is important but hard, and yours is very natural.
Con: Kara says her food replicators were offline. There were no food replicators in the TOS era. Again, more of that nasty TNG influence.
Pro: Great scene compositions. This is an easily overlooked aspect of filmmaking, and you've done a great job of this, and some very creative lighting, like the silhouetted figures outside the bar. Nice.
Pro: Great reveal of Kara's dark secret- very tastefully done. Also great is young Kara's dehydrated, haunted look.
Also an honorable mention goes to T'Ling's jammies. Reow!
Another great installment. Please get yourself some help so the next part can be just as great but less time/stress for you.
Also I'm looking forward to Starfleet showing up later as background/secondary characters. This is the most unique take on Trek ever, and I hope Paramount gets a look at it.
Thank you!
Well worth the wait!
Here are my comments (SPOILERS!):
Con: I like the slow pace. We get so little of that in tv and movies these days, and it's a nice change of... pace. BUT I think you hold on many of the shots too long, particularly the space shots. I know you want to show off your fine work, but good story pacing comes first, and many of those first shots up until the dialogue can be trimmed down.
Pro: some of the character movements are a bit slow and mechanical, but considering it's a one man job, it's amazing it's as good as it is. There are however some really standout bits, like when Kara shakes her hair (by the way, I don't remember her hair looking so cute!).
Con: I believe that tricorder sound was distinctly TNG era. This takes place right after TOS, yes? A tiny nitpick, but sound fx are important, especially here in geekland.
Pro: Humor, like when the Tellarite smiled. Humor is important but hard, and yours is very natural.
Con: Kara says her food replicators were offline. There were no food replicators in the TOS era. Again, more of that nasty TNG influence.
Pro: Great scene compositions. This is an easily overlooked aspect of filmmaking, and you've done a great job of this, and some very creative lighting, like the silhouetted figures outside the bar. Nice.
Pro: Great reveal of Kara's dark secret- very tastefully done. Also great is young Kara's dehydrated, haunted look.
Also an honorable mention goes to T'Ling's jammies. Reow!
Another great installment. Please get yourself some help so the next part can be just as great but less time/stress for you.
Also I'm looking forward to Starfleet showing up later as background/secondary characters. This is the most unique take on Trek ever, and I hope Paramount gets a look at it.
Thank you!
K'riq Sa
Commodore
FYI: Another Thread Disscussion on Animation...
Here is another thread over in General Trek which discusses Animation in general, by other, not so film-geeky members. Of course Aurora Trek is mentioned...
>>>>> CLICK HERE <<<<<
scaborughfairely,
K'riq Sa
Minister of the Church of Bally Ho
Here is another thread over in General Trek which discusses Animation in general, by other, not so film-geeky members. Of course Aurora Trek is mentioned...
>>>>> CLICK HERE <<<<<
scaborughfairely,
K'riq Sa
Minister of the Church of Bally Ho
I would suggest the approach of focusing more on getting the correct pronunciation and enunciation of the sentence. When focusing on how to say it correctly you tend to lose the ups and downs in the sound that give a hint of emotion, and if focusing on sentence structure you should be able to get more fluid sentences.
Keep up the good work!
I would like to add my congrats to Auroratrek as well. That is ome awesome work for a one man operation. I hope he does pick up some help (if he wants it). I think that project has alot of potential.
Sorry I can't offer some finer constructive criticism, as I haven't developed my producer's eye yet.
Sorry I can't offer some finer constructive criticism, as I haven't developed my producer's eye yet.
Not much to add to the discussion (johnhazard pretty much covers it) but just wanted to add my own congrats on an entertaining work. I look forward to part 3.
Thought I'd chime in, even though I first saw it back when you first announced it.
John Hazard covered my few nits (they used "food processors" in TOS, fwiw to anyone), and I was fascinated to hear about the work flow you use, being a techie type myself.
My triumvirate, if I ever get to your level, would be based solely on what I have in my possession right now: Poser 7 (which lets me bypass the Mimic stage), Lightwave, and VT-Edit/SpeedEdit.
In the interval between the release of part one and part two of Aurora, I have learned just enough of Poser to realize that it would be purely silly for me to offer my "services". That would be a little like a house painter offering to help Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel. [grin]
Keep on keepin' on! Beautiful work, Tim!
John
John Hazard covered my few nits (they used "food processors" in TOS, fwiw to anyone), and I was fascinated to hear about the work flow you use, being a techie type myself.
My triumvirate, if I ever get to your level, would be based solely on what I have in my possession right now: Poser 7 (which lets me bypass the Mimic stage), Lightwave, and VT-Edit/SpeedEdit.
In the interval between the release of part one and part two of Aurora, I have learned just enough of Poser to realize that it would be purely silly for me to offer my "services". That would be a little like a house painter offering to help Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel. [grin]
Keep on keepin' on! Beautiful work, Tim!
John
Thanks again, all, I appreciate you taking the time to review Aurora, it can only help!
John, thanks for the comparison to Michaelangelo, tho I think the only thing I really have in common with him and his famous chapel is that that Aurora has/will take years to finish! And don't beat yourself up about your skill level, this 3D animation stuff has a long learning curve--at least I think it's a curve: so far all I've seen is upward slope...
--Tim
John, thanks for the comparison to Michaelangelo, tho I think the only thing I really have in common with him and his famous chapel is that that Aurora has/will take years to finish! And don't beat yourself up about your skill level, this 3D animation stuff has a long learning curve--at least I think it's a curve: so far all I've seen is upward slope...
--Tim
You're quite welcome.
And I am right at the bottom of that slope looking up. I bought Lightwave and Dan Ablan's cousreware from 3D Garage; some training material from Kurv Studios and a couple of books this past February. I thought why not give modeling and animation a try, ouch! Right now that slope is covered with ice.
Hey Just Bob,
Here's something I do when learning a new subject. I see that you have bought several forms of training. That is excellent.
Go through the 1st chapter of ALL of them, do all the basic exercises, then go through chapter 2 of ALL of them and do all of the exercises. See where I am going with this.
The constant reinforcement of the basics will build you a more solid foundation to learn the advanced topics later.
I found this approacjh to work quite well for me over the last couple of decades.
Here's something I do when learning a new subject. I see that you have bought several forms of training. That is excellent.
Go through the 1st chapter of ALL of them, do all the basic exercises, then go through chapter 2 of ALL of them and do all of the exercises. See where I am going with this.
The constant reinforcement of the basics will build you a more solid foundation to learn the advanced topics later.
I found this approacjh to work quite well for me over the last couple of decades.
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