Discussion: Matrix Machinima Contest

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oh and is it ok to use my voice and change it using audacity or something imma sound like a transvestite woman argg

[/ QUOTE ]Thats why I am thinking I might just make chat bubbles in After Effects.

...Silent film anyone?...

And we can't even use any ragtime music

For info on demoediting, point them to the article in the City of Heroes wiki at paragonwiki.com. And leave it at that.

And I don't care at this point if I've done something that's going to disqualify me (most likely they're going to get me on content). Screw them. I'm submitting it.

If I win, great. If I get disqualified, I am going to have them spell out EXACTLY why, and then I am going to tell them that should they do this next year, I will be posting a page on my website of EVERYTHING we CAN and CAN'T do.

And in the meantime, I am going to finish this frikking video.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

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Can you briefly explain demoediting for the people that enforce the rules please?

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Explain to them that it is the scripting language BUILT INTO City of Heroes specifically for making your own videos and screenshots.

...and if that don't fly...oh my...

Research department much?

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And I don't care at this point if I've done something that's going to disqualify me (most likely they're going to get me on content). Screw them. I'm submitting it.

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I'm with you. I'll fight the good fight, legal-wise. But come Sunday, this little puppy is getting posted with a full explanation that I *OWN* every scrap of that vid and that it is fully in compliance with the rules, namely:

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The term “original” in these Official Rules means the Video was newly created by you, using footage from the Selected Games (as defined below), your own ideas, language, content, images, text, graphics, animation, and other materials and, except for the Selected Games, no element of the Video is copied, derived, translated, adapted or otherwise obtained or copied from anyone or anywhere else, regardless of the source, format or medium. Original also means that, except for the Selected Games, you, and no one else, have complete, sole, exclusive and unrestricted rights, title and interest in and to the Video (including, without limitation, each and all of the underlying elements of the Video) when you submit it to the Contest as part of your entry AND that you have the right and authority to give Sponsor all of the rights in and to your Video and its underlying elements that are described in these Official Rules.

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Oh boy. They tell one person that other voices are fine if you get release forms, they tell somebody else they aren't fine at all.

The detailed rules DO cover this and they say it's fine but you have to get permission AND release forms. I think we covered that back earlier in the topic. I thought folks pretty much decided that it just wasn't worth the bother - then everyone starts talking about their voice actors. I figured I just missed something. (Or maybe I'm thinking of the topic on Gametrailers?)

Demos might very well confuse them. I've seen lots of games that can record gameplay but I haven't seen one that does it in a manner that players can easily edit.

Hooray, I finally managed to figure out how to kickstart my video work! I edited the music down to 2:32 and boy does my video flow much better. Didn't realize how much drag-out time there was in there until I fine-tuned it, and now it just zooms along!

Still have footage to shoot, but now I don't need nearly as much! This is good!

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

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2. Confirming that it's ok to have other people help record voices in the movie (so that all the voices don't sound like versions of the same person). NO- one person

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Todd, is that their exact reply or are you summarizing it?

The reply I got makes more sense, because it references the part of the rules where they make a provision for more than one person's involvement ("group" entries). There is no basis in the rules for the simple "NO" answer you say you got.

Is it possible that you misinterpreted them, or (even more likely) that they misinterpreted you?

That was the exact cut-and-paste reply.

I like the OTHER answer much better (with release forms and such). I don't know if this person was in a hurry....because unlike most of the other replies I've seen the responses weren't even in complete sentences...or maybe the person was just tired of answering these types of questions.

Keep in mind they replied to my email I sent this morning...but answering questions I sent 2 weeks ago! AS if they had my old email pulled up and didn't bother to read the new one. Example: this morning I SPECIFICALLY asked about MovieStorm to which they didn't reply at all.

It may have something to do with the fact that I mentioned that I had sent 3 emails without any response. I dunno.

What bugs me the most about this is that either they have mulitple people answering questions....and differently...or they just aren't clear on the rules themselves. Going back and asking about the demorecord stuff is yet another example of this.

It's too late in the process to be changing their minds on this stuff.

My current plan....is to voice all the actors myself. Which blows....but I've had my answer from the officials.

Be sure that if any of the final 5 have multiple voice actors in them they'll be getting a fun email from me. I had 3 other actors that did a knock out job! I'm also looking at keeping the 'correct' version for later release depending on how things go.

On the up side....I always wanted to be cast as 8 Baller. (that's about the best up side I could come up with).

Todd

I just sent them an email summarizing some of the confusion going on over here with a suggestion to post a FAQ and link to it off the contest page. That way at least we'd stop asking the same questions over and over and there would be one answer to refer to.

Just stating again...cause I know how much work we're all putting into this and I'd hate to see it go to waste...here's some of the facts as it stands right now:
1. their answer to me was about as crystal clear as it gets regarding other voice actors. "NO- one person"

2. There are currently 4 (I believe) 'entries' posted on the gametrailers site but only 2 made it to the actual contest page as official entries. The ones that didn't make it had mulitple voice actors and/or copyrighted material (I know I heard the Nokia ringtone in there)

3. We've got no way to get ahold of these folks for a quick answer and there's only six days left.

You guys do what you feel is best. I'm still holding on to my file with my voice actors as a 'plan b' just in case things get turned around, but my 'plan a' is...well a little watered down. I'll probably post both before all is said and done.

Todd

They really need to get things in order. Someone replied saying that multiple voice actors are alright if they signed releases, then I would go with that unless they get things in order and say no.

If they say no demo editing, I don't care. The only thing I did was change a costume with another one then remove float commands and chat dialog. Plus, it is just elements of the game in the end.

well i have multiple characters that i played myself but when they are all on the screen together they may think its a group entry .ARGGGG i explained to them in the easiest way i could what it was and what is possible, the reply i got back the first time was a definite yes and this email is from a different address than the original reply i got either way im workin on demoediting it so it doesnt look demoedited incase they reject my first one then, i will just submit the undemoedited demoedited one lmao yeah and thier comment dont get too technical or it may confuse them ?Shouldnt the judges have a professional knowledge of machinima and what can be done with it ,are the judges like 5 yr olds or something?

I'm starting to wonder about these guys myself. They just don't seem to have their act together.

As for demoediting - I don't think, even if it is explained to them in excruciating detail, that they will be able to tell an edited recording from an unedited one.

Iranman, do you think they'll even know that the multiple characters you used aren't NPCs? They don't seem to know much about any of this.

LOL - Sometimes these delays actually help me out. I just noticed that in two of my shots, my main character's ears are hovering about a foot below her head! At least now I have time to fix that and re-shoot/re-edit.

BTW - In noticed that one of the contest entries ("Know the Council") is posted on YouTube. Is that allowed? If so, I might post my current version for y'all to critique.

I've wondered the same thing myself. However, as I've actually had good luck in getting answers from these guys, I'll send them an email and ask what their policy is on the cross-posting of entries both before and after the contest.

Answer to follow as soon as I get it.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

PS - Update - email has been sent.

well... in a very related question i asked them a while ago:

bullanthony said:
OFFICIAL SUPPORT MESSAGE:

are we also allowed to enter our flick into other machinima competitions? you folks don't own our films do you? the winning films?

Support to you: Re: Toyota COH Competition 2

Yeah, you can enter them in whatever other contests you would like, they are your creations after all.

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As for demoediting - I don't think, even if it is explained to them in excruciating detail, that they will be able to tell an edited recording from an unedited one.

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That's what I was thinking. Never make a law you can't enforce - and that would be a difficult one to enforce.

How sad is it that at this point I'm waiting/expecting another curve ball to be thrown our way?

Todd

Here is what my entry was going to be.

Thanks to Hertz, Jester, Mindscythe, Dark_Respite, Mysidia and Trixi Hill for being voice and player actors.

Prime Time Grime

Good luck to the rest of you!

Very nice job! Dude, submit it anyhow, let them draw the line, not you.

Nice edits.

Todd

I've just receive the following response to my faxed releases. It is from an actual person (not the generic @GameTrailers.com address):


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Got your fax. Can you please let me know your user name and entry title so I can keep an eye out for it.

Thanks

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I replied and asked specifically if this means that my entry will be accepted. I also gave him some FYI about our frustration with conflicting answers and such. More as I know it.

And since my Performer Release Form seemed to work,here's a link to one that y'all can use. It is in MS Word format.

EDIT: Just got teh following followup:

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Thanks, our legal is reviewing your releases and I will get back to you this afternoon.

Our legal team here prefers that all entries be by one person only and its up to their discretion to take in a "Groupe designate" from an entry that contains work from multiple people. It is easier on all ends if you stick to one voice

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Very nice job! Dude, submit it anyhow, let them draw the line, not you.

Nice edits.

Todd

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I was going to but I keep getting errors when I try to upload it and with all the rest of this going on I just don't want to mess with it any more. I tried uploading in 3 formats in 2 browsers on 2 different PC's. I get the same nonspecific error and then it never finishes compressing. I left it for 12 hours once and no change. I'm frustrated and tired and pissed.

dude! submit it! it's great!

Thanks for the info/update Star.

Fingers are crossed they make a good decision