Epoq 2.2 Machinima Introduction
Dr. Anthony Curtis – UNCP Mass Communcation
glossy blue bullet 100x103What is a machinima?

Machinima is the art of making a real movie in a virtual world. The word machinima is from the term "machine cinema." A machinima is a video production shot in a 3D virtual reality world, such as Second Life, and produced with real life tools and techniques.   Machinima FAQ

glossy blue bullet 100x103How machinimas are made

A machinima is a video shot in real time in a virtual-reality environment using the technologies of the 3D-rendered virtual world and then edited into a finished production with ordinary editing software.

For instance, recordings of computer-generated imagery (CGI) of actions rendered in real-time by the interactive 3-D engine in the Second Life viewer are edited in the same manner as conventional film or video productions.

Second Life machinima are produced using SL resources – such as sky, land and water backdrops, buildings, vehicles, elevations, avatars, skins, hair, and clothing – and the built-in tools for recording images – movement controls, camera controls, snapshot camera, building and landscape editing controls, and script editor. Video products made in Second Life use the 3D virtual world's constructions, scripting, and avatar customizing tools.

Professional 3D animation software is not used. The rendering is done in real-time using an individual's computer, rather than more complex 3D engines in render farms.

Machinima production is faster and cheaper than keyframed CGI animation. The product is a more professional appearing production than is possible with typical amateur techniques such as live video tape, or stop action using live actors, hand drawn animation or toy props.

glossy blue bullet 100x103Let's make a machinima

Suppose you wanted to make a movie in a virtual world. Here's how you might go about producing a machinima shot in a 3D virtual reality world, such as Second Life, and editing it with real life tools and techniques.

Getting ready Setting the resolution Starting the capture
  • Stopping the capture
    • STOP – Recording stops when you press Ctrl-Shift-A or go to File > Start/Stop Movie to Disk.
    • Be sure to turn the user interface (UI) back on by pressing Ctrl-Alt-F1.
    • Use SL's Snapshot to shoot any still photos or "freeze frame captures" you will need. Save them to your desktop and take them into Adobe Photoshop to edit them to the way you want those images to look.
  • Ancillary productions
    • Record voiceover audio.
    • Prepare title and credits.
  • Editing the product
    • After you have captured more than enough footage, recorded audio, and prepared title and credits, you edit them into the finished production.
    • Macintosh is recommended over Windows PC for this work, although a Windows machine will provide a finished product.
    • Use iMovie or Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro on Macintosh to piece together all of your in-world shots, other produced elements, and audio. Other software applications you may find helpful include Windows Movie Maker and WinAVI. iMovie and Windows Movie Maker are free and particularly easy to use.
    • All final productions should be clear, and well shot and edited.
    • Language, tone and content should be appropriate for a the intended audience, usually PG-13.
    • Save the finished product as a .mov file for uploading to YouTube.

    glossy blue bullet 100x103Examples of Second Life machinimas

    glossy blue bullet 100x103Where to learn more


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