Category Archives: uncategorized
Ferry Halim phones it in
The Crossing, the latest game on Orisinal is kind of lame. I stopped playing when I still had three extra deers, because I had lost interest.
Now, I’m not saying this just to complain that the free game that a complete stranger made for me is not good enough. I will use this to illustrate a factor in making a game fun.
Puppets
What I have now identified as rookie mistakes when making puppets:
1) Putting the hand-hole dead centre, when it should be further towards the back of the head than the front.
2) In general, focusing on the appearance of the puppet to the detriment of the flexibility of the puppet.
I got to try out the electric turkey carver on some couch-foam, before the 20-year-old device self-destructed. But it is a pretty good tool for foam-carving. Continue reading
Less extreme close-ups
So, I slapped the projector lens on again, but this time, I had it only about five inches away from the camera. Since it was more portable than my three-foot monstrosity, I went on a short walk and grabbed some pictures. When it’s closer to the camera, it can focus on objects further away, and it doesn’t enlarge them as much. But it’s still better for bug pictures than the 18mm-55mm lens than came with my camera.
Here’s something I got:
Film geek
Here’s a couple videos I put up on Youtube lately, where I show clips from movies because I found something in how they were shot interesting.
Extreme Close-up
Inspired by these instructions on making a macro lens, I decided to grab the lens from a slide projector I had lying around, and figure out how to take a picture with it.
I made a 3-foot long tube out of black bristol board, stuck the lens in one end, my Nikon D40 in the other, and took this picture of the Queen on the back of a quarter.
3D cameras
There’s a thing on instructables.com about how to make a 3D camera.
It’s a cheap solution, but I see one problem.
Note here, because the red eye has the extra reflections, it will be as though that eye is a few inches further back than the blue eye. (Imagine taking the path the light follows, and straightening it out.)
What I need to learn about directing actors
The 1000 Dollar Film guy posted about directing actors, and the common failings of indie film directors, with some ideas I will try to take to heart.
Second, my stuff is usually very precisely scripted, with very short shots, which doesn’t lend itself well to improv. I’ve been working with some fellows that do more improv, so I’ve been hoping to pick up on how that works.
I was gonged
This is the first time I’ve been gonged at the gong show when I tried not to get gonged.
Lesson learned: not everyone thinks explaining things badly is as funny as I do. Continue reading
Script Secrets
This link, ‘;
echo ‘this link, ‘;
echo ‘ and this link ‘;
?> all link to random tips from ScriptSecrets.net.
I made this random link as a writing tool. If I’m stuck on what to fix on my script, I can read a random tip, and then think of how I would write my script if I made that tip my highest priority. I think it could help force me to approach the script in a new way that will get me unstuck.
I put it on my blog, so you can use it, too, if you want.
“On The Lot” drinking game
There is one rule in the “On The Lot” drinking game.
Every time someone says “literally,” take a drink.
[Added later:
I’ve watched the second episode, and they disappointed me by not saying it. Ah, well.
I am getting sucked into the show, though I’m not normally a fan of reality shows.] Continue reading