Bridge Commander Universe

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Take a gander at this:

Scene I, Ep II

It's only a rough, rough, rough, rough (x100) draft of the next show, and is missing a couple of voices, but that's just the first act and it's already 4 mins 30 seconds long. Now, for a machinima webisode, that's an awful lot of time... does it seem to drag anywhere and if it does, anyone have any suggestion on what to leave on the cutting room floor? If it seems to flow just fine, then its not really a problem, but its hard for me to judge... seeing as how my perspective of this is a little skewed.

Phaser · **Posted**: 10-07-2006 12:20 AM

I see now why you wanted to use my Silent Running Textures! Grin

Just to let everyone know, I didn't do a half-*ssed job on them or anything--the ID textures are also dark. Dante just didn't use that texture in the video because he needed the deflector lit (he just didn't know about the layout of the texture maps--the deflector texture is part of a map with some lit windows). If Dante decides to reshoot that scene, I've offered to alter the ID texture so only the deflector is lit. Wink

Anyway, about the vid:

Dante, you are a camera GOD. The camera's movements are incredibly smooth (so are the ship's movements once it's underway) and the pan shots are extremely well done. How you got the camera that close to the ship, and manage to the pan the camera, I'll never know. That's simply amazing.

Wonderful work with the scene lighting--the speculars shining on the hull looked great.

As for the ship powering up, again, excellent work. I'm pretty sure I know what you did, and it was very clever. You really pulled it off, too!

As for editing, there are three things I can suggest:
1) Add a pan shot of the stardrive section with worker bees. That's where most of the new technology was incorporated anyway, so most of the action should probably be back there.
2) The last powered down pan shot drags on a bit, especially considering that there's no narration. Cutting off the beginning and ending of this shot would be a good place to 'trim the fat.'
(Note: So the music timing remains the same, you could make up the time lost in that cut by adding in a shot of the stardrive; that way, you get two birds with one stone Wink

)
3) The scene with the ship leaving drydock drags on a bit, especially in the last shot. I recommend cutting off the start of that last shot (NOT the end--that pan is amazing!) and replacing it with a closer shot at a different angle.

That's it for me. Again, well done!

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

For the record, Phaser is 100% correct. His textures are awesome. The only reason it suffers the small amount that it does is completely due to my novice skill at modding BC. The only thing I really meant to leave on was the deflector, as Brex's line was already recorded as saying the deflector relays were up and running.

But, yes! Thanks for the feedback. I'll be getting a new card in the next week and if it works as well as I hope it does, I may just reshoot EVERYTHING! Expect to see a lot of what you suggest implimented.

Ambassador · **Posted**: 10-09-2006 04:07 PM

good so far, just to make it really cool, make the galaxy a "venture refit", aka, with the extra phasers on the nacelles Wink

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Alright, I went in and re-shot some of the sequences. Saffi's log will be extended so that she's talking throughout the entire first part until the shuttle flies off toward the Starbase, and the scene that shows the officer's quarters still lit will be taken out for two reasons:

1) Because main power isn't supposed to be on... even if just for the officers

2) I want to make room to fit in about 3 more seconds of the shuttle fly by. If you look down at the port nacelle RIGHT when the 2nd part of the shuttle flyby starts, you'll see a workbee scurrying about.

Please, let me know if you guys have anymore suggests.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=247061338455812383

Ambassador · **Posted**: 11-04-2006 02:14 AM

I still think you should make the Galaxy a venture refit galaxy,

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Awww... but that would destroy the canoninity I'm trying to keep with this series Sad

Phaser · **Posted**: 11-04-2006 02:42 AM

MUCH better, Dante!! The new camera angles are great, too!

Only things I can suggest are:
1) Reshoot the first scene where the dorsal registry is still lit. It just makes more sense having all the saucer lights off then having all them off except for that one area. Besides, in the next shot you see of that area, it isn't lit, anyway.
2) End the last scene about 5 seconds before the point at which you currently do. It's just unnecessary. Or, better yet, cut to a shot of the ship going to warp.

Again, other than those things, this looks amazing. I'm still stunned by the awesome camera work. Wink

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Thankye! ...but it wouldn't have been possible without your work!

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 11-04-2006 03:48 AM

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Okay guys, here it is. This is going to be the last public update... If I show anymore, I'd basically be giving ya'll the entire movie! Try to cram in as many suggestions as you can! I have implimented about 90% of everything you all have asked me to, and I have to say, the movie is hundreds of times better because of it!

Phaser · **Posted**: 11-06-2006 12:26 AM

This looks awesome, Dante. Phenomenal work.

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

lol, well I've hit a production brick wall for now, so I'm going to make ONE last public update.

But THANKS! Phaser, the whole first sequence couldn't have been done without you.

EDIT:

And here it is:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5492926098334963973

EDIT x2:

EDIT:

And... it looks like there's actually going to be ONE MORE update since Google messed up the letterbox. Mad

EDIT BAH:

NVM... Google appearantly AUTOFAILS my movies if I try to stretch them, so you'll just havta wait for the full wmv Sad

JamesTiberiusKirk · **Posted**: 11-06-2006 09:15 AM

I wonder all the time how you got those neat camera angles....?.... got some help from bcscripters? Wink

Anyway. looks most awesome !

SuperSmeg · **Posted**: 11-07-2006 12:49 AM

I see you took my advice on the re-textured First Conatact uniforms. Nice job. Perhaps when you are done with this then you can help me out with some videos im planning for BC.

1. My own version of the famous 'All Your Base Are Belong To Us' web video, going to be shot entirely in BC.

2. My own BC version of the 1986 song 'Star Trekkin' sung by The Firm.

Your camera angles would really kick a$$ in those.

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

JTK, lol, anyone can get those angles... getting them RIGHT is the hard part. Mad

I would have to say that getting the right shots is probably the second hardest thing to do for these shows... behind getting the voices... lol

SS, lol, Thanks! I wouldn't have known without YOUR input (for which you'll be credited for, of course) Smile

And I would be MORE than happy to help ya out! It's the least I can do for you guys. Your suggestions seriously bumped up the quality of this show.

SuperSmeg · **Posted**: 11-07-2006 03:15 AM

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Yes. I'm going to try to credit as many people as I can remember to. Basically, anything I see that I recognize as being created by a mod, I'm going to try to credit... I really hope I don't miss anyone. I mean, I got ZERO complaints about the amount of credits in the last show, but I did feel bad once I started recognizing all the different mods I was showing off... and using! I mean, if someone likes what they see and wants to use it, I want them to know who made it.

...I certainly don't want them thinking I made EVERYTHING in the show either... then I'd feel really bad.

LOL all I'm really doing is playing the game and hitting F12 (fraps). The real talent lies in the modders, the actors and the community in general.

/soapbox

JamesTiberiusKirk · **Posted**: 11-09-2006 06:52 PM

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

lol I basically had my 'workerbee' cam following a straight path and just matced it with that of a shuttle flying foward. Check out this thread for a better explanation:

http://bcscripterstng.forumsplace.com/message985.html

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

The trailer for the movie has been sent to bcfiles. ^_^ Hopefully it'll be up after the weekend! Let me know what you guys think. It's the first 'trailer' I've ever made lol

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

PART I IS FINISHED!!

As soon as the trailer goes up on bcfiles, I'm loading up the movie.

I feel like I got lazy on the directing near the end (for which I EXPECT harsh critisizm Wink

) but overall, I think it turned out well. I can't wait to hear your feedback, which I will most definately incorperate into part two as best I can.

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

WOOT! The trailer is upon bcfiles... come late November, so is the movie!

SuperSmeg · **Posted**: 11-17-2006 09:55 AM

Dante Leonhart · Lieutenant Age: 27 Zodiac: Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 400

Errr... That's kind of a misunderstanding. It's not really a 'MOVIE.' This is Episode II of the Bridge Commander series I am making. As such, Episode II is three parts. Part I being 18 minutes long.

IE: Episode II, Part I

SuperSmeg · **Posted**: 11-17-2006 10:09 PM