Just saw a note about an upcoming site-wide Halloween contest with the theme of Terrifying Monsters. I'll post info as I get it.

It made me drag up this banner from the past:

Thanks., , !

Thanks, Mark. I am working on a Halloween animation, just for fun. I'd like to hear about the contest.

The most terrifying "monster" I remember is the little girl Regan/Demon in "The Exorcist":

"Demon [Voice in Regan's Body]: Your mother's in here, [Priest] Karras. Would you like to leave a message? I'll see that she gets it."

Shiver ...

sounds creepy.... thanks

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Ok, finally all of the details. Some good prizes too: https://www.renderosity.com/2015-halloween-contest-now-open--cms-17899

OK, thanks, sounds good. Lessee, a 1 minute animation with sound, use any software, got a month to do it (and I've already wasted 2 days). Sounds easier than a 5 minute animation in two days ... assuming I don't wait til the last day to start ... B-}

Well it's just a co-incidence that I happened to post this whimsical 'monster' video a couple of days ago. 38 seconds and no sound. If you blink you'll miss it because I chose to use upwardly scrolling text instead of sub-titles.

It's so poor it doesn't deserve comment - especially here because it isn't Carrara (but I hope that's OK this time, given the nature of this thread).

https://youtu.be/OBXXnhrjtSM

... it isn't Carrara (but I hope that's OK this time, given the nature of this thread).

https://youtu.be/OBXXnhrjtSM

I think its OK, the rules say any software can be used. And I like the concept of your animation ... maybe some spooky sound, a few camera angle changes ...

Hi Steve K,

Thanks for the reply. I'm in the bad habit of playing with software to learn this or that about it and then putting my results together into something that I didn't set out to make. That's fine until I make the mistake of showing it publicly.

The vid was nothing more than playing around with some iclone assets and pre-made motions. Just to practice building a scene. Then the text occurred to me to make a story so I brought in the dragon. I haven't learned to use the cameras (and most other things) in the latest version of that software.

On a positive note, it's all good practice even though I want to use Carrara for my real animations. And if it gave you or anyone else a moment of visual enjoyment, then I'm pleased because I do this just for fun!

Regards

Grimhilda posted at 4:39PM Wed, 16 September 2015 - #4228798

... something that I didn't set out to make.

Reminds me of the "happy accident" when making movies. In an old Hollywood movie, the hero is unhappy while the rain falls against the window. The lights inadvertently hit his face through the falling water on the window, making it look like tears. The crew rush over to the director saying, "you gotta see this ..." I had one once during a short animation for the 48 Hour Film contest, the protagonist is laying down looking up at the camera, depressed about his situation and dreaming of old, better times. Suddenly, he is moving his head around and I think rolling his eyes a little, all of which looked pretty good, and none of which I keyframed. I dunno where the motion came from, but its in the video (which got a nice reaction from the judges).

I don't know if you clicked-through to see the image that won last year. It's fantastic: Winning Image

There were a lot of great entries last year - I really wish you could vote for more than just one. I also wish they opened up the contest gallery so people could go in and comment on entries after the voting is done... mostly for selfish reasons because I worked really hard on my entry last year and have no idea if anyone even clicked on it, :)

I'll go rattle some cages. :D

MarkBremmer posted at 12:43PM Thu, 17 September 2015 - #4228957

I'll go rattle some cages. :D

I second the motion, the feedback is a big part of the attraction of contests. And that winner from last year was excellent.

Hi SteveK,

I like the story of details appearing in your animation that you don't recall keyframing. I cringe when I think of what 48 hours working on a computer must do to the soul. But you're always ready to come back for more!

Grimhilda -

Thanks, and yes, the 48 Hour Film contest is ... umm, challenging. Of course, that's true for the live action teams (in Houston, all the other 50 or so teams), but in a different way. They have to contend with the real world (team members that can't make it after all, shooting sites that they thought they had approval but did not - and got thrown out, police showing up about the guns, etc.) In fact, my first contest was on a live action team years ago, with a couple of dozen team members. I was nominally the "writer", but in fact the script was a group effort, I just had the software to format it as a script for the actors. I did a "making of" you can see here if you have some time to kill (uploaded by the producer):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd7Hvn4FtQg

With animation, its a whole different challenge. You still need a good story for the random genre (the prime item IMHO), but then you can't rely on directors, actors, camera persons, set designers, etc. As I've said before, the good news is you have complete control over every detail. The bad news is you have complete control over every detail. But if you get more than token applause at the screening, its all worth it. Or even better, you hear a 20 something audience member, as the sad ending takes place, go, "Awww ...."

Thanks for the video link. It looks like fun as well as hard work - and yes, the live action teams must have lots of changes of plan thrown in.

Hope you get a chance to enter the contest here!