This week, we discuss the art of machinima filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship, freshness, and humor in exceptional storytelling, as evidenced in 'Lonely Episode Two: The Package Thief' by TheBizTheBiz. We analyze the efficiency and density used in delivering witty lines and twists in what is essentially a modern retelling of the Lone Ranger, using mariachi music, masks, and character development, clever use of language and a well-executed comedic setup.

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Speakers: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Featuring: RickAI aka AI Ricky, or Skibidi Rick
Producer/Editor: Phil Rice
Music: Animo Domini Beats

Welcome to our latest bonus episode. We had the pleasure of catching up with Phil Rice aka zsOverman to talk exclusively about his latest machinima, called Being Moses. If there's such as thing as a parody of a Let's Play, this film is it! Check out Phil's comments and watch the film - links on our show notes web post.

Credits -
Speakers: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Producer: Tracy Harwood
Editor: Phil Rice
Music: Animo Domini Beats

This week we celebrate Nvidia's investment in machinima, discuss latest AIs and give you the heads up on some great projects we want to highlight - there are just too many for us to fully review everything we're seeing that we want to share with you these days! Do check them out, we'd love to hear your thoughts too - links and notes on our website.

2:47 Thank you Nvidia
7:48 Fab projects
15:39 Latest AI genies to get your teeth into
20:28 Movie-making games
44:43 A final comment from RickyAI: If there's a man in the house, you can damn well be sure there's a lot of condoms too

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Speakers: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Introducing: RickyAI aka Skibidi Rick
Editor/Producer: Phil Rice
Music: Animno Domini Beats

A compelling and powerful story of one man's quest to remain sane on an isolated planet. This is a very effective story by Lens Nation, given its only 60 seconds long - its probably not just this one creator's worst nightmare in a game, but several of us. Check out our review and don't forget to give us some feedback on your thoughts too.

1:01 Ricky introduces the film and his critique of it, suggesing Lovecraftian tones to the story
6:17 Tracy comments on the sound design and why the lack of sound works so well
14:14 Phil feels the film is analagous to Moon and Sam Rockwell's portrayal of a character - the sense of isolation in games is a real testiment to the immersive that's possible
21:09 Damien reflects on those isolated NPCs - and reminds us about that classic line: 'its not that you're afraid of being alone int he dark, its that you're afraid of not being alone in th dark'!
22:38 The compelling role of ambiguity
25:30 Copyright and why NPCs are likely to have a bigger role in future machinima
26:15 Brief introduction to our new generative AI of Ricky, more in our next episode

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Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Producer/Editor: Phil Rice
Music: Animo Domini Beats

This week, we review a pretender for a new Disney show called Forlorn, by @projectforlorn (aka Alex St Pierre). Well, it may well be at some point in the near future! Starting life as a tech demo, this short has an interesting back story and has evolved into something even more interesting. Check out our review and add your own thoughts!

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Speakers: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Editor/Producer: Phil Rice
Music: Animo Domini Beats

This week, we discuss two stunning music videos: Children of Pain by @VincereSylph with video created by @TomJantol and @tanyasubaBg ; and Firefly by @TheEsotericaChannel in Unreal Engine. Children of Pain is a perfect example of Tom's 'anymation' approach whilst Firefly demonstrates just how far Unreal Engine has come as a creative toolset in one year alone!

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Speakers: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Editor/Producer: Phil Rice
Music: Animo Domini Beats

Not for the first time do we discuss the gorgeous cinematic qualities of GTA5, and this week we share a beaut by @Salva.Padilla. This one has a distinct vibe to it, but it is its general ambiguity that we especially love about the machinima. We each see something a little different in it! What do you see in it?

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Speakers: Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood
Producer: Damien Valentine
Editor: Phil Rice
Music: Animo Domini Beats

Our May update on machinima and virtual production related news highlights some of the latest generative AI tools, warts and all, and brings to attention several of the latest machinima potential games, including Jaws, Jurassic World Evolution, Rise of the Hydra and Harold Halibut. We discuss the challenges filmmakers face when developing games from their IP, why Kickstarter isn't a good strategy for raising funding for smaller studios, the [almost] final instalment of the RoosterTeeth saga and Second Life's latest film festival, Fantasy Faire. All with our usual discursive aplomb (despite Ricky being mia, reportedly on a skinny dipping retreat) and a few non machinima related asides!

Credits -
Speakers: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Editor/Producer: Phil Rice
Music: Animo Domini Beats