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It's so hard, darling!

Published Saturday, March 29, 2008 5:04 PM by Sam

It's so hard, it just is. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm talking about video. Whenever I start talking about it to Woody and use even the smallest technical term, he breaks and tells me he doesn't really care about those details. He does, however, give me useful feedback, he talks about them and tells me what I've stopped doing and what he likes the most.

Take Episode 1 for example, we re-watched it yesterday and you'll notice that there are a lot of camera movements in the interviews. I seem to have stopped doing those, not sure why. Secondly; the light. Man! Woman! Oh lord! This can go any direction and often is a case of hit and miss.

The interviews for the sixth episode have been recorded, even my mum stops listening when I talk about them! "Is she to blame", I ask myself often. Not really! For the past week I've been filming on the CTG, Fable 2 and secret floor every single day, sometimes just managing a few shots and other days taping 30 minutes of nice footage. Plus trying to film everyone on the team, but that's for another different reason... I need more drama or interaction between people. Oh and shadow a few developers for half a day or even more. That'll be nice.

You see- this blog is just a peak inside my mind at what's going on with the video diaries. Even though number six is only just being recorded (and editing it is planned for mid April) work for episode seven has already started. As you see there's a couple more planned!

Another thing I've noticed is the game-content in episode 1, to a lesser extend 2 and 4. Episodes 3 and 5 hardly had any game footage in them, but there are still little secrets or give-aways in them. I'll give you an example of how this happens; when you're editing you look at your shots on a frame-by-frame case. You decide exactly how long each shot is and where you cut to the next. When I'm looking at the footage, I go through it once frame-by-frame and analyze each shot to see what's in them. That's scary and often I know something is there, which you when you're watching it probably never see. But I need to get better at my camera movements.

In regards to the number of people watching these, and yes I know it's not about ratings or views, it's incredible! It really is, and as much as I would like to think it's because the videos are really G o o d [Good], honestly I am sure it's because so many people are anticipating or at least interested in Fable 2. It's almost cool to be a Fable 2 fan! Wink [;)]

Next week, the series Inside Lionhead are also up for an IVCA award! I just went and got myself a tuxedo (with a yellow bow tie!) for the event in London, fingers crossed. I'm expecting the worse (nothing) and hoping for the best (gold)! Wooohoo!

I can see that even on a Saturday, there are developers working in the office. Just look at the webcam! It would be nice to see you posting a few more (funny) shots on the forums, so I can forward them to the members of the team! Stick out tongue [:P]

   

Comments

 

rosecruix said:

I would not like to be in your mind Sam. Little hint as to why you are filming peeps?
Of course it is cool to be a Fable fan...
You must post a pic of you in your tux!!
March 29, 2008 12:57 PM
 

mcpaddyb said:

"It's almost cool to be a Fable 2 fan!" - I woulodn't go that far, but its cool in my mind. What are the figures for the video dairies? I'd quite like to know.
There were about 12 video dairies for Fale 1 so does that mean we're half way through? What would be G o o d [Good] is more screenshots in the next vids, please, ill be ya friend, ill invite you to my birthday party.
March 29, 2008 1:40 PM
 

Orakaius said:

I just posted a picture of the team its not great, but really look at the material I have to work with!

They're either working hard or skving hard.


P.S sorry for the double post my keyboard is messed up.
March 29, 2008 1:46 PM
 

TastyBeverage said:

I like diaries. Give me more!
March 29, 2008 1:52 PM
 

captainoflust said:

Don't stress too much, everyone loves the diaries, bit of comedy here and there.

G o o d [Good] luck with the award.

captain.

P.S. Yellow bow tie, snazzy ;^)
March 29, 2008 2:18 PM
 

Greg453 said:

I like the LH diaries, mainly because they are about my next favorit game (Fable2), but also because they show some stuff from behind the scene (Ep. 5, second half, for example) and ... they are well done,

.. no joke, Sam you know how to do that kind of stuff Wink [;)]


Greg the Mad
March 29, 2008 2:41 PM
 

Ed_mills said:

Yeah can't wait to see the newest video diary, by the way send us a picture of the yellow bow tuxedo, sounds very suave Smily [:)]

Oh and if you could, it'd be nice to get a rough estimate of when this ones coming out, looking forward to it Stick out tongue [:P]
March 29, 2008 4:59 PM
 

rosecruix said:

The awards for the International Visual Communications Association that 'Inside Lionhead' take place on the 4th April...so I hope that either way you let us know how you get on.
Anyway you will always have the first place award in the hearts of the Fable community Big Smile [:D]
March 29, 2008 8:37 PM
 

stomp224 said:

Heh, I know EXACTLY what you mean about people not listening to small tech details! When I complain about a song mix/arrangement, no one cares that there is too much gain reduction on the compression, that the EQ used is too colouring, that the fade out is fractionally too short or that my guitar is a milli-second out of time with the other 40-odd guitar tracks.

Its hard being creative....Big Smile [:D]

Anyway, next vid in mid-April? My Birthday is the 22nd, so that would be a nice pressie!Stick out tongue [:P]
March 29, 2008 9:19 PM
 

Josmeister said:

it would be really G o o d [Good] if you told us the release dates of every video diary(or of te game itself).

Not hoping for it though Big Smile [:D]
March 29, 2008 10:28 PM
 

lionteeth said:

he can't really tell us the exact release dates of the daries because he only makes them and releases them but the other people are charge of getting it to us.
March 29, 2008 11:17 PM
 

Mortalitis_Infinitas said:

Sounds G o o d [Good] Sam.  I've heard many a people mention how the diaries have been improving in terms of quality; which isn't to say the early ones were bad, you're just getting better.

Looking forward to seeing the long term goals for "Inside Lionhead" come to fruition.  G o o d [Good] work Sam!
March 30, 2008 9:25 AM
 

Rapture_Tourist said:

Congrats for the award nomination, I will cover the story then Wink [;)].

"Plus trying to film everyone on the team, but that's for another different reason..." That sounds like footage for a Making Of documentory, maybe for the Limited Edition Smily [:)].
March 30, 2008 12:15 PM
 

Jon2806 said:

people want to see you in your yellow bow tie- i agree sammy Stick out tongue [:P]
March 30, 2008 5:49 PM
 

elway92 said:

its cool
March 30, 2008 7:10 PM
 

twelthdoctor said:

I have a theory that picture 10 in the photo gallery ( I think it's 10) is the Grey Tomb, as referenced by the map.  I will burrow through details, so be sure to drop more hints, Sam.  Oh, and yes post the bow tie pic... while standing in front of a wall of concept art.
March 31, 2008 12:30 AM
 

Kraut_Robber said:

secret floor = 'Dimitri' production area?
March 31, 2008 11:14 AM
 

Ryku_Hisagi said:

I want some Diaries...  BADLY
March 31, 2008 6:55 PM
 

Spartan_9x13 said:

Anyone else notice how inactive this community is?
March 31, 2008 10:38 PM
 

Mameluke said:

I like how much you care about the quality of your work, because in it of itself you are an artist and you strive for really genuine work.  I like the diaries as well b/c it makes more anxious for fable 2.  These are the kinds of things ppl dont see in works of artist.  They dont how much effort they put into that piece and they dont appreciate it.  You catch all your minor details that to many is insignificant but for you its a big deal, because for the rest of the day everything you watch that video and you see your small mistake its like something you want take off your chest.  you just have to fix it because your complete.  I know how you feel and i appreciate your diaries even more than b4.  We live in a world where free thinking is disregarded.
P.S. sorry i like to analyze a lot eventhough it might seem like it has nothing nothing to do with what you really thought about.
April 2, 2008 10:06 PM
 

Mameluke said:

woops too many typos.....
April 2, 2008 10:32 PM
 

moonfever said:

I think it's so cool. Keep up the diary's. Maybe the next one will show more
spells'.  
 I also adore having a pet dog. Wish there could be a Yorkie for the lady
player.
          Yellow bow tie, interesting!  
April 3, 2008 2:20 PM
 

rosecruix said:

Nice to see you in your Sam...and you really did have a yellow bowtie. Cute man cute! Big Smile [:D]
April 5, 2008 5:23 AM
 

fluKe said:

I'm suessing the footage of *all* the staff may mean we'll be getting another cool video like the one included with The Movies on PC as a sort of alternate credits then? Wink [;)]


As for the technical difficulties with lighting etc.... tell me about it! I'm into photography and it's all about the lighting! Keep up the G o o d [Good] work though, it's always nice to see behind the scens Smily [:)]
April 5, 2008 9:19 AM
 

AMAUNATOR_THE_REVEALER said:

Don't beat yourself up too much, Sam, I wasn't into Fable 2 at all (not having the right console bites Stick out tongue [:P]), but the diaries are giving me a tingle, though you should ease up on quickly zooming in or out of a shot ^^. Unless you got a stabiliser for the camera, it is going to look a bit shaky Big Smile [:D].

And lighting, well... lighting is lighting... If you want people to look G o o d [Good] it isn't just a question of putting a lamp in their face so you can see them... The difficulty is that the lighting has to come from behind the camera (and/or sideways, but from the behind being optimal, and from different angles at a time being perfect), has to be consistent (using the same kind of light as often as you can, though not all lighting suits the skin tone of each person Stick out tongue [:P] (especially not cloistered coders Wink [;)]) and has to be warm rather than eerie (no budget cuts here I'm afraid; TL lamps are G o o d [Good], but (can't find the English term: "spaarlampen"Wink [;)] those lights, not easily done!

Oh well, that's just a little tip in case it might come in handy (but I think you know most of these things already Stick out tongue [:P]). More G o o d [Good] work on the diaries demanded here! Big Smile [:D]
April 7, 2008 6:22 PM
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About Sam

Well...a boy was born back in 1981 and it all went crazy from there...Joined the Lionhead Community in 1998 and am here to look after everyone. If you need help, feel free to give me a shout. I'm not "technical support"!

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