Into Dust
Monday, August 23, 2010
Instead of today's usual story post, I've opted to do the Season 'climax' as a (hopefully not too long) machinima, seen here:
(I advise to not read the below comments until *after* you've watched the video.)
Firstly, I'd like to say I was a bit nervous about doing this, because it was my first ever machinima... Actually, first ever video anything. I've never worked with a movie editing program before, so trying to put this together was a bit of a (well worth it) migraine.
Also, my computer, while being pretty nice quality for gaming, is not built for recording, so the video is not super high quality. For those reasons, I apologize if it's not the b3est-machinima-EVAhR!1!! I worked very hard to do the best I could, so I'd appreciate any criticism to remain helpful or non-existent.
Secondly, this was a really difficult decision to come to in the story because let's face it: I adore the socks off Emerald, so watching her die was kinda painful. I also adore the socks off Brad, and I hated doing this to him -- it was like the coldest punishment possible for a wonderful Sim. As we know, Travis didn't really care about Emerald the same way, but let's face it; if your girlfriend dies right after you break up with her, you're going to feel miserable.
There is still one more post in the Season (the finale's finale), so don't get too jumpy about the start of next season! I may use the rest of this week to do a quick short before I start the next one, I haven't quite decided.
I also wanna thank all you readers who've diligently stuck through my wordy OCD nonsense for the last few months -- you guys have made the effort of sticking with the story well worth it! I'd never have found the enthusiasm to keep going if it weren't for you. Writing for you guys (and myself) isn't just the icing on the cake, it's the whole darn thang. :D
Anyways! Enough sap! Time for more tragedy!
(Note - I'll probably post this up on the official forums tomorrow, I'll provide a link and stuff when it's up if you want to comment there for support. Aaaah /nervous!)
32 comments:
Oh man, I posted my first machinima. So weird!
I have a feeling I already know how Dee is going to react to this one. >.>
I actually already have one in the works for Season 4, but it's gonna be a rather loose project since I've hardly even played the game very much since the events in the video took place.
Aww, looks like I may've posted too late. :(
Off to have a date with Captain Morgan and some Zzz's, see y'all tomorrow!
Wow. First the technical parts. You make me want to figure out how you did the car on fire, placed the police cars, arranged her body on the ground, how you got certain emotions and reactions out of the sims at the right time.
Emotionally, this is off the charts. It took guts to go there and you did. This will reverberate through the Kanes for generations to come.
The song selection was perfect. I'm not familiar with the song but it fit ever scene in the video. Well, done.
Dang, this was brutal and very, very good.
Quick response before I tuck myself in!
Since there's a lot to explain with the technical aspects, I'll go in detail in the wrap-up post. For now, though, I'll say: mods and patience.
Anyhow, thanks, Chrysame. :) I tried my best to make it as emotional as I could. I learned a lot of things about machinima that I'll do better next time, but for all intents and purposes, I hope this did Emerald justice. I'll miss her... Not near as much as Brad will, though. :(
I first heard the song on an episode of House called "Informed Consent", and the moment I heard it, I knew I had to make a video with it. Like something I recall Berry mentioning in a comment somewhere, sometimes you just hear a song and know exactly what movie to make with it.
Anywho, I hope this hit the right chords, but wasn't too over the top.
It hit all the right chords. I can't fathom all the fall out from this...so much...for everyone.
*claps*
Has to wait till after work but sounds heartbreaking.
I know the song, we bought the CD of Mazzy Star after that House episode.
Kaleeko I finally found you blog and the first thing I saw was this... I was going to read the whole thing first then I saw the name of the song and HAD to watch. Wow for your first machinima you did freakin amazing!
The song is just so breath taking I heard in years ago while watching The O.C. o I love it. This definantly made me want to go read your whole story, I may leave comments on every one but I probably just keep my comments till I finish reading the latest update then do a mega post comment =]
Anyways I loved this and if this is any inclination to the rest of your story i'm sure i'll enjoy it! Can't wait to get to readin =D
This is amazing! Lol, I haven't commented yet on the previous post. But, I have read it. I'm going back again to write a comment. It's so sad, yet it described more conflicts and so much feeling there.
Oh, why? I'm heart broken.
We should be the one who say thanks, Kaleeko. Thank you for all your hard work and given us amazing stories and machinima like this,
Oh god, poor Emerald. Poor poor Brad.
This was a heart wrench. I had wondered vaguely why you thought Brad might be changing his personality after losing Emerald to Travis. Umm...yeah, this was a bit more than I expected.
Not the smoothest machinima I've ever seen but it was amazing for your first try. More practice will just make it better.
I-am-speechless!
That was amazing, Kaleeko. So beautiful done and I can't believe Emerald died. :(
Wonderful footage you have taken and put together. I don't doubt that it would have given you a migraine! lol I don't think I would have the patience to do this.
By the looks of the second last scene I don't think Brad and Travis are going to be on speaking terms, for lets say, a long time.
So tragic. If only Brad hadn't of left the keys in the ignition then Emerald would be...
Now I am really looking forward to your last post for the season. ;)
I'm still sad because of this. Looking back at the first scene, I imagined she had lots of dreams and hope for her future... :(
I'm very sad about it too. Emerald was a sweet girl, she deserved more in life.
So brave to kill her Kaleeko. I don't think I could do that, not when one of my boys was that sweet on her.
I am wondering is Brad going to be an evil/mean spirited sim? Lol, I am imagining Brad in many ways now.
Thank you, guys. <3
Wow, so much to respond to, I'll try and keep it short.
@PiB: If I hadn't already planned it out from halfway through the last season, I probably wouldn'tve been able to do it. Since so much of what happens from now on hinges on this event, I couldn't back out...
And aye, the footage is pretty choppy, since I couldn't record at the highest quality. Next time around, I'm gonna fiddle with stuff to see if I can get more oomph out of my computer.
@Afkthenad: So glad to see you dropped by! Thank you so much for your kind words. <3 I don't mind if you can't leave comments on every one, just knowing that you're reading warms my heart. I hope you enjoy! PS - Season 1 stinks. >.> Coughcough.
@MJ: No, thank you! <3 I love to write anyways, but writing for you guys is great. It's a great community of writers, so diverse, so awesome! And you put up with all my angst! Hee.
As for Brad's personality -- he can't be mean-spirited because of his friendly trait, but I'll pry open up a poll when he's closer to becoming a YA so you guys can help me choose between Evil and Grumpy.
@Jennifer: Haha, hit the nail on the head about Brad and Travis. You'll hear quite a bit more about it next post. :)
"If only Brad hadn't left the keys in the ignition..." My goal the last few posts was to point directly at the 'if only's. If only Travis hadn't cheated, if only Brad had been open in the first place, if only Emerald had waited until she cooled off to drive, if only Meredith hadn't given them a car as a present... Such is tragedy. :( When the stars align just the right way to make bad things happen!
Oh, and I forgot to mention (mainly @Chrysame), that my main inspiration for this was from Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
You might notice the numerous similarities between Dr. Horrible and Brad -- all that's missing is the 'evil' trait... Which, I'm still thinking I may want Grumpy a bit more. HRM hrm hrm!
I think I need therapy after this.
Ah, wait, I can make me a Brad and Emerald who are happy, married and have a gazillion little ones. That will make me feel better.
Still stunned when I think of this video. :( The fallout will last most if not all of Brad's life, poor thing.
I will forever see Neil Patrick Harris in the role of Bradley. Perfect.
We know this will change Brad forever. How will this affect Travis or Jade? Or will it in the long run?
:( I hope that's not bad, PiB. I don't want you in therapy!
Haha, and yes -- you can make them live happily ever after if you want to. I still have the game saved from before she died, too, just in case.
Hahaha, Chrysame, yeah -- Brad is just a Neil Patrick Harris with glasses and a funny nose!
As for Travis and Jade... There'll be some good and some bad as an outcome. They both certainly learned some harsh lessons from this. :-/
Well, not really therapy but it may be a little before I can post Jack because that knocked silly right out of my system. That's ok, Jack will wait for me.
I have decided that a Brad and Emerald and one or two babies will be soon moving into the neighborhood with the original Phillip Grant and his much loved Vanessa. No Kanes in that hood yet. And their sons will need friends someday.
OMG, I just watched this four times. I was expecting an accident but never this. This brought tears to my eyes and gave me chills, which I still have. Poor, poor Bradley. I know Travis, jerk that he is, still has to feel bad but, damn. Travis seems to be the one they feel sorry for. What about Bradley? He's the one who really loves her.Poor Bradley is going to spend the rest of his life wishing he had just told her he loved her, blaming himself for her death and he's probably never going to love anyone again. The rest of his life he will be thinking, if only...
I really don't think it will change Travis much. He's too self-centered. He'll blame Bradley. Everyone is going to blame poor Bradley but not anymore than he is going to blame himself.
The machinima itself is just beautiful and had to take hours and hours of work. The song was perfect. I won't cry. I just won't.
Whoa. Just...whoa. I almost cried from watching this, I seriously felt the tears coming. I share the same sentiments as Chrysame, this tragedy could make or break the Kanes for generations. Wow.
I guess Emerald's death will test the strength of brotherhood. I have a feeling Bradley won't ever forget this, and I doubt he'll ever forgive it. *hugs Brad protectively while glaring at Travis*
I hope you get your silly back quickly, PiB. I think we all will need it after this bit.
Thank you so much, Dee. <3 You'll see a bit more about what thoughts are going through their minds next post. But you are correct in that it'll effect Brad a LOT more. Travis is affected, but it's very minor in comparison.
@mmmcheezy, I'm pretty sure I shed a couple tears when I was working on this. I tend to be a bit of an over-emotional person anyways, but every time I see Brad cry, I just wanna jump in the game and squeeze him.
I will say this, though... It may effect Bradley forever, but he may yet love again, someday. He's not resilient, but he'll get a happy ending, somehow. He deserves that much.
I am so glad to hear Bradley may have a chance at happiness someday. You know he's my favorite. Maybe in a sad way he will learn from this and won't hide his feelings in the future. Maybe he will be quicker to let those he loves know it. If and when he ever loves again.
I searched youtube for this so I could at least give you a comment or something. Hurry up with that link girl. Oh btw, when you see
0mistymountain0 on there, it's me. I couldn't think of a name when I signed up. I looked out the window that day and all I saw was the mist over my mountain. There's a reason our mountains are called the Great Smokey Mountains. They always have a blue haze. Someone already had it so I just added
0's. Don't look for any videos from me though.
I guess we'll all have to see what the future holds for Brad. :) I haven't played much past this, so I'm not 100% sure where they're headed for him long-term. I have some ideas, though.
I had the video unlisted (since I'm sheepish), but since you asked, I made it Public. You should be able to visit it now at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S93iuYo31Jw
I'll keep a look out for ya. :) Hehe, nice way to come up with a username. I just use Kaleeko for everything these days, makes it so much easier.
I also tacked the machinima into the thread I've been posting on the forums ( http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/238271.page#3289776 ) to see what other peeps think. :S Aaaah, nervous.
Thank you for the comment, Dee. <3
I was planning to come and tell you that if you didn't post a link to it on the forum soon I was going to.
Don't be nervous. Can't please everyone, and some will just be jealous. I have a feeling that those who watch it will love it.
I noticed you had ratings disabled.
I do understand. If I had ever posted a video and it was my first one, I would really be tense about what the reaction would be. It takes more guts than I have.
The Sims 3 forums are full of loud critics, not to mention it's hard to get anything noticed, which is why I really try to encourage the stuff that's good that doesn't get a lot of attention. Unfortunately, I can't log into the forums in one browser, start getting a black screen after a few minutes in another, and can't post in another. I'm thinking of booting up the other computer and seeing if it has different results.
I actually had no idea I had ratings disabled. Never really messed with youtube before, so I probably disabled them by accident. I don't particularly care though, if someone wants to give me a thumbs-down they can just go ahead and leave me a mean comment instead. ;D
I'm a bit tense about the reaction, but I gotta start having courage someday!
Hey Kaleeko, I hope you still check your comments. I haven't had much luck viewing the video. On YouTube it says the video cannot load. I don't want to read the next post until I view the video. I hope you still check your comments.
On a better note I've been following this story for a month now playing catch up. I absolutely love it. Thank you foe sharing your talent with us.
Hey, JaLoDe! Yes, I do still check my comments; I just have had very little time to do much writing/reading lately. However, I do see all my comments, even if I'm unable to respond to them right away.
I'm not sure why the Youtube video isn't working for you, so I uploaded a zip'd version to mediafire, that hopefully you can download and watch. The link to the file is here: http://www.mediafire.com/?z8js1xbva2mnc3v
Hopefully that works! Let me know if it doesn't, I'll try to find some other way to get the video to you.
I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying the story! Hopefully by the time you're completely caught up, I'll have the time and energy to pick up where I've left off. :) I hope you continue to enjoy it!
-- Kaleeko
Hey Kaleeko,
It worked!! That was intense. This is my first time seeing a machinima. I thought it was awesome. It was really cool how you made the car look like it was on fire.
Now questions on the brothers..the look they gave each other at the funeral, that doesn't look good. i hope that they are able to forgive each other. It would really be awful for them to (for lack of a better word) break up.
Aw man... Can't be viewed on mobile. This Is my break story at work, and keeps me same during slow hours. This is just Plain brilliant... I already knew emerald was gonna die cause I scrolled down too far and saw 'in the wake of emeralds desth' in the season four description. Ahh well, gues I'll watch it at home.
But anyway, amazing story I've read from the start... Sp guess I'll be moving to season four now. :)
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