[Kirok]

This month saw the release of a new trailer for Star Trek: Red Squad on YouTube.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_nRNxBVDc"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=89_nRNxBVDc[/url]

Started by Darkwing [Chris Kroznuski?] back in March last year when he released Episode 1 and Episode 2, Parts 1 and 2. He later released an episode 2.5, but scrapped it in favour of a trailer, ST Red Squad: The Coming Battle which was more polished both visually and musically, and a third episode, posted as a preview draft in August of this year.

What impresses me the most is the animator's use of lighting and cinematic camera framing and movement, it really lifted it above the machinima level. I'll be disappointed if these young film-makers don't come good on their promise!

K

[barbreader]

Thanks for the heads-up Kirok! I'll be creating a webpage for this series... which I'm taking it, from your placement here, is a film, not just a game?

[Thomas Scott]

This looks very cool, but is the series just about ships in space or are there any characters in this? I'd be really disappointed if it didn't explore the human element.

[Destral]

Unfortunately I dont know how to do character animation, but that's on the to-do list.

The name's Destral, not Darkwing. Darkwing's real name is Chris Cameron, and he created the trailer for me utilizing raw footage from what I had. My name is Chris Kroznuski. And currently right now Im doing a few test animations before I continue work on this project, as Im still learning how to utilize 3ds Max to its fullest potential.

Like this one.

@barb, yes, this is a film, not a game. I wish it were a game though, as that would probably be pretty awesome

[barbreader]

Here is the Star Trek Reviewed webpage on Star Trek: Red Squad http://startrekrevie...009/06/116.html . I'll try to keep it up to date!

[Kirok]

Destral, on 25 September 2010 - 05:24 PM, said:

Unfortunately I dont know how to do character animation, but that's on the to-do list. ... I'm doing a few test animations before I continue work on this project, as Im still learning how to utilize 3ds Max to its fullest potential ... @barb, yes, this is a film, not a game. I wish it were a game though, as that would probably be pretty awesome

There's no doubt about your ability to create cgi shots like that awesome battle sequence, "Pegasus Battle Shot Test 1", and point taken that it isn't just recorded footage from a game (machinima), but for it to be a something that the general public, or even other fans, will appreciate you need to make your work into a video that will entertain them. As Thomas has pointed out, we need that human interaction, that Pegasus Battle shot would be so much more meaningful if we knew that there was a pilot and crew hanging onto the fittings on the bridge, teeth gritted, as they flew into the battle's breach. In fact, it is the 'camera shake' and lighting that lend realism to that shot and make it special.

I'm not saying it would be impossible to make a good video just with ships exteriors, but it'd be challenging to say the least. Maybe as a battle documentary - this old "Victory at Sea" Episode is about the closest I could find - that has "eye witness" narration over it? Is there something you've seen that you are aiming towards?

Cheers

K

[barbreader]

There are two different websites which offer Star Trek Fan Films and also offer instructions in Flash animation. Now, I'm not saying that that's one of the better forms of animation. Frankly, Star Trek: Specter, Star Trek: Aurora, have set out technical abilities on animation which is as much above Flash as modern 3D movies are above a black and white silent film from 1923. But, I don't know where you go to learn that top level of animation.

Here are the websites with Flash instructions:
1. Lilredhead Studios: http://www.youtube.c...ilredheadComics and http://lilredheadstudios.com/
2. Go! Animate: http://goanimate.com/studio

Both of these have webpages at Star Trek Reviewed:
Lilredhead Studios: http://startrekrevie...2009/06/13.html
Go!Animate: http://startrekrevie...2009/06/60.html

You can also contact the film makers of other animations you admire, and ask how they learned animation. There are plenty of animators both who have made Star Trek Fan Films (and you can look through my website for those) and who have not. To find the animations at Star Trek Reviewed, look at the Major Fan Films Groups Guides: http://startrekrevie.../2009/06/5.html . That will point out which shows are animations.

[Thomas Scott]

Destral, on 25 September 2010 - 05:24 PM, said:

Unfortunately I dont know how to do character animation, but that's on the to-do list.

The name's Destral, not Darkwing. Darkwing's real name is Chris Cameron, and he created the trailer for me utilizing raw footage from what I had. My name is Chris Kroznuski. And currently right now Im doing a few test animations before I continue work on this project, as Im still learning how to utilize 3ds Max to its fullest potential.

Like this one. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=LU6Gv-7zm-w

@barb, yes, this is a film, not a game. I wish it were a game though, as that would probably be pretty awesome

You might consider iClone for the character animation. I'm using it to develop an original sci-fi series and it's oustanding for this sort of thing.

www.reallusion.com

You can try out the free Ex version for as long as you want.

[barbreader]

I did ask the gentleman doing Specter how he learned, and this was his response:
from: http://trekbbs.com/s...t=128285&page=4
I wish I could help, but I'm entirely self-taught, so formal learning resources aren't something I can really help with. The best advice I can offer is to head over to the DAZ'3D website and join their discussion boards. BryceTalk and 3D WIPs are full of threads by new artists just beginning to make their mark. The new version of Bryce has some amazing new capabilities, so it's a perfect time to join up and start animating!

[Thomas Scott]

barbreader, on 28 September 2010 - 11:16 AM, said:

I did ask the gentleman doing Specter how he learned, and this was his response:
from: http://trekbbs.com/s...t=128285&page=4
I wish I could help, but I'm entirely self-taught, so formal learning resources aren't something I can really help with. The best advice I can offer is to head over to the DAZ'3D website and join their discussion boards. BryceTalk and 3D WIPs are full of threads by new artists just beginning to make their mark. The new version of Bryce has some amazing new capabilities, so it's a perfect time to join up and start animating!

I seriously recommend iClone over other solutions, especially for a beginner or someone who isn't a 3D animator by trade. The beauty is that you don't have to be an animator at all to use it and it has some really amazing filmmaking capabilities that let you jump right in and make something without years of time ivnested.

[Destral]

I took a look into IClone, and I owe you a huge thanks Thomas. Im going to see what I can do with this, and if I can, Ill try to get some characters animated in this one.

[Thomas Scott]

Destral, on 30 September 2010 - 11:48 AM, said:

I took a look into IClone, and I owe you a huge thanks Thomas. Im going to see what I can do with this, and if I can, Ill try to get some characters animated in this one.

No problem. If you need any help with the program just send me an e-mail. I can also show you some samples of stuff I've done if that helps. My e-mail is tscott at magiqueproductions dot com.

[Destral]

Will do Tom

So, update for everyone! Chris Cameron (DarkwingFlash), my partner in crime, has put together for me a new title sequence for Red Squad to be utilized in Episodes 3 and 4, with footage supplied by myself and music done by Two Steps From Hell. Have a look!

This post has been edited by Destral: 03 October 2010 - 05:01 PM

[Destral]

Update time! Its been a while in the making, but Star Trek: Red Squad is finally featured on the Star Trek: Expanded Universe Wikia. Its still incomplete, but it's getting there.

http://stexpanded.wi...Trek:_Red_Squad

I found myself dissatisfied with the spacedock sequence in the first draft of act one, so I have decided to remake it in better quality and ultimately using a better spacedock model (created by Raul Mamoru). Enjoy the eye candy!





Oh, and I apologize for lack of updates, as real life has been quite busy lately.

[Destral]

Another update: act 2 of Red Squad Episode 3 is officially complete! Im going to split this episode up into 4 acts instead of the original three, because there's still a lot of stuff I want to include, and I dont think just three acts will cut it.

Here's a screenshot from act 2.

[barbreader]

Looks beautiful! Thanks for the head up! My timing has become a disaster, I checked your You Tube channel for any updates yesterday morning, and probably wouldn't have checked it again for a week if you hadn't posted here! NOW, thank you, my website can be current! (I'm still looking for it, though...)

This post has been edited by barbreader: 11 November 2010 - 08:01 PM

[Bill]

Looks great Destral!

[Destral]

Thanks, Bill!

I am going to release Episode 3 all at once when everything is complete, and I am aiming for a release for at least early spring 2011. I am going to continue posting screen shots here so everyone can keep tabs and be updated on my progress.

[Destral]

Long time no update! Ive been busy with work and the holidays so I havent had much chance to pursue this, but after a while I finally have an update. Right now Im just skipping in rendering shots between Acts 3 and 4 while I begin work on the character portions of the episode.

At any rate, here's a new shot, which I am planning on updating very soon:



And I believe I have a finalized release date: April 15. Im going to put in as much work into this as I can so I can have it in time.

[barbreader]

Cool! I've been visiting your website about once a week, and now I'm really psyched!