Meph Productions

[Lou]

Bloody well done on both counts Meph!!

All that coding before Easter certainly hasn't gone to waste, and your short film getting extra coverage is brilliant news! "Tim Burton meets Morph" indeed...... wicked!!!
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[Lou]

Oh, and don't you go forgetting your local fans when you hit the big time.....
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[Meph]

Next years easter comp should be the biggest.. at least 8 games could be made if everyone finds the time to make one.. there have been some newbies using the program since the video tutorials have been created.
plus those they couldn't make it this year.. theres a good chance the Spellbound remake will be finshed... point is next year will be a huge contest .. gotta pull out all the tricks this time. But this yeah had 6 excellent games better and the preview year and years before that.
Anyway not worrying about the next Dizzy until Christmas time.

The stop-mtoion will be on the web page for a week. hopefully a couple of people check it out and enjoy it.
Sidewaytown has gotten a new record deal and they are re re-issuing the album soon (more official then just a self releases) im gonna go back to the video and see if i can do anything to improve it, can't re-shoot anything but i might be able to digital move the camera/stills around, edit out some of the nasty bits and just try and Polish it up... as Brit films want to see more its another reason to revisit the music video as its probably my most useful clip. (has has a proper story, just pity the character can't walk properly) lol

Ah I've gotten some new enthusiasm.. lol should keep be busy until i get back to puppet building! which i kinda miss my Tuesday evenings..
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[Pirate]

Hi Meph.. I've just been catching up on Meph Productions.!! Well Done on all you have achieved so far!! Fab!!

[Lem]

[Meph]

Before i start any new animations I'm in the middle of a re-edit of the Side way town video.. (its been 2 years since i was made)
For two reasons.. One its get spoiled by the odd mistakes, dodgy walking and some poor quality shots.. (but something i didn't have an armature or a tripod it was good at the time) while i can't re-shoot it i can re-edit it in a way so it becomes at least 80% better.. hiding some it its mistakes by either cutting them out of the orignal stills or panning the camera so you can't see them.. little things like that, also cutting out the 'video footage' which knockers the quality down slightly so hopefully it looks much better. You'll never make it anyway near as good as my recent videos but i cam make it look a 'good - early' video than the messy experiment that it appear to be.. (in my opinion)

And the other main reason the album gets an official release this November and i wanted to do something.
it was a good excuse to edit it, something i wanted to do but felt i should must leave it as it is 'its of a time' kinda thing but im using this as an excise to play around with it. This should also mean the cd will be availerble in your local music shop.

Plus its the best 'story' I've filmed and longest i couldn't let those cringe Worthy moments stay. so will see.

***
As for the next video.. i still dunno what to do, thinking about doing the Bug book again but having issues with the amateurs, So my attention has been drawing to a tale about 'Pierrot' the clown and cruelty thats the one im getting excited over.. which will need 3 main characters and i can use my ball and socket amateurs for theses unlike the bugs.. but i need to decide soon so i can put my full attention into planning a story (Shocking me plan a story??? ) lol In fact theses loads of possible ideas but at the moment im not able to do them the way i want.. let alone know how too.. so its a case of knowing what i can do and progress that way.. explainer is the music video at the time i wasn't really 'ready' for it it 2 years two early but at the same time it was turning point in taking the next steps. Anyway Pierrot seems more likely. in fact i will have deiced by the end of the month and start making designs during Oct.
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[Meph]

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[Meph]

Hi i have legs and feet now..


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[Lou]

^^^^^ Wicked!!
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[Meph]

It's got a coat, and should have some trousers perhaps by the end of tomorrow.
I'll post a pic when that stage is finished.. i didn't realise how easy stitching and sewing is once you know how, i mean theses trousers were not as complied to do as i thought once you know how and it's easy to know how....lol i also found it's easer when im tired, doing it while wide awake i get frustrated make mistakes and it takes longer..is that odd? (all hand stitched i dunno how to use a machine yet plus its not exactly huge.

Other jobs is to make a shirt, add pockets, paint the face, hands and boots, add hair.
Theres a few other little extras i plan on adding to the costume. The plan is to have it complete by Christmas and then i can start a new puppet sometime next year. (probably spring)

I also turned down a music video request.. that was an easy one to decide because to be honest... the music wasn't very good.. shhhh

New film project.. can't remember if i posted this.
As for a film progect im going to be making my best yet, this time the puppets will have proper costumes and not paper or clay.. wouldn't be as complicated as the rod Puppet but now i know what im capable of..and theses characters need proper clothing.. but as i said once before its all down to the quality of the armature, i really need to make 3 that work correctly as i can't afforded three 4" ball and sockets.

Anyway thats a job for next year unless i get free time before hand, it's also nice to be able to bring something else each year too each progect and seeing them get better each time.. This one Will focus more on puppet design and story telling (fact is i don't have room for big sets) im want to get the Rob puppet done first.
I'll post some pic as and when i do stuff..

The clip will be based on 'Pierrot the clown' A sad clown pining for love of Columbine, who inevitably breaks his heart and leaves him for Harlequin. My Pierrot will be based on the French version the mime, while I'll be keeping the Italian traditions of the Harlequin (red and yellow.. kinda like Mr Punch who in fact has Italian roots)
I doubt it will be a good as it sounds.. . lol but still!!! gotta try.

(The rod puppet is also loosely based on Pierrot.. not deliberately but that's how his turning)

Anyway long post because im just thinking out loud and too myself.. getting things down help to remember and gets you motivated i find.
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[Lou]

All sounds promising, good luck with getting him completed before Christmas. Now you have learned to stitch, you could do a sideline in action man clothes too!

You are probably right about it helping to get ideas written down. You have inspired me to have a creative ramble.... now where are all those topics I abandoned?

[Meph]

Always something to fall back on i guess, lol
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[Meph]

Argh still not finished, but almost, maybe this week?
Jobs to complete are

1. Add Buttons
2. Paint feet, hands and face
3. Add pockets
4. Add Hair
5. Little most stitching on the collar, shirt, trousers
6. Make sure it's all secure and glued
7, Glue the main rod
8, Add Arm rods.

Shouldn't take long to finish theses if i get stuck in this week.
Photos soon.

Starting building the map for Heart-land Dizzy, i completed the game HUD just before Christmas and now it's all mapping for the next few weeks then scripting and coding, some screen shots coming this weekend.
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[Meph]

Well the buttons are done, the collar and everything is stitched and secured.
and almost finished pockets.. i just been a bit lazy with theses.
but still needs paitning, hair, arms rods, main rod needs securing.. didn't i say this would be finished before Christmas?

Soon soon.. I'll post a pic this week when i remember to charge up the battery's.
But all my time has been spent on Dizzy, with got more games than ever, form more developers and so far a couple of very cool sponsors.. So I've had to dig alittle deeper into my brain and the results have been fantastic., once this is finished i can move on with puppets and films.

I've been able to crack some new code i have done before getting dizzy to shrink, climb, and switch characters, and game scrolling, floaty Texts, as well as include upside down world again but in greater details, plus everything else thats exposed.. it looks fantastic, the puzzles im pleased with (easy if you know your mythology) the story is understandable and simple.. so far its very playable in my opinion but be a few More weeks before beta tests get their grubby hands on it.. lol
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[Meph]

The Puppet is finished.. once i stick the arm rids in, it wont sit still but then i guess you wouldn't want Sharpe objects poked into your hands.

Dizzy is also finished, i just need to test it myself before sending it to beta testers, and fix whatever bugs are found (found a few small ones myself and one massive one.. those are fixed so i need to try again)
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