So, I think I was productive this week?
It’s hard to compare vacation downtime with the work-life-everything-else balancing act. I hyper focused my way through a ton of tutorials on Unreal Engine and virtual studio production via the Boundless Entertainment course I’m taking, knitting some costume pieces as I did. After initially attempting to follow along with the instructor’s sample build, I decided that I’d do better getting the bigger picture overview from watching first, then looking into the particulars via deeper dives on YouTube when I got stuck going out on my own later.
10/10 would maybe (probably not) recommend?
I don’t know. 3D modeling worlds isn’t a new concept for me, but having to open up some programming nodes every time I want to change the color of something? That got overwhelming fast. I figured watching a bunch of videos to see the different approaches to modeling would be helpful for perspective and nihilism.
(Spoiler Alert: I decided I’d rather just find the materials I wanted from various kits as-is, drag/drop into the materials box of the shape I was editing, and call it a day for now.)
Brain Is A Drain
When I get into something new, I have a habit of doing this salt-of-the-Earth ground-up approach that ends up creating a very steep learning curve before I can do anything productive. Once I get through, I usually can then soar and accomplish some awesome things afterwards. Everything I’ve ever been good at started like that. But the process itself is like watching paint dry from the perspective of my patience.
Here’s a good example: Picking up an Arduino, I want to know where even the 1’s and 0’s are coming from when I’m talking to the board. I’m just trying to get an LED light to blink, but before I know it, I’m into materials data sheets and perusing the syllabus on an MIT courseware MOOC for an electrical engineering track. Why can’t I just take things at face value and let them assemble in my brain over time??! I don’t know, but it’s always been my issue when it came to learning on a schedule.
All that said, I’m trying so so so hard to not have that happen here with the Unreal Engine builds. I don’t want to get into game development right now – I just want to build virtual environments for my videos. I’m just building out an office building for a mockumentary style social media show. I’m allowed to do the “win-win” thing where I love what others have made and buy their assets for my scenes… [Insert “take my money” meme.] However, one little tweak to an asset, and now I’m on the back end of the software again watching another 90-minute tutorial on textures or Blueprints.
The Weekly Wins
Like I said – I think I’ve been productive? I’ve certainly learned a lot. Here are the wins:
- I’ve found/was recommended tons of filmmaking reference sources and shopping locations for 3D building assets.
- I decided on a film style for this show and possibly a starting point to tweak from that will become my trademark style for future film work. (BIG win – I was so lost in the options until I settled in here.)
- I made some decent progress in deciding on character style and wardrobe, downloaded some clothing patterns, bought a few items for the purpose on Etsy, and even got a great start knitting a jumper for one of my main characters to wear in episode 1.
- I’ve learned enough about landscaping and asset placing in Unreal to make headway on my commercial office space exterior.
- I also figured something out with the materials I was struggling with for the internal office area, allowing me to really get going with that virtual space. Believe it or not, the colors were really hard for me to pick!
- I found a great song for the musical vibe of my show on Epidemic Sound (another BIG win – music drives so much of my creative process).
My plan for posting later this week is a little flyby of my environment with the song I found on as the soundtrack. I hope that kind of share will be a little more interesting than all the written brain garble I’m posting here and on X every week – maybe give some good insight on the vibe I’m wanting to convey. I’m trying not to be boring, honest!
Pics Or It Didn’t Happen
Alrighty, let’s get visual now since I’ve mentioned it! First up, here’s a little gallery of my virtual space so far. I just found a theme I like for the colors that will also match this 1950s/60s-era sci-fi style I’m going to use.
I’ll be straight with you – I have no idea how I’m going to blend Mad Men and The Office with The Forbidden Planet, spun out into a 30-years-ahead trajectory with selfie cameras and office drones to set the narrative in a post-disclosure, space-economy driven world. It’s supposed to be funny, y’all, but you’re supposed to laugh with me not at me.
I need either prayers or a Hail Mary.
Here’s a picture of the knitted costume I’m working on for one of my main female characters. This lady’s name will be Jessica, and she’s the creative lead for the ad agency. Her style is a mix between corporate, holographic cyberpunk in the office and industrial, space cargo captain when she’s out with friends. She’s a bit like Jerrica in Jem’s clothes. This piece I knitted is going to go over her nylon bodysuit – unsure if it will be pants or a dress type piece.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned this little Easter egg about the show yet – I’m playing every character! All of them. Even the dudes (with some help from Kling AI). You know how they tell you to lean into all the resources you have when you’re an indie filmmaker, especially just starting out? Well, I’m serenading “Lean On Me” to myself for this first project.
I’m channeling the DJ that used to go by “Nikkie” in high school (a name long lost between marriages lmao) who did some plays, bounced too much on the cheerleading squad, and was obsessed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Orgy (the bands, ahem). Other projects will see me pull out my former heavy metal/rock singer self and crash into some 1980s spinoff creations…but that’s another day that is not today. Spoilers!
Up Next…
This upcoming week I’m planning to continue this churn. More building out the virtual office, more knitting, maybe some sewing, definitely some crochet in there. I also want to do some “research” via movie watching. I’d like to lean into vintage sci-fi vibes, let them inspire me to the fullest, and that means watching said vintage sci-fi! Lots of it. I may or may not count on the boys from Mystery Science Theater to keep me focused. Stay tuned!
As always, thanks for reading! Talk to you soon…
