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	<title type="html"><![CDATA[Forums - Bricks in Motion - Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
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	<updated>2014-05-28T10:16:29Z</updated>
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	<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/topic/19084/brickfilming-discussion-week-3-brickfilms-with-licensed-themes/</id>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324620/#p324620"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Can't wait for the next discussion.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[jampot]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/189/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-28T10:16:29Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324620/#p324620</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324525/#p324525"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Waiting another day?  That's unacceptable!]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[HoldingOurOwn]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/125690/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-26T18:44:37Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324525/#p324525</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324460/#p324460"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Thanks for the responses everyone! I'm happy to see the great discussions these threads are producing.

A scheduling note: I am currently on vacation and away from my computer, so Monday's discussion topic will be posted late on Tuesday instead. Sorry for the delay!]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Nathan Wells]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/335/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-25T17:33:52Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324460/#p324460</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324335/#p324335"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[I think that original Brickfilms are ultimately the best. They show creativity and originality. With licensed themes, there is already a storyline, so if you make a film with one of those themes, the viewers always think about how the character should act, because he already has a background. I started out making licensed-themed brickfilms, and occasionally, I still make a few of them. But mostly, I stick to original ideas because they are so much more enjoyable to make and to watch.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[rioforce]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/131977/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-23T14:50:19Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324335/#p324335</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324228/#p324228"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[This...is a tricky one for me.

On the one hand, I do enjoy creating. I like having my own ideas and stories and sort of being the master of those, and a well-produced original idea is usually far more interesting than something more familiar. Granted, this prospect is also daunting to me, as producing an entirely original idea is very difficult. Not just in the execution, but believing that your ideas are good ones worth pursuing, and you're never really gonna know until you just go for it. 

On the other hand, I also really enjoy working in the realm of preexisting IPs, and to go out on a limb, I like to think that I'm actually pretty good at it. Working with already-existing characters and worlds does take care of a good chunk of the creation work for you, and you can feel a bit more assured that the IP you're working in is tried and true and successful. For me, this allows me to better focus my creative energy on characterizations and story; if you know your characters and world well, dialogue and plotting come very easily. For some, it might not be the most creatively-rewarding route to take, since your film exists with the idea that people watching it know what your film is based on, but I do find there is a sense of satisfaction in putting your own mark on a property you love.

However, I can't think of anything more boring than an IP-based film with little to no substance behind it - mostly used as an excuse for a technical exercise like a fight scene or something (though this does not extend to film scene recreations. Those are still fun to watch, IMO). Sure, your animation and choreographic prowess may impress some, but a film like that is really a dime-a-dozen, in all honesty. YouTube is loaded with Marvel superhero fight scenes, or Star Wars lightsaber battles, you need to do something truly unique in order for them to have any kind of lasting appeal beyond a couple of months. Plus, with such a flux of those appearing on YouTube these days, it just sort of feels lazy; you've got this amazing universe to do whatever you want, and all you come up with is an action scene we've seen over and over before. Give me something new, give me reason to care, give me something really worth watching. 

Producing original content is more of a high risk-high reward kind of artistry, IP-based content is usually a lot safer (though how safe is entirely up to your own ambition). There are pros and cons on both sides, depending on the quality of the director's ideas and their confidence in them. I'm of the belief that any idea can be compelling if told right, which goes for both original ideas and adapted ideas. I don't think there should be a stigma for wanting to make films based on preexisting IPs, but in order for them to truly stand out as a piece of artistry, they need to be treated as if they were an original idea. Part of the world-building work is done for you, sure, but that's not an excuse to simply lean on that as a crutch. Don't be afraid to make that world your own a little bit and put your own stamp on it.

As far as being beneficial/detrimental to the hobby, I don't think the idea of IP-based films are a problem, necessarily. It's how animators choose to utilize those IPs and whether or not they produce things because they are easy or because they are genuinely inspired.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[MindGame]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/47/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-21T01:17:14Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324228/#p324228</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324225/#p324225"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[[url]http://youtu.be/oPy8LyfFz_Y[/url]

This is an example of what everyone thinks when someone says "Lego Bat-Man brickfilm". Thanks to Swuid for this eye opening video.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Galactic Films]]></name>
				<email><![CDATA[canaantmay@gmail.com]]></email>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/131162/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T23:48:37Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324225/#p324225</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324217/#p324217"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Well said. I couldn't agree more. There are few brickfilmers that can produce good, high quality brickfilms. And something I might add is that most brickfilms (not just licensed themed brickfilms) don't have good stories.  To often you have shootouts, car chases, and parades that just don't have any story.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Galactic Films]]></name>
				<email><![CDATA[canaantmay@gmail.com]]></email>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/131162/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T21:34:53Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324217/#p324217</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324215/#p324215"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[(Full disclosure; the majority of my brickfilms utilize licensed themes.)

[quote=Nathan Wells][b][u]Do you think this ultimately beneficial or detrimental to the hobby overall?[/u][/b][/quote]

This is a very interesting question. I personally go back and forth on it myself. However, I think the answer is not as simple as it appears.

On one hand, it seems obvious: licensed themes already have a built in fan base. Content managers and website editors tend to be lazy (IMHO) and are always on the lookout for an easy way to drive traffic to their site. A meticulously crafted brickfilm of a scene recreation or trailer reproduction of a hot pop-culture property (that also just so happens to be a licensed theme by LEGO) is more likely to be picked up by any number of outlets in social media and go viral, thereby introducing ‘brickfilms’ to new people, raising both awareness and credibility of the craft. Positive publicity, more awareness, new ‘fans’ – all good news, right?

Unfortunately, once these new ‘fans’ start to look around for more content, they are eventually going to run into an endless stream of ‘light-flickery-set-bumpy-garbled-audio’ blandness of Darth Vader, Batman, and an effeminate Robin running into a sloppy Batcave shouting ‘Batman, Batman!’ It appears that the very thing that brought people into the tent (i.e. a licensed theme), will eventually drive them out; insert your own ‘too much of a good thing’ quote here.

However, I don’t think it’s that simple. The problem is not the use of a licensed theme per se. The problem, in my opinion, is with the content creators themselves. The cold reality is: not everyone is creative, in fact, most people are not creative. If someone creates a bad brickfilm using characters from a licensed theme, I have a hard time believing that they are going to create a good brickfilm using original characters. Thus, I posit that bad brickfilms are detrimental to the hobby and not the use of a licensed theme. (To be clear, I don’t want to offend people, but I would define a bad brickfilm as one with excessive light flicker, set bumps, bad audio and poor story, in that order. Animation, by its very nature, is a visual medium. If something is not watchable, it is bad. Flicker, bumps and poor audio, for me, make something not watchable.)

That leads to the obvious question: why then does it seem that so many bad brickfilms use licensed themes? I believe the answer to that question lies in the demographics of brickfilmers and sales figures of the Lego Group. Lego does not release detailed sales information, but I would venture to guess that the sale of licensed themes far surpasses Lego’s non-licensed themes. Thus, it is my theory that, when someone gets the idea to start brickfilming, the majority of the bricks and minifigs they have around the house are from licensed themes. I think it’s also safe to say that the early works of a budding brickfilmer are going to be their poorest work, both from a visual standpoint and a creative standpoint. Since the barrier to entry for making a brickfilm is so low, almost anyone can make one. You have very young people taking a crack at making brickfilms. So, I believe, you have a very common equation of young, inexperienced brickfilmer with an existing inventory of licensed themes. As a result, I think people tend to equate ‘licensed theme’ with ‘bad brickfilm’, but it is a spurious correlation. 

Compounding this issue, I feel that there is very little, if any, self-editing going on by budding brickfilmers. Not every attempt, test, or film needs to be uploaded; or, if it is uploaded, don’t make it public. If you want to elicit feedback, make it unlisted. How many times do you see someone who has grown as a brickfilmer delete or ‘make private’ their old films because they are now embarrassed by the poor quality of their early works? I realize this is easier said than done because someone at 9 years old will not have the same self-awareness as someone at 14 years old.

Thus, in my opinion, the thing that is most detrimental to the hobby is the proliferation of bad brickfilms. Using a licensed theme does not lead to someone creating a bad brickfilm; inexperience, poor tools and lack of creativity lead someone to create a bad brickfilm. 

But to the original question; in my opinion, use of licensed themes is a mixed bag; it can grab headlines, creating awareness and publicity for the hobby; but can also over saturate the market and turn people off. However, on balance, assuming you agree with the concepts above, I will conclude it is probably a net positive for the hobby.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[AlNickelsFilms]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/3434/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T19:12:45Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324215/#p324215</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324213/#p324213"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Thanks @jampot for the shout-out. Iron Man is played by TrevorPalVA.:) 

Right, now for the topic at hand. Probably most of you don't know but for the past year and a half or so I've done nothing but IP videos. I have my own superheroes series that's doing fairly well. 

I still remember reading before I started all of the mean and hateful comments in the forums about how brickfilmers doing this type of videos are unoriginal and how it's just the same thing over and over again. Yes, some videos have been made and remade (Batman, Star Wars etc) without any improvements. So what? Are you really going to chastise a 10 year old kid for making a Batman video because that's what he loves? Just because it's not a masterpiece? I've seen brickfilmers get overly protective of 'the art of brickfilming' when it comes to IP videos just because it's an IP video. It could have been the best brickfilm ever in the history of brickfilms and it wouldn't have mattered. 

I don't get it. What are we protecting? An obscure art form that only a few people use? Without licensed themes, without the LEGO movie, without Hollywood nobody would know that there is such a thing as a stop motion LEGO video. To answer the topic question...YES! licensed themes have helped and are helping the hobby of brickfilming.

But there is another thing that I want to talk about. I've read this many times in the posts...original work/original idea/original video. What is original? An idea that you come up with by yourself? I'm sorry to burst your bubble but, and I'm going to put this in big bold letters, [b]THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ORIGINAL IDEA![/b] Every idea that you have, any glimpse of inspiration is a by-product of something else. Something that you saw, something that you heard, something that you read etc. I urge everyone to read any book on creativity and see that they all say the same thing. Even Mark Twain said this way back when when being accused of plagiarism:

'Oh, dear me, how unspeakably funny and owlishly idiotic and grotesque was that ‘plagiarism’ farce! As if there was much of anything in any human utterance, oral or written, except plagiarism! The kernel, the soul — let us go further and say the substance, the bulk, the actual and valuable material of all human utterances — is plagiarism. For substantially all ideas are second-hand, consciously and unconsciously drawn from a million outside sources, and daily use by the garnerer with a pride and satisfaction born of the superstition that he originated them; whereas there is not a rag of originality about them anywhere except the little discoloration they get from his mental and moral calibre and his temperament, and which is revealed in characteristics of phrasing. When a great orator makes a great speech you are listening to ten centuries and ten thousand men — but we call it his speech, and really some exceedingly small portion of it is his.'

So you see, whether you use licensed themes or LEGO themes, you're still plagiarizing something or someone.

I use the super heroes sets because that's what I like. I'm a super heroes nerd. I grew up with the cartoons, I've read the comic books, I've seen the movies and enjoyed every minute of it. I thought to myself: 'wouldn't it be cool if...' and I started writing the scripts, started animating and released the first episode. There were those who complained and said 'not another heroes video' but who cares? I enjoyed what I did and nothing beats that sense of accomplishment when you're done and you upload your video. 

Well, that's my 2 cents. Hope I haven't offended anyone. :)]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Atlas Animationz]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/130141/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T14:56:33Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324213/#p324213</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324211/#p324211"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Here is where I stand, if done really well I'm all for it! I'm a HUGE Star Wars fan, but you can't find hardly any good SW brickfilms. Like Jampot said, you have these 4-10 year olds who film at 4 fps and think they can get 1,000,000 views off of them! That's why I've waited this long to do a SW brickfilm because in my opinion if you can't do a good Star Wars brickfilm DON'T DO A STAR WARS BRICKFILM!!!!!!!! And like Pritchard Studios said, it's better to keep the feel of the theme and respect the characters.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Galactic Films]]></name>
				<email><![CDATA[canaantmay@gmail.com]]></email>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/131162/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T14:48:26Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324211/#p324211</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324208/#p324208"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[IP videos are the most popular brickfilms on the internet in terms of viewership. On my new channel, the only videos that have over 1000 views at the copyrighted content: Spiderman and inFAMOUS. I plan on making a whole bunch of IP animations during the summer, but it won't be for passion. Heck, I could make a short video of a minifig shooting a gun, title the video "Lego Call of duty", and get 10 000 hits on it. I'll only do it for the revenue. I enjoy making my own original content.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[funmiproductions]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/2854/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T14:24:02Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324208/#p324208</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324205/#p324205"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[The greatest Brickfilms are those without licensed themes: The Magic Portal, Robota, Nightly News At Nine, Joe Brickmond, the films of Michael Hickox, the films of Mob Deli, etc.  I prefer watching those films, which are totally created out of the mind of the animator.

However, I also love watching animations that allude/spoof/pay tribute to the storylines I love.  The fact that Lego has reached out to acquire so many popular IPs has given children (and the young at heart) an opportunity to immerse their imaginations in those worlds, and by extension, brickfilmers can use these assets to create animations with them that weren't really possible without Lego.

I love these topics of discussion. Keep them going!]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[HoldingOurOwn]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/125690/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T14:04:43Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324205/#p324205</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324203/#p324203"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Hmm, I typically like original brickfilms better, but I don't have a caveat with licensed brickfilms. I agree with everyone else on the board when you say that licensed brickfilms tend to be weaker with less story and with more gimmicks, along with the fact of just trying to gain popularity. However, I do think people can still create quality brickfilms with licensed themes. For one, there is already an established story, and while it can be a deterrent, it can also be an enhancer; we don't have to rehash the origins of the characters and the world and we can just enter the story, like a sequel. I wish people would take better care and more time to create a good story/screenplay for these themes (We've been thinking of making a LEGO Star Wars film, mostly due to the crap-load of SW themed sets we have). Any theme, whether it be an original brickfilm, a LEGO original theme, or a film-based theme can be of nice quality if the film maker puts the time and dedication in their work.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Juggernaut Pictures]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/1880/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T13:55:19Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324203/#p324203</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324200/#p324200"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[[quote=Max Butcher]Of course, its still possible to be good. There are some really good Brickfilms based on licenced themes out there. There's stuff like [i]The Force Unleashed[/i] which just doesn't bother to tell a story and instead stages an eye-explodingly amazing action sequence. And there are a few that genuinely are funny. You just have to think more outside the box.[/quote]

I agree. Eye candy IP videos always go down well with me, and when I make them this is what I tend to try to do. I'd rather put my creative juices plot and dialogue-wise into something that has my own individual, stylistic stamp on it.

[quote=Max Butcher]I really wish more people would make Brickfilms around themes the Lego Company have created. Films just based on Knights Kingdom, Pirate, and Wild West sets tend to be of much better quality - probably because the films maintain the nostalgia and fun that LEGO brings to animation whilst also encouraging more creativity on the writers part.[/quote]

[quote=Jayem]It would be great to see more films based on Lego themes. Because then you don't have to conform to any expectations of what your film should be like.[/quote]

That's one of the things I've been trying to encourage with the BFCU, and I have plans to do more to try and interest people in participating. Because LEGO themes are so vague in terms of actual story and characterisation, it gives you more chance to develop something that's both individual and hugely creative. I can't remember who it was, but I saw this nearly-hour-long Pirate animation that was breathtaking: amazing sets, good solid plot, and generally delightful (except for a teensy bit of clunky dialogue).

Overall, though, I think a lot of what makes an IP brickfilm good or not is up to the filmmaker. Yes it can be harder to make something original, but part of the fun might be finding that original story hidden under the haystack.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[jampot]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/189/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T12:53:21Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324200/#p324200</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Brickfilming Discussion Week 3: Brickfilms With Licensed Themes]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324197/#p324197"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[One thing that detracts from IP brickfilms is the fact that there are already stories and plots associated with them. Often I'll be watching a Lego Star Wars or Batman film, but thinking 'none of this would ever happen'. A really good film adapts itself to the IP it is based on, so that you feel like you're watching something that could genuinely be an Avengers short. This is different for spoofs or parodies, as those aren't ever serious, and I actually think of those less as 'brickfilms' and more as 'humour told with Lego', if you know what I mean. Not that those can't be really excellent in in their own right.

What I'm trying to say is, it's a lot harder to make a standout film based on an IP, because the viewer comes with preconceived ideas about the IP in question. If you can master it, that's great, and I enjoy watching those. Until then, it would be great to see more original stories, or films based on Lego themes as Max Butcher said. Because then you don't have to conform to any expectations of what your film should be like.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Jayem]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/123530/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2014-05-20T12:04:00Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/324197/#p324197</id>
		</entry>
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