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		<title><![CDATA[Forums - Bricks in Motion - What are we missing?]]></title>
		<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/topic/8387/what-are-we-missing/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[The most recent posts in What are we missing?.]]></description>
		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:29:46 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224885/#p224885</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=BWJC]Am I trying to fix the community?  Well maybe, but I'm starting with myself.[/quote]

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps[/url]

Throwing that out there, it's more related than you think. It only takes one person to change the world, after all.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Genzarata)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:29:46 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224885/#p224885</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224761/#p224761</link>
			<description><![CDATA[He was talking to everyone, not just you.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Juggernaut Pictures)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:42:05 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224761/#p224761</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224749/#p224749</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=Jargon]Don't try to fix the community; focus on your craft.[/quote]
The title of this thread is 'What are we missing?' and I gave my opinion on what people have been talking about in this thread as well as what i think we are "missing" so to speak.  Am I trying to fix the community?  Well maybe, but I'm starting with myself.  All I did was post my opinion and hope that it would help some people who are trying to make brickfilms.  Does it mean I'm right?  No.  Does it mean I think everyone should do exactly what I said?  Goodness no, that would get boring fast, and personally I think brickfilming at large would suffer a bit, but brickilms of my previous description are lacking, and I tried to point out exactly what that was, and why.  

Also, Onion, you speak the truth. lol]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[bwjclego@gmail.com (BWJC)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 17:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224749/#p224749</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224730/#p224730</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=Jargon]Don't try to fix the community; focus on minecraft.[/quote]

Fixed it to say what most brickfilmers are thinking.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Onion)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:26:22 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224730/#p224730</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224727/#p224727</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=Jargon]Don't try to fix the community; focus on your craft.[/quote]

Now this is a good idea. We should stop just make some movies as cool as they come.
And that's what I think I'll do.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Squid)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:14:04 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224727/#p224727</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224639/#p224639</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=Jargon]Don't try to fix the community; focus on your craft.[/quote]
Listen to Jargon, guys. He's right.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (StudioL30)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:59:09 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224639/#p224639</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224632/#p224632</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=BWJC] I will agree, that lately it seems most films are based around eye candy and quick laughs, and deeper story-lines are lacking, but be aware of the medium.  We are using Lego, so don't try to make a dead serious film, make the story work for the medium you are using.  Storylines don't have to be super deep, they can be as simple as two people having a funny conversation, or a series of random events that the minifigs try to take seriously, in other words, dramatic irony.  If you can make the audience think something ridiculous is happening, but the 'actors' don't think its ridiculous, its usually worth a laugh.  Blunty's earlier work is a perfect example of that, the storylines weren't all crazy, but they felt ridiculous to the audience even though the minifigs were totally serious.  [/quote]

you may have heard of the Batman Spoof i'm making, thats what it has come out like(the scrpit that is) and its AWESOME. I would tell other people to try that, especially if people know how serious the Character is. Think about these Idea's, Batman but hes young and REALLY serious but, as we all know hes just a freak in a Suit, a insurance agent that does everything that he can to make sure that the people we works for don't have to pay out, he takes it seriously, everyone else thinks that he is just mad... the list is endless...]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Cooked Cat)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:11:48 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224632/#p224632</guid>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224627/#p224627</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Don't try to fix the community; focus on your craft.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Jargon)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:28:52 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224627/#p224627</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224623/#p224623</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It only took me three days to read through this thread :P [/only]


Now, I want to make a point.  [b]Stick around awhile[/b], I will make a [i]quick[/i] summary before I go in detail.
I may not post often, but I'm about to post big!


[h]Quick Summary of My Thoughts[/h]
Essentially, brickfilming takes two paths, or a mixture of both, quality of story, and quality of visuals.  I love a great story, but I also love eye candy, and both are great ways to make brickfilms.  The difference between the best films and just good ones is having a perfect mix of both story and visuals.  Leaning one way or another doesn't mean it will be a bad film, it just probably won't be amazing.  Story can be simple, as long as it is entertaining, and a film doesn't need superb VFX, as long as it has half decent animation and doesn't look like it was edited on a toaster. 

The rest of this post is just a much more detailed version of what I just said, [i]don't reply to this post unless you have read all of it,[/i] because you won't know the entire picture I'm trying to paint.
 

[b][u]^ At least read that part ^[/u] [/b]
[size=small]Long posts make me groan too.  But you've got time... I hope...[/size]



[h]VFX and Visual Quality[/h]
Essentially, there is no real problem, but there have been changes.  Because of new technology and such, technical aspects of films have become a much more common thing then they used to be.  This doesn't mean there hasn't been people going for the eye candy say five years ago, it just means it is easier now than it used to be, so people are trying it.  The same thing is happening in theatres.  I just got back from Thor, the story wasn't exceptional, and was adapted from comics, but it had great VFX.  Also, how many movies are in 3D these days, a lot.  

[h]Aspects of Films[/h]
There are two genres of films, not genres like comedy and action, but different genres.  These genres are story and the atmosphere.  Atmosphere referring to what we see and hear, for example, is it in dolby 7.0 surround sound, does it have amazing CGI landscapes, is it 3D, etc.  Brickfilms are the same way, some films have great story, like Doug Vandegrift's 'American Outlawed.'  Others are amazing eye candy, like FP's 'force unleashed.  American Outlawed had a good story, but wasn't technically amazing, the animation was dodgy, the video quality poor.  Force unleashed was the oppostite, the story was a guy slicing up stormtroopers in a box and fighting a jedi, but the Animation was superb, the VFX outstanding, and the camera movement, lovely.  I really enjoyed both these films, but they are different genres of film.  

[h]Execution[/h]
It all comes down to execution.  Every film is a mix of story:atmosphere and depends on execution.  The best are films that have a great story, but are great in the technical sense as well.  The trick is finding the balance, the outcome is how well that balance is executed.

[h]Story[/h]
I will agree, that lately it seems most films are based around eye candy and quick laughs, and deeper story-lines are lacking, but be aware of the medium.  We are using Lego, so don't try to make a dead serious film, make the story work for the medium you are using.  Storylines don't have to be super deep, they can be as simple as two people having a funny conversation, or a series of random events that the minifigs try to take seriously, in other words, dramatic irony.  If you can make the audience think something ridiculous is happening, but the 'actors' don't think its ridiculous, its usually worth a laugh.  Blunty's earlier work is a perfect example of that, the storylines weren't all crazy, but they felt ridiculous to the audience even though the minifigs were totally serious.  

[h][i]It's just a Hobby![/i][/h]
Also, seeing as a vast majority of us are brickfilming as a hobby, don't worry your butt about execution, try to have decent execution, but don't nitpick, have fun.  Few brickfilms have outstanding stories, even fewer outstanding stories and great visuals, just make something you are happy with that has a good mix of story and atmosphere, and it will probably be enjoyed by lots of people!  If not, maybe you need to work on execution a bit, but it doesn't need to be perfect.

*The use of 'atmosphere' in relation to brickfilming during the course of this post is mostly referring to animation, cinemetography, editing, and VFX.

[h]My Plans[/h]
I am planning a fun film that I want to make this summer, I am going to try and have a fun story, while keeping the visuals interesting as well.  I decided I am only going to reshoot if something really turned out bad, and won't spend ages working on VFX.  I suggest some of you use this time during the summer to do the same, have fun making a brickfilm, [i]FUN!![/i]  Really, that is what hobbies are all about, right?]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[bwjclego@gmail.com (BWJC)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:47:47 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224623/#p224623</guid>
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			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224590/#p224590</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=Max Butcher]The problem is that by 'screwing' the masses and reality, you will likely not be successful. Take Terry Gilliam. He is my favourite Director, yet he spends millions of dollars to create really creative worlds and stories - yet his movies are so outside of the mainstream conventions that he rarely gets this money back unless he either dumbs it down, makes 'Time Bandits', or his lead actor dies (his latest movie was only a success because it was marketed as Heath Ledgers last movie. You know its true...)

The same can be said with Brickfilms. Everyone watches the silly comedies (which I have no problem with) and the Star Wars/Indy/Batman/Harry Potter muveys, or those with really great eye-candy (which I have no problem with) because they appeal to the general public. Only people like us will appreciate the more story-based films that dont rely on franchises or eye-candy. 

Sure, you dont have to be successful to make really good movies, but if you intend to earn lots of money and get loads of views - dumb it down....[/quote]
Well, I was joking on my "screw reality". You are right about that, though. But you didn't think that some don't really care to be successful, and that's why it's so easy for them to screw reality. At least here, in this hobby, we don't need to spend a lot of money. And anyway, if someone that "screws life that sucks" makes something good, he will earn success. I'm not sure if you understand, I'm thinking on what I want to say in Italian, and not always instant translation is something I'm good at (btw,Terry Gilliam is my favourite director too).]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (MPfist0)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:21:29 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224590/#p224590</guid>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224530/#p224530</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=Max Butcher] or those with really great eye-candy (which I have no problem with) [/quote]



lolwut


:P]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Brickyman)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:35:15 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224530/#p224530</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224527/#p224527</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The problem is that by 'screwing' the masses and reality, you will likely not be successful. Take Terry Gilliam. He is my favourite Director, yet he spends millions of dollars to create really creative worlds and stories - yet his movies are so outside of the mainstream conventions that he rarely gets this money back unless he either dumbs it down, makes 'Time Bandits', or his lead actor dies (his latest movie was only a success because it was marketed as Heath Ledgers last movie. You know its true...)

The same can be said with Brickfilms. Everyone watches the silly comedies (which I have no problem with) and the Star Wars/Indy/Batman/Harry Potter muveys, or those with really great eye-candy (which I have no problem with) because they appeal to the general public. Only people like us will appreciate the more story-based films that dont rely on franchises or eye-candy. 

Sure, you dont have to be successful to make really good movies, but if you intend to earn lots of money and get loads of views - dumb it down....]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Max Butcher)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:31:55 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224527/#p224527</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224508/#p224508</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=Living LEGO]We should all just be "screw the masses, I'm gonna make a [i]real[/i] film!" To bad we can't do that in reality. Life sucks.[/quote]
Well, screw reality. I'm gonna make a [i]good[/i] film.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (MPfist0)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:03:54 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224508/#p224508</guid>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224413/#p224413</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[quote=topitmunkeydog] I think it has to do with people trying to make videos that please the mostly stupid Youtube audience, rather then making good films.[/quote]
We should all just be "screw the masses, I'm gonna make a [i]real[/i] film!" To bad we can't do that in reality. Life sucks.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (Living LEGO)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:32:41 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224413/#p224413</guid>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re: What are we missing?]]></title>
			<link>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224400/#p224400</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Binding Bricks over reacts a lot.]]></description>
			<author><![CDATA[dummy@example.com (ChrisTheBrick)]]></author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:07:36 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/224400/#p224400</guid>
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