Hello,
I think I need to devote 2-4 days of my time to just fixing some
things and the new SHQ will launch (a test site is currently being
hosted on a different server). But I just need to set aside those
days either for the 4th of July or push it to next week because I
have to work and makeup hours due to the midweek holiday. But in any
case the site will unfortunately look different from the artistic
design we have now...but it's the only and most fastest solution we
can think of.
I wanted the new look to feature a nice film on the front page to
make the site look lively. Rather than an animated music video like
the dozens of those already on youtube I was wondering if any fan
would like to make their own unique creation to submit. The film
would link to the Makoto Film Dojo where we store alot of multimedia
material.
An independent animated or live action film doesn't have to be 5-10
minutes long---it can be as little as 1 minute long and need not have
an extensive epic story. It can be an expression of a poem or
feeling. You can take just a paragraph out of history and try to
visually capture it.
Or illustrate your own fanfic or songfic and scan the panels and
create a film (this is like drawing your own 1-2 page manga and then
scanning it in pieces)
if you are a photographer you can take pics of thematic centerpieces
and work them into drawings or combine with music
in other words you don't need a budget or even a cast to create a
good film...just your imagination! (^_^)
Many people are afraid they need a fancy camera, studio or high end
computers so I'd like to dispel that notion by listing some vids
below which use a variety of techniques to create original movies.
[none of the vids have anything to do with Japan...but I am listing
them to demonstrate that low budget can still be artistically
effective---you will notice that some vids utilize minimal movement,
but their goal is to be original]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhgMvirwzOU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8WdI47rvdo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4vepofWeg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW6wWSCBCf0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa0CJK8iQzE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_760pnGtg
Anyways this is almost the middle of summer already and anyone who
would like to put in some time for art may want to give this project
a try...what I can guarantee is that when it's on SHQ...someone or
rather alot of people will see it and it makes the work very
gratifying.
You can also upload the film to youtube and email us the link so we
can embed it on the site...or give us the original file to host as a
backup.