Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Films and Screenshots => Topic started by: oboe on August 19, 2011, 07:53:05 AM
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I'm discovering a ton of high quality "feature" films from IL-2 on YouTube. They use no icons, trackIR for cockpit views, beautiful musical scores and lots of sweeping shots along to provide a storyline backdrop. Generally they tell a story of a single mission but here is a very well done film about a P-40 squadron in North Africa being terrorized by a "black-nosed" 109. This film is 5 yrs old so I feel quite late to the party, having watched it for the first time this morning.
The static at the end of each radio transmission is a very realistic touch, and the aircraft skins terrain are both very good. (Not sure about the historical accuracy of of a PBY Catalina scout being used in North Africa though).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9TmlyLQio0&list=FLN_hoFquntAz4HT3Dguqm1g&index=2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9TmlyLQio0&list=FLN_hoFquntAz4HT3Dguqm1g&index=2)
And here's one about the Flying Tigers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mJDrHMwBo&list=FLN_hoFquntAz4HT3Dguqm1g&index=12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mJDrHMwBo&list=FLN_hoFquntAz4HT3Dguqm1g&index=12)
I know LePape and Niros make high quality AH films (best I've seen from AH), but as wonderful as they are, everything I've seen so far from AH has been mostly a collection of straight air combat fighter kills set to music.
I'd like to help anybody who has the ability and desire to make such high quality films as this. I can serve as a stunt pilot or an 'extra', or maybe provide custom skins for the planes in the shoot. I understand there is a way to get non-installed custom skins to show in films, so we wouldn't have to wait through to full skin submit/release cycle to get the skins we need. At this point I can do P-51s and P-38s; maybe other skinners or terrain makers could help with other resources needed.
I'd like to see AH represented in this genre of film so I'm willing to help however I can.
<S> AH film makers
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niiice!! i have seen also some films that they use real life actors and it gets really cool.
EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuWoh67V-C4
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great film, but the story was about a bunch of P40s who got owned and decided to go vulch for revenge :p
just would not wash in the AH community :D
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There "film viewer" is alot better then ours. They also have better graphics
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Oboe, Check out my film and tell me what you think. This is just a trailer for a longer film that I'm still working on. I know that it's jumpy in places, but I am making this on a mid range computer. So dont hold it against me. The finished film may have sound effect added, but no voice comms.
Blood & Iron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJEe-HCncro&feature=channel_video_title
My aim is to make a film of a very cinematic nature.
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Oboe, Check out my film and tell me what you think. This is just a trailer for a longer film that I'm still working on. I know that it's jumpy in places, but I am making this on a mid range computer. So dont hold it against me. The finished film may have sound effect added, but no voice comms.
Blood & Iron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJEe-HCncro&feature=channel_video_title
My aim is to make a film of a very cinematic nature.
First, LOL @ mechanic's comment re vulching P-40s. :D
Very nice film Devil - that's exactly what I'm talking about - beautiful soundtrack, fluid smooth-camera pans (except for the jumpiness due to your machine; yep I noticed that). One thing it's missing is inside the cockpit shots with TrackIR or TrackNoIR - I don't have this yet either, but I think it'll be my next upgrade. Its very difficult to make it look realistic inside the cockpit without the TrackIR - that's what I've noticed in the films I've watched anyway. And definitely add external engine noises (hopefully with Doppler shift when planes fly past camera).
People are right to point out the difference in graphics between AH and IL-2 also - clouds and water are better in IL-2. I don't know how we can minimize or de-emphasize that aspect but I still think AH is good enough graphically to make a decent film. Your camera pan of the ships at dock before the attack looked great to me. When ship was sunk though, it went down way too suddenly. Is it possible to edit the film frame by frame and add explosion effects? Or show in slow motion?
I also think AH's terrain colors are generally too lush and saturated(the greens in particular). When I want to make a realistic screenshot, one of the things I do is select the background and desaturate the color. This makes the subject plane stand out alot and looks much more realistic. Is there a way to desaturate colors somewhat with film editing software?
Another thing these great IL-2 films do - they spend time on shots that set up the scene, and the segments don't necessarily have any of the film subjects in them. Remember at the beginning of the "Deadliest Enemy" film, the camera sweeps in from the sea over the desert? No planes or anything - just soundtrack and terrain. It was less than 15 seconds but it absolutely "pulled" me into the film. Very effective!
I think your trailer is excellent, and I'm so glad to see AH film makers doing stuff like this. Its exactly what I was asking about and I can't wait to see the finished product. You've got a real talent there and its something I wish I could do!
<S> Devil505
PS here's another IL-2 film, about two Spitfire Mk XIVs on patrol. Very little air to air action, but the film gives me goosebumps in spots. He's also added a touch of scratches, dirt and noise to the film to make it look very authentic. And somehow he achieves that handheld camera 'bounce' effect that is really cool. The "O Fortuna" soundtrack with Griffon-engined Spits raises the hair on my neck every time I see it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxNCSjGEYGg&list=FLN_hoFquntAz4HT3Dguqm1g&index=14 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxNCSjGEYGg&list=FLN_hoFquntAz4HT3Dguqm1g&index=14)
We have that same skin in AH and after I saw this film, I think I lost 200 perks flying the Spit XIVs around in the MA. I never did find a Japanese sub to strafe or Rufe to shoot down though!
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niiice!! i have seen also some films that they use real life actors and it gets really cool.
EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuWoh67V-C4
Wow Raph - I'm watching the Knokes film now. It reminds me of the "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" movie. Really impressive and what alot of work with real actors in costume.
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Thanks Oboe.
One thing it's missing is inside the cockpit shots with TrackIR or TrackNoIR - I don't have this yet either, but I think it'll be my next upgrade. Its very difficult to make it look realistic inside the cockpit without the TrackIR - that's what I've noticed in the films I've watched anyway.
The finished film will have some cockpit shots, but most will be shown through the gunsight. I also dont have TrackIR, but I think I can play with the camera in the film viewer to make a similar effect.
And definitely add external engine noises (hopefully with Doppler shift when planes fly past camera).
I havent tried any sound effects yet as that is the last step. But that is one sound you have to do if youre doing sounds.
When ship was sunk though, it went down way too suddenly.
Unfortunately, that is how the ship object at a port work in AH. Object up, object down. Nothing in between.
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Thanks Oboe.
The finished film will have some cockpit shots, but most will be shown through the gunsight. I also dont have TrackIR, but I think I can play with the camera in the film viewer to make a similar effect.
I havent tried any sound effects yet as that is the last step. But that is one sound you have to do if youre doing sounds.
Unfortunately, that is how the ship object at a port work in AH. Object up, object down. Nothing in between.
I think it's going to be a great film!
At the end of the Knoke film Raphael posted, there was this link in the credits: http://www.flightsimmachinima.com/ (http://www.flightsimmachinima.com/)
It's all IL-2 stuff though. AH2 just doesn't get enough credit IMO.
Is it possible to duplicate film frames and edit them in Photoshop, to create intermediate positions of the sinking ship, instead of just either "up" or "down"? Maybe have the superstructure lift of the deck a little bit during the explsion and then settle back down? I'm thinking you'd need to stretch the single frame transition from UP to SUNK out to 20-30 frames to make it look more realistic...
Or, I wonder is it possible to edit in a giant, smoke and flame filled explosion that shows the ship in the sunk state after the smoke clears?
Forgive me I don't know what is possible or not with the film editing software...
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Dang Devil just watched this Film again and Realized ya have a killer shot of NrRaven Smoking my P-38 as I was making a pass in the Ju-88's I have seen your film before for that contest but actually payed allot more attention to it this time for the detail on it and I have to Say Dam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! killer film wish i knew how to use Fraps and and all to redo the films I have now.
<salute>
Crayz8s
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Devil you've got the beginnings of a fan club!
I just watched a few more IL-2 films, and in one particular attack on an airfield, the parked planes had only 2 states - 'undamaged' and 'destroyed' and flipped directly between them. So in the that case IL-2 ain't got nuthin' on AH.
We're anxious to see more progress so keep us posted!
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Hey Crazy, you should se the shot of your P-38 death spiral after Sukov shot off your wing. :devil
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Anyone reading this thread I have thought about doing something similar to what oboe described and this next FSO is perfect for what I have thought of. I need american pilots film though. So if anyone flying this next FSO could send me some film it would be appreciated.
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I can make high quality films, assuming you have a few films (more then 5) with full graphics and a steady machine so it doesn't look jerky in the film. Haven't done any and I miss it because my laptop blows, before my desktop died I think i had roughly 24 films made for AH, same number for Il-2 and close to 60 for Falcon 4.
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I thought my machine would be powerful enough, but when I view a film I made of me flying in a nearly empty airspace, I get screen pauses during playback.
I have a Pentium E8400 @3.0GHz, 4 Gb RAM, eVGA GTX 460 vidcard. I get good frame rates even with self shadowing on. Disappointed in the screen freezes during film playback.
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I know a trick some people were using was to run the AH Film viewer at 50% speed, and record it in fraps at 1/2 speed, or something like that.
Kept the speed the same but lowered the system requirements needed for smooth film recording/viewing. Crud, wish I could remember the specifics. I've only ever made the one video though =/
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I tried a little with my 109F4 vid, but I couldn't stop it boring me while I watched it back. I kept the opening though, I'm just not at that calibre yet with the editors and what not to keep it interesting like those IL2 guys.
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This is my first-ever movie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpeizpYMu1U) from AH2 films. I now have a newer home-built PC that handles AH2 pretty fully maxxed, and I have TrackIR and Fraps. I haven't had the motivation to do anything other than some short recordings and nothing requiring much editing. I'd like to get back into it again...
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An excellent IL2 film here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhYVG_ZviL8&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhYVG_ZviL8&feature=related)
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An excellent IL2 film here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhYVG_ZviL8&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhYVG_ZviL8&feature=related)
WOW. That was awesome.
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ImaDot that is a great film! It contains many of the things I like about the IL-2 films. Great soundtrack, nice camera pans. Is it possible with a film editor to desaturate the background, so the greens look less green and the blues less blue? All it seemed to be missing was some great external engine sounds.
Can't wait to see another one from you.
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Three more great clips. I love the external engine sounds and the fixed-position camera flybys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCGtyV-rUYM&feature=player_profilepage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCGtyV-rUYM&feature=player_profilepage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV6h7x4jPss (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV6h7x4jPss)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTfwJAurBvU&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTfwJAurBvU&feature=related)