Getting Started
From Openworldfilm
Contents |
Welcome
Welcome to the Open World Film Project! If you are just joining us, you've probably noticed that the site moves very quickly, and the sheer amount of information to take in can seem daunting. This section is here to act as a guide to the project, the website, and the features. Due to the rapid growth of this website and community, this page will avoid specific topics, and will instead focus on the overall points a new member needs to know.
History
The Open World Film Project was launched on August 19, 2007, on the BlenderArtists forum. Like most open project proposals, it was greeted with skepticism. Still, a few people signed up, and the project took flight. Starting with no script and open concept submissions, the long process of selecting an idea, and developing it began. An initial plot formed and was developed heavily for the better part of six months, changing form a number of times until it became the full-length "The Serpent And The Guide". The plan for this film was to produce it in three sections, at roughly 25-30 minutes each. The first ten minutes would be produced in its' entirety, and act as a trailer and recruitment tool.
After three months of concept art, storyboarding and initial animatics, it became painfully obvious that even the first ten minutes of TSATG would require the development of a massive amount development, much relying on elements that would not exist until much later in the story and production. For this reason, the practical consideration was to build a separate, ten minute story, setting up the TSATG univers, but requiring far less character development or setting work. Being a relatively small team, this was a more feasible option. TSATG will remain on the back burner until the short version is complete, and for this reason, there is not much information available on the forums regarding it. All the posted information is in regards to the shorter film.
For a more in-depth view of the last year and the developments of the script, please take a look at these posts:
How can I sign up?
You can sign up by visiting this link and registering with our forums.
What is expected of me?
1.) Keep the content appropriate
Please keep in mind that this site is open to people of all ages, and your language should reflect a respect for that. Please refrain from using bad language, or posting inappropriate images.
2.) Treat others with respect and an open mind
Since the first day, there has been a mutual respect and professionalism from the members of this project, making the OWF a very friendly place to spend your time on the net. Flame wars are not tolerated here, nor are they an issue. While it is unrealistic to think everyone will always agree, we choose to work out the tough debates in a friendly, professional manner. Treat others with respect, and you will receive the same treatment in return.
3.) Spend a day or two reading through posts, becoming familiar with the scene, and don't be afraid to ask questions. There is a lot going on here, and it always takes a few days to get caught up with everything. Just remember, anyone here is happy to answer any question for you.
4.) Have fun, and learn new things.
Speaks for itself!
If you can follow those basic rules, I know you will find the OWF to be a very friendly, fun place to be.
How can I contribute?
As of the time of this writing, we are currently in greatest need of concept artists. While we can always use modelers and texture artists, we need a lot of basic visualization to be taken care of. The OWF rule about concept art is that it can be done in any medium. While we prefer hand-drawn art, we'll accept any form of art, from models to music. If you feel inclined to make a model of anything in the script, while we are still producing concept art, you do so at your own risk. Rapid visualization changes are taking place, and for that reason, modeling can become a large waste of time. As long as you are prepared to change your designs, you should have no problems; a large number of our members actually prefer to concept in Blender.
Unrelated to the production, we can always use people to help with the web programming, as OWF tries to stay fairly cutting-edge with it's features. This requires a lot of maintenance and coding, and while we have an existing team for the web design, new help is always welcome.
Using the website
Using the Forums
If you've ever been a member of an online forum community, then OWF's forums will be quite easy to use. The forum structure is based on phpbb3, and has been heavily modified. All the standard forum functions (posting, polls, private messages) are all available for registered members. Almost all basic forum features are relatively self-explanatory, but for further documentation, please visit the phpbb3 official documentation.
Using the Chat
Our chat rooms are AJAX-based, and do require javascript be enabled. The chat consists of three rooms: General Chat, Development Chat, and Off-Topic chat. General chat can be used for almost anything, while development chat is meant specifically for project-related discussions. Off-topic chat is for anything. To switch chat rooms, click on a different room, and allow a few moments for the room to update. This process can take 5-10 seconds on some occasions, so be patient.
Using the Messenger
The messenger is a dedicated instant messenger, built to accomodate OWF members. Simply click on the "Messenger" link, and choose a person to talk to. This is similar to the chat, except IM works 1-1 only, group conversation is not possible.
Using the File Management System
The FMS is currently being integrated. While available for testing, the documentation is not available yet. As soon as it is available, this section will be updated.
Using The Gallery
The OWF gallery is slightly different than many web galleries, in that it is a gallery of ongoing art. While most galleries try to include only the best, our gallery is meant to be a visual archive of the work process, and as such, many images will be placed there for reference. To have an image submitted, simply ask a mod or admin to upload it for you.
The Open World Film Philosophy
Since the first day of this project, there has been a belief that all project members are inherently equal, and all voices should be heard with equal weight. While this has been a topic of much debate when discussing open projects, it has worked quite successfully here at OWF. There is no part of this project that does not have the input of a reasonable number of members.
There are no advertisements here, and no part of this film will ever be used to make any kind of money. This is a strictly volunteer effort, and as such, a certain degree of professional courtesy is expected and exercised by the members. It is okay to disagree with an opinion, the entire project is built on variations in ideas. What is considered unacceptable is rudeness and attacks of any kind. While being a social environment, OWF is still a workplace, and should be treated as such. For that reason, both the film and the website will also be kept as family-friendly as possible.
Regarding the OWF production ethic, our first rule here is "Adaptability". In any production, too much or too little freedom can stifle and ultimately kill any project. The secret to OWF's longevity is the ability to consistently review and adapt the production plan to new circumstances. The basic plan follows a typical production workflow; script, storyboard, animatic, then production & editing. While this structure can be rigidly followed in a traditional studio environment, it is unreasonable for an online studio comprised of volunteers to be expected to follow this too strictly. Also considered are the skills of the people actively participating. In our case, one prime example is the simple adaptation to allow multiple mediums in lieu of a strict policy of hand-drawn only concept art. While this is slightly less-than-traditional, it has allowed us to continue to grow, with only a small number of people on board who can draw by hand. It is our belief that as long as the project is moving forward, some of the lines can be blurred between each step.
Who do I contact with questions?
This is a list of email links. If you have a question about the project, feel free to send an email to anyone listed below.
Project Supervisor/Head Administrator
Administrator/Project Director
Project Directors
Moderators
