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|first_release=[[26 April]] [[2006]]
|first_release=[[26 April]] [[2006]]
|formats=[[QuickTime]], [[Windows Media Video|WMV]], [[DivX]]
|formats=[[QuickTime]], [[Windows Media Video|WMV]], [[DivX]]
|num_episodes=15 (10 released)
|num_episodes=15 (11 released)
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'''''BloodSpell''''' is a [[2006 in machinima|2006]] [[fantasy]] film produced by [[Strange Company]]. ''BloodSpell'' employs filming techniques known as [[machinima]], and is the first feature-length production to use [[BioWare|BioWare's]] [[Aurora Engine]], developed for the [[computer role-playing game]] ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'', to generate the video portion of the film<ref name="Watamaniuk">{{cite web|last=Watamaniuk|first=Jay|title=The Making of ''BloodSpell'' Part 1|url=http://nwn.bioware.com/players/profile_makingof_bloodspell_p1.html|publisher=[[BioWare|BioWare Corp]]|accessdate=2006-06-03}}</ref>. The film is currently being released [[serial]]ly, in short episodes, under the [[Creative Commons]] Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License, which allows for redistribution, modification, and creation of [[fan fiction]].<ref name="Commons">{{cite web|title=Creative Commons?|url=http://www.bloodspell.com/commons|work=BloodSpell|publisher=[[Strange Company]]|accessdate=2006-05-31}}</ref>. Strange Company have asserted somewhat controversially that, as of 2006, ''BloodSpell'', was the largest machinima production.
'''''BloodSpell''''' is a [[2006 in machinima|2006]] [[fantasy]] film produced by [[Strange Company]]. ''BloodSpell'' employs filming techniques known as [[machinima]], and is the first feature-length production to use [[BioWare|BioWare's]] [[Aurora Engine]], developed for the [[computer role-playing game]] ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'', to generate the video portion of the film<ref name="Watamaniuk">{{cite web|last=Watamaniuk|first=Jay|title=The Making of ''BloodSpell'' Part 1|url=http://nwn.bioware.com/players/profile_makingof_bloodspell_p1.html|publisher=[[BioWare|BioWare Corp]]|accessdate=2006-06-03}}</ref>. The film is currently being released [[serial]]ly, in short episodes, under the [[Creative Commons]] Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License, which allows for redistribution, modification, and creation of [[fan fiction]].<ref name="Commons">{{cite web|title=Creative Commons?|url=http://www.bloodspell.com/commons|work=BloodSpell|publisher=[[Strange Company]]|accessdate=2006-05-31}}</ref>. Strange Company have asserted somewhat controversially that, as of 2006, ''BloodSpell'', was the largest machinima production.

Revision as of 17:35, 23 October 2006

BloodSpell
Engine(s)Aurora Engine
Genre(s)Fantasy
Running time90 min. (when fully released)
Created byHugh Hancock
VoicesThom Tuck
Charmaine Gilbert
Alan Cross
Caroline Dunford
Paul A J Hamilton
Johnnie Ingram
Russell Lotan
Sian Bevan
Jehane Barbour
CrewSteve Wallace
Johnnie Ingram
Ross Bambrey
Justin Hall
Chris Cornwell
Ben Sanders
Phil Rice
"Dragal 23"
Murray Robertson
Release(s)26 April 2006
Format(s)QuickTime, WMV, DivX
No. of episodes15 (11 released)
Website
http://www.bloodspell.com/

BloodSpell is a 2006 fantasy film produced by Strange Company. BloodSpell employs filming techniques known as machinima, and is the first feature-length production to use BioWare's Aurora Engine, developed for the computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights, to generate the video portion of the film[1]. The film is currently being released serially, in short episodes, under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License, which allows for redistribution, modification, and creation of fan fiction.[2]. Strange Company have asserted somewhat controversially that, as of 2006, BloodSpell, was the largest machinima production.

The series features numerous cameos, including several voice appearances from science fiction author Charles Stross.

In August 2006, a controversy sprung up around BloodSpell when the Leipzig Games Conference pronounced it too violent to be shown as part of their Machinima showcase. After a protest, the Games Conference changed their position (taking a considerable risk in light of the German press's attitudes to game violence) and allowed the film to be shown.

Plot

BloodSpell tells the fictional story of Jered, a young Monk of the Church of the Angels, an organisation that exists to purify the Blooded, a term for those who release magical power when their blood is spilt.

Development

BloodSpell was in development for more than two years. In late 2003, executive producer Hugh Hancock first began to work on the project in response to a claim that his work had lost its "punk edge".[3] A trailer was released on 19 October 2005[4] and was followed by two teaser trailers in late April 2006.[5][6]. The first episode proper premiered on 26 April 2006, [7] and the series has since been released fortnightly.

Two "making of BloodSpell" documentaries have also been released, and are available from the official site

The film is made using the Neverwinter Nights Aurora game engine, which provides a Dungeon Master (DM) client that allows actor models to be created or removed at will; multiple DMs can join a single local Neverwinter Nights server; under this configuration, any character can be controlled by any of the DMs to accomplish actions that are needed for the scene being filmed.

Additionally, a number of modifications to Neverwinter Nights are used, from additional animations, to a custom set of camera tools, allowing scripted camera movements, to a texture switching OpenGL tool that allows for the appearance of lip syncing, referred to by the BloodSpell team as "TOGLFaceS" (Take Over GL Face Skins).

References

  1. ^ Watamaniuk, Jay. "The Making of BloodSpell Part 1". BioWare Corp. Retrieved 2006-06-03.
  2. ^ "Creative Commons?". BloodSpell. Strange Company. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  3. ^ Krotoski, Aleks (2005-08-18). "The making of machinima". Guardian Unlimited. Guandians Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 2006-05-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Bloodspell Trailer - High Res [MOV]". Machinima.com. Machinima, Inc. 2005-10-19. Retrieved 2006-05-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Bloodspell Teaser". Machinima.com. Machinima, Inc. 2006-04-24. Retrieved 2006-05-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Bloodspell Teaser 2". Machinima.com. Machinima, Inc. 2006-04-25. Retrieved 2006-05-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "BloodSpell: Episode 1". Archive.org. 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2006-05-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)