The Forest - Update #10

Good afternoon everyone. I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

In the last update, I said I was working on the tail-end of this project, attempting to tighten some elements of the script that I felt were undercooked. Recording them overnight and then cutting the audio by day. That process is near complete. It's really just the final conclusion remarks that remain. Which are only a few hundreds words and are just awaiting cutting and adding to the end.

Then, in audio form at least, the video should be complete. Here's a shot of the timeline in Adobe Premiere. This is going to be a monster to render:

Script tightening and recording:

So the rework of some script elements has gone smoothly. I essentially moved what was part of the ending to be earlier in the video, where it seems more appropriate. Along with cutting back some flabby areas to stay on point. Recording them at night and cutting them into chunks by day.

One thing that is unique is that some elements of this recording necessitate me going outside as part of the joke. Be it to a woodland area or down to Brighton beach. I've temporarily recorded placeholder voice for the sake of the flow, but have subsequently purchased a GoPro camera - which is novel to me.

Along with a head strap:

If you see someone walking around in Brighton, wearing this on his forehead and babbling about "resurrection obelisks" and "cannibal people", please do not rob or murder him. Thanks.

Feeding him is okay.

Arts and crafts:

So in addition to the script rework and voice recording, I've been preparing the visual work for next week. Something a bit unusual. But hopefully visually engaging. This is the wall next to me:

The original plan, was to create an After Effects composition that all parts of the project would link to. A great big web of all the questions and plot points I've raised in order to show you the central point I'm leading towards.

But I figured it might actually be more fun if it were a physical map that I could interact with. Something that's a bit more tactile. Either having the GoPro stationary on a stand, or attached to my head as I gesticulate.

Then I can be playful with the points. I've got lots of yarn I plan to use to mark stuff. If the price of yarn has markedly increased, I deny all knowledge.

Nothing to do with me, I swear...

I'm reusing the soft lighting gear from back when I did the greenscreen CSI jokes in the PUBG bullshittery. It's been sitting neatly above my kitchen cupboard.

I think I need a second one though. Another identical stand should be arriving this weekend. Then I should be able to soft-light the wall from both directions, limiting the shadows. Which are currently a bit distracting.

Artist commissions for the whole project/fixing dependencies:

Whilst I've been doing this, I've also been reaching out to various artists to help solve the "TO DO" gaps that exist in many places throughout the project.

I mention it mainly because it can be a considerable work hour drain. More so than may be obvious. Making sure they each have clear instructions/feedback in order to bring their considerable skills to bear. Skills that I'm hugely appreciative for.

Birdy has been kind enough to provide sketches for the board:

And BewBewDingo is working on some final scenes to replace those in the finale. To visualise what the canonical ending of The Forest actually looks like. And my god, they're so incredible:

A dark, grungy sketch form that makes it seem like its visualising a nightmare. To help bring across how fucked up the actions of the protagonist are.

So the plan now is as followings:

• 1.) This weekend, audio cut that last part of the conlusion. Then continue to listen back to the audio-only to ensure I'm happy with it. See if there's any changes to mark.
• 2.) Next week, start adding the visuals components. A combination of GoPro recordings and in-game footage.
• 3.) The week after, quality assuring that work and presenting that segment to you as a work in progress render.
• 4.) After that, the nebulous process of pulling all four chunks together into a final watchable form. Whilst doing broad QA/rework based on feedback. And generally getting this into a form that can be viewed on the Youtube channel.

As always, thank you for your extreme patience folks! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Also here's the dog tax. A Lulu who can't decide whether she's going to sleep or stay awake. So instead she just closes her eyes and hangs her head there.

And BewBewDingo create a rendition of that behaviour from the morning stream on Friday :D