New Video - Random Rising Storm 2: Vietnam Bullshittery (part 3)

Good evening everybody. I hope you're all staying well.

I've managed to get another video project complete in the form of Random Rising Storm 2: Vietnam Bullshittery (part 3). A link can be found right here for those interested. 

Alas, it took a tad longer than I'd predicted I'm afraid. About 32 days of the scheduled 25. It's my own darn fault, as I told myself I wouldn't make it complicated. But then, you know me. I couldn't resist.

On that front, both NervousHawk and BewBewDingo were kind enough to draw me some art. With the latter providing some assets necessary for making a "puppet". As you've sometimes seen me do in other bullshitteries. I figured it would be a more interesting thing to look at, rather than the simple lyrics to the song Digby is singing.

How this is done is an artist draws a character, as they would do normally. But I specifically request that each limb is placed on a different layer. So rather than consisting of one image, I get 30 different images assembled like a jigsaw.

From there I move the anchor points to whichever area the limb is meant to rotate around, and parenting them onto the body so they inherit the movement

The eyes and mouth are usually their own completely independent After Effects composition, also parented, with individual layers swapping out for each phoneme (mouth shape).

It's a relatively simple process. If a little time consuming. Defo a time to get coffee when doing it.

So this project also struggled a bit with timing because having to wait for those art assets, towards the tail end of the project. Since artists need time to do their work. My inability to draw is a bit of a major weakness of mine, that commissioned artists are kind enough to compensate for. I hope it looks good :)

Additionally, the ending. That was good fun. Showcasing the power of the rifle grenade if used properly with some self-made range finders. Firing the weapon directly up at a pre-determined distance, intentionally aiming for obvious locations the enemy would take cover (craters, rocks, etc).

It's especially effective against squad leaders. Who move to predictable areas of cover. The impact detonators and extremely high angle of attack make them very difficult to evade, if the grenadier has the correct range.

A slight confession though. The footage of me assembling squares is really for the audiences sake. The original squares were all poorly crafted with a pencil. In my barely comprehensible handwriting. And most were destroyed when I accidently tipped a pint of water over my desk some months ago.

Besides, recording their recreation with nice clear lighting and printed text should make it easier for the audience to comprehend what I'm doing. And I can use these squares going forward.

Additionally, in some scenes I started using blood spatter effects on the text when someone was killed. I really should get around to doing that more. It's actually very simple and neat looking.

What I'm doing there is I'm making the text its own composition. And then having that tracked to the Null Object. Meaning I can do all sorts of visual effects on the text using stencils, if the need arises. I'm hoping some spell effects (fire, ice etc) will give me more opportunities in Divinity.

For the moment though, do tell me what you think. I'm confident there's at least 3 additional Rising Storm Vietnam bullshitteries in waiting. With the clips I already have. I will happily edit those up for you if you wish it.

Have a lovely week everybody. Thank you as always for your extreme generosity xx