Love & War 2: Sequel (in writing)

In response to numerous requests to make a sequel, I gave the idea some thought. I earnestly thought about whether this would be possible for ONE YEAR since the final release of Love & War.

Don't be mistaken; at the moment, I have no intention to make a sequel via video. It would be too complicated and it would involve finding new voice actors and begging the old voice actors to act for me again.

So, instead, I thought I would release the short story one chapter at a time (because that's all I really have time for).

You will have to forgive me if my use of language is a little...intense. Ever since law school, my writing has changed. So, yes, the story may seem a little mature, and the first chapter is slightly slower, but I promise to put in the same humor and drama that the first movie has. :)

I really hope you like it!

READ IT HERE:
http://www.wix.com/cerarain/cerarains-films

Titherspoon's Crossing: Prelude

For my faithful followers and anxious viewers, I would like to announce an ANTICIPATED future movie project. It will be called "Prelude," though its official title is "Titherspoon's Crossing: Prelude."

Prelude is the prequel to a series of novels I have written since I started college, and as a tribute to my little brothers who loved them, and to myself who LOVES LOVES LOVES action fantasy with a twist of romance, I would like to unofficially unveil this movie.

I will not be giving away details about the storyline; I actually like to draw viewer's attention with a trailer. However, for those of you who are curious about the technicals, this is what I have to say:

1. I have decided that this movie will, like Love and War, incorporate FULL voice acting, sound effects, and a sound track.

2. Some parts of the movie will involve fighting, so this will be something new for me. I will be learning to use custom poses (if possible), and full-on fighting/action voice acting. Correct, you read it right. Full-on fighting/action voice acting, NOT sound effects ripped from other video games. So anyone who wants to audition, PREPARE yourself! :)

3. Having studied movies since the release of Love and War, I have decided to kick my special effects up a notch with the use of customized filters. This will add mood and color to the movie.

4. This movie will involve REAL historical events with fictional flair. It's taken me weeks, and I'm still not complete with doing research for this movie.

5. I really want to bring my movies closer to the type and quality that are enjoyable in a theatre. High def? Yes. Possibly full length in time? 1 hour and 30 minutes...BRING IT.

6. It is unclear whether or not I will be releasing this in PARTS like Love and War, or if Youtube can stop being stupid and let me upload in full length.

7. I will be eliciting the help of a few video makers with animating and special effects. If possible, I think I might be able to find someone to make music for me. :)

Well, these are my ideas at the moment. I have been (truthfully) thinking of the plotline for this movie since November of 2009. I was hesitant to announce it because I am STILL unsure of whether or not I can make enough time to do it.

One thing's for sure: This movie will take at least a year to complete. But do not be disappointed. Like I did with Love and War, I am determined to finish it.

Will I Continue? What's Next?

Is there a possibility that I will continue making Maple films? Yes, there is a possibility. Do I currently have the time for it? No. Please understand that it is crucial for me and my career to basically get top 10% of my law class. I have intentions of transferring to different schools and excelling in my law academic career. As such, I must devote most of my time to understanding the concepts being taught in each of my classes. 

However, I don't believe that people should quit their hobbies altogether. In fact, having spoken to a few law professors, it is unnecessary to do that. They encourage us to continue with our hobbies...with precaution. 

Making a film is hard work. I've finished Love and War sooner than I have expected by (1) sometimes spending more than eight hours a day working on the editing and animating, and (2) sacrificing my time and energy for other things. I dislike leading people on and not finishing. So, if I am to make a film, I want to make sure I have ample time to do it.

WITH THAT SAID...

I would like to announce that YES, I AM currently DRAFTING a new movie. In fact, I have two completely different stories that I am debating over. And, as a reward for those who read my blogs (and pointless banterings), I will let out two secrets. (Everyone else will just have to guess...unless they read this).

1. The idea for my first movie is an action/drama/war film involving five members of royalty seeking revenge on one guy...and an army of 5,000. The goal is to choose to liberate a continent, or seek vengeance. This will not involve traditional definitions of vengeance. In fact, the characters involved in this movie will not be traditional either. 

This film, if I decide to do it, is aimed for the sole purpose of storytelling, and exploiting the limits of special effects and 2D animation. For me, this movie will be MY piece of artwork. This is as much plot as I will write, because I am planning on announcing the existence of this movie only with a trailer. The idea behind it is to shock and elicit audience attention. 

• Voice Acting = Difficult, prior acting experience or equivalent highly encouraged
• Plot line = Very much like a series, since it might be told in chapters.
• Time frame = seems like it will take over a year to complete.

2. The other idea for a movie to work on will be lighthearted and comedic...much like Love and War. I understand that people want me to make a sequel. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but there won't be one LOL (at least not now). This film will involve fewer characters, and involve a love mess (NOT a love triangle)! It will also involve something we are ALL VERY familiar with *evil chuckle*. This story will focus only on storytelling, and much like Love and War, contain few or no visual special effects. 

• Voice Acting = Simple, but prior acting experience recommended
• Plot line = Simple, straight forward, with hilarious twists
• Time frame = Possibly a few months to 1 year for completion. 

I'm not quite sure which I will end up doing, but it will take me some time for me to start on it. So for now, I suppose you can say that I am just testing the waters to see if I can even do a movie. :)

*but I WOULD like to have a break after just finally completing Love and War <_<

Love and War FAQ's/Q & A

I will address the questions and comments that have been raised for Love and War. I figured it best to just type it out, than to answer every single question/comment. lol.

WARNING: THIS MAY SPOIL the end if you HAVE NOT SEEN PAST PART 8.

1. "Why didn't Levi and Cera get married?"
A: Out of respect for my real boyfriend, I decided not to have them hitched, since my boyfriend's character, and Cera's appear in other movies. I know it IS a movie afterall, but it'd just be funnier to have the Captain marry Amelie LOL.

2. "Did everyone know each other? And did you guys record in the same place?"
A: For the most part, I DID know the actors before they auditioned. Yet, they still auditioned. I did not choose them because they were my friends. And no, we did not record in the same place. I sent them their scripts via e-mail, and they sent me their audio clips the same way.

3. "What happened to Jule?"
A: You can safely assume, that after the appearance of the governor, and having him say "arrest them," that Jule is in prison (and rightly so!). Many of you felt that Part 8 did not connect with Part 6. I don't feel a need to HAVE to animate everything out for several reasons: (1) that'll make the movie unnecessarily longer; (2) the focus isn't on Jule, the focus is on Cera's past and her current dilemma with Cecily and Levi; (3) some films can still make sense without the need to explain everything, I feel this is the case with Love and War.

4. "Will you make a season 2/sequel?"
A: To be honest with you, I dislike sequels...unless I can find a story that would not only be better than the first, but would connect. I can't think of something that could currently replace it...FURTHERMORE...that would necessitate the presense of previous voice actors, and I'm not sure they're up for that (not to mention I'm going to law school and will be absent for at least a year).

5. "Will you be making more movies like this in the future?"
A: Sure, why not. The next one I make, however, will not be a romantic comedy.

***
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

1. "What program did you use?"
A: I am a mac user; I use Final Cut Express 4 to animate and video edit, Audacity to edit sound, and Photoshop CS2 to create graphics.

2. "Where can I find those backgrounds?"
A: I made 99% of them from scratch. I have borrowed maybe 2-3 maps from BSBackgrounds (THANK YOU Kirimy, Light, and Gregio!)

3. "Where did you get your sound effects?"
A: Either I MADE them, or else I found it on www.freesound.org

4. "How did you get them to move?"
A: ...please do a search on youtube for a Bannedstory Animation tutorial. XD I can't even explain this in one paragraph.


GOT OTHER questions? Comments? Leave them here and I'll do my best to answer them!

Love and War's last composition

I've received comments that Love and War isn't really a romantic comedy...since it contains events that weigh the audience down. I want to keep the "light, humorous" feel that this movie originally had at the beginning, yet what I REALLY want to do, is make you guys relate to Cera...feel the way she felt, and realize that this sort of stuff CAN happen. I want to break my audiences' heart, and then put it back together again. To do this, I have combined several elements: the use of narrative, a picture-book like animation, and emotional music. 

I have learned that people remember how they feel more than they would remember facts--and that's what I'm targeting. 

Narrative - What happened to Cera? What is this past that she had with Jule? I figured it to be more effective to keep it a narrative than to have Cera explain it to Cecily. 

Picture-book like animation - seriously...I don't have the time to animate the ENTIRE scene of her past. Yet, that's not the reason why I'm doing this. At the beginning of the movie, Cera had memories stored in pictures. I decided to bring that out one more time. It will allow the audience to focus more on the narrative and the story, instead of being distracted by the technics of animation and the semantics of acting. I want them to start feeling like Cera.

Emotional Music - why settle for just background music, if you can have music that practically paints the scenery for you? I don't believe in having music just to fill in the gap. I believe in having music that can tell a story. The music I'm using for Cera's Past is meant to be listened to, and enjoyed without the movie being there. If you listen to it by itself, you'll hear it telling you a story. The songs i've picked have plucked my heart strings and elicited some emotional response from me. That is why I have chosen what I did. :)

I'm seriously excited for the end of this movie. I want there to be a roller coaster of emotions. I want the audience to feel heartbroken and sad, and then later relieved, happy, and on the verge of laughing. I just wish I had a web cam photo of everyone's face as they are watching it. :) To me, that is success.

Love and War at Close

Working on these last few episodes have somewhat made me a little emotional LOL. I can't believe it's almost over. 

I don't want to leave my fellow viewers disappointed, so I want to put in as much emotion as possible, particularly Levi's feelings for Cera, and Cecily's feelings for Levi. Yet at the same time, I don't want to exhaust my viewers with information, because this movie was intended to be light and humorous, as its title suggests. I don't want to stray away from the style I had set up from the beginning either. 

...I don't want to write this on my channel, but I MUST admit that I think...part 6 and 7 just might be my favorite parts to the movie (besides part 1). I hope there's enough romance to keep you guys satisfied for a LONG time. :)

Things that've kept me busy thinking...

I am in such a rush to finish my projects before I head off to law school. Gosh, I'd hate to leave anyone hanging after having to promise that I would finish the movie.

iRhymu's (Yao's) Alice is REALLY HARD to act for! O_O It's such a lovely script and the movie seems so...alive. I hardly feel adequate enough to capture the feelings of Alice. Nevertheless, it is the most pleasantly challenging acting I have ever done. 

Gosh...Love and War Part 6 is gonna be one tough thing to animate. Can I say...I'm not good at fighting animation? D: 

These are my thoughts for the moment...aside from the fact that I am COMPLETELY in love with my boyfriend and I will be devastatingly sad when I have to move. He'll be about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from me...but I guess I can live. :) We'll be together forever anyways, at least that's what we promised! <3