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!