Primary Contact Name
Describe your project
Online Story Collaboration; This usually fails because there isn't a good infrastructure in place. I am hoping to use Drupal to create a site where people have the resources to create a story online. It would have a storyboard creator/editor, database of assets such as textures, 3d objects, tutorials, and a selection of different genres to work on. Most importantly it would have levels of Roles assigned by a moderator. Roles are basically levels of commitment by users who have joined the site. By completing certain tasks users advance to higher positions and or unlock more advanced tutorials. The benefit is increasing control over particular Stories. People interested in say a sci-fi story would contribute scripts(written stories), 3d objects, images, 3d sets, 3d props. They would create storyboards, complete shots, etc, adding additional points allowing them to increase their roles in the various online projects. Roles can be overridden by an Admin moderator if certain people display a lack of interest or zeal or take a project in the wrong direction, but in a way that is helpful and not negative. Most online collaborations fail because people don't like the idea of not having control of a project. I think if there is a very easy laid out Rule set, people will feel comfortable enough to contribute their time to Short 3d films. More and more Anime is making it's way to the U.s.. More and more of that style is being generated using 3d. This means there is a growing base of 3d artists wanting to learn how to make anime and how to make 3d animations. By giving people a site that allows them to learn 3d programs in a fun way and possibly learn and create their own anime show, or episode in an orderly way, I think this is a great resource using the internet and only possible using the internet. It could even become an online school, with full time staff creating tutorials, and or helping aspiring animators.
Organization or Business Name
Who would want to use it and why?
I think all aspiring 3d animators would like to use it. I myself scour the net for free objects, tutorials, and textures. Some are actually of good quality. I've seen tons of websites where talented people post images they have done for fun. It would be great to foster that into an online 3d community where artists could join in online projects and actually have some control of the outcome. The end product might be small 3d shorts produced by artists from all over the world. More adept people might become mentors, helping people starting out. I also think having a prize structure of some sort for completed work might be an incentive for people to complete their ideas. This might be from sponsors in the industry, or access to better on-site tutorials, or access to higher role functionalty.
Why are you the best person or organization to develop this project?
I have been running nyclightwave.com for several years. It's a user group where a bunch of Newtek lightwave 3d users congregate to learn how to better our skills. I've been using drupal for several months and migrated our user group site over to that platform. I maintain the website, and contribute to our online community. But I also have a vision, to help people learn by doing projects. I feel this is the best way to learn. Our user group has several people "in the industry" and their insights on politics, technique and artistic style have helped all our members become better artists.
U.S. State
Country
What potentially bigger thing might happen if everything went perfectly and the stars all aligned?
I would say the worlds first Collaborative full length 3d animated movie, where the plot, animation, and overall production were all driven by the website. It could even become an online school, with full time staff creating tutorials, and or helping aspiring animators. The mission statment would be "Learn by doing". 3d Software could be sold via student discount, creating revenue for give aways, contests, tutorials. (most 3d software today also give their software away for 1 month as a free download. (An example is newtek lightwave) This might be enough time for someone to do a few tutorials, and decide if they want to do more.
How will you be able to measure whether or not your project has really made a difference?
This is easy. If even one animated story gets created, I would consider this project a success. I would consider it a partial success if at least some story or stories were created, and some shots completed. At the very least it would become a 3d resource for people wanting to learn 3d animation.
Requested amount from Knight News Challenge
What unmet need does your proposal answer?
A place for animators at home to network together in a digital environment for the purpose of making 3d animated shorts in a controlled and easy way.
Total cost of project, including all sources of funding
What specific, unique opportunity do you see that will make this project more successful than others trying to fill that general
I think that this project can be created using drupal. I think that it's robust database structure and taxonomy features will be critical. It's use of "roles" and "groups" are also critical. An example of the roles of drupal would be the ability to assign roles like levels in a video game, completing certain tasks unlock others that give you more control of your story, and also allow you to learn more complicated 3d techniques; sort of like a prerequisite type of structure.)
Expected amount of time to complete project (in whole years):
How will people learn about what you are doing?
The main way people will learn about the site, will be forum posts on sites where 3d users hang out. Also SEO positioning on google. Post's left on the Newtek forums, cgchannel, cgsociety, flay, and any other 3d sites I can find will generate traffic to the site. Also solicitations to authors who provided free quality 3d assets. For example, locating and finding free models are fairly easy on the web. Asking the authors permission to collect and distribute their public domain models on the site might generate interest for them to participate in a story, at the very least a strong collection of quality 3d objects would be created for the community.
Do you have any other funding or investment? We’re interested in knowing who else is interested in your project.
I will be hosting the site, Buying the domain name, installing Drupal, and investing my time on making all the drupal parts fit the project. I will also be emailing sponsors for prizes. Emailing the creators of public domain 3d assets for permission to host thier objects on the site for the purpose of helping create stories. I will collect links to tutorials, and hopefully have some written for the site. I will also be the Web Admin for the site. I will also contribute 2d and 3d assets to the site.
Are you working with anyone else to complete this project? If so, please give names and what they would do?
No. I will need to hire freelancers to help me get past certain drupal obstacles. I also plan on using Adobe Flash for the storyoboard section. This also I think I would have to hire someone. I do have skills in both drupal and Flash, but to overcome sticking points I would have to get help from the drupal and or flash communities either by using user group forums, and freelancers. I think in this area any grant money would be most useful.
Who else is working in this area? How does your work fit into the larger context of work in this area?
As far as I know there are no other people working on a project like this. I think the reasons are complex. In today's day and age, there is tons of time being wasted on video game playing. There are statistics that show that kids get better hand eye coordination, but not much else. If people have time to play, they might want to contribute to a group project instead. Instead of playing a video game with cool 3d graphic cut scenes, they might want to try and make one if they knew there was a place they could learn how to do it.
What do you guarantee will happen if you complete the activities in this proposal?
A website where people could start collaborating on a 3d animated story. It is my hope that if this is done correctly, people will create hundreds of 3d animated shorts over the years.