Having left the Expo Exec, and looking for ways to reconnect with the community I revisited TMUnderground
The core of this community first met through the Lionhead *The Movies* community, and went on to create an independent sharing environment, free from the whims and restrictions of game company policy.The site now encompasses all forms of Machinima, and is very welcoming to new members.
You can check out their regularly updated movie collection here
As is the case in many online communities, members drift away and return, new initiatives are launched, and different people inject a fresh dynamic to the mix.
I was particularly impressed with a long thoughtful post made by Bezzer who I haven't met before.
Here is an extract;
MACHINIMA'S DYING - Machinima's dying? Is it really?This is one comment I cannot accept or believe and here's why.
The majority of us here are movie makers, correct?We are here because we have stories to tell and, because we either can't afford high end equipment or are unable to find real life actors and like-minded folk to help create our visions, we turn to...machinima!
Be it 'The Movies', Iclone, Moviestorm, muvizu, the sims, second life, game engines...whatever...we have all embraced one or more of these mediums to turn stories in our heads into movies.I make movies...I LOVE making movies and realistically, machinima and animating through animation software are the only ways I can do what I love...practical, inexpensive and I don't need a degree from a film school to tell me I CAN make movies.I haven't been to film school, I have a very tight budget and I live in a small, dull industrial town with no movie making credentials whatsoever.
Now, I absolutely refuse to believe that there aren't shedloads of folk outside of TMU that don't share the same passions and are in a similar situation to people like myself regarding budget and limitations...All they need is convincing that machinima IS the right sollution for them and that TMU IS the right community.
You can read the full post and replies here
If you are expecting arguments or in-fighting in the thread then you will be disappointed.
What did happen, and what is happening are movie makers using their animation skills to advertise what they know is a very valuable resource.
A community geared towards supporting each other in their creative life.
If you have never joined TMU, or are a lapsed member then I can fully recommend checking out this site (again). You will be given a warm welcome.
Forum Link
http://www.tmoaradio.com/vb/forum.php
Movie Site (6499 films available and growing!)
http://www.tmunderground.com/video.php