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[Arik_the_Red]

Well, folks, yes... I seem to have fallen through cracks again, but really, no, I haven't quite.... As noted in the Steampunk thread, I've had to sidetrack onto another project...

That project involves learning my newly acquired MessiahStudio5 software for all those things MS5 is best for...

Thus, I've been recruited to work on a music video... actually, it's been the hope of developing a music video (at least one) in working on several ideas for several songs that a musician I know has in his repertoire.

After bouncing around three songs - one a sci-fi theme, another a western theme, and lastly something "prehistoric," I've settled to work on the "prehistoric" song as my chief tool for learning MS5 while using my beloved Anim8or as my model tool.

As for the video ideas being entertained, they include:

1) Rockasaurus:  Dinosaur invents Guitar 
2) Gunslinger:  Western/Cowboy storyline
3) Firestorm:  Sci-Fi space battle

So, here I have a work thread just for Rockasaurus... and will post models, etc ., as they develop.

Lyrics for

ROCKASAURUS!

words and music by Zéd Zørdään

Once upon a time
One hundred thirty million years ago
The Earth was ruled by the dinosaur
Fightin' to survive
Livin' for tomorrow's light
One lone caenagnathus wanted more

He worked and he sought
To build the perfect instrument
Pushed the limits of his every skill
Finally, he attained success
Fruition of his vigilence
Forged in the fire of his will

Rockasaurus - the Late Cretaceous' brightest star
Rockasaurus - music hatched to please
Rockasaurus - awakened now for all to see
From his long-term hibernation freeze

Now he's here at last
Freed from all the ice and snow
Makin' sweet rock candy for the ear
Yes, his time has come
Wild and free and goin' strong
Comin' at you boldly, loud and clear

Rockasaurus - the modern era's greatest prize
Rockasaurus - brought here just for you
Rockasaurus - comin' forth to show us all
Metal noise in scaley green and blue

Rockasaurus - don't get close, just take my word
Rockasaurus - amplifiers fried
Rockasaurus - once again to rule the world
Watch the future and past collide

Copyright ©2001 by Zéd Zørdään.  All rights reserved.
Any and all violations of this copyright shall be deemed as implied consent for substantial financial compensation and/or death by slow torture at the copyright holder's sole option.

[Arik_the_Red]

"Beak-a-Saurus!"

Yes, the dino mentioned in the song is a "beak-a-saur"...  Therefore, here we have the beginnings of the critter...  Of course, there are likely to be some changes in the features, but it's something to start on!

[$imon]

Haha great to see your next project started, arik I love dinosaurs!

Your dude- uhh "beak-a-saurus" is looking great so far. Did you make a sketch or something you are working from? I like the lines so far. Can't wait to see that finished

Do you have a script or something for the whole video?

Lets hope you can sit this project out a little longer without falling to a next temptation xD

have fun!

[Arik_the_Red]

Well, this project has a definite multi-faceted purpose which I hope will draw me back around as a sort of stepping stone to better accomplish other projects and pipedreams.

As for the design of the "beak-a-saur," I am creating him pretty much out of my head, with the attached image as the only real pic I could find in a google search for the dinosaur "caenagnathus."

Zed and I both want a very cartoon-ish format for this "little" production, just the beak-a-saur is to reflect just that design.

As for scripting, the song lyrics themselves provide the basis for the video production. Am still mulling over the exact flow, but it will involve a prehistoric dino-land view, and ice age effect, and the beastie thawing out to "rock the modern world".

[floyd86]

Great start arik. I like the model so far. It has a nice character.

[Arik_the_Red]

Thanks, floyd!

Above image updated... and here's a link to the "instrumental" of the song...

[CoriDavis]

this looks really interesting! I can't wait to see it. You do the eyes really well

[Arik_the_Red]

Thanks, Cori... I had a long-ago desire to make eyeballs "captivating"... and as I thought about it, I realized that old-style baby-doll eyes have a certain look that catches your attention... So, I decided to make eyes that way. I've used the basic technique ever since. I have an inner eyeball that has an iris that is either flat or slightly concave, and a solid-black (0 on all settings) that is either flat or indented further into the eyeball. Then, sometimes I mess with the iris as shown above, having alternating indentings for that ridged look.

I also use separate colors for ambient and diffuse to get the texture's effect in the iris:
Ambient = yellow at .3
Diffuse = orange at 1.0
Specular = white at 1.0
Emissive = black at 1.0
Rough = 32
Brilliance = 1

[CoriDavis]

Interesting, I'd try it but it seems like it would take a lot of polys, doesn't it?

[Arik_the_Red]

yup... something like that. Though, if you look at the eyeball on my profile... I made a high-poly iris following that formula, then took a render of it and made a texture out of it, applying that to a simpler flattened faced sphere eye.

[headwax]

hey arik, your style is so recognisable - in a good way (like my spelling) good luck!