There is an exciting new project on the grid being made entirely in Second Life. Doc Grun [Douglas W. Green) it the author Awakening. Working with Lou CasaBianca as director/publisher, he is bringing his science fiction series to life using an episodic Machinima format.
‘Awakening’ is set in the future approximately 340 years from now. Earth has been struck by a rogue comet in the year 2048 bringing catastrophes world wide bringing man to the edge of extinction. Space travelers from the center of the galaxy sent a rescue force to Earth. These travelers were called Scaliens and helped to rebuild the civilization of earth at the cost of enslaving humanity. Humanity then rose up to defeat and enslave their captors living that was in peace for the next 340 years. The sins of the past long forgotten, mankind lives to regret all that has happened. To read a more comprehensive introduction to the project, please click here.
Saoirse Heart: I am here today speaking with Doc Grun [aka Douglas W. Green]. In real life, he has worked through and experienced the technical innovations and changes in the automotive industry. He the author of The Awakening, and is currently involved in his life’s dream project; creating a full length movie filmed in VR format, right here in SL. Doc in your last press release you had completed seven episodes, what has happened to those?
Doc Grun: they were consolidated into 1 movie. the book is 83,000 words, I had to expand my goals. we recorded the entire first 7 episodes in voice then would pump the VO into SL to make the avatar lips move while we did the animations. but we are working on more synchronized movements so back to the drawing board. It’s only the beginning. we will also be using mocap for animations that sl cant reproduce. The project will also spotlight AR VR and how to educate students in the STEAM
How far along are you in completing the entire movie?
Doc Grun: we are working with RL film partners to do it professionally. filming is on hold while we retool.
Saoirse Heart: How can we follow the series while the movie is in production?
Doc Grun: we are now recording podcasts that will be released 1 a week for 18 weeks, each week reviewing one of the chapters in the book and a playback of my audiobook recording of that chapter. www.awakeningtheseries.com is our main site for now. The podcast series is titled The Awakening Chronicles.
Saoirse Heart: Will you have a crowdfunding or other type of fund raising site for people to visit?
Doc Grun: people can contribute on the website if they feel so inclined, every little bit helps. the more grass roots support corp sponsors see the more they are convinced the project will make them money. indiegogo campaign is not live yet. soon. Did you watch the promo vids?
Saoirse Heart: yes, they are fantastic.
Doc Grun: then you get the scope of the project
Saoirse Heart: huge
Doc Grun: very, We are launching everything at the same time, so as each section is done it is placed on ice and we move to the next. There will be 3 books in the series. A prequel next and then a sequel
Saoirse Heart: A project of this size takes a lot of time, how are you coping with the time and keeping your real life going smoothly?
Doc Grun: I am working 13 hours X6 days lately, not much time for me
Saoirse Heart: Wow that is a lot of time, and it is also spent learning the most cutting edge technologies. Has the changing technology affected the project?
Doc Grun: in fact the book was written so long ago by me I had to go back and update the tech used as what I originally wrote seemed like 1960's sci-fi instead of futuristic lol
Saoirse Heart: What is your social media presence now?
Doc Grun: my twitter feed is @docgrun. currently have 530 followers, get about 50 new each day. helps get the word out. People can sign up for the newsletter and receive a free copy of the first chapter in pdf format [through the website]
Saoirse Heart: Do you have a bigger goal beyond this project for your life and your life’s work?
Doc Grun: my goal is to quit my day job and write and produce this, and my partner and I will be starting up a service for people who want to do what we are doing and offer our experience to help them bring their projects to life. we have made all the mistakes so we know how to help the next person not make them lol
Mostly it is time that is lost. our team is world wide. my partner is in California, my film editor is in Colorado, my graphics artist is in the UK. even setting up a meeting is hard for someone no matter what time we pick. The reality of Second Life collaborations.
Saoirse Heart: Who are members of your team?
Doc Grun: The team includes Lou CasaBianca [Director/Publisher], Bob Cook [Film Editor] and Andreea Laura Alp [Graphic Artist]
Saoirse Heart: Thank you for speaking with me today Doc. I know we all will want to watch the progress of Awakenings and your future projects. I began reading the book this weekend and as you predicted.....I had a hard time setting it down to write this article. You may purchase the book in PDF format, order a copy of the audio book and the original music soundtrack all from the website.
@docgrun
https://twitter.com/docgrun
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