First Video!

Hey guys,

It's Faaaaantom!! Clearly. And so, to clear up any questions; No, I'm not dead, Yes I've actually posted a video, and No, it's not a machinima ( total :( right?). It was me and my buddy screwin around with two pumpkins...its not what it sounds like. Well, if you wanna check it out its on my usual profile on youtube, and for maximum convience, I've posted the link here.

Well, that's it guys, so enjoy!

-Fantom

Back in Black...or very white...

Hey Internetz,

I'm baaack...quit all that groaning! I realize that many of you think that either: A) I died; B) I realized that nobody thought I was funny and decided to quit; or C) I'm very lazy and forgetful so I haven't really been on and never felt the urge to be. Well...it's B...nah, I'm just kidding. It was C.

But, now that I'm back, there'll be a few changes around here. No more lazing around praying for money to fall out of the sky so I can afford the necessary equipment. I'm working hard (at my job) now and I'll soon have the proper funds readied. No more sitting on my arse hoping to know all the Halo knowledge by playing Halo (though that works pretty well). I'm researching my script and replacing about fifty mistakes a day. No more...well, actually, that's all the refinements I'm making...enjoy!

Thanks,
-Fantom

My toes are no longer black and blue!

Hey guys,

Good news, my toes are no longer black and blue. Just yesterday, they've returned to a nice, tanned...tan (I've been hanging out on the beaches a lot recently). So, a little more than two months later, my toes are okay-ish. They still feel pretty gentle, I just brush them with something, and it hurts. I might head to the doctor and have him check it out...but I don't really feel comfortable at the doctor's. I just get creeped out.

And don't even get me started on the dentist. I never want parts of another guy inside my mouth. Plus, I always get the new, shaky intern who's dentist tools are clattering around your mouth, ripping onpen your gums.

Anyway, in case you're wondering what this has to do with me and my machinima, I'm taking a weeks vacation from machinima making. I'm going to do a little script work on the beach, but that's about it.

Have a great Spring Break!
-Fantom

I gots me a free tee vee!

Hey guys,

A friend of mine was throwing out his old TV, so I snagged it before he threw it out. Now, so when for when I start capturing everything, I can borrow a friend's xbox and we can system link (so we can have 8 people maximum, instead of four). Now, just keep in mind when you watch my machinimas, that this TV came at a great price. My middle toe on my right foot is black, and the surrounding toes are blue, from where the TV fell on my foot. I've been limping everywhere.

Sorry this is so late...I meant to post this in Febuary, but I...accidentally forgot to post it and left it in draft form...my bad.

Sorry...
-Fantom

Mini-FAQ

Hey guys,

Here are a few questions I receive constantly:

Q: Do you ever plan on actually producing the machinima? If not, can you help me with my scriptwriting (or write the script for me/let me use your script)?

A: I do plan on producing the machinima, eventually, but as of recently I've been a little strapped for cash, what with Valentines day coming up and birthdays. And if you're not more famous than me, then no, I'm not doing a collab with you. I mean, I'm not famous at all, I have 50 fans, maybe. If I ever decide that I'm not going to produce individually, then I'd maybe be willing to work with you, but the odds of that are pretty low.

Q: May I see your script?

A: Yeah, if I think I can trust you not to stealt the idea and produce it yourself, then I'll email you the script. And I'm not overly suspicous of Machinima.com sending out agents to steal my machinima so they can produce it themselves.


Q: I've looked at your script. Why is Kent such an immature ****?

A: Well, to tell you the truth, he's based off of me. I'm not exactly immature, but I love immature jokes. I mean, they're funny and stupid: what's not to like?


Q: How do you lower your character's weapon?

A: ...You're kidding right? Why ask me? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OomsjVJ1Z2g&feature=PlayList&p=5F1798AB446AA32A&index=1


Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Ehh, maroon, I guess.


Q: Who inspired you to become a machinima director?

A: (Finally a real question) The first machinima I ever saw was Digital Ph33r. Watching Master Chief curse in an illiterate, drunken rage made my jaw drop. I remember gasping at every DEM cliff hanger. Then I saw Rooster Teeth (and for months was convinced their name was Rooster Tech, due to my poor vision and poor computer screen quality). Although Digital Ph33r made me love machinima, it was Rooster Teeth that inspired me to create one of my own. I am also a huge fan of GuitarmasterX7, the Pregame lobby guys, Running Gun Studios, Optimum Forge Productions, Shiruken/TreeSkunkProductions, and all the others (except for the five year old kids')


Q: Where do you live?

A: Take it easy there M.J.


Q: Any advice a machinima director like me?

A: Don't voice act for more than three characters. It sounds like crap. I have a team of people acting for me, whereas Digital Ph33r's pride prevents him for asking for help with his machinima, and it sounds like it's one person the entire friggin time. He can pull it off with three people, but not with ten. His new episodes are increasingly confusing, since he has about 7 characters, each one's voice differing in deepness, barely.
Also, don't be afraid to spend extra money. If there is one mike that costs $30 and has pads for the ears to help eliminate background noise, then choose that one over the $20 one that can't eliminate background noise.

That's really it, thanks, I love the questions. The brighten up my day, they really do.

Thanks,
-Fantom

New map pack upcoming

Hey guys,

I'm waiting for the new map pack before I start working on the actual physical part of the machinima. It looks like there'll be a great computer lab, a decent city, and a pretty good open area, which are all things I need for the machinima. Don't worry though, I don't need them for the first episode, but it'll be better if I just wait, and check things out.

Thanks
-Fantom

Spread the Word

Hey guys,

I'm just sending out a general alert: Publicize this blog! Remember, the more people that want me to make the machinima, the more compelled I will be to finish (well, start (the actual filming that is, not the scriptwriting, set designing and costume design, I've already done all that (well, most of it))) the machinima.

So, you know, if you're bored and you don't know what to say, just say, "Hey, dude, you remember Arby and the Chief (or Master Chief sucks at halo, Beans, Master Chief, Pregame Lobby, or whatever machinima you guys like)? There's some dude who's making a funny one. "TheFantomLegend" or something like that. I was reading his blog, and his machinima looks like it'll be pretty good. Wanna check it out later or something?"

Or you can abbreviate that, you can ad-lib. But thanks in advance, guys and girls (who are we kidding, like a there's a single girl reading this site. DigitalPh33r has millions of viewers and like 100 of them are girls). Really appreciate it :).

Ok, I take the ":)" back. I can't do emoticons. I stink at them. Right? I mean, I put it next to a period. Does that kill the effect...just a little? Whatever.

Later,
-Fantom

Preview of Deceit: Episode 1

Hey guys,

Thought you might want to see a small preview of Deceit: Episode 1. As you can clearly tell, I am torn between naming my episodes (which will make recognizing them a lot easier) and just numbering them (which will save me time, but will also make them seem more bland (and, guys, bland, it's such a crappy word, right? Who wants that?)).

Either way here you go. It's not the main part (though that would help you understand it a lot better) but I want to keep the main part to myself. This is just a tiny snippit of the script. Well, several tiny pieces. And just for fun, I've assorted them randomly. Here goes:



Allen: Tanner, you there?

Kent: Yeah, I’m here. Shocker, huh? What with all the places I have to go and all the people I have to see. Hey, from the report I gave you a week ago, was that evidence enough to convict these guys?

Allen: Yep, even the U.N. General, thought that espionage, sabotage, grand theft auto, and illegal weapon possession was enough crime to convict someone, even on Tyche.

Kent: Really?

Allen: Well, actually, it was the tax fraud that really made up the general’s mind.




Kent: I pay attention to detail…And I like to eavesdrop on conversations. Did you know that Bungie is making some stupid game about some super soldier fighting off aliens, and stopping some shit with “Halo’s”?

Martelli: Christ, those guys over at Bungie come up with the lamest ideas, they’re such morons. Like that idea’d ever make money.

Allen: Girls, if you’re done with your tea party, then would you mind if we could get back on task…?




Kent: Well, the armor looks durable.

Allen: You’ll get new armor as well, except yours will be of a different design.

Kent: How ‘bout their weapons training? How’s that?

Allen: Tanner, I’m insulted that you even have to ask.

Kent: Then I’m doing my job right.

Allen: Top notch, these are my best men.

Kent: Other than me, though, right?

Allen: See, now if I say yes, you’ll want a pay raise

Kent: I get paid for this job too? Whoa, I thought all I got was essentials money.

Allen: That is all you get.

Kent: So who was the best guy you had again?



So, yes, sorry, no action parts but they look like crap on paper - er, type. You'll like them a lot better actually seeing them. And as you've probably gathered, Kent Tanner and James Allen are the main characters in the story. And if you think some parts are a little jumpy, it's because you have to read the whole thing.
Which I will be granting on request to people I like. Also, spread the news. I'm dying here. I haven't gotten mail from a fan in weeks!

Thanks,
-Fantom

360 Good to Go

Hey guys,

Good news. I was able to fix my 360, and I bought a new Rock band 2 disc (Microsoft wouldn't replace it). I've also picked out the capture card I want, and will be able to buy it by the end of next week, minimum. I also have picked out my computer mic.

However, I'm going to delay production for another month or so. I mean, with the new map pack coming out, why should I start a series where I'll be using the same sets repeatedly when the new map pack might have the perfect maps for my machinima. Disappointing, yet good at the same time! Of course, it'll either make all my hard work make me feel like crap or it'll make me regret waiting to make the machinima after the map pack came out, despite my intuition that it'd have the perfect maps.

Not quite sure how things'll work out, but I can assure you that after I check out the new map pack, I'll have a colorful response to it posted right here!

-Thanks,
Fantom

Three Month Min. Break

Hey guys,

Bad news in Fantomville. I got Rock Band 2, and the second I put it in, my 360 breaks! Something inside of it cracked somehow, and I took the Rock Band disc out, and there was a circular scratch on it. I put in some blank discs and the reaction was the same. So now I have to send my 360 in, and see if Microsoft will also replace my Rock Band disc. And for those of you who had received red rings or other maladies, you'll know how hard it is to get Microsoft to be honest with you.

Thanks
-Fantom

Feel Free to Contact Me

Hey guys,

Since I haven't really been doing that much lately, I haven't really needed to make any new blog posts. But, since I realize some of you like to read these posts, I've decided to make posts about nothing. Then I realized what a stupid idea that was, and rejected it. So, I decided to make posts almost about nothing, but with something slipped in.

In this one, it's my request for people to send me feedback. I want to hear from you guys! Do you want a preview of a script? Do you want to know more about a certain project? Do you have any ideas for new projects? I don't know, because nobody really talks to me.

So send me an e-mail, whether you're asking me to show a preview of a script, showing me a good idea, or even just saying "hi", that'd be great. The only reason I'm asking this is because I don't have a large amount of fans, so I wouldn't have to deal with a large burden of mails.

Oh, and Happy Holidays!
-Fantom

Poll Title Now Readable

Hey, guys.

I realized that when I made the main blog title readable, it accidentally made the poll title unreadable. So, clearly, I fixed both of them, so you can now read the blog title and the question of the poll. Which, incidentally is "What Machinima Project are you Looking Foward to More?" I'm not going to lie to you guys, I enjoy writing for Deceit the most. I gotta say though, that John Blaze, Accounting (or as the poll reads "Master Chief, Accouting) is the easiest one to make, just because it is so simplistic. It has no real words in it, just yelling and it has minimal characters.

Thanks
-Fantom

Counter

Hey, guys.

I actually got the counter! I had been trying to get one on the blogger gadget site, but the only ones that they had either didn't work or weren't hit counters. It was mainly population counters. So I went to another site, Easy Hit Counters. I highly suggest them. They had tons of options, and I was able to find the counter section, find the counter I wanted, get the counter, and paste it into my blog in about 20 seconds. It would probably take you a shorter amount of time, I just had no idea where to paste the counter info things.

Thanks
-Fantom

Blog Title Fixed

Hey guys. Well, for those of you who look at this blog, you'll notice that I've fixed the blog title color. It had been originally white, thes same color as the picture's backround, so you couldn't see the title. It had merely blended in. But now, I changed the title color to...maroon...or crimson...or whatever color it is.

That's all
-Fantom

Hey, guys.

Well, in case you're all wondering I haven't posted anything in a while, it's because I had forgotten my password for my blog spot.

Well, in other news, I've completed the scripts for episodes 1 and 2 for the series "Deceit". I've also completed the scene locations for episode 1.

Sorry this is such a short post, but I've been busy lately and I haven't gotten the chance to work on my machinima projects. Also, I've been working on the script for "John Blaze, Accounting"

Thanks,
TheFantomLegend

Deconstruction

Hey everybody, you'll all be thrilled to know that "Deceit" will be delayed another month or so. Yeah, I know what you're all thinking, "It was nice of you to let DigitalPh33r enjoy his time as number one, because soon, TheFantomLegend will be number one!" Or "Wow...this affects my life so much...damn it..."

Whatever. Anyway, I showed my script to the script writer of Ice Age 1 and Ice Age 3 (It's coming out soon) and he destroyed it. Well, not literally, but he really did pick it apart. Oh, yeah, you're probably wondering why I think you would believe this **** that's coming out of mouth right now, and I think you'll believe it because it's true. My mother apparently was good friends with him in high school and has kept in slight contact. Cool, huh?

So anyway, he knew what Halo was (apparently he had a lot of free time during Ice Age 2, eh?), and he understood the whole script. He basically just showed me some of the amateur mistakes I made and gave me some pretty cool tips.

So I deconstructed the whole two scripts and worked my way back down laying a better foundation, working over the basic script I had written, putting speech first, then motions, then voice expressions (since it's a Halo machinima, I don't have to work on a lot of motions or bodily expressions), and then just fancying it all up.

I also worked in several little side stories that I can always rely on in case I run out ideas and have to appeal to the public quickly by bringing in an old mystery that they never did figure out and making it seem so cool at the same time. I feel just like J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter author for the five people in the world who don't know that, damn, those recent movies sucked)

Anyway...that's more or less it for now. Oh, and the Mythic Map Pack doesn't come out a month from now anymore, try like 4 months. February 2009. It'll have 6 maps and I'll bet all of them will be like sets I've already made and the second I upload the episodes to YouTube...BAM! There will be something exactly like it, except 10 times better.

Deceit

Hey, I am now one week away from my deadline to finish the script for episode one. I promised my actors I would have the basic script two months ago, and I had handed it in 1 month late. I just keep getting delayed. Anyway, the basic script is finished, with all the scenes properly placed for the maps now, and almost all our scene maps are completed. I just have to edit some extra things, because I had made a small scene bordering around the equipment "cloaking", and I, being a re-re, didn't remember that, that equipment was available exclusively on campaign. So had to rewrite that entire scene, which, admittedley, I think turned out better than the other variant. Anyway, that's it, and I found out what I'm going to use for a radio, I'm going to have to use a small generator.

Name Change and Title Problem

Hey, about 10 seconds after I uploaded the poll, I changed the machinima, "Master Chief, Accounting" to "John Blaze, Accounting". So, yes, I do realize that it says Master chief here, and John Blaze on my YouTube account. You don't need to message me about it. Thanks though. And if you want to read the title, you have to highlight it, because I can't change the font color. All it says is: TheFantomLegend. But, since the backround of the picture is white, as well as the unchangeable font color, it will be unreadable (unless you highlight it) until I photoshop my name into the picture and merge it.

First Post

Hey, I've finally set this site/blog/thing up! It only took...27 tries to correctly write those little letter things. You know those things where it has a word in a weird font and you have to write the word down so it proves you're making the account. Well, I suck at those, it took at least 27 tries, my history bar was filled with those pages. Anyway, I made this thing so I can keep my fans updated. Yes, so now Bill AND Ted will never be kept out of the loop. So, now, back to business. For my series "Deceit" (that's its name until I come up with a better name), the script for episode one is more or less done. I just have to make small adjustments for language realisticisy, and I realized you can't make computers OR radios on "The Pit" so I'm trying to put on a radio telecast on (and no, I can't use those giant TV's in the room with the sword, it's already in use), so viewers can see where the voice is coming from, but I can't find anywhere near where the main character will be to do it. Hey, I know, maybe one of you guys have an idea. Say you are facing one of those giant TV screens in that sword room. Back out and go to the left, the LEFT. Then go to that second story area where snipers looooove to be spawned. On the unenclosed area, where could he be watching/listening to a news show and on what?