A leap year without a leap of faith

Hello Everyone,

Frustration and video hosting

I've left updating this month BLOG until today the 29th February 2016.  An interesting day in that as you know it only comes around once every 4 years.  To some degree this is similar to major decision that I have made.  They only happen every few years and today I feel events are forcing me to make one.

I have been a long time user of Youtube, all my videos that I have produced over the years have always been uploaded and my small but dedicated subscribers have been notified of them.  Over the years though things have gotten worse, the merge of Youtube and Google was not great for me.

 

Google around 10 years ago banned me from Google Ads.  This I have tried on many occasions to address but I get no where, so I gave up trying.  Now over the years I have been stung by Youtube's "Copyright" issues and some I have accepted but in some cases they have been downright wrong and the hassle to prove your innocence is incredible.  Even in one case where I wrote, performed, produced and recorded my own song they tried to tell me I had used someone else's work, it was mine!  But the guilty until proven innocent issue has always bothered me.

In some cases I used the fair usage policy to protect myself.  But even this has now come under attack by Youtube's systems algorithm! 

This last week my video "Be Water - Bruce Lee Tribute" had a copyright claim put on it based on the fact I'd used a piece of audio from his 1971 Pierre Berton interview.  My account now is in "Bad Standing" and I've been warned that if I receive two more claims my account will be terminated.  I need to wait 6 months now to get my account back!

I wouldn't mind if everyone adhered to the rules but they don't and in some cases the videos are so wrong from a copyright point I'm amazed they are still playing?

So where does this leave Capemedia UK and Youtube/Google.  Well I'm seriously thinking of moving my work to another hosting website like Vimeo or Dailymotion.  Haven't decided which platform is better but I am leaning towards Dailymotion.

 

I've never made any money from Google or YouTube so you would think I was safe, sadly that is not the case and I feel I would prefer to jump then be pushed.

I will keep this BLOG posted of my choice.

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Projects

Last month I mentioned my project for 2016 and gave away a snippet of an image from a set I was working on.  Over the last few weeks I have posted other artwork and shots from the project on my Facebook Page.

Today I'm proud to announce the name of this project and the first teaser poster.

"A Tale of Time" was an idea I had over the Christmas period 2015 during some very difficult times for me and my family.  I want this to be my best work to date, I want this to be enjoyed by everyone regardless of language and I want this to be classed as an animated film not a piece of "Virtual Cinema" or "Machinima".

I can only live in hope.

Production Update - "A Tale of Time"

Please come back for more information on this as we move forward towards a release date.

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Thanks for popping round and taking the time to read my BLOG.

Until next time

Thanks

Colin (aka Capemedia)

Out of the ashes we will rise

Hello All,

A bit of a somber title "Out of the ashes we will rise" and to think where I am today from only a matter of weeks ago.  I think that myself, my family, and a collected "we", are rising out of a period of pain.

We are all slowly starting to look forward and to see where and what 2016 brings.  Strange but every year I plan so many thing, sometimes I get them done other times I fail.  But what happened in December 2015 took me and everyone close to me by surprise.  It made me think about my own mortality, those closest to me and what was important.

But the circle of life states that life must go on.  We cannot stay still no matter how much we want to.  We cannot shut the world away and hide behind closed doors.  That's not what we want of our loved ones and surely that don't want from us.  We need to live life to the fullest.

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PROJECTS

I have decided that 2016 will be a great year for me because I'm not going to set targets or project timelines and the stress and worry when I don't meet them.  What I'm going to do is work on my projects and complete them when I finish them.

So at the end of December I had an idea based on the event in my personal life but also inspired by what I was watching over the Christmas period.  I'm not going to give away to much too early but I have made a start.

The first draft of the script is written and will just need checking before it's finalised.  The asset document has been started with the scenes, sets, characters etc.

Work has started in iClone building the models, the characters and setting the scenes.

There is a working title but for now I shall refer to it as "My 2016 Project".

Here is the first image.

I have a approached a couple of people to help me on this project and I'm looking forward to what they come up with and add to this.

The above image is very important but I'm giving nothing away now.

Stay tuned for more updates

Take Care

Colin (aka Capemedia)

2015 in Review and Tribute

Hello All,

So after an interesting year with so many activities, new ideas and a few completed projects the year has ended on a very sad note.

Someone who has been part of my life since I was in my teens, who I respected and loved, passed away on the 7th December 2015.  The final few weeks leading up to this were very difficult for me and my family, but nothing can compare you for the overwhelming loss you feel.

R.I.P Peter Hartley

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So to the review of the year:-

At the beginning of the year iClone 6 had been released at the end of 2014 and part of my work as a beta tester was to produce various images and videos to show the capabilities of the software.  I produced a showcase of this work and released it.

• In January one of the first things that happened in 2015 was the fact Capemedia UK Ltd was to be frozen due to lack of commercial work.  It wasn't a great time then but in hindsight was a good thing in the end.

• In March I redesigned the layout in my home studio and upgraded my hardware and software.  This had something I had needed to do for sometime to create more space in my room.

• April 2015 we hit 500 likes on our Capemedia UK Facebook page.  That number has remained a constant throughout the year and as I type stands at 524.

If you haven't already done so, why not pay a visit and click the Like button.

• In May Capemedia UK became 10.  Back in 2005 I had the idea to start a production company producing, videos, music, animations etc.  10 years later I was still doing it.

• In June I released my entry for the Reallusion Game Character Animation Contest, first a WIP progress and then a final video.  Sadly I never completed what I wanted to produce due to time constraints and my day to day job.

The final entry:-

• August 2015 saw me venture into Vlogs with me making a "Introduction and Welcome" for Capemedia UK.

• In September 2015 Reallusion released a new addon for iClone called Character Creator and one of the first things I did was created a Bruce Lee model.  I made the choice to do the model with glasses as I couldn't quite get his eyes right.  However you decide.  On the back on this I made a tribute video.

The tribute video:-

There was also two pieces of music written for this project:-

• Finally in November 2015 I released my final project of 2015.  Again using a model created in Character Creator.  I combined new lighting within iClone to show the difference between night and day.

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So that's 2015 in review.  There will be no more projects completed this year and over the next few weeks I will need to spend time with my family as we adjust to our bereavement.

Thank you for reading, watching and supporting Capemedia UK over the last and finally I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Until 2016.

Signing off Colin Cooper

I missed a month and I liked it.

Hello Everyone,

Well it seems, no matter how I tried I have ended up missing a monthly Blog.  This was not done intentionally, it just happened.

Never mind!
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VLOGS

OK so I have managed to release 2 more Vlogs since my last post.

Capemedia's World - Composing Music Ep1 (Vlog4) 

Capemedia's World - Artificial Intelligence (Vlog5) 

I have been trying to do weekly vlogs but when I try and work on my projects it seems this has a delaying effect on getting my vlogs published.

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PROJECTS

With the new Character Creator plugin for iClone I have been creating some new avatars for my productions.

This outstanding tool allows so much flexibility I've not even scrapped the surface yet with what it can do.

So my next short project called "Light and Day" is based around a new designed character and the new lighting system in iClone.  I may even throw in some Indigo renders as well.

Come back next month to see the finished project.

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In the mean time you can keep up to date with everything going on in Capemedia's World,

On Facebook

On YouTube

On Soundcloud

Or at www.capemediauk.com

Major update coming for the website in 2016, our 11th year.

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Please come back for more on this BLOG.

Thanks for passing by.

Take Care.

Colin

Wake Me Up When September Ends

Hello Everyone,

As you may have noticed I'm publishing this blog update for September on the 1st October...strange...weird!!

I'll explain, during the first 2 thirds of September everything was ticking over nicely.   I had started my new VLOG at the end of August and had managed to keep things going over the first few weeks and released 2 more VLOGs

And

Things got a little time stretched when I wanted to release "Be Water" my tribute to Bruce Lee.  I had created the character in the newly released Character Creator from Reallusion in early September and I got stuck into writing the music and creating the film. 

Sadly my day time work came into play and arrangements for my son's 18th Birthday party delayed things and I finally released the video on the 29th September.

You can now watch this film tribute here:

Please let me know what you think in the comments on here, YouTube or Facebook.

The music from the film "Be Water" is now available to listen on Sound-cloud



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So onwards into October:

I will continue my video VLOGs, I have some new ideas and hopefully something people will enjoy watching.  I will be writing new music and thinking up new creative ideas.

Please come back for more on this BLOG, follow me on Facebook, YouTube, Sound-cloud to keep up to date with everything Capemedia

Thanks for passing by.

Take Care.

Colin

Running through the Vlog

Hello Everyone,

Recently most of my spare time has been dedicated to a personal challenge to complete my first half marathon.  I have been a steady 10K runner for the past few years but moving to this new distance has really pushed me.

Adapting and taking on the extra training was very demanding on me.  My runs now were running over 2 hours and it began to tell on my body.  Fortunately I found a good sports phsio who helped me and prepared me for the event.

Sunday 23rd August 2015 I travelled to Rochdale in the UK, to attempt this new distance.  The race started at 9:20am and as I stood there with over 500 other runners I was preoccupied with my watch trying to reset the stop watch.  I looked up to sounds of the announcer starting the race and I just had enough time to get near one of the pace makers.

The race was a 2 lap route, the run out steadily got higher and there was lots of hills to climb.  At this stage the field was still thick with runners and you felt part of something.  On the final stretch of the first part I noticed a lot of 10K runners who had started 10 minutes before us.  I actual felt I was doing good for time but the half marathon turn point was further up the hill then the 10K one.

As I returned to the start I ended up with a bunch of other runners and got chatting.  At this stage I could still talk as I wasn't even a half way yet.  Around the 6 mile mark I took an energy gel for a boost, this did help me run past all the cheering people with a good pace.  The first lap was done.

On the second lap running back to the turning point I could feel things were beginning to get harder.  The field now was spreading out and on the other side of the road were the last 10K runners.  I was lucky on the final accent as I had friends cheering me on which really did help but in the warm day I needed water.  We got this at the turning point and pretty much grabbed two bottles and drank a full bottle in one.  I was knackered but had 3 miles to go.

On the way up I had passed the 2 and Half hour pace maker so felt that I was doing great.  But now the heat was pressing home, the body was tired and the legs getting stiff.  As I approached the last mile and half I had nothing and could hear the pace maker shouting support but getting nearer.

Eventually I was past and I could see the town hall where the finish line was in the distance.  Total will pushed me forward, the streets were empty of runners and only spectators and pedestrians remained.  I felt like I was crawling slower then a snail in honey when the last 400 meters came into view and I pushed as hard as my now non-working legs would go.  
Crossing the line was bliss but I nearly fainted and needed water and a banana.

My time 2 hours and 30 minutes, I was ecstatic and over the moon.

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The Reallusion Character Animation Competition closed and my video was not placed.  I was funnily enough added to a couple of playlist on YouTube, so that was good.

I have received some great comments and support for what I tried to do so that in itself was good enough for me.

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Also for I have released my first Vlog.



That's all for now.

Please leave your comments on my Vlog or on this Blog.

Thanks for visiting

Colin (aka Capemedia)    

Something old, something new, something batman, I made it through.

Hello Everyone,

So another month has flown by but this time I actually managed to get something completed and submitted my entry to the Reallusion competition.  I'm over the moon to have managed this, as generally I epically fail :)

I have to say some of the entries have been superb and I've been truly amazed by the level of quality that has been presented by the other participants.  I'm really pleased that I have been part of this journey and if I win or not, it's irrelevant because I have learned and been impressed by my fellow iCloners.

You can watch my entry here:-


I have a number of projects on the go at any one time and this United Alliance universe I'm creating is giving me so many ideas.

Here are a few WIP images:-

Just wish me luck that I can get more finished this year.
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My other project I'm working on is my 2015 year in seconds.  So I record the highlights of every day, be that only the weather, a post on Facebook or an event like getting a new car.  I then need to compile all 365 days into a complete video, so people can watch my year.  Very interesting concept and idea, which I'm working through.

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I'm also toying with the idea of a Video Blog.  Where I film myself discussing various aspects of Capemedia UK and things that interest me, like films, trailers, music, instruments and upload to YouTube.  I'm hoping to do these a couple of times a month but will do one for August and see what the reaction is like.

Well that's all for now.

Thanks for visiting

Colin (aka Capemedia)