Even Worse News...

Unfortunately, EP2's production has also been halted. I just realized when I accidentaly erased all of my most important effects, I also erased ALL of my captured footage. Due to problem after problem, I am taking a break from Artifact. During this so called "break", I will instead be bringing you a new tutorial series called "How To Make A Halo Machinima"
In this series, I will be filming myself making a machinima. So it's not going to be a copy of DigitalPh33r's version. There are so many horrid machinimas out there and there have been so many questions on what programs to use and how to organize all of this. I am hopefully going to be answering all of your questions.
I know some of you may be thinking "Why does this guy want to post a machinima tutorial online, when he can't even keep his own machinima in line?" My answer to you is "Because I can do whatever the fuck I want."
If you want more information on the tutorial series, I will be releasing a trailer for it soon. I have also released a small update announcing that "Artifact" has been put on Hiatus. Hopefully my other projects will tide you guys over until I get Artifact back on her legs.

Regards,
DawnAscendance

Very, Very Bad News...

     Well, this is officially this worst thing that has happened to me on this machinima. First, I accidently erased all my effects, composed music, and sound effects. Which I can re-download but will take quite a while. (26GB worth of stuff)
     But that's not the worse news. The worse news is the fact that I tripped on my headset's cable, and broke it. It is not fixable, and I don't have the money for another good quality headset. Therefore, I cannot do the voices for Markus and Toby. I have posted voice acting parts for them on a VA Forum, but it will most likely take a while for it to get some good auditions. So after EP2, I cannot continue the "Artifact" series until I get their parts filled. This could quite possibly take months.
      I hate this as much as you do. I will still try to release EP2 on Easter Sunday, but I must first wait for all my stuff to download again. Which is taking a very long time. If I have to postpone it again, I will let you know.
     I understand that all you have been hearing from me is bad news, but I cannot help it. I have no job to save for the things I need so I have to make due with what I have. And for the voices of Markus and Toby, I have nothing.
     Please understand I am trying my very best, to my extent, to get this back on track. Until then, 'Artifact" has been put on hiatus. I will be helping out TBE Clan Movies on their machinima "Valkyrie Team" during this time. So there will still be other machinimas by us.
     I am sorry for all this, you guys. I have had the worst luck with this series. I promise you guys that "Artifact" is not dead. It will return and stronger than ever. Think of this as a long download for an amazing upgrade. I will have more time to practice my skills with video editing and other things. I will keep you guys posted on everything.

Sorry,
DawnAscendance

EP2 Will Be Out This Friday

     Before I begin, let me apologise for taking longer than expected with EP2. In this blog post, I will be explaining why it has been taking so long. I know some of you have been waiting for a while, and I was supposed to release it two weeks ago. There has been many things going on both within Dawn Productions, and my own life. Also, bear in mind that machinimating takes time. Much more than I first expected. EP2 is more complicated and intense than EP1, therefore I have to take more time to make it look better.

Here's the new poster for "Artifact"

     First reason why it has been taking so long is my capture software. When I first wanted to start machinimating, I purchased a red Dazzle DVC 100. It was a huge mistake. The cheap computer my parents acquired me has only 2 GB of RAM. Windows Vista takes more tan half of that. Since I only have a few MB of RAM left, my capturing software had horrible lag, fast-forwarded footage in result, and other big problems. Seeing this as an obsticle for EP2's completion, I halted production to set out and try and find any other capture software that is compatible with my Dazzle. (other than Studio 15). I found two. The first is Debut Capture Software. I will be using this to record my computer screen from now on. The other is Cyberlink Power Director. This great program is the awesome version of Pinnacle Studio. It captures my footage with no problem, whatsoever. (Though at the beginning of EP2, there will be some minor fast-forwarded footage due to me finding this when I was in the middle of capturing). And, since I have an old Dazzle, EP2 will not be in very good quality. I am hoping to purchase a new capture device soon.
     Another reason why EP2 is taking so long, is my computer. Like I said earlier, I have very little RAM once my computer boots up. Therefore, all the amazing programs I have on my computer tend to freeze when I pull up more than one at a time. So it slows down production badly. I will hopefully be able to upgrade my RAM soon.
     I am working with all new programs for EP2. With EP1, all I really used was Vegas 9, and Studio 11. Now I am working with After Effects CS4, Photoshop, Sony Pictures Sound Effects, Power Director, Blender, and many other big, professional programs. I am still getting used to them. Also I am adding fires and explosions from Action Essentials 2. Doing something like this requires a lot of time and compositing.
     On top of all this, I do have a life. I have a family, and schooling, and many things are going on within both. Therefore, I can't sit in front of a computer all day (as much as I wish I could).
     Since I've had all these problems, I am only about four minutes into EP2. I am starting to get back on my feet, and production is speeding up again. If things continue to go at this rate I will release EP2 this Friday at noon. I should confirm this in a day or two on my YouTube account.
     I know some of you are still wondering why I am so behind on this. Please take into your consideration that Dawn Productions is a one-man production crew. I must do everything. So please, be patient with me, and understand that this is difficult for one person to do.

Thank You,
DawnAscendance

Another Delay

     I am sorry guys, but my parents have taken my computer and I cannot get on for a week. I snuck on here to type this for you guys. Before it was taken, I was almost finished with capturing the footage. I still have work to do, but I will (hopfully) release it next week. I promise you guys, it will be worth the long wait. For those of you whose patience is running out on this, please remember that making a machinima is about as hard and time consuming as making a short film. It requires a lot of hard work and time to make it look to your liking. I have school work and family to worry about.  I should resume production next monday, it depends on what my parents have to say. I have some new voice actors that I am proud to have on here and I am sure that this will be the best one yet. Please understand that I do have a life and I do get grounded like everyone else lol.

Thanks for your patience
EP2 will be released soon

DawnAscendance

Episode Two Will Be Released Soon!

     The online shooting for Episode Two was actually not as bad as I thought it would be. Everyone listened for the most part. Only had to redo parts a couple of times. Will start on capuring the footage soon. Had some problems with it today. My friend that helps me with the body acting was sick today, so I had to make due with what I had...myself. The body acting, both offline and online, is completed. I still have to film it, edit it, add special effects, add voice lines, and music. My capturing software just crashed on my computer. NEVER GET PINNACLE STUDIO!!!!! IT SUCKS!!! I am getting a new program now. I should start on the capturing late tonight or tomorrow, it depends on how long it takes for this to download. I may have to delay the release until this Thursday, or so. I have had so many setbacks on this already, so hopefully, my luck will change.
     As for the action short. We are currently working on the trailer. We probably won't release it until next week. We are both working on our own machinimas at the moment, and we all agreed our series' are more important than this short. So we must get our current episodes out of the way before we do this.
     The shooting for the short is this Saturday (or so we plan) and we have a whole lot of work to do before we finish it. So it probably will not be released until next month. Sorry, guys, but our first priority is our own machinimas. But rest assured, it will be worth the wait.
     Back to Artifact. Back when Dawn Productions had a website, I said that Episode Two will be fucked up in parts. Scratch that. I had to cut a lot of parts out to keep the realism and to keep the machinima under 15 minutes. But i promise you, it is a must see for any machinima fan. It is full of epic battles and a pretty good story. You will not be disappointed, i promise.
     So all, in all, I am nearly two days behind schedule. Everything may end up being delayed, and I am about to throw my computer out my window. But hey, that's what you have to go through for something you love.

I will keep you all posted when I get back on track.

Love And Bullets,
DawnAscendance