Many Changes And New Projects

     Hey, guys. Been a long time since I've updated you on here. But since my last post, many things are going on. For one, Dawn Productions has split. No I don't mean DP has shut down; I just mean it has split into three different channels. One Shot Pictures for Machinimas. New Day Gone for guitar covers and my own material, and DP will be kept for music videos. I don't feel like posting all the links so just look them up on youtube or get the link from OSP on facebook. So yea, DP will no longer be my primary channel. OSP will be. If anyone needs to contact me, your best shot is through that channel.
     The reason why I am switching my primary channel to OSP is because I am going to be moving all my concentration to machinima soon. I have a script lined up for a new machinima. One that will be quite long (at least 4 seasons). No description on what exactly it is about but I will tell you what it will have in it. UNSC, Insurrectionists, Spartans, Covenant (possibly Flood instead.) Big explosions, big emotional scenes, epicness to the max. Big ideas going on here. Right now, we are almost ready to begin production. All we are waiting on is the money to purchase a capture card. And we are also debating on whether or not to use Halo 4. When we originally thought up this series, we decided it was to be shot in Halo 3. Not Reach. Not getting into the reasons why we decided this so don't ask. But now that Halo 4 has been released, we were quite surprised on the fact you can be a Flood Combat Form in the multiplayer. We also love the equipment you get on Dominion. The things we don't like, are the fact that there is no UNSC aircraft in the multiplayer. Forge isn't anywhere near as great as Reach's. (except the shadow effect and the UNSC textures on the pieces. Ah AND the fact that there is NO Covenant in the multiplayer as well. We were quite disappointed on how 343i did not stop to think about machinima when they were working on this game. It would make things quite hard to keep interesting in this if we use Halo 4 instead of 3. But we still haven't made a decision yet, and we will let you know as soon as we do. :)
     Other projects I am working on is some more music videos. I have three planned. A Brother Bear music video (only soft one of the three, I promise). A Red Vs Blue music video (still waiting on the Season 10 DVD on TPB. And, of course, "The Walking Dead" music video. (gonna wait till season 3 is over and on DVD before I start on it, so it's gonna be a while). Unfortunatly, I have no guitar covers planned this month. So yea, many new things coming, and a lot of work to do; but you have plenty of things to see before we get the machinima going. I have already started on the Brother Bear music video so expect that to be posted on YouTube and our Facebook page as well.

Well, that's all for this one. Until next time.

Cheers,
~DA~

Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Upcoming music video.

Hey guys, well if you have not seen it yet, my Rise of the Planet of the Apes music video is on youtube now. Give it a look here.

     But that's not the only thing I want to talk about today. I am also VERY exited to begin work on a new music video. Before I even say more, I'm going to admit, this WILL be the heaviest video I have ever made. Not saying what song, but the music video will be for Battlefield 3. It will be absolutely intense and epic. Hopefully nothing like what i've done in the past. I want this one to be different. Take a new approach. Do something more difficult and just all out in your face.
  Anyways. I am beginning on it tomorrow. Very exited to see the finished product and the attention it will get on YouTube. Stay linked in on my Facebook. I will update as I go.
     Well, thats it for this update. See you guys later!

~DA

Gamma Company Premiere Trailer Released!

For years, we have been fighting a losing battle against a genocidal alien race known as The Covenant. They have burned our worlds, butchered our people, and left us standing on the edge of extinction.

But in secret; we have been creating a weapon to turn the tide of this war: Spartan III's. But, a new enemy has threatened to take planet Onyx, the breeding ground for these soldiers.Stranded, a team of Spartans known as Gamma Company, must find a way to escape from Onyx, and take the fight to this unknown enemy. Soon enough they discover an ancient secret, kept buried for untold millennia. As they search for clues to unravel the secrets of it, they will discover that come secrets, are better left hidden.

     Based off the bestselling novel "Ghosts Of Onyx" written by Eric Nylund, comes a machinima about a group of soldiers, fighting to save humanity from a threat bigger than anyone has ever known.

TBE Clan Movies and Dawn Productions Present to you...

"Gamma Company"

New Videos Coming Soon...

     Hey guys, once again, it's me. I am for sure getting my laptop back this thursday or friday. Then I can start on everything I have planned; which I shall explain to you. First thing i'm going to be doing is the video I promised you guys a while back: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes.  The movie was finally released on DVD, and I'll be either capturing it or downloading it. I have a song planned for it and I promise I will begin on it as soon as I get the laptop back. I am also beginning work on a machinima TBE Clan Movies and I are both directing. We will be working on the trailer while I am working on the ROTPOTA music video. Production of the first episode will begin in early Janurary if everything goes as planned with the trailer.
      Another project im working on is another WOTF music video (being as "Better Off This Way" was deleted by YouTube). I had it about half done before the laptop was shipped off. I was using the song "Tears Don't Fall" by Bullet For My Valentine, but now i'm not sure if I want to use that song. I have some others in mind, and I will decide when I have the laptop back, and everything in order. Now for the Planet of the Apes video, I'm not sure if it will be able to stay on YouTube long, being as it is a movie with tons of copyright material on it. So it will most likely be deleted at some point. So, once it's finished and posted, I strongly recommend you guys watch it early if it were to be deleted.
     Now, back to the machinima. I am not going to be revealing anything on it before the trailer is released, but it is going to be a series, and it is going to be focused around Gamma Company, and what (fictionally) happened to them after the battle. Most of you likely don't know what Gamma Company is, but they are real characters in the Halo universe. They were introduced  in Ghosts of Onyx, a Halo novel written by Eric Nylund. They were Spartan III soldiers. I'm not giving any specifics on what they did or what battle I am talking about, but hardcore Halo fans who read the books should know exactly what I am talking about.
     I am extremly exited to begin production on the machinima, as well as the music videos I have planned, and I will keep you guys updated on their status's in the near future. Until then, I'll see you starside.

~DA

Hallo Dere!

    Haha hey guys. DawnAscendance here. Just giving you guys a little update on whats going on and why I haven't released any videos lately. Someone broke the cover on my laptop, and I was forced to ship it off to get it repaired. That was sometime last week. I was supposed to get it back today, but no one has called. I should be getting it back very soon. As soon as I do, I have a couple of music videos and guitar covers in mind. Machinima might not be able to get off it's feet for another couple of weeks, possibly a month. I haven't been getting much money in my paychecks lately and I still have to get that Blackmagic capture card before I do anything. On top of that I still have to get the plot and script all together and stuff like that, and I can't do that until I get my laptop back, so everything is at a halt. Bus as soon as I get a laptop, I will begin on all the writing. And I should be getting that capture card soon. OH and on top of that, my Reach disc cracked FOR THE SECOND TIME! And that means $40 extra bucks :'(. Anyways thats it for this update cya guys!

~DA

New Blog

Hey guys. I'm currently working on another blog. (Don't worry, I'm still keeping this one). But this other blog will be for things like video gaming in general. And maybe sometimes music. Anyways it is here. www.xboxfanatic1.blogspot.com enjoy!.

Getting There...

     Hey guys, just giving a little update telling you the progress of getting back on track. As you know, I have gotten a new computer (which is the best news of all). I just got all the programs I need to start on it again. I am saving for a new and improved capture card to give you guys better quality video and less stress for me. (goddamn Dazzle). Anyways, I can't remember whether or not I told you guys in my previous post, but "Artifact", the machinima I was working on before everything went downhill has been scrubbed. Here are the reasons why: For one, I have only a year to release an entire series before Halo 4 is in stores. I don't want to have to be like Darknal and still be machinimating on an old game when everyone else is working with the new one. And second. I think the first episode really put me off the series. I did a horrid job with capturing the footage (once again, thank you Dazzle). The voices were bad, the fight scenes were not all that synchronized, and it skipped through at the end due to YouTube's time limit. So yeah.
     So until the release of Halo 4, to where I can do a new series, I am just going to be making shorts. Don't worry, they will still be pretty long, and some will be in two or three parts. And they will be good. I have gotten much better at what I do since EP1. Better software as well. I still have to work on a plot and script for my first short, so as I said before: I am not going to really start production on anything machinima related untill later this month or December. It depends when I sum up the money for the new capture card, shipping times, etc. Thats the last, and most important thing on my list. So I will get on it as soon as I can. I am greatly looking forward to starting again on machinimating, and bringing the stories that have been overcoming my mind over the past year to you guys.

See You Soon!
~DA

We're Back Baby

    I just got a new Dell Inspiron Laptop with 350 GB Hard Drive, 4GB RAM, Intel Pentium 2.13 GHZ Dual Core Processor, and Windows 7 Home Premium. This computer is sexy, but thats not the only thing I'm going to talk about in this post. The biggest news is that with this computer, Dawn Productions is back! Hell yeah! This means I can get back to machinimating, music videos, and everything I love. Although, I probably won't be able to start back on machinimating until later this month or early next month. I still have to get all my programs back like After Effects, Soundbooth, Premiere Pro, and other programs I use.
     That brings me to my next thing: Artifact has been completly scrubbed. With the release of Halo 4 coming within a year, there is no way I can release a whole series within that time range. So until the release of Halo 4, I will not work on any machinima series' I have planned. Instead, I will start work on a few shorts to keep you guys entertained until Halo 4 is released. But remember, that I am starting all these shorts from scratch so I still have to write the script and plot, not to mention get some voice actors, so yeah, like I said, there will be nothing machinima related to be released until late November or December. But I will be releasing a few music videos within the next week or so. Possibly some guitar covers too! So I am VERY exited to start again on these machinimas I've had planned for a long time. See you guys soon!

~DawnAscendance

Good and Bad News

     Well, my computer has completly failed with no hope for repair. So I have to use this one for the time being. But it has no editing software and no webcam software, so yeah. Anyways, I should be getting a new and improved computer early next month and I also have some news. With the release of Halo 4 getting more and more near, I have decided to scrub the Artifact machinima. I am sorry, guys, but knowing Halo, the maps and Spartans are going to be diffrent than Reach's. But I still have about a year before Halo 4's release so I do have many things planned.
     "Artifact"'s story is very good in my opinion, and I have become so attatched to it in the past year that I simply cannot completly abandon it without giving you guys a taste of what was never to be. So I have decided to put all of the big parts of the story in 2 diffrent parts. Just to where I can still tell you guys the story without taking forever to do so. I promise it's gonna be great. It'll be the very first project I get on. After that, I will be doing many shorts with TBE Clan Movies, and even more music videos and the blog show. But for this month, you willm see absolutly NOTHING from Dawn Productions. I know I've said that before, but I am serious this time. My computer will not even boot, so I disconnected it and stuffed it into a corner. It will pry never work again. But as soon as I get my new computer, i'm going to be releasing a video of me and a friend smashing my old one. It will be liberating, lol. It has given me so many problems. But I assure you we will do it.
     Anyways, I pry won't be posting and/or doing anything that pertains to videos and blog posts until next month. But I am greatly looking forward to gettingback to work on everything I promised you guys. Well I'm off. See you guys next month!

New Videos Coming Soon

     Hey, guys. Just another update containing some good news. I have recently purchased a webcam. So now I can make videos I could never make before. I already have one big project in mind. A blog show. It's going to be about the rebuilding of Dawn Productions. I am very exited to start on this. I also have other small things I am going to do, such as more guitar covers, and better updates. I have already released one update and a FAQ video. I promise you guys. There is some good stuff coming really soon!

A Not Very Interesting Update...

     Hey guys, not very much to report here right now. I have been very lazy lately and have not really been working on anything. THe documentry video is not gonna be up for a very long time so yea. But I do have some exiting news for you guys. Some of you may have seen my Halo Legends: Origins- "My Last Breath" video. Do me a favor and look at the views. Thats right, 8,400 views! Way more than I thought. Now for most youtube video makers, you must know that is not a whole lot, but it is my most viewed video. Therefore, for giving my music video that many views, I am going to be making another Halo Legends Music video. I can do this easily, because my current one was focused only on Origins. This music video is focused on all episodes. I will try to make it as good as HLOMLB if not better!
     I have also recently viewed a movie currently in theatres. A movie I consider one of the best movies I have ever seen. "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes". If you have not seen this movie, get off your ass and go see it. Anyways, I am waiting anxiosly for it's release on DVD. Because once is comes out, I am going to be making a music video for it using "Waiting One" by All That Remains. Now I have attempted to release movie music videos before on youtube such as Walk The Line and Avatar. Maybe a week later, they're deleted. Bur I released Legend of the Guardians, and it is still up and running perfectly. So I am going to give it my all in this music video due to my love for that movie, and I promise you, it's gonna be EPIC! As soon as you hear its on DVD, keep an eye on my channel for it. When it's released, I recommend you watch it right then. I don't know how long it's gonna last on there.
      Other than those things, nothing really is going on here. I have been on minecraft quite a lot recently. I might release a video giving you guys a tour of my world. I'm still working on it right now, but once it's at least near completion, I will release it.
     Oh yeah, and another thing. I've released a FAQ on here. So stop sending me questions on youtube please unless it's not on here.
     One more thing. I've noticed how few subscribers I have, and it's making me depressed how low I am on youtube. If you like my video's, subscribe! Not that big a deal. But if you worked as hard as I do to give people these videos and only have 43 subs, you'd get a little unmotivated and put down too.
     Well thats all for this update. See you guys.

New Stuff Coming Soon (hopefully)

Well, since I am very slowly beginning to get my computer running good again, I am going to try to make a video. I can't get started until I get some money coming my way to where I can get myself a video camera. Yes, that's right, a video camera. I am going to make a documentary-like video explaining what all goes on inside Dawn Productions. If everything goes as planned, i'll be working on a machinima at the time, and other things. I will be making myself very busy during that time. I have some voice acting parts I am doing for other people as well. At the moment, Dawn Productions only has one person...me. But hopefully soon, that is going to change. I know some people that live near me that are willing to do some work for me. If they do end up joining DP, they might be featured in the video. There are so many of these kinds of videos out there that are so boring in my opinion, I am going to try to make this one as interesting as possible. There is no release date at the moment. I haven't gotten started yet, and I need to get a video camera. I should be getting around $50 within the next few days. If I can spare some, I will get me a cheap one then.
Also, I am doing a live stream playthrough of all the Halo games with the director of TBE Clan Movies on August 18th. I will post a link both on here, and my youtube account. www.youtube.com/dawnascendance Well, that's all I have to post for now. Until next time.

~DA

We Shall Return!!! (In December)...

Well, my computer has fucked itself over big time and I can barely browse the web with it anymore. So therefore, I cannot work on anything at all. But there is some good news. My 18th birthday is coming up in Novenber (yay), and I am asking for nothing else but money. I am most likely going to get around $400. With that money, I am going to be repairing/upgrading a broken down Dell Inspiron 550. Once I get it fixed I find it safe to say that all the problems I have had this past year will be fixed! If I have any spare money from that, I will be purchasing a new HD capture card so I can get back to work on "Artifact" and everything else I have been working on. I am very exited to resume production on all of our machinimas. Unfortunatly, even though my birthday is in the beginning of November, I most likely am not going to be finsihed with everything until December, due to me losing some voice and body actors in this long hiatus. But I promise you, as soon as I have everything working again, post production will be immediate. :)
In the meantime, I have been getting as much stuff as possible. I have gotten a new flatscreen TV which I now use for both my xbox and PC. I am selling some items I do not need to purchase a new HDMI cable for my xbox, a webcam, wireless keyboard and mouse for my computer, and a new headset, due to my other one breaking...again.
So, as always, there is a lot going on in DawnProductions but none of it is making progress go any faster. But at least there's more good news in this post than usual, lol. But until between November and December, you will be seeing nothing from DP. No music videos, updates, machinimas, nothing....I blame you Emachines! >o<

New Music Video Coming Soon!

     Well, after months of not doing anything at all with my computer due to problems, I managed to get them both working pretty well. So, I decided to make a new music video. Very few of you may be familiar of the WOTF vids I have done in the past for AlliKatNya. Well she just released her last animation for Warriors of the Forest (based off of the Warriors book series). Being a fan of her work and a friend of her's, I decided I would make one last WOTF video. Yes, it will have her new animation in it, as well as all of her past WOTF music videos. The song will be "Better Off This Way" by A Day To Remember, one of my favorite songs. There will not be any cutting edge effects in this, due to there being no reason to work on any. AlliKat's will work fine for this. I have already begun to work on this, and it should be released in a matter of days, depending on the time I have to do it.
     When this is released, I will be deleting my WOTF Comatose from my YouTube account, due to many of the same clips I am using in this one. So if you haven't watched it yet, do so now. I would like to personally thank AlliKatNya for 3 years of bringing my favorite book series to life with her beautiful animations, and I wish her the best of luck in the future.
     As I said, the new WOTF video should be released in a few days, and I hope this one gets more attention than the Comatose one. I will post again soon about the machinima we are resuming production on this Sunday.

Cheers,
~DA

Lots Of Stuff To Say

     Well like the title states, I have much to talk about in this blog post, so I am getting straight to it. Let's start with what's going on with "Artifact". As you all know, I have been unable to work on the series due to my sound card frying. I bought a new sound card, but I found out that due to my computer's low grade production guidelines, there is no sound card. Everything is built right into the motherboard. I got another computer from a friend, but it has no hard drive and a somewhat bad motherboard (shuts itself off sometimes). I have not got it up and running yet. It may never work, i don't know. But I promise you that I will do all I can. If I don't get this working I won't be able to work on "Artifact" until at least next year.
     But don't think just because I can't work on "Artifact" that you won't see anything from me. I have a shared channel with TBE Clan Movies known as Black Star Creations. It will be where we will work on the shorts we have in mind. Which is what I am most exited to discuss.
     We have recently started filming a two-part short known as "Operation TORPEDO". I'm sure some of you big Halo fans out there know what it is. For those who don't know, it is based off the prolouge in the book "Ghosts of Onyx". Where about 300 Spartans take down a Covenant facility with 99.9% casulties. Only two made it out alive: Tom and Lucy, who are Spartan III's. This will tell the story of their "victory". We will have animations, armies, giant battles, and great, compelling characters.
     This is not the only short we have planned based off of big moments in Halo history, we have at least 3 others planned. (not going to spoil the surprise by giving out names) We intend to make a short series, and they will all be released on Black Star Creations' channel on Youtube. So keep a look out and subcribe to our new channel!
     I have recently seen quite a few machinimas lately such as "PROJECT Middleground", "The Olympia Chain", and "System Break" from the well known BlueNovaStudios. I am very impressed with the effort people are starting to put into machinimas now. A new light is being shed on machinimating, now that people are really starting to use programs such as, Adobe After Effects, Vegas, and other great editing software. I wish every one of them the best of luck, and hope to see great stuff from them soon.
     Now, as I have said many time before, "Artifact" is not dead. It will be re-born and stronger than ever. But, you will not be waiting for much longer...

Regards,
~DawnAscendance

New And Improved

     Well, after a discussion with TBE Clan Movies and my big team crew, we have all decided to remake "Artifact" Part One. We have decided this was best, because of many reasons. My main reason is because since my microphone broke, I have gotten new voice actors for Markus and Toby. So one episode that has one voice actor and the next having a different one doesn't really work. Another main reason is when I made Episode One, I wasn't prepared. I had junky editing software and I had to do all of the VA parts myself. Not only that but also I was a beginner at machinimating and the shoots weren't entirely organized. Some other smaller reasons are because I didn't think EP1 was all that good towards the end due to me skipping too much. I also want a better start on the script and everything. Last reason is because many promo sites such as machinima.com won't accept it due to the black bars on the side and the not so great quality. So that must be fixed. So, I am remaking Part One. (yes it's in parts now, not episodes)
     Expect a different, better and improved "Artifact" once I get everything back on track.
     Yes, "Artifact" is still on hiatus due to me not being able to get a new sound card. I actually talked to someone and they said that it may be my motherboard, which is not good news. IF it is then I will not be able to restart "Artifact" until this fall or maybe later. I don't know. I will hopefully resolve this issue very soon.
     But I assure you, as soon as I acquire repairs on my P.O.S. computer "Artifact" will resume. In the meantime, visit BlackStarProductions (DawnProductions and TBEClanMovies shared channel on youtube.) The link is here on the blog. If you want to promote your machinima, that is the place to do it.
     That sums up everything for this update. I will speak to you all soon.

Just Bullets,
DawnAscendance

Getting There

     It has been a while since I have posted on this blog and I apologise for that. I have been planning a bunch of stuff, and have had so many problems with my computer. Markus and Toby are both going to have new voice actors. Hopefully they won't sound too diffrent, if they do I might consider re-making Episode One. It'll give me new perspective on my Artifact series that way, and I will also make it much more impressive. I have not confirmed on whether or not I will do this, but we will see.
     As for my computer, my sound card has fried and I am trying to come up with the money to purchase a new one. (unemployment *sigh*). Now for those of you who do not know, a bad sound card results in (duh) no sound. It also messes up your headphone and microphone jack. I use a Dazzle (shit) and do NOT use Pinnacle Studio for recording. So therefore the software that I do use can't capture audio from the capture card. So what do is I use a special splitter to connect my xbox audio cables to my micorphone jack. But since that isn't working, I have no way of recording footage. Therefore, until I get a new sound card, "Artifact" will remain on hiatus, im afraid.
     In the meantime, I am planning on making some music videos, and tutorials. For the music videos, I will be making some simple videos with music and effects (the stuff I used to do). I am also attempting to contact a  great animator known by her YouTube name AlliKatNya to animate a music video based off a book series I enjoy known as "Warriors" ( www.warriorcats.com ). If she agrees we will work together to make an awesome piece of work.
     As for the tutorials, I plan on making a "Machinimating" series. It will provide in-depth explainations, demonstrations, and advice on how to make a good Halo Machinima. I hope to release Part One soon, but I don't know for sure.
     Oh yea, I almost forgot, I am hoping to make some kind of site or place to meet for me and my voice actors, body actors, and partners to where we can discuss, plan, and brainstorm on what we will be doing for our machinimas. If you work for me or with me, i'm talking about you.
     If you are interested in doing some voice acting lines or body acting for Dawn Productions or TBE Clan Movies. Message me on YouTube. www.youtube.com/dawnascendance
     Last thing. TBE Clan Movies and I have made a new channel on youtube made so we can release our shorts we have planned in the future. It is called Black Star Creations It's also made to promote other people's machinimas. If you have a machinima and want more attention and perks for it. Message us on youtube. www.youtube.com/blackstarcreations
     Okay, thats it for this blog. Talk to you guys next month!

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