CGI Filmmaking: The Creation of Ghost Warrior

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Summary: Inspirational, Informative, and Entertaining
Review: After seeing CGI Filmaking: The Creation of Ghost Warrior in my local bookstore and browsing through the first few chapters I came home and immediately ordered it. Upon recieving it I opened it up and read through the entire book in one sitting. Whenever I am reading this book I feel like Mr. Albee wrote it with me specifically in mind. If there is an equal to this book out there, I have yet to find it. Never before have I found one resource that provides so many different levels of information and inspiration. I am definately adding this book to my must-reads list for anybody interested in CG filmmaking.

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Summary: So much more than a book on CGI Filmmaking
Review: As a both a graduate of the New York Alternative Film School and The University of California's program of interactive media design, I've probably read over 100 books on filmmaking, CGI and animation. As a writer and mythologist, I've read 100's of books on storytelling. But I have never read a book that fired my imagination and made me believe in my abilities the way this one has. Disguised as a how-to book about CGI filmmaking (in which it is unsurpassed) - it is so much more. This tome is a labor of love, seeded with self-revealing passages that empower its readers. Its pages are ablaze with hope, ignited by sparks of insight, enthusiasm, and Timothy's own delight in and dedication to his craft. It is a tale of persistence and the elegance of ideals set against the backdrop of America's last frontier. Everything you need to know about making a CGI film is in here, to be sure. But sprinkled in amongst all that knowledge is what you need to become a great storyteller. This book is a must for ANYONE who yearns to tell his or her own tales. My favorite sentence is the last one: "All dreams are already real. You just have to find your way to where they are."

Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE if you want to make your own CGI film!
Review: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Timothy Albee's book 'The Creation of Ghost Warrior' is simply an inspirational book to anyone who has ever wanted to make their own CGI film. Not only does he go through what software he uses, how he uses it, and why he did certain things, but he also coaches you on things like acting, timing, scriptwriting, how to be as efficient as possible in your production and so on. Timothy not only is showing the world that HE absolutely can make a Hollywood calibre film for an independent budget, but he's showing you how YOU can do it too. Instead of giving you 1000+ pages of fluff, each page is distilled down to the most important information. You don't finish a chapter and feel like it was a big waste of time - it's obvious that he puts as much care in writing books as he does in creating animation. Even when I was reading about a subject I already have experience with, I felt like I came away learning a new perspective on it. This book goes hand in hand with his other 2: Essential Lightwave 7.5 and Lightwave 7 Character Animation. You will not regret buying this book.

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Summary: Great book for independent CG Filmmakers!
Review: I actually preordered the book months before it came out because it was exactly what I was looking for. I am in the process of planning my own CG short film and this book is an invaluable resource for any CG filmmaker. Timothy goes into detail about EVERY aspect of filmmaking including the script, pre production, storyboarding, production, sound and post production. Timothy gives so many useful tips and tricks its crazy. The way its done it isn't really 3D app specific either...although he used Lightwave 3D to make the entire film. There are so many inspirational quotes and thoughts in the book as well. I have never seen a more complete book on the subject.

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Summary: The short film is bad.
Review: I don't understand why so many people kiss this guy's ass.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource in the Path to learning about Films
Review: I recently purchased Tim Albee's excellent book and I'm astonished by the sheer amount of information in the tome. No space is wasted with useless information, as every word in the book has thought and honesty behind it. Tim guides you through the process that guided him through his short film, Kaze - Ghost Warrior. The most impressive thing about this book is not only the amount of technical information, but the great advice and motivational inspiration that he gives you at the right moments in the book. It's almost as if he's there at the exact moment you get frustrated and upset and guides you through the hurdle. I couldn't recommend this book enough.

Rating:
Summary: Destined to be a classic!
Review: This book and the upcoming DVD release of the full short are destined to become a classic! This is more then just a how to book, more then biography, its a true work of art in itself. The book is crammed full of inspiration to keep one walking the path of their dream creation through the months and possibly years it could take one to create your own Oscar caliber short. But it will keep you going! It covers everything one needs from conjuring up the first crude idea, to scripting, storyboarding, modeling, animating, audio and ADR (in a homebrewed soundstage we can all have no less), compositing and other post work, marketing, distribution and so much more. He talks a little about the software he choose for the project but more importantly he describes the how and why he found that software and what you should look for in your path of creation. In short whether you want to create the next 'Lord Of The Rings' or just want a very inspirationally great story to read this is a MUST OWN book!

Rating:
Summary: Destined to be a classic!
Review: This book and the upcoming DVD release of the full short are destined to become a classic! This is more then just a how to book, more then biography, its a true work of art in itself. The book is crammed full of inspiration to keep one walking the path of their dream creation through the months and possibly years it could take one to create your own Oscar caliber short. But it will keep you going! It covers everything one needs from conjuring up the first crude idea, to scripting, storyboarding, modeling, animating, audio and ADR (in a homebrewed soundstage we can all have no less), compositing and other post work, marketing, distribution and so much more. He talks a little about the software he choose for the project but more importantly he describes the how and why he found that software and what you should look for in your path of creation. In short whether you want to create the next 'Lord Of The Rings' or just want a very inspirationally great story to read this is a MUST OWN book!

Rating:
Summary: Dreams to Reality.......
Review: This book, CGI Filmmaking: The Creation of Ghost Warrior is a book for those of us that have always wanted to tell a story using CGI as their canvas. It's an easy read which allows you to read through it over and over again. Its a process book not another software book so it crosses boundaries between software packages which makes it useful to everyone regardless of the software you use. I own a lot of books on CGI, most are now outdated because they were software specific, this is a must have for any CGI storyteller. For me this is the book I've always been waiting for. Thank you Mr. Albee!

Rating:
Summary: passionate but poor
Review: Though Albee is quite passionate on the subject matter, the animated short of which he bases his book doesn't rise to the lofty character of his words. This makes me doubt his advice.

The movie has some very attractive qualities, but it certainly falls far short on numerous levels.