Live Action Jam

[TomFulp]

Via @BrandyBuizel:

Some people are just waiting around this summer for another animation jam to pull up and give them an excuse to make something badass, ridiculous! Except I need that too; the Summer Lovin’ Jam was pretty fun last year ^.^

But that’s it, I’m not gonna bail y’all out next year when nobody steps up to host another Summer Animation Jams. So many people are looking forward to it and you’ll be so popular and loved for putting it together. You just gotta know what you wanna see pop up on the site and craft your prompts to help make it happen, no animation knowledge required to host!

Live Action Jam

“I thought Newgrounds didn’t allow live action?”

The only requirement is that you use some live action element in your movie submission. You can base your entire submissions around this or it can be a small piece complimenting other animated elements (it's still newgrounds and so it's gotta be animated). You can even include live action into a project you're currently working on and submit it to this jam! Here's some excellent films on the site that incorporate varying amounts and types of live action footage:

Some submissions are probably gonna toe the line on the amount of "use" the live action elements get in their submission: "well I used a photo for the background texture" and honestly if we need to be scrupulous and debate its inclusion we're just gonna toss it out of the rankings, but feel free to make your case in the description of your movie if you're really paranoid/concerned. Rotoscoping to distort or replace the original footage entirely is of course allowed!

JAM REQUIREMENTS

Upload your animation to Newgrounds any time between now and the due date. There is no formal signup process, just tag your entry with “Live-Action-Jam” to enter.

1. Your entry MUST include some form of live action element. There’s literally hundreds of ways to incorporate live action into animation, but I’d rather not limit your choices and imagination by listing them out.
2. You may submit multiple entries if you really want, but quality > quantity
3. No NSFW submissions. Keep it tasteful, so no porn.
4. NG can't host unlicensed commercial music! Here are some music resources.
5. Length should be at least 15 seconds.

Judges:

@BrandyBuizel - Even if I don’t host the next Summer Jams I’m down to judge them!

@JamesLee - You may know him as Nox, the debonair, glowy-eyed internet guy 

@MaxJohnsonINK - Max makes weeeeeiiirrrd shit, it’s very very good, just watch!

@AlmightyHans - One half of Skel Studio making Madness in live action a reality

@InputUnknown - The other half of Skel Studio and visual effects master

@tanimayto - Check out their awesome songs about everyday objects and appliances

@MalcolmSith - After Effects guru and my better half over at @ScarecrowArts

@IvanAlmighty - He's so busy making cool shit that I can't believe we got him for this!

Judges can choose to participate, but they will not be considered in the rankings.

Due Date:

Sunday, September 3rd 11:59PM PST

Crowdfunding Prize Pool

If you’d like to chip in to boost the prize money, use the donation option on the Supporter page and PM Tom a heads up that you donated towards the Live Action’ Jam. If we get enough donations we can even expand the total amount of winners!

1st - $400

2nd - $300

3rd - $165

4th - $60

Current Sponsors:

@BrandyBuizel - $300

@DrSevenSeizeMD - $97.98

@ComicDan - $75

@Aalasteir - $30

@MKMaffo - $25

@53xy83457 - $20

@GallowJolt - $20

@YendorNG - $20

@orbitz - $20

@RigaheaD - $17.02

NG - $300

Free Software:

Blender is a free 3D application with a video editor and motion tracking

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful, free video editing software with great color grading tools

EbSynth can be used to transfer styles on top of footage by editing only a couple frames

Natron is a free and open source compositor. "Very similar to nuke! Awesome node based compositing!!!" - @Potatoman

Unreal Engine is a another 3D creation option, recommended by Potatoman

Also there's nobody to host the Advent Calendar this year, GeoKureli and BrandyBuizel are spent and it’s about time somebody reboots this newgrounds tradition with their own style and new voices! So there’s your warning.

Shoutout to @Bacun, @DrewPBalls and @MalcolmSith for their help on the jam promo banner!

[TomFulp]

I'm adding this example to Brandy's list!

[DoctorStrongbad]

Live action is going to be the next big focus. Sounds like it should be tons of fun.

[Czyszy]

Does puppetry count as live-action? I mean, puppetry is considered by some people to be a form of animation. But, it's still basically stuff in front of the camera. Hmmmmm

[Kolumbo]

This is gonna be an interesting one, good luck to everyone who participates!

obligatory viewing, btw:

[Czyszy]

At 7/14/23 03:52 PM, Kolumbo wrote: This is gonna be an interesting one, good luck to everyone who participates!

obligatory viewing, btw:
https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/706557

I remember watching this one on Flow Down Stream. I had a great time contributing to that show!

[BrandyBuizel]

At 7/14/23 03:46 PM, CzySzy wrote: Does puppetry count as live-action? I mean, puppetry is considered by some people to be a form of animation. But, it's still basically stuff in front of the camera. Hmmmmm

Absolutely!!

[Malachy]

Tom can you write up a how to host jams guide? Common pitfalls, cat herding tips, favorite trapper keeper style for keeping it all organized?

[Aalasteir]

WOW! That will absolutely be a lot of fantastic original movies! I wish I knew how to do more stuff. If anybody needs any music I would be extremely grateful to be of service.

[Kolumbo]

At 7/14/23 03:52 PM, CzySzy wrote:

At 7/14/23 03:52 PM, Kolumbo wrote: This is gonna be an interesting one, good luck to everyone who participates!

obligatory viewing, btw:
https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/706557

I remember watching this one on Flow Down Stream. I had a great time contributing to that show!

yessir! it's one of the good FDS episodes too

it really was a fun project to work on. maybe one day something will come to fill the FDS shaped hole left on newgrounds

[MasterHand4444]

This is a freakin' AWESOME idea. I'm sure this wasn't on purpose, but live action incorporation is a great way to include folks who can't animate into an animation jam lol. Can't wait to see what ideas people come up with!!

[Bacun]

grins widely

I wonder what Brandy is cooking up for that site banner....!

[VoicesByCorey]

Hit me up if you need voices for any animated sequences! Always willing to help out!

[CheddarExuberant]

Mmmm got some ideas brewing...

[TomFulp]

At 7/14/23 03:55 PM, Malachy wrote: Tom can you write up a how to host jams guide? Common pitfalls, cat herding tips, favorite trapper keeper style for keeping it all organized?

That just reminded me, I updated the original post to note we can't host unlicensed music! That's an important rule for any jam.

As far as a how-to-guide... A lot of jams really just need a good announcement post, fun theme and some promotion. That's usually how it goes with animation jams, although the more successful game jams have been hosted by people who are in that scene and who managed Discord channels related to the jam. That wouldn't be a bad idea for animation jams, either... Especially a drawn out event like the summer animation jams. I could go back to hosting them but I do think they are more successful when a popular artist / animator hosts them. Maybe we need a summer series where each jam is conceived and announced by a different popular animator.

[TomFulp]

At 7/14/23 03:52 PM, Kolumbo wrote: This is gonna be an interesting one, good luck to everyone who participates!

obligatory viewing, btw:
https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/706557

That ending lol

[name]

Maybe add a Live Action Category?

[QueenBoo]

oh my god, I shouldn’t— but I really want to join. 😭😭😭

[Tankcraft]

This is going to be epic Live Action mixed in with Animation is going to be insanely fun

[BrandyBuizel]

At 7/14/23 05:10 PM, QueenBoo wrote: oh my god, I shouldn’t— but I really want to join. 😭😭😭

DO IT DO IT DO IT

[Tyler]

woah cool idea B

[vermeen]

What's the minimum runtime for a submission?

[Anonymous-Frog]

What’s the eligibility of these components?

1. footage from existing live action clips (such as those ripped from stock footage or YouTube videos)
2. Joel Haver-esque rotoscoping

[BrandyBuizel]

At 7/14/23 11:01 PM, vermeen wrote: What's the minimum runtime for a submission?

I guess we should list that @TomFulp

I'd say nothing less than 15 seconds total

[BrandyBuizel]

At 7/14/23 11:18 PM, Anonymous-Frog wrote: What’s the eligibility of these components?

If you don't own the footage then its gotta be transformative, normal fair use rules apply

[Anonymous-Frog]

At 7/15/23 12:15 AM, BrandyBuizel wrote:

At 7/14/23 11:18 PM, Anonymous-Frog wrote: What’s the eligibility of these components?

If you don't own the footage then its gotta be transformative, normal fair use rules apply

I meant as eligibility for the jam itself, outside of existing fair use rules.

[XwaynecoltX]

Very nice indeed looking forward to it

~X~

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 7/14/23 03:46 PM, CzySzy wrote: Does puppetry count as live-action? I mean, puppetry is considered by some people to be a form of animation. But, it's still basically stuff in front of the camera. Hmmmmm

It should count but depends on how creepy you make it. Puppetry can range from kid friendly to nightmare inducing horror.

@CzySzy

[TomFulp]

At 7/15/23 12:10 AM, BrandyBuizel wrote:

At 7/14/23 11:01 PM, vermeen wrote: What's the minimum runtime for a submission?

I guess we should list that @TomFulp

I'd say nothing less than 15 seconds total

Added!

[BlueMonday1984]

Its gonna be a real treat to see live-action and animation mixing together.