Dream With "Fishies": Real Life Mysteries Explored in a Machinima Music Video Set in the Metaverse

Second Life musician Winston Ackland won't be featured in movie theaters until this Christmas-- his bossa nova cover of "Lithium" will be in the theatrical soundtrack of the Owen Wilson/Jennifer Anniston movie Marley & Me-- so in the meantime, here's a cool Second Life machinima music video of his folk rock track, "All the Little Fishies".  After one listen, I defy you to get it out of your head.  At first it sounds like something from one of those "ditties for kids" albums largely promulgated by guys with sweaters and sensible beards... but it gradually becomes clear that Ackland isn't really singing about fishies.  More like lost connections and the turning of life's corners.

That comes out in the video, photographed and edited by machinimist Toxic Menges and directed by Sesi Ackland (who also happens to be Winston's partner in both worlds.)  After the break, they explain more about this subtext-- and some of the elements that make it unique.

"The story was loosely based on a RL situation and person that led Winston to write the verses of the song," Sesi explains. "'The lady with the baby' and the mystery that surrounded her and their relationship for the several years they knew each other."  To this real kernel the creators brought elements from Second Life's more surreal locations.

As to the visuals, the most striking effect is the sky, photographed moving at high speed while the world moves in real time. "The clouds moving in fast time and in fact all the sky lighting effects are all controlled via heavily modified versions of Torley's WindLight presets," Toxic Menges explains.  (The preset data is below.)

"[W]e wanted to show narrative and emotion because while the song is very upbeat and fun," Ms. Ackland tells me, "it is based on a rather sad and confusing real life experience for Winston."

Besides the YouTube version linked above, here's some higher res versions:

http://lashtonemusic.com/videos/FishiesFinalA.mp4
http://blip.tv/file/1568232/
http://www.koinup.com/toxicmenges/work/95330 

The "Little Fishies" WindLight preset:

"The trick is to have Glassy as a setting in Water to give the reflection," says Menges.  To use it, copy the code below into a Windows notecard, then save as a .xml file then place it in the Second life > Windlight > skies folder:

- <llsd>
- <map>
  <key>ambient</key>
- <array>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  </array>
  <key>blue_density</key>
- <array>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0.0999999940395355224609375</real>
  <real>0.1199999973177909851074219</real>
  <real>0.1199999973177909851074219</real>
  </array>
  <key>blue_horizon</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.02999999932944774627685547</real>
  <real>0.02999999932944774627685547</real>
  <real>0.02999999932944774627685547</real>
  <real>0.02999999932944774627685547</real>
  </array>
  <key>cloud_color</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.37999999523162841796875</real>
  <real>0.319999992847442626953125</real>
  <real>0.2299999892711639404296875</real>
  <real>0.37999999523162841796875</real>
  </array>
  <key>cloud_pos_density1</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.7400000095367431640625</real>
  <real>0.939999997615814208984375</real>
  <real>0.849999964237213134765625</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>cloud_pos_density2</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.65999996662139892578125</real>
  <real>0.5299999713897705078125</real>
  <real>0.03999999910593032836914062</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>cloud_scale</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.189999997615814208984375</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>cloud_scroll_rate</key>
- <array>
  <real>20</real>
  <real>20</real>
  </array>
  <key>cloud_shadow</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.329999983310699462890625</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>density_multiplier</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.0001300000003539025783538818</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>distance_multiplier</key>
- <array>
  <real>1.30000007152557373046875</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>east_angle</key>
  <real>6.283185482025146484375</real>
  <key>enable_cloud_scroll</key>
- <array>
  <boolean>1</boolean>
  <boolean>0</boolean>
  </array>
  <key>gamma</key>
- <array>
  <real>1.94999992847442626953125</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>glow</key>
- <array>
  <real>17.3999996185302734375</real>
  <real>0.001000000047497451305389404</real>
  <real>-0.64999997615814208984375</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>haze_density</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.62000000476837158203125</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>haze_horizon</key>
- <array>
  <real>0.2099999934434890747070312</real>
  <real>0.1991560012102127075195312</real>
  <real>0.1991560012102127075195312</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>lightnorm</key>
- <array>
  <real>-1.734668444441922474652529e-07</real>
  <real>0.1253332346677780151367188</real>
  <real>0.992114722728729248046875</real>
  <real>0</real>
  </array>
  <key>max_y</key>
- <array>
  <real>281.70001220703125</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>0</real>
  <real>1</real>
  </array>
  <key>preset_num</key>
  <integer>24</integer>
  <key>star_brightness</key>
  <real>0.39999997615814208984375</real>
  <key>sun_angle</key>
  <real>0.1256637126207351684570312</real>
  <key>sunlight_color</key>
- <array>
  <real>1.5899999141693115234375</real>
  <real>1.5299999713897705078125</real>
  <real>1.5899999141693115234375</real>
  <real>1.5899999141693115234375</real>
  </array>
  </map>
  </llsd>

Comments

[Solange]

I lost. The ditty is stuck in my head ow ow ow ow ow