Make a Sims Movie

As anyone who as tried to film a live action film will tell you, its not easy. Your cast or crew could not turn up, your camera could run out of memory or power, your lights could be burning something, and of course it's all going to leave a big hole in your pocket. Everything seems to be against you. But there is a solution that deals with your microphones, lights, cast and crew. Its called Machinima films. These are films made digitally in video games or computer programs. The Sims 2 is one of the most popular of these new games that allow you to film ordinary gameplay or record in a "cameraman mode".

Steps

Using Sims Cameraman Mode

  1. Familiarize yourself with the game "Sims 2'. Learn how to do particular things. Experiment. Learn what activates particular animations. This can be very useful in movie making.
  2. Choose a genre for your movie. Will it be a comedy, horror, drama, romance or just a music video?
  3. Once you have a genre, find an editing software which suits you. Movie Maker comes free with Windows. But if you want to make a more professional movie, Ulead Movie Studio or Nero, are both easy to use.
  4. Write a plot (unless you're doing a music video). Most movies are unknown because they have a plot similar to several hundreds of other movies. When choosing a plot, add a twist so that things are not too predictable. This makes watching more enjoyable.
  5. Create your characters and location.
  6. Start filming.
    • Change the video setting to high or medium as the game comes with it set on low.
    • Press Tab to access the cameraman mode. You use the mouse to change the position at which the camera points.
    • Use the W A S D keys to change the position camera.
    • If you find a camera angle which you like and want to go back to, press Ctrl+4, Crtl+5, etc, to save the camera angle. You can press the number you used to go back to that angle, any time you're in cameraman mode.
  7. Command your sims to do the actions required by your plot. Film with the V button or use the button in the left hand corner.
  8. Once you have finished filming, go into your editing software and start work on your movie. If it is a series, choose or create a small section of music to use at the beginning and end of each episode. If it is one movie, get music for an opening scene where it says the name of the movie, and for the end credits.
  9. Voice your movie. If you would rather not have voicing than you can start editing by adding CLEAR subtitles.
  10. Edit your movie. If you have voicing, set up the voicing first and then add your clips on top. Cut the clips to be in time with the voicing. If the clip you have isn't long enough for the section of speech, cut and insert the clip again.
  11. Add any finishing touches.
  12. Upload your video to the internet and share it with the world. If you have an account at Sims 99 you can put it on there for people to review it and give you advice on improving it.

Using Screen Recording Software

  1. Think of ideas. Do you want to make a Sims 2 series, or just make a music video? Also keep in mind songs. Do you want to use songs in your video? If so, which song(s)?
  2. Download a screen recorder. You don't have to do this step since The Sims have a video record in the game, but if you find it more easier to record through a software, download one.
  3. Make a new family. That would be your "Actors cast". If you're making a music video, try to make them look like singers.
  4. Build a house. For the scenes, you can have more money by using the Motherlode cheat, which giving you 50,000 simoleons.
  5. Make everyone happy. If you want, have them sit and don't move. However, this may not work if they're tired or hungry. You can use the Testingcheatsenabled True cheat and make them to be fully happy always.
  6. Start recording. Tell your Sims what to do and start recording.
  7. Edit. You can use any other movie making software, but this program is one of the easier programs to edit with. Take your recordings and put in the movie maker, and add some music or dub. If you're making a series, you can also translate the Sims by making a subtitles.



Tips

  • Ctrl+Shift+C opens the cheat box. The code "MoveObjects on" is very useful and lets you move and delete almost all objects which cannot usually be moved. This includes Sims, rubbish like old food, newspapers, the mailbox and the trash can. But be careful; the mailbox is like a portal in the game, and deleting it will mean you will not be able to get back into play mode once you leave the house! Experiment with moving sims. Press Shift whilst holding a sim to clone it. Use the code "MoveObjects off" to turn this off.
  • Vary your shots. Use long angles to establish where you are and close-ups so that people can really understand your Sim's character.
  • Watch videos like Elena, a girl in love, or , "A Real Love Story" , or " Cherry Lane" , orNot Another Nightlife Movie . These are two great sims 2 movies available on Youtube. Watch some of the tricks, or, even better, ask the creators for advice in a personal email.
  • Watch a lot of Sims 2 videos on websites like YouTube to give you ideas. You can see what types of things can be done that you didn't know about, such as camera movements, animations, and ideas.
  • Scenery really adds to the realism of movies. Generally, people don't just have the basics they need to survive in their homes - they usually have decorative objects and clutter around their home to make it match their personality. For example, a punk teen may have clothes around their room, so just put some empty plates around the room, but not old ones, or else your sim will die!
  • Don't film everything. If you're showing your sim do something mundane, such as taking out the trash or walking into the bathroom, you can save yourself time and keep it interesting by showing only your actual story. You don't have to show the entire process, just it beginning and ending. If you do, you may lose the plot, which leads to a terrible story.
  • Custom content isn't required at all to make a good Sims 2 movie. However, things like Movie Making hacks and custom objects can add realism to your movies. Look around at site such as The Sims Exchange or ModTheSim2.com to look for custom content.
  • Experiment with camera positioning, such as the height, distance and rotation to create unique camera angles.
  • Film in cameraman mode(TAB button).
  • Try to start as soon as you've had breakfast. It usually takes half the day to film a 3 minute movie if you want it great, so start as early as possible. Go to bed early the day before so you can wake up early and get started.
  • If you are using VA's(voice actors) mess around with your voice and try to change it. Then you can play more than one part if you are lacking cast, instead of subtitles that could go too quick for your watchers to read.
  • Try making a Sims movie out of a real life movie. For example, if you have the Sims game with the ship, you could make "Titanic" Then you could put "My Heart Will Go On" in the background.
  • If you are using a good editing software, you can choose codecs. Set Video to DivX, Audio to MP3 and the video size to 320x240. This this the perfect format for uploading to YouTube.
  • Use parameters.
  • Also, "show headlines off/on" helps to get rid of your speech bubbles and "Plumbobtoggle off/on" to get rid of the motive.

Warnings

  • Don't spend so much time worrying about the video quality that you forget about the plot. This is a common mistake and results in a boring video.
  • Make sure that the environment your sim/s are living in isn't too messy and none of your sims are sick (unless you need them to be) as this may result in your sim/s dying or being sick during filming. Sure, you can edit it out, but it may ruin your film a bit.
  • If you are using subtitles, make sure you leave them on for a while, and play the video to your friends to see if it is slow/fast enough.
  • Make sure you turn all the sound off from options or you will get that clicky noise when you make a character do something.

Things You'll Need

  • The Sims 2 (with optional expansion packs)
  • Editing software
  • Microphone (if using Voice Actors)(tip - you can use a boogie microphone.)
  • Clips you have filmed using the sims 2
  • Some experience would be useful, but not mandatory.
  • and movie maker

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