Making Music Videos on Unity Engine with Max Horwich (Live from the Void, Pt. 2)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
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Host note
Max Horwich returns to talk about "Creature Comfort Live from the Void," a live music video we built together: filmed against green screen while Max flew a virtual camera through a world he built in Unity.
He walks through turning a game engine into a filmmaking tool (Unity wasn't built for this; Neil Blomkamp's use of it helped point the way), and how the concept moved from a straightforward performance video toward something more abstract: a nightclub built entirely inside the engine. We get into the green-screen logistics of shooting live in a small space, and how each pass at it got weirder and weirder, what Max calls failing up.
The conversation closes on identity: what it means to build a virtual character that's still inexorably tied to your real background and personality, and why the finished video reads as uncanny valley, almost hyper-real, on purpose.
Selected moments
- Building the Video's Concept 1:31 Max explains the initial concept for the video, detailing the planning stages and how they transitioned from straightforward to abstract.
- The Role of Unity Engine 4:19 Discussion on how Max utilized Unity as a filmmaking tool, transforming a gaming engine into a platform for music video creation.
- Inspiration from Neil Blomkamp 5:37 The conversation touches on Neil Blomkamp's use of Unity, highlighting how his work inspired Max's approach to the project.
- Creation of Virtual Worlds 6:53 Exploration of how the video immerses viewers in a nightclub setting, integrating virtual elements and a lively atmosphere.
- Filming Techniques and Challenges 9:39 Max discusses the live filming process and the advantages of using green screens in constrained environments.
- The Evolution of the Green Screen Concept 10:55 A humorous take on the evolution of their green screen work, as each component improved over time.
- Behind the Scenes on Animation 17:04 Explanation of how complex animations and transitions were created seamlessly for the final video.
- Reflections on Virtual Identity 14:49 A thought-provoking discussion on the nature of identity in virtual spaces and the connection to real-life performances.
Selected excerpts
We kind of set out to make a live video. In a certain respect we failed. But I think in another respect, it really plays with a sense of place in a way that this project does.
Unity is a piece of software that was originally designed to be a tool for video game making, and over time people started using it for different things like 3D rendering.
...this is sort of absurd digital, kind of high tech but also low tech fake world. It's the world that has birthed it all, and it makes sense there.
I feel like it's a very holistic approach to the whole thing, it feels like the right place to debut the live version of this.
It’s so cool to see how this evolves; it’s like we were failing up, where things just keep getting weirder and weirder.
How can we take that same sort of set of principles or techniques and apply that to our weird project?
It’s like this uncanny valley territory of a live show—almost hyper-real, which is exactly what we’re trying to create in these videos.
The idea of creating a character that is inexorably tied to my actual background and personality—it creates a distinct identity.
FAQ
Who is Max Horwich?
Max Horwich is a filmmaker and musician known for innovative approaches in combining technology and the arts, particularly through the use of game engines like Unity.
What is the 'Creature Comfort Live from the Void' project?
The 'Creature Comfort Live from the Void' project is a live music video filmed with green screen technology, utilizing Unity to create a virtual performance space.
How does Unity function in filmmaking?
Unity serves as a multi-purpose tool for filmmakers, allowing for the creation of complex animations, 3D rendering, and virtual environments that can enhance live performances.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. The episode itself is on the listen links above.