But… “Indie filmmakers have filmed the first two episodes of their new Half-Life-2-based miniseries(…)” – where’s episode 2?

Seems the critics are unfamiliar with Half Life 2 and how superbly the atmosphere is caught. This is no place for “good acting” or smooth lines delivered by script: Hollywood production qualities would completely butcher the meaning and authenticity of the imperfect (and alienate those inclined to be mesmerized by the Half Life saga).

The episode obviously takes place straight after Gordon Freeman (the player in the game) has “won” and triggered the start of the self-destruction of the Dark Energy Reactor at the top of the Combine Citadel in the middle of City 17, which is why one hears the voice of world prison keeper/Universal Union global puppet dictator Wallace “Savior of Humanity” Breen ordering the evacuation of City 17 and it’s “patients”.

It’s the story of surviving City 17 Human Resistance members trying to escape the Combine “evacuation”, the ongoing open warfare centered on the city, and the city itself before the DER blows.

Players have had to escape City 17 and know what to expect and it does not lessen the thrill at all, players also know that City 17 has been in a state of open rebellion and warfare since they first escaped it because they fought their way back in through it all towards the end of the game with the help of the Human Resistance.

Fantastic work, I would love to see it in better-than-flash quality. In the words of the transhuman Civil Protection and Overwatch members: “verdict administered”.

P.S. I love the teaser at the end, always had a sweet spot for headcrabs (and thus headcrab zombies) and blond chicks, not necessarily in that order ^_^

This doesn’t even factor the costs of commercial software which, no matter HOW much we’d all rather was not *currently* better than FOSS tools in this space is, simply, necessary.

The fact is, ALL creative endeavors of consequence should pay the talent involved. If the work is done ‘on spec’ an *honest* budget includes what their minimum take-away should be if money were there. You factor that and you can add three zeros to that 500 bucks.

- Anonymous Coward

This could compete with BSG.

The movie is based on a game. A game with a robust mod-friendly engine that can let you set up entities and record the results quite easily. I’d say the cost of CGI for this was whatever the combined cost of HL2 and a screen capture utility was.

Yet somehow it draws out those who wish to offer their ‘constructive criticism’ on the subject and it tends to come off as more of a thinly veiled attack screed written to knock the makers down a peg out of some disturbed need to remain a bit snooty, rather than any sort of attempt at criticism – certainly not constructive.

It was enjoyable, not fantastic but in the context of what it is very enjoyable and I hope to see more of it. I could write some actual comprehensive critique but can’t be bothered; I suppose I’m just too easily entertained.

(I liked that they stuck with the original sounds, especially for guns. HL2 has very unique gun sounds, maybe I’ve just heard a lot of them.)

Even calling this a movie in a way is disrespectful of the really talented people who make REAL movies.

It’s nice warm & fuzzy to think that if you can raise $28,000 from friends and family, work on the ‘movie’ for 9 months, and then hold a screening at the local bowling lanes.. it’s a cute slow-news day story. But will you ever make that $28,000 back? Have you broken new ground with your zombies-are-loose story? No, just maxed out your credit cards and still no calls from Hollywood.

people thing that by popping in some CGI, any clip automatically becomes great. but it’s not like that :D

those idioits spent there 500 bucks to irritate thosands of people…well done.

It is well done on a low-budget, probably one camera, one mic, special effects done using a game engine SDK readily available.

#29 – “Even calling this a movie in a way is disrespectful of the really talented people who make REAL movies.”

I equate this statement with something to the effect of ‘Calling anything written for NaNoWriMo is disrespectful of the really talented people who write REAL books.’

It isn’t necessary to crush everyone’s dreams.

Not only are the effects quite seemless. But the actual action, one of the core aspects of the game, is captured very very well. I was especially impressed with the crowbar beatdown. So many things could have made this really silly, but these guys have made something fantastic.

Can’t wait to see the other parts, and I can’t wait to see what Valve thinks of this. Put up some money Valve, you could have something very interesting on your hands.

Christian Bale plays Gordon Freeman? Gary Oldman the professor? Or maybe just a City 17 cast with hints at Gordon the almighty.

God I want to see this happen now.

The only thing that needs work is the ADR and dialogue. The filmmaking is pretty damn great. The sense of place and the realness sucks you right in. The camera work is very effective, some of those shots of epic. And the action felt real. I wouldn’t call this shaky cam, this is handheld with a couple bumps here and there. Bourne Identity is shaky cam, this is closer to Children of Men. These guys are already pro for commercials, I’d bet they’ll be in Hollywood within 4 years.

I believe the words were ‘blown away.’

Also, the “working without a script” part is painfully obvious. Explosions and special effects do not make a compelling story.

And the Battlestar Galactica shake is way overdone. Trying too hard.

I’d wager that the producers of BSG couldn’t make something this good for only $500. Given the paltry resources, they did an incredible job.

Give them a real budget, real crew, real writers, and better actors and this could be pretty bad ass.

“You know, given a few bucks, _anyone_ can make a ‘movie’ about two guys running around one set location”

No, they can’t. If “anyone” can make this, I’d be interested to see your animation/cinematography/production design/costume design reels. Or just any other evidence that you could produce something like this.

For someone who’s so certain that we all possess these skills, your last paragraph makes you sound weirdly unambitious.

I don’t get the people ragging on it. I don’t think the intentions of this project were more than to capture the right atmosphere, and make something that looked good (and it looks very very good).

Makes me want to get out there and make a movie.

Matters to me. I am very inspired by what they did and think they have alot of talent, but as an industry professional, I am also genuinely curious to see their budget breakdown. I think there is alot to learn from these guys if they pulled that off with 500 bucks as that is an amazing feat.