Infinitum: the Midnight Feast
Foreword by NorseGamer, HSM Editor-in-Chief
Here’s the problem with most Home fashion videos: they’re boring.
And the reason why they’re boring is because most Home fashion videos focus on the model, rather than the fashion. As a result, they’re little more than self-indulgent look-at-me exercises which do practically nothing to actually sell the goods. This is understandable, yes — people use Home to live out their fantasies of being fashion models — but in a virtual world where anyone can look like Bar Refaeli, that doesn’t mean much.
I’m not against Home’s fashion scene. At all. I’m simply against how it’s been denuded and misused by some very fevered egos who have forgotten the cardinal rule of selling fashion: the clothes are the star, not the person wearing them. And this is why most Home fashion videos are, frankly, of little interest to anyone other than the people who made them.
This is why I find Jin Lovelace’s “Endless White” machinima to be such a breath of fresh air. It’s a video made to create a mood and sell a product. As a consumer, I’m not interested in how well a user — male or female — can create an attractive Home avatar for a fashion video. I’m interested in how a developer’s clothing product looks on a 3D model under lighting conditions other than the glaring, overlit white background that’s used in Home’s preview windows when trying something on.
More than that, though: I appreciate a well-made film. Magnus’ “Virtual Item Showcase” videos are what they are because they need to convey a bunch of information in a hurry. But this video from Jin takes its time to create a mood, and mood is important to sell the emotional context of the clothing. It’s why you have a very different lighting scheme and type of music playing when you walk into a Dunhill store, for instance, as opposed to something like Banana Republic.
Endless White isn’t a new machinima. It’s been around for a while. But it’s good to finally showcase it in HSM. And, even better, we now have a sequel to enjoy as well. Take a look.
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by Jin Lovelace, HSM team writer
A good friend of mine inspired me to create this piece, which had me going back to the drawing board and view from a personal perspective on how to approach my fashion presentation for aesthetic interests, touching upon the creativity that my fashion brand (Twilight Touch) is known for: intriguing stimulation. This alone was indeed an experience, as I promised myself not to tell all what my project involved (only one knew, but it was circumstantial rather than planned).
To my dismay, there is a video piece I produced nine months ago which garnered recognition which I wasn’t aware of. I never expected it to earn such praise; it was a personal piece. But, then, as Norse likes to point out, the work which comes from the heart is usually the most engrossing.
Endless White is a presentation featuring the use of white-colored clothing items to produce a string of wonderful outfits that a Home consumer might enjoy wearing. The music is there to set the mood that I personally feel when wearing these items. When we buy virtual clothes, just as when we buy real ones, what we’re ultimately buying is an emotional expression — either something we wish to convey to others, or something we wish to feel within ourselves.
Infinitum: the Midnight Feast is the sequel to that.
The outfit designs featured here are a whimsical exploitation of color and design gradation from light and casual (Infinitum) to dark and elegance (Midnight Feast), featuring two designs to provide an exquisite detail of what this video project held. My purpose, with this video presentation, was to expose little to no transitioning and allow the music and mood tell the story, along with the aforementioned apparel.
Fashion, however, extends beyond clothing. To add something new, I’m also spotlighting an interior-design motif which coordinates with the clothing, in order to heighten the scenery of the Infinitum theme with color hues to match that timeless classic released on PlayStation Home: the Summer House. It is, without a doubt, an elder to all of the personal estates available, and — if you’re one of the lucky ones — the first Space given to all closed-beta users for free.
Sometimes, rediscovering something old is the key to a new experience.
Hopefully, this video is the beginning of many more to come. Twilight Touch is a project I’ve invested a lot into, and it’s a genuine pleasure to expose it to HomeStation’s readership. Special thanks to Cristal Clare, as well, for her help with this project; she also came up with one of the outfit designs, Audacieux, which you see in the video.
I hope you enjoy this experience as much as I had fun producing it.
October 26th, 2012 by Jin Lovelace | 8 comments
Jin Lovelace is a machinimist and team writer for HomeStation Magazine, as well as the founder of Twilight Touch Inc. -- http://twilighttouchinc.com and http://youtube.com/twilighttouchinc. When not found in PlayStation Home, Jin studies graphic design and illustration (character design and fashion), gaming, and the culinary arts.
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Norse, in my opinion you nearly ruined the article with your foreword. I don’t watch too many fashion videos or any videos on the forum because they’re too long and don’t hold my attention. However, I do not know who or what videos you are talking about.
Jin’s video was too long at least for me. I like four minute limits but that’s me.
I did watch both of Jin’s videos and they are good… but too long. Were it not for the mood music I wouldn’t have made it through. Maybe I have a short attention span.
Next time I as a reader would prefer to have the editor let the article speak for itself without knocking something or some people who I don;t even know is being referred to.
I am sorry if I ruffled any feathers but one doesn’t create without knowing they may get criticism.
Feather-ruffling goes with the territory — and can, when employed on specific occasion, be used to help elevate visibility for a particular creation. There’s method to the madness. Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you for your words.
Many would state that videos are a bit too long and would have a sense of time limit to meet their taste. This is something I extremely understand and is something I also note when I create my videos.
But the conundrum behind that statement is when I do create said video, I teeat it as art. No matter how long I drew the piece or take my time on it, the finished product shows. For this alone, I feel that the 6 minute mark truly justifies my work and the result of it in the end. It may not be such an agreeable thing but what’s important is the product that is shown.
Again, however, for your words and opinion. It’s greatly appreciated. ^_^
I think I wanted to not this also…
This may come off as something rather narcisstic but I feel that I agree with Norse on the statement in the statement. It’s not to say because of his gracious words aforementioned in the article by him but due to the truth of the matter; most fashion videos (from what I’ve seen) don’t tend to feature the subject, but instead entices the viewers with the Models first.
What I wish to covey in my videos is not action sequences with trendy albeit bland and dubious music but rather to express the emotion and fun behind what you wear. For this alone, it’s a practice that I instill into my brand: clothes is ALWAYS the first thing many will view, the Model second. Though Norse pointed out the obvious, I’m not stating anything negative nor am I bashing anyone. I still have room to improve my work because I believe I still have more to learn.
But this is just a matter of my own opinion and nothing more, as I highly value everyone’s word, be it negative or positive. If it’s something I can learn from it, I will listen, rather than to bash. So again, I deeply appreciate your words of wisdom--both you and Norse.
Very nice pieces Jin! A very elegant perspective.
Transitions can be over rated. I have gotten more from not having them. Rather than having used them. Something I would like to get back to.
I will be looking forward to more your work.
Hahaa xD Thanks Godzprototype. It was something I really wanted to try when featuring the fashion presentation and I’m glad you actually got it!
Greatly appreciate it.
Liked both videos! Great job Jin! I agree fashion is all about the clothes not the model because in Home especially you can look fantastic dressed in a bag, lol.
LOL xDD Thanks Burbie.