Collaboration, Community and Culture

We've uploaded the Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds mini-documentary to YouTube. The original high-res file is broadcast quality of which we're incredibly proud. Unfortunately, the compression quality of the YouTube version is nowhere near as nice as it looks in high-resolution. But it gets the idea across.

Compliments to the team at Ill Clan Animation Studios especially Paul Jannicola, Kerria Seabrooke and Frank Dellario whose commitment to quality and collaboration remains unparalleled in what is still a very new industry -- machinima video productions. They really moved this video from something potentially ordinary to something that captured the true visual beauty of what we saw during our year on this project. Because machinima video production is still so new it is considered a bit of a novelty by the film and broadcast industry. In addition to top notch creative work, the Ill Clan's level of attention to detail, such as lighting, resolution and story is unparalleled. The work that Paul, Kerria and Frank have recorded inside Second Life is competitive with much of today's top quality animation. See their serial, oft-times hysterical soap operatic "Tiny Nation" for an example of their high productions standards (and comedic timing). Note to Hollywood: Option these folks.

As one viewer told me on Thursday after seeing the documentary, the beauty of the Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds documentary video helped them understand how the sacred is manifest in Second Life.

Note particularly how Paul and Kerria's camerawork captures the gleam on the marble inside Second Life's Al Andalus mosque.

Thank you Ill Clan!