Blog RSS Feed - Subscribe!
Blog
October 2, 2010
Totally Blown Away
Okay, so two days ago we finally released “Sintel” to the world. We put it up on YouTube and held our breath as the comments streamed in.
I could not be happier with the response it’s gotten. It took me completely by surprise. Seriously, before this weekend I would never have predicted it would spread the way it has. I mean, what’s going on? The film has so many flaws!
Our reaction on irc. (I'm effstops)
But… it seems to have struck a chord with people. It was featured on Slashdot, Geek.com, NewsinFilm, and Cartoon Brew!
Not to mention our fanbase at blendernation and sintel.org and where there are now over 600 comments.
People have been tweeting about it– including the incredible Felicia Day… and a post I made on reddit.com even made the front page!
And now there’s over a quarter million views on YouTube. I’m overwhelmed! I feel like I’m personally getting too much credit for the film. It was really a team effort from beginning to end, and I was fortunate to be working with an incredibly diverse and talented team. Thanks guys!
I especially want to thank Ton Roosendaal, the producer of the film and the lead developer of Blender, for giving me the opportunity, putting the project together, weighing in creatively and pushing us all to do our best work.
If you haven’t seen the film yet, check it out:
–Colin
Hey Colin Couldn’t be happier for you. can’t wait to see what you have next
Well, it definitely deserves all the attention! Congrats to you and all of the Durian team.
Next aim: Homepage of Youtube? (It’s currently getting close to most viewed (today) in ‘Film & Animation’)
I agree, you really deserve the credit and the attention and the praise. When you compare what the initial goal of Durian was (1000 warriors running down a hill and stuff like that) and what you finally came up with, I can only say “hats off”. It was a beautiful and touching story, well thought out and great delivered. And so epic camera-movements! Really great.
That way we can proudly say “hey, I found some errors”. I mean, that’s what the blender users are supposed to do anyway – bug tracking. So the visible OSA edge in the sky, the sometimes weird color-grading, the sharp edges, the flickering textures and all that stuff – that makes us just as happy as finding the flaws in star wars. It’s encouraging! 
And hey, with out the flaws, what should us mediocre blender infantry do? To humbly sit an stare and be jealous?
So kudos again!
I wish you all the best!
Cheers,
Sebastian
Hi Colin,
Great that you get so much attention (like I said on Twitter)
It’s become a beautiful movie, meant to seen on a big cinema screen, not as a video on YouTube. (it’s really weird to see that big cinema experience from last Monday being compressed to a small computer screen)
About the flaws.. it’s a bit like ‘don’t mention the war’.
Now I know about the hair/coat intersection before the gatekeeper fight I clearly see it, unfortunately.
That’s the whole difference between Blenderers reacting on Blendernation, Blenderartists, the Sintel blog and casual viewers on YouTube.
The cinematic illusion of this film works perfectly, really 24 lies a second. (to mention a famous quoute)
Technically it has some flaws which are very annoying when you builded up the film from the first pixels and painfully saw things not going as they were supposed to be due to time constraints, so I perfectly understand your worries.
But again, the film works and IS great, you can be proud of yourself!
It’s really amazing what you all have pulled off!
Btw, the cinematography is amazing, filmed in ColinScope!
It’s an amazing film, what did you expect?
Whose idea was to put Proog into the movie? It surprised me when I spotted him
I can just imagine how do you feel about the team and the movie, been like that for so long I believe it becomes a experience where everybody embraces the project.
Keep It up like that, and congratulations to all the team.
You were blown away Colin, but so were we. The Durian team did amazing work, and you all deserve it.
Sintel also inspired me to try coding new Blender features, and I’m sure this film will have a HUGE impact on the way Blender is viewed.
Don’t listen to the armchair directors!
Hi Colin,
simply enjoy the positive feedback on Sintel.
…also if the movie have many flaws like you said.
Sintel is an professional result made with blender and an really cool team behind.
Waiting on an chance to see en route.
Greetings madturtle
Hi Colin,
)))
leaving the subtle semiotic choices aside (which are dependent on the script and not entirely your responsibility as a storyteller), your directing is *awesome*. Hats off to you!
I really liked some of the cuts, transmissions, and esp camera movement.
Thank you!
Man this must be a crazy time for ya. Being mentioned on CartoonBrew is definitely huge as it’s a mega-popular site in the animation field, and Felicia Day enjoying the short is especially awesome.
And ya know it’s funny, I find the criticism over the whole thing of Sintel not realizing how much time passed while journeying to be a little odd. And I say that because I personally have the impression that, since it’s a fantasy world, dragons age pretty fast compared to the average growth rate of humans in the same way that it doesn’t take long for cats to grow. Dragons may be bigger than cats, but they’re creatures of fantasy and although I’m sure Sintel traveled for a long time, it probably wasn’t a huge time-span of many years.
That’s just my view though.
Also, I love the very last shot, ’cause it leaves a lot to the imagination. I imagine that someone else would have had the film end with a shot of Sintel and the new baby dragon meeting and Sintel being like “Well, you need someone to watch over you,” and then having the dragon come with her as a new friend; and a choice like that, while cute in theory, would feel pretty tacked on.
The last shot you went with though, I feel, is more effective than showing a happy ending since it implies the idea of a happy ending; and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about storytelling, it’s that implying ideas to an audience is to treat audiences with respect.
In short, I like the story choices and it’s a very fun film to watch. Congratulations to you and the whole team!
Gotta say again how I loved the movies, and so have all the people I have shown it too.
Ciritisms, none, not needed. YOu and the team no the flaws, no need to waste time discussing them, although those that have problems should buy the DVD and make the improvements. If fact I think you all left the flaws in, just for something the community todo
Anyways, when is EN Route comming out, and have you checked out an animation called ‘the passenger?’, ranks as my all time best animation especialy when you consider it was all done by one talented individual.
regards
TFS
It’s a gem. Gems without flaws are boring and cold. This movie is not boring and cold, quite the opposite.
Sincere congratulations!
Hey guys, geesh! Thanks so much for the great feedback and encouragement.
@Kasey, it’s funny you mention the ending — we actually changed it near the end of production to be a bit more ambiguous. The original ending had Sintel and the baby dragon making eye contact, stopping… and considering each other. We still kept the actual *decision* off-screen, but I felt like the more we left up to imagination, the better. Thanks for your thoughts!
@TFS – yeah man, “The Passenger” is absolutely phenomenal. I was blown away when I realized it was all done by one guy!!
Hi Colin, I noticed that you mentioned the hyena fight in the interview with blenderguru. I did notice it when watching for the second time. I think it’s a nice addition for everyone that takes a closer look.
Also in the interview you said that nobody would be surprised by the criticism, but apparently you are still surprised by the positive reaction.
Too bad that you had such a short amout of time to get it done. There were some shots that I saw at the Blender Institute that I wished would have made it into the final movie. The scene where the big dragon catches Scales was a bit more surprising than what is in the movie and the flight of the big dragon also was a bit longer.
Still suprises me how much progress you made since february and the end.
You and everyone else in the team did a fantastic job!
C – I’m a huge Blender fan and was obviously looking forward to “Sintel”. Wonderful film…holy crap!! My only critique (the clunky character animation) has nothing to do with you. What I was truly struck by was the direction. OMG! Dude, you took a story that was …m’eah…OK…and turned it into a tear-jerker. You made me sniffle at work you BASTARD!!! Start shopping for an island my friend….you’re gonna be huge.
Hugs to Ton and his drunken, midnight rages for fried chicken.
Best,
sweaty
If you show it to the general public, rather than technical people, you will ONLY get positive reviews.
Down with the modesty Colin, You know that you’re awesome xD
Colin, only people who care about flaws can see them. Most of us are looking at Sintel with macro-vision – we want the emotion that each scene stirs within us, and to enjoy that emotion.
Love the film I’ve watched it about 1.6 million times on Youtube
Wow, your work has really grown, I have been around the blender community only a few years and have learned a bit from your tips. Being an aspiring artist/director myself, really appreciate your work. SO hats off to you my friend, your direction change made it an unforgettable fable. Serene yet, enticing nearly every one that watches it is instantly engaged. The each of the team did great work, you made it exceptional. cherish the moment you guys deserve it. Looking forward to the next project.
An amazing, delightful and deeply emotional movie.
I loved it. Had to watch it twice to believe the story line and was very relieved to see the little dragon following Sintel at the end.
As a relatively new student of Blender, I can only imagine the huge amount of skill and endeavour that went into the movie.
Thank you – keep inspiring us.
Good work Colin!
Weird to see you grow so fast, I do remember the early blender contests at NaN we always let you win
Looking forward to the Academy Awards where they will put together a clip of you giving tuts.
Okay, not yet, but in my lifetime.
Keep it up. ( And get your framing fixed, lol )
-Joeri
I was touched by this movie! I was trolling YouTube for Blender tutorials and punched in your website, and here I am. Consider me inspired, and congrats on this project!
Nice dude. I followed Durian from the beginning; it was quite fun following the project. Eager to see what you do next.
hi this my first time i see SINTEL and i love that
very excise movie i always see see and see more than a time
thank you that you create that lovely movie
it a very good movie that i ever seen before
and now i try to learn BLENDER 3d it very hard for me
i interest in that 3 d very much
so thank you
Wow. This is an amazing accomplishment. Kid, you are going places. I am sooooooo jealous. Reading your interview you carry yourself very well. You are a genius kind sir.
Amazing work you can do with the blender:)
Very nice design and style and fantastic content , nothing at all else we require : D.