unforum

[Jsor]

I'd like to see some sort of video game. The problem is it would be nigh impossible to do well. You could even start out by releasing the "alpha," (really the first complete release) laughing it off when people start sending you emails a couple versions later about SWEARING they caught Slendy in the corner of their eye, complete with screenshots etc.

The problem is, where do you go beyond the initial thrill? I can't think of many ways to do it without either being a massive tool, or it being lukewarm at best. You have to tell a story, and "OMG THERE'S THIS WEIRD BUG" and "HAHA you sometimes see Slendy behind a corner in my game" only goes so far, and some of the truly frightening things (making the game install some sort of rootkit that Slenderizes your computer) would be, at best, unscrupulous. On the other hand, making a Marble Hornets-esque adventure game would ruin a lot of the "this could be real" vibe. Yeah, Slendy comes up and causes camera distortion RIGHT when you're about to use Lampshade on Tractor and escape, hooray. It's the same experience for everyone, and a non-linear game devolves into the aforementioned "lol i kawt slendy gaiz!"

I'm sure there's a way to do this, but I can't think of what. And to be clear, I'm not referring to anything like what Within Hubris/Jadusable/BEN Drowned is trying to do with the current phase, where the game supports and ARG, I'm talking about an ARG centered around an in-progress or specially-made-for-it game.

It could also be interesting to see a series from the perspective of a child who knows about Slenderman. I can imagine a lot of scared from the perspective of:

"We didn't want to go, we didn't want to kill them, but its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified and comforted us at the same time..." while saying things like "it's just a game. You start off small, move a book while they're not looking, mess with their computer. Make them think they're just stressed. Then you start getting bigger... it's fun, you should try it."

[Paplate]

I'd be interested in a facebook page...that'd be pretty interesting. Instead of seeing them post on a blog, they'd be actively updating their facebook statuses, as they try and struggle to figure out what happened and get themselves out of it.

That, or get killed while playing farmville.

[BrochachoNacho]

[KillMeQuick]

Starting a Slenderman V-Log Series

[perspicacious_loris]

There is a long checklist of things people say you should try to avoid. I don't really agree with a lot of this stuff but I'll say some of them anyway.

1. Proxies. People say they are overdone and boring at this point. However, if you can do something that you believe to be truly original, go for it.

2. The operator symbol. Don't use it. It's a marble hornets thing.

3. Don't go to quickly. Take it slow. If you go straight into slenderman being there rather than having a good introduction, it can end up really badly.

4. Try to have a more up close and personal slenderman. Use him little but use him wisely. If all slenderman does in your series is stand in the background and passively affect your videos, it's boring.

5. Also, make sure you write out/outline your story before starting. I didn't and it severely effected the goodness of my series.

[KillMeQuick]

[evanx275h]

Let me go ahead and clarify a few things here.

[thatslenderdude]

1. Be original with the series. Don't use overused slenderverse cliches like the pages witth cryptic writing on it or a lot of tapes. Don't get me wrong tapes are ok but too much is not good.
2. Get good actors. Have some people planned for roles before the vlog starts. I took the lazy way of waiting and that screwed me over with my series.
3. Don't do too much crossovers. 1-3 crossovers are fine, but more than 4 is not ok. This will cause lazy viewers not bother to look at the other channels.
4. If there is a proxy involved do something unique with the concept. A good example is having the proxy actually help instead of hurting the characters
5. Don't make too many accounts to go with the series. It is pretty much the same problem with 3.
6. use good editing software. Sony vegas and After effects will do. Series using movie maker or other free movie editing software get laughed upon.
7. Have an actor play slenderman. There are plenty tutorials on a web to do it but thestevegeek's tutorial is the cheapest and affordible way to do it.
8. Include creepypasta tie ins if possible. Since slenderman is apart of a creepypasta why not include other creepypasta stories/ monsters to get involved (No jeff the killer -_-)
9. Have fun and don't quit your series. Many series go dead because the creators get bored of it. Enjoy making your series .
Thats all the advice I can give you

[AppleTreeProjectionist]

Hey there. I haven't made a Slender series myself ever, so I can't give you any tips from experience. But if you don't mind I can give you a few suggestions.

1. Communicate. Not just with your fanbase or cast, but others who might be affected by your filming. If you're using your home to film and you have family there make sure to talk to them first and let them know you'll be filming. This can help prevent disruptions and having to reshoot on your part.

2. Consider your locations. A bit connected to communicating, but its own section. Have an idea of where you want to film. If there are public places you want to use, or even abandoned ones, seriously consider asking if it's okay if you film there first. Some places do take issue with people randomly filming or photographing. If you clear it before hand you run into less risk of being told to clear out and having to figure out rewrites for a new location. Also, while some locations may seem really great, they may not be entirely practical. A creepy abandoned shack may spooky, but if you have to hike five miles through thick woods to get to it, it might not be the best choice for a location, especially an oft used one.

3. Don't obsess on being the next big Slender vlog. The important thing is to focus on your creation, not how many people view it each day. While those things are nice, obsessing over them will only stress you out. If the vlog is good, engaging story, good actors and all that, people will watch. Just focus on making a good series.

4. Expect things to go wrong. People won't be able to show up, technical difficulties may arise. These things happen. The best thing to do is make sure to plan ahead and be prepared for them as best you can.

5. Don't go crazy trying to make every detail original. By now, a lot of ideas have been done in some form, and since you're planning to make a Slender vlog, it's pretty likely some ideas you come up with are going to be things others have done before. You might even be inspired by things you seen or read. This isn't a bad thing, if some things are similar. The important thing to do is find a way to give it your own spin and create something new. An old oft used idea can be made engaging and feel like something totally different with the right mind set and effort.

[Mrkingofspades]

[C.K.DexterHaven]

[KillMeQuick]

I greatly appreciate all of your suggestions and I will definitely incorporate most of them into my series. I'm a tad young compared to most of the people who make these things, but I'll do my damn best at acting. Also, my budget's a little tight, but I do have friends who have proper editing software. I was preparing to post an introduction video that I made using Windows Movie Maker, but now I've decided against it. I was thinking that I'd have the protagonist be more calm and collected in situations with Slendy than other protagonists of other V-Logs, who upon seeing Slendy just seem to.. drop their shit and make a run for it. (Except for Evan of course, crazy Bat-Flailing bastard.) Though this may be a biased observation.

If tl;dr:
Thanks guys! I'll be sure to take note of everything said here! Keep the suggestions coming, please.

[ChildOfAtom]

Merging this with a previously established topic.

You may also be interested in: http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34290

[Lumine]

Protip: If you intend on making any cash on your series, be sure you understand that filming on private property can bite you in the ass big time. Also understand that "Slender Man" is public domain. Interpret that how you will.

[OhWhatProvidence]

Pretty much what everyone else said, but just wanting to add in my two cents because it's sort of been a pet peeve of mine about ARGs in general (moreso because Slenderseries are SO video based)

Film it like you would any other tv show, music video, movie. Because, at it's core a SM series is pretty much a web series.

Research some stuff about planning story arcs, character development. Write it all down, maybe even give your actors scripts so that they won't be going "uhm" too much. If you do something like that, you can add in some foreshadowing and such.

Maybe even look up some things about how to plan out exactly how shots will be set (rule of thirds? art angles? marble Hornets has some good examples of this) IMO, this is especially critical in a slenderseries, because so much time is spent looking in the background so you need to make sure at the very least, he's in frame.

I know most SM series are less-than-indie, but you can make good things even with that. Because you won't have crazy good actors (unless you get really lucky) or fantastic special effects, look into how to do those yourself. Be okay with doing multiple takes, learn how to make your own blood, prostetics/scar wax-- use the indie film community to your advantage, and you can do a lot that some other slenderseries aren't able to because of budget/lack of knowledge. I feel, personally, that a lot of slenderseries don't realize all the amazing things that can be done as an indie filmmaker.

You can even do explosions if you know where to find flash paper or powered creamer. You wanna behead someone? You can do that if you get creative with camera angles.

I guess I really just want to see more Slenderseries with-- not so much professionalism, since I know the true limits of indie film-- but more just innovation, willingness to try new things. I know the limits of a dollar, but with that, I also know that there is a LOT that you CAN do with only, say $15 a month. (hint: a LOT if you're willing to learn and work with your hands a bit)

Also I'd really really love to see a SM series set in a creek. I know we have this huge creek that winds around the whole city and has lots of nice and dark tunnels you can either crawl or stand fully up, and lots of creepy bridges with graffiti. I'd love to see a series set in a creek or a cave or something a bit more claustrophobic.

/rambling