CaptainDisillusion

May Update

Hi everyone,

I've been writing and prepping a video, an extensive followup to something from a past episode. But I encountered a problem with the research. A couple of experts that I need to interview for crucial info are very difficult to get in touch with. (I worry I just don't have any journalistic charm!) Without their input I started to feel too uncertain about my theories on the video's subject to continue.

So panicked and switched to developing a plan B - a different video (Quick D) + 2 fun shorts. I've written it and will shoot the bulk of that stuff in the next couple of days. But I'll also still use an opportunity to shoot a remote location bit for the original video next week, just in case I'm able to resolve the mystery and finish that script.

In other words, I've spent a bit of extra time to write multiple vids, now I'll juggle filming them concurrently (like all the cool six sigma mindset YouTubers do) and then focus on post-producing one as soon as possible.

Thank you as ever for your patience and support!

Orangutan Card Trick - Director's Commentary Stream!

UPDATE: The stream is starting now!

--

Tune in this Sunday at 11AM ET (-|:'_-.:-=||_- Alpha Centauri Time) for a fun livestream about the latest video.

I'll go through it with detailed commentary, show some behind-the-scenes footage, answer questions (if any) and also... reveal how I did my version of the trick!

Hope to see you there. But if you miss it, no worries. As always, the stream will be archived and available to watch later.

EARLY ACCESS: Orangutan Card Trick DEBUNK

It's here! An actual, real, proper new video!

It's been exciting and challenging to work on a classic "debunk" again. I hope it holds up to the traditional standard.

Please enjoy and let me know what you think.

(sorry about ads already being active. I accidentally turned them on during upload and am scared to turn them back off because YouTube is a volatile creature.)

VFX Work Stream

Hi everyone!

Let's do a work-along VFX stream tomorrow (Wed at 1:30pm ET) as I make my way through some of the more complex shots of the next video.

I'll mostly be using After Effects/Blender. And of course, chatting with you.

According to the progress bar on Discord, I am this done with the VFX:

(Discounting the purple segments, which are the debunking voiceover parts, it's getting there!)

Hope to see you in the chat.

2023 Update 1-a (i) 1.0 Alpha

Greetings everybody,

Hope your year is going ok so far. I've been working on various things, with not much to show yet, inconveniently. Just finished an overly-ambitious personalized intro video for a special package of one-off merch goodies that top-tier folks have been waiting for. Once everyone receives their stuff, I'm hoping I can post a version of the vid for all patrons.

But forget all that. The most important thing is I'm in progress on a fun, classic debunk-style CD episode!

I know some people miss that type of video. VFX hoaxes with interesting, unambiguous explanations (that I haven't already covered) are rare to find these days. But I've locked in on one I'm really enjoying analyzing. So that video is coming up next!

Also, as I think I mentioned in a previous update, I'm keen to introduce more short-form... v..verTic...al content (gah, that's so painful to say) in-between normal episodes. So be prepared for a possibly annoying onslaught of those.

Thank you as always for your support!

Early Access YT Short: "Why No Debunks?"

Hey friends,

I've been maneuvering life's spaceship through an asteroid field lately, and am almost out of it. Apologies for the major slow-down in content.

Currently catching up on Patreon rewards and actually creating some new merch, finally. For real-real.

Meanwhile, here's a #Short! 

YouTube reeeeeally wants us to be making them, so I'm experimenting with the format. Still not sure if this is the way to best use it. Let me know if you find this type of thing... watchable?

Thanks as always for your support!

"CD / Alpha Channel" Updated Version (early access)

So,

I came pretty close to completely scrapping this episode and not releasing it outside Patreon. A knowledgeable patron had some technical notes, which made me realize that the already hard-to-follow info I present is not super accurate in places...

Too boring to explain, but basically, the general process of an alpha-over operation I describe differs from the way it's implemented by default in apps like After Effects.

While it would be too hard to redo major parts of the video, I decided to add a section kind of touching on the issue in a fun, over-dramatic way.

Did it make the information even more confusing? You bet! But the important thing is... there's now over a minute of extra, never-before-seen content in this new, digitally-remastered version!

CONTENT!

EARLY ACCESS: "CD / Alpha Channel"

Hello everyone!

Here's a new video for your exclusive early-access consumption!

I wasn't sure if it would be possible to make this topic remotely interesting and... am still not sure. But the video has some fun moments, which I hope you'll enjoy.

Thanks for your support!

Upcoming Video Status

Hey everyone,

I've been back in the studio since mid-Sep, continuing work on the next video, which will be a "CD/" episode. Closing in on finishing the VFX, as you can see in this slightly spoiler-censored shots outline.

Today I'm filming a couple of missing bits needed for the remaining sequences.

Talk to you soon! (Probably during a sound FX livestream)

Update

Hi everyone,

I've made unusually quick progress on the next video (by recent standards). It's fully shot, edited and the VFX work is started!

But I'm afraid this progress is going to get offset, as I've had a sudden family emergency that requires my full attention. I'm out of the country for an indeterminate amount of time. But possibly not too long.

In any case, I took the project along with me and will try to chip away at it on the laptop whenever I can.

Thanks for your understanding and I'll talk to you soon!

Commentary/Q&A Livestream Is Starting Soon

Hope to see you there!

CDxAG Commentary/Q&A Stream Tomorrow

Now that the video has crossed 1M views (thanks!) and I had a few days to recover, let's do a commentary stream!

I'll chat with the interns and go through the episode, recalling whatever trivia I can think of, as well as showing some BTS/VFX breakdown bits.

If you have any questions you want me to answer, feel free to comment them here and I'll do my best to answer on air!

Starts at 3PM ET

(Replay, as always, available after.)

CDxAG Outtakes

Even though post-production took long, the actual shoot with ATARASHII GAKKO was done in a single 10-hour day. We had to move fast and not goof around too much.

But AG were so calm, up-beat and on-point the entire time. Their positive energy filled the set and really helped the process run smoothly. I wanted to share some of that through this selection of outtakes and short-ends. 

EARLY ACCESS: "Music Video VFX Magic With ATARASHII GAKKO!"

**NOTE: There's something wrong with the Patreon/Vimeo integration at the moment and I'm very sorry. If the embed is not working for you, please re-check in a bit. I am trying to fix it continuously**

I'm not sure how to even begin to introduce this video, so I'll just let you go into it cold. Best way to watch most things!

This may end up being unusually-early access because we're still working out some, uh, technicalities on the YouTube side. But I wasn't willing to delay it any longer for you, infinitely patient patrons!

Please enjoy.

(PS: If you're at Comic-con, they're doing a show tonight.)

Pre-Video-Posting Update_final_FINAL_03

Hello, patient, benevolent friends,

I'm so close to finishing the big video, I can taste the optimized thumbnail. But there's just a bit more VFX/comping work to do before I can get to the final boss of sound design.

Attached is an updated progress chart, as well as an image representing my current, sleep-deprived state of mind.

I'll most likely do an informal Discord stream as I'm working on the audio in the coming days, so hope to see you there!

Otherwise, talk to you when the video's out!

Thank you so much for your support.

Sneak Peek Images & Update

I have finally turned a corner from super slow-process stuff to more conventional editing! It's frustrating not to be able to bring you the video sooner.

The best I can come up with for now is this set of random detail images from some of the stuff intern Joey and I have been busy making.

I promise this is not an April Fools joke; these are real visuals from the next episode, but it's not directed by David Lynch. It's actually one of the wackiest, most lighthearted things I've ever worked on.

I hope the incongruence of that will inspire patience in you for just a little longer 'til I can get it finished! :)

Upcoming Video Update

Hello, friends!

It's been... quite the post-production process. And continuing to, quite, be. I wish I could share some work-in-progress material, but it's tough to do that in this case without spoiling the whole concept.

What I can tell you so far is:

• It's a collab with a really fun guest
• It's more in the 'celebration/teaching of VFX' genre rather than a debunking
• It will hold the record of largest production crew of any CD episode to date

Back when I was working on the Navigator video, I showed you the state of completion with a progress bar. This video has a weirder structure and order in which we're having to tackle it, so I came up with a weirder way to visualize the progress:

I know it looks scant in terms of green... but keep in mind that the 3 "segments" are by far the most difficult, and are being finished first. The other parts mathematically CANNOT take as long. And I am renowned for my math skills!

Anyway, I'll keep updating that table on the Discord, for those interested in following closely.

Thank you as always for your support!

Commentary Livestream - The Great British Fake Off

To close out the year, let's do a stream deconstructing the latest video tomorrow!

Dec 30, 2PM ET- https://youtu.be/ZzP9Ye8EFHo

I found myself using Blender for even more shots that usual in this one.

I'll go through the scene files, take a look at what the heck I did, chat about what worked/didn't work, and just generally catch up with all of you.

Post any deep questions here, in the comments below, if you want to give me time to figure out deep, impressive answers. Otherwise, see you in the live chat!

EARLY ACCESS - Quick D: The Great British Fake Off

Hello!

It's a Christmas miracle!

I actually finished an episode by the time that I estimated I would!

Please enjoy and let me know what you think.

Have a pleasant holiday!

Remote Update

Hi everyone,

I find myself in a hotel room in Riga, Latvia. It's snowing outside. I'm visiting here on some family business, but in the evenings continuing the VFX on the next video!

I rarely work remotely but I'm finding it kind of pleasant. A change of scenery helps keep the creative parts of the brain churning.

I'll be back home on the 7th and really push to bring this "David" project to a close, so I can get going on the really scary "Goliath!"

One of the things I'll have to do for that is shoot a pickup scene in the red room. The giant 'Flight of the Navigator' engine stickers are STILL on the walls and I'm scared of what I'll remain, paint-wise, when I tear them off!

Captain Disillusion REACTS

Hey friends,

Well, you’ve done it. Your coordinated campaign of asking me daily whether I’ll ever be on Corridor’s VFX artists react has finally resulted in an intern appearing on the show on my behalf!

He tells me it was actually lots of fun and that the Corridor crew are actually very nice and welcoming. Their studio is super cool. And that couch is comfy. Almost too comfy! Makes you feel like sharing all your deepest thoughts. THAT’S HOW THEY GET YOU TO REACT.

Anyway, please enjoy the video. I hope it’s as entertaining to watch as it was to participate in.

Your support made it possible, among other things, for me to venture all the way to the other side of the continent to meet these guys in person, as well as work on some other exciting Captain D stuff coming soon.

So as always, thank you!

A Tale of Two Updates

Hi everyone!

For some reason a little while ago I felt that the best way to deal with the challenge of making Quality Content® in a timely fashion is to work on 2 different videos at the same time. This was not a brilliant idea, but here I am in the middle of executing it!

I've written, filmed and begun editing the first video (let's call it Project David), but am now prepping for the imminent filming date of the second video (let's call it Project Goliath), which has to take place out of town. 

David is fairly simple and fun. Goliath is big, complex and involves so much post work it makes me want to cry. But is also fun!

The most fun part is that both these videos have natural deadlines that I really must meet. In the case of David, it's relevance of the topic. Goliath is a collab and I don't want to keep my collaborators waiting too long for the result.

So it's going to be an interesting month.

Thank you as ever for your patience and support. Please stay tuned for further, less cryptic updates and work-in-progress livestreams.

Meanwhile, if you haven't seen it, please enjoy my recent appearance on VFX & Chill with Hashi & Seth. We mostly chilled and talked about VFX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM7b_ltQabM

Tutorial: 3D-modeling the 'Flight of the Navigator' Ship

Hi friends,

Due to my slow-motion output, I'm temporarily making this accessible to some lower tiers.

It's a brand new, detailed video tutorial on how to build your own screen-accurate Trimaxion Drone Ship in Blender. (Now that I know I definitely won't get to direct the reboot, I figured it's the only contribution I have left to make!)

In a way, this is behind-the-scenes content, too. You don't have to follow along with the tutorial. Just sit back and watch a man become slowly consumed by an obsession.

Thank you as always for your support and patience as I work on the next video!

Director's Commentary - Playing With 'Playing With Time'

Hey everybody,

Thanks so much for the kind feedback on the latest video!

Now let's do a livestream deconstructing my deconstructions. Join me (and Joey & Sammy) tomorrow, 7 Sep, 2:00PM ET, live as we scrub through the video, discuss the VFX challenges and my various directorial regrets.

I'm determined to keep this one a reasonable length. We won't carry on for hours, just discuss the video, do a bit of Q&A and be out!

If you have Qs, feel free to ask ahead of time in the comments here OR in chat during the stream.

As always, the playback will be available at the same link afterwards.

Hope to see ya there!

EARLY ACCESS: Playing With 'Playing With Time' | Quick D

Hello!

Thank you for waiting!

Here's a brand new video!

Hope you enjoy it!

I'm gonna take a nap to recover!

Zzzzzzzz!

Sound Mixing Stream Tomorrow!

Hey everyone,

I'm done with the visuals of the next video and am now working on sound. As per recent tradition, I'll stream some of the process tomorrow (08/22) starting at 2PM ET, at the link above.

I'll be searching through sound effects and mixing the overall audio while chatting with you. 

If you choose to join, beware that although I'll avoid showing the actual video or dialogue, it's possible some spoiling of the next topic/content may accidentally happen, so if you don't like that, please avoid! You can always watch the replay later.

In an effort to make these work streams more streamlined (and less prone to tech issues) I'm using a super-basic setup this time, but will hopefully have better control over sound levels, etc.

See ya tomorrow!

PS: If you've got any questions you want me to answer on stream in a thought-out way, comment 'em here! That's what people do for stream Q&As, right? Yeah... seems like a good method.

"CD's Video Call Tips" | NECSS 2021

Ever amaze yourself with how disorganized you can be?

I wanted to contribute a short video to the Northeast Conference on Science & Skepticism (organized by the same folks who make the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast) and it seemed so far away. Cut to... THE FIRST DAY OF IT.

I scrambled for a silly idea I could execute in [almost] 1 take and came up with this.

Luckily they were able to use it on day 2 while a tech glitch with one of the speakers needed to be worked out. A perfect implementation!

The NECSS was a virtual con and although it's just finished, if you're interested, I believe you can still buy access to a replay of the entire thing for a while - https://www.crowdcast.io/e/necss2021

TikTok Experiments

Hello friends,

The next video is in stage 4 of 5 (VFX), and that 4th stage is 42.7% complete.

Yet again it's proven to be a Quick D in name only. 😩 But I'm happy with how it's turning out and I hope you will be too!

Meanwhile, I've also been experimenting with TikTok on the side.

I know the mere mention of the platform makes some of you shudder. Like every other internet place, it's a battleground between great AND terrible content. It's a matter of tuning yourself into what works for you.

I've had an account for a while but couldn't figure out what to do with it. But recently I tried making micro episodes explaining VFX of other TikTok videos in the classic snarky CD style and the first one got 3 million views in a matter of days.

Posting both videos in high quality here. That's nearly a minute and a half of original Captain Disillusion video content, baby! (Caution, the overall audio level is rather high.)

Of course I immediately made a plunder with the first video, neglecting to mention that the spin direction of ceiling fans can be reversed. I SWEAR it's a thing I know, but thought it would be too cumbersome to explain. Big mistake. People wasted no time turning this into content of their own, some funny, some a bit rude. They made stitches and duets juxtaposing my bold intro with footage of themselves flipping the switch on their own fans. Even the creator of the original video got in on the action.

But ironically, this created a lot of engagement and new followers, so... that's... good I guess! And it gave me an opportunity to do a callback joke at the end of the second video.

Something about the challenge of working with the vertical framing and short time limit is mildly appealing, so I think I'll keep experimenting with TikTok now and then. But don't worry, YouTube is still my number one priority!

Back to work!

Upcoming Video

Hey friends,

I've been getting into the swing of things and making the next video. Hope you'll forgive me that it's not another 40-minute epic! I'm taking it down a notch with a 'Quick D' episode, breaking down a fun recent viral VFX puzzler in detail.

The video is already shot and today I finished a first-pass edit. Going to jump into the VFX next!

Commentary Stream - VFXcool: FotN Starting Soon

> Reminder - the stream starts in 30 minutes. Hope to see you there!

Hey everyone,

Thursday, May 27 at 3PM ET, I'll do a live watch of the Flight of the Navigator video, talk about putting it together, what didn't make it into the cut, show more behind-the-scenes pics and answer questions!

Sammy (researcher) and Joey (VFX artist) will also join, to keep me from meandering off-topic Grandpa Simpson style.

As always, if you're not able to catch it live, the recorded video will be available afterwards, at the same link above.