(Frequently Asked Questions)
About Ella, More Or Less
and MylaEllison's Sims Videos
These are the questions covered in this FAQ:
How do you make the videos?
Where'd you get that (insert Sim object here)?
What video-editing program do you use?
How do you put your voice in the Ella episodes?
What expansion pack did you use for that video?
How long does it take to make the videos?
When's the next Ella episode coming out?
Who does the voices in the Ella episodes?
How do you make the videos?
Before I started making Sims videos, I'd been making other kinds of videos for about 9 years. So I already knew how to use moviemaker programs and stuff. Some people might be able to learn it overnight, for others it might take longer. The tricky stuff for me was learning how to film things in the game. I see a definite difference between my earliest Sims videos and my later ones. I've learned new skills and tricks, and I feel I've come a long way.
There are basically two things you should do before you make a video:
#1 Learn how to use the filmmaking feature within the Sims 2 game. Learn all the cheats you can. Then practice a lot!
Britannicadreams has a great resource page. You can also find tutorials using google.
#2 Learn how to use Windows Movie Maker, or whatever program you have on your computer. Again, let the internet be your friend.
The best advice I can give is: make a music video first. They're much easier than story videos. Pick a song that's no longer than about 3 and a half minutes; choose something upbeat but with easy lyrics. Once you get the hang of music videos, you can explore other options.
Where'd you get that (insert Sim object here)?
The Hey, How Did You Do That? page has answers to some oft-asked questions about where I got certain objects or how I did particular things.
What video-editing program do you use?
I use Ulead Video Studio 7 SE DVD, because it came with the video capture device I got in 2004. I wouldn't actually recommend this program because it has given me quite a few headaches over the years, but I've learned to cope.
How do you put your voice in the Ella episodes?
I use a computer microphone (they're cheap -- $5-$10) and I record my voice into a .wav file. I then insert the individual files into my moviemaker program and align them with the video clips. I imagine there are other ways to add sound -- a digital video camera or a webcam could also work, as long as they record sound.
What expansion pack did you use for that video?
This page has a chart where I list which expansion packs I was using when I made each of my videos.
How long does it take to make the videos?
Music videos take me 1-3 days, depending on the length of the video (a 2.5 minute song's video goes much faster than a 5 minute song's, for example) and how complicated I make the video (kids romping around having fun, like the shots I used for Kids In America and My Girl, are easy shots. Trying to come up with multiple storylines, like I did with Try, are a little trickier.)
The Ella episodes take me about 3-4 weeks, and that's after I already have a plot in mind. Between episodes 3 and 4 I had a heck of a time trying to decide what the next episode should be about, which is one of the reasons why there was a 2-month gap between episodes. In the end, I went with a very simple plot, yes. But before I decided on the plot to Bad Day, I had entertained the idea of having episode 4 be a Halloween episode, and I even shot some footage for it!
When's the next Ella episode coming out?
Please, please don't ask me that. I don't know. I never know for sure until about 2 days before it pops up on YouTube. There's just no way of telling. The best answer I can give is At least 3-4 weeks. But that's if I have a plot idea, if I can get a hold of the people who do the voices...
Who does the voices in the Ella episodes?
Ella/Ella's Mom/Bethany & Various Characters... played by me
Gus/Ella's Dad... played by Stan P.
Kacey... played by Jenn M.
Gray... played by Wes D.
Burk The Jerk... played by Stephen N.
Thanks,
Molly