This is an archived version of a newer site. You're free to browse it, but be warned that the content is significantly out-of-date. To see the most current version of this site please visit https://opaquedream.com.
This site's design is only visible in a graphical browser that supports web standards, but its content is accessible to any browser or Internet device. More information is here.
Client: N/A
Category: Digital film
Concept & Design: Eric A. Peacock
Description: ROM has been in the conceptual stages of development since 1997. The project is a completely computer rendered film set on an isolated world deep in space. The protagonist(s) are made up of the survivors of a rather peculiar civilization that have survived with the omission of their physical bodies, leaving only generic metal heads to hold their sentient thoughts.
These beings have a limited memory of their past and what occured to separate them from their bodies. They rule an army of automated slaves that carry out the basic physical needs of the planet and it's occupants - which leaves them helpless outside of intellectual practices. Clues and remnants of the past litter their world but there is no record or memory that clearly explains the events of the past. The story unfolds from here and centers around a lot of detailed visual subplots and metaphors.
Science fiction is less a part of ROM than one might think. The largest inflences on the project are Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher and perhaps elements of the classic British television series The Prisoner.
Currently the work hasn't left the rough animation and storyboarding phase. Character and set designs are mostly settled but what has mostly hindered the project other than time itself has been the difficulty in affording a dedicated 3D software package like Maya. Recently some headway has been made in this area but the project could take the rest of my life to do as I would like to see it done. It may become only an idea that will never surface or a link to other projects. Regardless, it has been fun and interesting to learn from while I continue to learn about myself.
All the shots you see here were done in the powerful yet wimpy Bryce 3/4/5. Professionals will wonder why that is so. Bryce does have some creative freedom I've not seen in any other package when it comes to creating quick environments and exploring ideas. Plus reality isn't the goal here - I've been intentionally degrading meshes to low resolutions for certain objects to get a strange choppy feel. So even with Bryce I've been able to settle on the conceptual look-and-feel of the project. However it's use has run out as I am now ready to start moving the project into real production with real software.
There are two teaser movies only one of which is available at this time, but I've rendered much of the rough footage at DVD resolutions for use as presentation material and personal reference. Some of the music has also been composed but to this day none of the dialogue has been recorded. These teaser clips only exist as rough cuts.