Mayhem in Makassar Strait: The Season Finale

Part 6 of Mayhem in Makassar Strait was uploaded earlier today on the HISTORICON website:

http://www.historicon.org/HIST2009/videos.asp

In this final episode, four American destroyers attack the Japanese landing force at Balikpapan.


Meanwhile, Episode 5 was posted on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcfH8uTDKnE

Mayhem in Makassar Strait, Part 5

Episode 5 of Mayhem in Makassar Strait was posted on the HISTORICON website yesterday:

http://www.historicon.org/HIST2009/videos.asp

In this segement, 6-World War I vintage destroyers and 2 light cruisers are en-route to attack the Japanese beachhead at Balikpapan. Unfortunately the cruisers are forced to turn back due to accidents or mechanical problems--leaving only 4 destroyers to carry out the attack.

Meanwhile Episode 4 was posted on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8el_ynyjni4

Ambush and Mayhem Uploaded

Two movies were uploaded today. The first, Amush at Adrianople was posted on to YouTube. This was my first battle in the "Power and Glory" De Bellis Antiquitatis (DBA) Tournament, hosted by Terry Griner and played during NHMGS' Enfilade 09 Convention. My opponent was Rich, from British Columbia. The battle ended in a draw with each of us losing one unit.

At least I did better than the real Emperor Flavius Valens. Adrianople, fought on 9 August 378 AD, was one of the worst military disasters of the Roman Empire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Adrianople

My version on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT_ExHbRP3Q

I went on to play 3 other DBA games. I won the game following this session, but lost the last two games in the tournament. I didn't film any of these battles, because I wanted to save my camera battery for the remaining game sessions that day. Right after this game period I played wargame correspondent and filmed Chris Ewick's Kursk game, taking over 200 photos.

After this I played a Korean War game and took nearly 100 photos. Despite the large number of photos, we were 3.5 hours into a 4 hour game when my camera died. I think I have enough pictures to make a movie out of my last battle at Enfilade!

Part 4 of Mayhem in Makassar Strait was posted on the HISTORICON website this afternoon. In this episode a Dutch sub sneaks into Balikpapan Harbor where a Japanese invasion force has just landed. Mayhem ensues.

http://www.historicon.org/

Two more episodes of Mayhem to go!

Episode 3 of Mayhem in Makassar Strait was uploaded on to the HISTORICON website today.

http://historicon.org/HIST2009/videos.asp

In this segment, RNN (Royal Netherlands Navy) Submarine K-XIV intercepts the Japanese task force bound for Borneo.

Episode 2 was uploaded on to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89RBUSOzBoU

The Studio's First Commercial Movie

Back in January the Historical Miniature Gaming Society (HMGS) asked me to do a YouTube movie for their upcoming Historicon-09 event in Lancaster, PA, USA (16-19 July).

Mayhem in Makassar Strait is a 6-part series with episodes airing each week in sequence until the 4th of July:

http://www.historicon.org/

The game I played and filmed is based on the Battle of Balikpapan fought on 23-24 January 1942.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Balikpapan_(1942)

I chose scenario from Clash of Arms Games Rising Sun: the First Half of the Pacific War primarily due to the few combatant ships and aircraft involved. The ship models were from Wizard's of the Coast's Axis and Allies: War at Sea, while the map I utilized for strategic movement was from Avalanche Press' Strike South. For rules, I chose to use Mongoose Publications Victory at Sea because of their easy game mechanics.

This is my sixth movie and so far, the longest of my productions. My previous works range from less than 3 minutes to just over 8.5 minutes in length. These are listed in chronological order along with the run-time:

The Road to Eggmuehl, 19 September 08 (8:38)

Impending Fury, 17 January 09 (8:36)

Vendetta on Vilhon, 19 May 09 (8:23)

Preparing for Battle at Enfilade 09, 24 May 09 (4:40)

Vice Grip on the Vistula, 25 May 09 (2:45)


In contrast, Mayhem in Makassar Strait is divided into 6 episodes each running between 3 to nearly 4.5 minutes. One episode will be posted per week until the 4th of July Weekend. Combined, the entire run-time is 21:32 minutes and is composed of 185 pictures and 37 narrative pages.

Once Historicon is underway, I'll be able to work on the other 4 movies I have in the works...