Resident Evil Musicals

•    The programs I use are Microsoft Paint for the drawings, and Windows Movie Maker for the videos. I also sometimes use Photoshop for more detailed pictures, backgrounds, or effects.

•    As long as you have a somewhat recent version of Windows, you should already have both programs. Windows Vista has a little more to offer on both. If you can't find the programs on your own, run a search under 'My Computer' for either program, and the containing folder and icon should appear. Microsoft Paint is sometimes abbreviated as MS Paint, or just Paint. Windows Movie Maker is usually cut down to just WMM. Mac computers do not have these programs. Photoshop is an entirely different program which you must buy.

•    I have a tutorial for using WMM at this LINK. If that doesn't help, there's a detailed written version at the bottom of this page.

•    I don't think I'm all that great a teacher, but I'll post a more detailed tutorial at the end of this FAQ.

•    No. My videos and drawings that are stored in my computer are for me alone, as sending them may accidentally also transfer personal information. I also like to keep 'the originals' as only for me. Call it a weird personal thing.

•    Downloading is fine with me, so long as you don't use the downloaded videos/drawings to post yourself. Adding them to your iPod and other electronics for personal viewing is also fine.

•    I'd rather you didn't, even with proper credit. If you'd like, you can always post a link to my Youtube Page so that people can find me and my videos/drawings. But posting my actual videos/drawings is more like theft, and I rather those views be on my own page then someone else's who did not make them. A lot of hard work goes into these, and I'd just prefer that the only one who posts my work is me.

•    That, I'd more so allow. But please do your research. There are already a few translated version of RE Numa/REmake in Spanish and a few other Latino languages. Double posting a translation for the same language is pointless, so please make sure that the language you wish to translate  video to has not already been done.

•    Have a little patience and watch a video til the very end. I usually have all titles in the credits to their original creators. If not, chances are I have the song title in the video description on the right, so take some time to read those as well. If both of those fail, just simple leave a comment on the video asking, and someone should help you.

•    I get them from many places, which varies from friends, iTunes, Torrents, E-Mule, and ripping them myself.

•    Sorry but no. Getting songs from online is easier then it might seem. Just look around for Torrents, Websites, or ask a friend. If I sent music to everyone who asked, it's be one thing on my long list of stuff that would take up too much energy and time, considering the amount of people who ask.

•    If you don't know by now, well... I'm a girl XD

•    23 as of now, my birthday is 2/14/86.

•    A secret, that's what!

•    I'm American. I live in eastern U.S.A., let's just say 'Raccoon City'. But I also travel back and forth between there and Finland, where Jack is from. I plan to live there permanently some day.

•    No and no. I'm happily married to my husband known as 'Jack'. That's not his real name mind you, that's just an online persona like mine, but we're an actual couple, it's not an 'online' thing. We've been together over 4 years, long before Youtube was even a popular website.
  

Question:
   Omg ur married! When are you gonna have kids!?
Answer:
   Probably never. I do not like the idea of having children. I do not have a maternal instinct, nor the desire to have any kids, if at all, for an extremely long time. I'd like to have a life first.

Question:
   Do you really make all those drawings and videos? Are others involved?
Answer:

•    Yeah, it's just me aside from the few collab videos I have, or voices used from other users. I draw, animate, edit, and use my own ideas for everything on my own, hence, it's hard work, but fun.

•    It's more for the people I care about then myself. Honestly I don't think I'd mind showing my face, but family and friends really worry about my safety here since I get a lot of threats, sometimes extreme/death threats from people, and not to mention online stalkers. Even if it's all talk, they don't want me risking the chance of putting my face out there for someone to come hunting me down. It sounds paranoid maybe, but they all worry about me so I do it to respect their wishes. Also on a personal note, I wouldn't want people editing around with it either, like distorting my face or putting it on a different body either mockingly or suggestively. It's a big risk to put certain pictures on the internet, everyone should know that. If I even feel safe enough, or the time is right, I may someday, but that's no promise.

•    Even though I've already made 2 featuring voice, for the same reason as my photo, my family and friends would rather I keep that to myself for the time being. There may be a chance of doing them again someday with (good) voice actors and dedication, but it's hard getting together a decent group. So we'll see if that ever happens.

•    I still have ideas for it, just at the time the annoyance of many fans had made me bitter, and I guess you could say I 'stopped' it on purpose. I still have a desire to make more episodes though, despite a year going by, so I ask no one else try to 'continue' it or anything. That's my idea, so don't go and steal it. People will probably flame you anyway.

•    I have a few, but some accounts online that have the name 'ShadowLeggy' are not me. I have a detailed list of my accounts, as well as fake accounts HERE.

•    My e-mail/instant messenger account for fans is ShadowLeggy-Live@hotmail.com If someone contacts you by any other means and claims to be me, it's not true.

•    It's a double edged sword, but over all, I enjoy it and are grateful to everyone who's helped to get me here. Yes it can be stressful, what with all of the questions, requests, judgment and sometimes harsh critisism I receive, but at the same time, it's any artists dream to be 'discovered'. Even if this is only the internet, sometimes it can work in bigger ways. I've already had a few opportunities opened up to me simply for having notoriety here, and getting chances like those are very great to have. It usually just depends on timing though, sometimes after I release a video I get a lot of feedback that can be good, and with other videos people can be ridiculously harsh and negative. Also, it is a little frustrating at times to be limited to basically Resident Evil, but most of the time I don't mind that, since it's my favorite game series to play and parody, and I always have ideas for RE Musicals and other RE videos.

•    I honestly don't know. In my case, all I did was make videos for fun; I did something I loved. I took the knowledge and love of Resident Evil I have, and decided to make something with it during free time and with plenty of inspiration. After that, it was a slow process. it wasn't like I became a hit overnight. It took a few months to steadily grow a small fan base, and not to mention I continued making videos, and talked to the people who liked my work in a reasonable way. After time though of course, it got a little too difficult to keep contact with every person who commented me, but by then, people understood. So my only advice can be just do what you love... Don't make something with only a hope of being 'famous'. Something like that has no real heart in it. Just do something you know a lot about and have a real and true passion for. Practice, and do it well. If it fails, keep trying. My first videos certainly weren't, and still aren't all that popular. So best of luck.

•    This is the most frequently asked question I get, and sorry but the answer is no. As many other things, this is just asked of me so much, that in doing so would take up far too much of my time and patience. I don't make exceptions, either as it would be unfair to the rest. I only watch videos on my own, not by a request. Sorry, I just don't really want to do it. I don't ask people to watch mine, I simply let it be known when a new video is out. If people choose not to watch, that's fine. But since I don't ask anyone to watch, I don't feel I should have to watch videos per request either. I just don't like the idea of it, and would take up too much time.

•    Sorry but no. If I worked with/helped everyone who asked me of it, I wouldn't have time to make my own videos, let alone have a social life. The only people I make videos with are collabs with people that I'm generally acquainted with, or friends.

•    While some of the ideas I get from people are pretty good, I have to say no. When I try to use other peoples ideas, it just cramps my style, really. If it's not my own idea, it's not very motivated and the quality comes out generally poor. So try and use those ideas for yourself, or a friend possibly. You can make it work somehow.

•    No. If I did that for everyone who asked, once again, I'd have no time or desire for my own drawings, and as for videos, they would be cluttered with (no offense) random and unknown characters, which takes away from the video. I already have enough people complaining about my friends being in videos, and they're even known by the fanbase.

•    I don't take personal requests. The amount of those would also cut into my video-making time and energy.

•    If you really want to, then that's fine. I know it must sound hypocritical and cold how I allow people to make stuff for me, but I don't for them, but that's just how it is. People want to see RE Musicals from me, not videos about random people. Besides, it's what I love doing. So if you have an actual desire to make something for me/with me in it, then go right ahead. And thank you for the support.

•    If it's a tribute in true slideshow/AMV style, and not an actual re-posting, then that's fine. Please be sure to credit my work though.

•    You can just save it to a link and E-mail it to me through my Youtube or Deviantart account and I'll be sure to read through. When an update comes, I'll post the kind work on my ShadowLeggy Fan Site for everyone to see. Thank you for the support as well.

•    My favorite of all time is RE2, hands down! It's also my favorite game of all time, not just limited to the RE series.

•    Leon S. Kennedy. I like the RE2 version of him much more then RE4.

•    I've played/own every RE game except Gaiden, Gun Survivor 2 Code Veronica, 1.5(Scrapped 2), Zero (for N64), Deadly Silence, and RE5. I've played Resident Evil Survivor and used to own it, but I sold it years ago. It was that bad. Now I regret it, but to make up for it, I managed to download it to my PC.
  

•    Yes, I've read them all except the RE3-Nemesis book, as well as the last one.

•    It's mostly due to the story line and characters. I wasn't a big fan of the gameplay either, but if the story/characters weren't so bad, I wouldn't mind it so much. The plot was just so linear and cliche`. It's like something from a lame action flick. I won't get into too much detail though. The characters were also pretty lame/cliche. The ruined Leon from his funny and simple RE2 self. He's more of a macho machine rather then a relateable human. The new characters were just kind of 'thrown' in there, and basically useless. Not to mention the Plagas. It just all seemed too hastily done, considering there was an entirely different version with a different plot that was scrapped.

•    Out of all the stupid new characters in RE4, he's gotta be the worst. I don't like buff, military-obsessed types, he's utterly pointless, the whole 'remember the old times' thing with Leon was just bull; Just a random pointless story with no background details or proof. They just did it to... DO it. Ugh. I just hate him. He better stay dead.

•    I really like the Silent Hill series, that's probably my 2nd favorite series beside RE. I even have a few videos about it. I also really like Final Fantasy VII through X. RPG's and Survival/Horror are basically my favorite genera, but I also really like fighting games, particularly Super Smash Bros. and Guilty Gear.

•    I currently own dating back from the 90's... A GameBoy, SNES, PS1, PS2, GameCube and a Wii. I also have games for the computer.

•    I've always been a Playstation fan, despite how PS3 seems. I'm not big on the 'console fanboy wars' thing though. If it has fun games, I'll play it. My least favorite though is Xbox. I don't like the controllers, it doesn't seem to have many games I like, or, it has games I can play on any other system. I'm not a big FPS fan, or the 'Live' function it has, so it's just really not for me.

•    Well, I already have the Wii like I said, but once PS3 comes out with a more compact and stable version, I'd like to get that.

•    No. That's for my personal friends only.

•    It depends. It may or may not have been. I have a list of online games I am registered to under the name 'ShadowLeggy' and otherwise. And besides a Wii, I do not have anything like Xbox Live or stuff like that. The link to online games I play and don't play are linked HERE.

1. When it comes to drawings on MS Paint, you gotta be QUICK! The slower you move the mouse, the more shaky and wiggles the lines look.
   
   
2. The tools I use are generally the circular Paintbrush tools, all sizes. Most commonly though is the medium sized one. I usually only use Line tools for things in the background, but for a beginner, using the Line and Shape tools might be good for basic beginnings.
   
   
3. When I draw, I personally start with the eyes, and work out from there to the face, then hair, then neck, body, arms then legs. A lot of people find that weird and 'unprofessional' since normal guides say to always start with the shape of the head. But oh well, that's what I do at least. (On ANY drawing, not just MS Paint).
   
   
4. Make sure you have all outlines filled in, so that when you color it, it doesn't bleed out everywhere. Experiment. Not all outlines have to be just black!
   
   
5. Depending on your style, you might wanna try things like shading, highlights, or simply more details. It all depends on the individual, that's why it's hard for me to explain how to actually draw. You gotta find out your style; there's an unlimited amount. You might like realistic drawings, or maybe cartoons. It can be caricatures, portraits, anime, comic, ranging from the highest details to the simplest of designs. Usually it's even a good idea to try and draw like someones art you admire or want your art to look like. Study that, and make changes that you like, make it original, don't always just copy. Find out what fits you!

1. Think of a flip book. You know how those are made, right? Tons and tons of pictures that seem to barely move, but when cycled through in order at a fast pace, it gives the illusion of actual movement. That's basically how I make my videos, except by computer. I take my drawings from MS Paint, each one a little (or a lot) different from the ones before, and put them in order onto WMM. Once you hit play, it makes it seem as though they really move, and that my friends, is animation!
   
   
2. The save type. You will most certainly want to save your MS Paint files as Bitmap also called 24 color BMP. Do NOT save them as jpegs EVER. This will make copying and pasting extremely difficult later on, as jpegs leave a pixelated fuzzy white 'halo' around drawings (when drawn with a white background). Also, for sanity's sake, rename your pictures in order. Basically, make your first frame for example: Pic1, then the second picture frame Pic2, then Pic3 and so on. it will save many headaches.
   
   
3. Characters and backgrounds. My advice is, that if you want to have actual drawn/colored backgrounds for you videos with characters overlaying, it will be TONS easier to animate the characters movements without the background first. What I mean is, say you want to have a character waving his arms around in front of a forest. My suggestion is to draw a picture of JUST the background, and save it just as it is: a picture of a forest and nothing else. Then, make an entirely new picture, blank. Draw the character there. Draw one picture with his arms up, then make a new picture of the character with his arms down (in the same place- don't move the characters location. Easy way for that is Save As- then create a new name for the pic). Once you have your two pictures, simply select the ENTIRE picture of the character, then copy and paste it onto the background- And make sure you set the cut tool so that White is see-through. Save the picture, then repeat with the second character picture, and save it with a new name. Now you put both of these pictures back to back in WMM, and it will be the character in the forest waving his arms! Tada! Too confusing? Told you I suck at this.
   
   
4. The more frames, the more smooth. If you want something to look like it really flows, say for example someone turning around, having 20 frames for that simple scene (if done well) will turn out much better then 3 frames. It depends on your style, though. Less frames is just as good, particularly for more cartoonish-type videos. In my opinion, less frames makes things more whimsical, and sort of a 'BAM!' effect. Having a lot of frames makes things look more dramatic and smooth, and works well for serious videos, or 'beauty'. It all depends on what you want to do. There's tons of tricks to learn, some from others, some on your own. I can't tell you how many things I've learned in just 1 week of animating; trying new things goes a long way.
   
   
5. About 'Mouth-Moving'. I look in a mirror basically. Like the word BOOT has a long Ooooo sound so I make the mouth O-shaped, etc. Just look at your mouth when you say the lines/lyrics to what you wanna animate. Also, it helps to put a 'closed mouth' in between letters usually, but not all the time. And also, the animation has to be very, very fast. Like 0.5 of a second.
   
   
6. Effects and transitions on WMM can be to your benefit. Depending on the type of WMM, you may have a few more, or a few less options. Just try some out and see how it all works for ya.

   Hope that helps. All I can say now is: Good luck!

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