I'm a filmmaker who uses practical effects puppets, miniatures, and animation to tell mature sci-fi, horror, and fantasy stories. Here, you will see my storyboards, builds, and uncensored material.
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A New Animated Sci-Fi Series From Christopher "Moonlight" Cooksey and Doug Mayfield
Producers Christopher "Moonlight" Cooksey (The Quantum Terror, Ray Bradbury LIVE Forever) and Doug Mayfield (The Quantum Terror/The Warning) are proud to announce the production of their new animated sci-fi series, ESCAPE FROM PLANET OMEGA-12. Inspired by vintage science fiction and adult-oriented animation such as Fire and Ice, Heavy Metal, and Love Death + Robots, OMEGA-12 is looking to bring back the raw and sexy energy that used to come with pulp science fiction in a style that Cooksey calls Sci-Exploitation. It tells the story of Tera, the beautiful lone survivor of a doomed space expedition, marooned on a savage alien planet, along with her little robot assistant and a strange alien blob that has absorbed the consciousness of her murdered husband. Hunted by an unseen enemy who means to kill her, she must learn to survive in her new environment while evading ravenous monsters and deadly robots, all while uncovering the deeper mysteries of the planet she seeks to escape.
"This is really exciting for us," says Cooksey. "Rather than just being drawn or computer generated, we're using all of this new open-source and AI technology that indie filmmakers just couldn't get their hands on without the backing of a major studio, just a few years ago. The playing field is now leveled and we wanted to really make something that Hollywood wouldn't take a chance on, blending miniature sets and puppets shot in-camera, traditional hand-drawn animation but also using the latest in AI-driven motion capture, like what the programmers at Rokoko are offering, along with VTube technology and open-source 3D, to create a wholly original look. We're taking cues from the best of both Western and Easter animation but no one has ever seen anything like what we're planning before." The two producers, who also used miniatures and animation combined with live actions to make their first movie The Quantum Terror, are now excited to bring this unique vision to life and offer audiences an engaging, visually stunning, and thought-provoking experience with ESCAPE FROM PLANET OMEGA-12. Stay tuned and be the first to get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at the first season, upcoming stellar cast announcements, as well as info on possible NFTs, comic books, and future game dev by joining us at https://www.subscribestar.com/christophermoonlight.
*** Christopher Cooksey is available for interviews ***
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A New Animated Sci-Fi Series From Christopher "Moonlight" Cooksey and Doug Mayfield
Producers Christopher "Moonlight" Cooksey (The Quantum Terror, Ray Bradbury LIVE Forever) and Doug Mayfield (The Quantum Terror/The Warning) are proud to announce the production of their new animated sci-fi series, ESCAPE FROM PLANET OMEGA-12. Inspired by vintage science fiction and adult-oriented animation such as Fire and Ice, Heavy Metal, and Love Death + Robots, OMEGA-12 is looking to bring back the raw and sexy energy that used to come with pulp science fiction in a style that Cooksey calls Sci-Exploitation. It tells the story of Tera, the beautiful lone survivor of a doomed space expedition, marooned on a savage alien planet, along with her little robot assistant and a strange alien blob that has absorbed the consciousness of her murdered husband. Hunted by an unseen enemy who means to kill her, she must learn to survive in her new environment while evading ravenous monsters and deadly robots, all while uncovering the deeper mysteries of the planet she seeks to escape.
"This is really exciting for us," says Cooksey. "Rather than just being drawn or computer generated, we're using all of this new open-source and AI technology that indie filmmakers just couldn't get their hands on without the backing of a major studio, just a few years ago. The playing field is now leveled and we wanted to really make something that Hollywood wouldn't take a chance on, blending miniature sets and puppets shot in-camera, traditional hand-drawn animation but also using the latest in AI-driven motion capture, like what the programmers at Rokoko are offering, along with VTube technology and open-source 3D, to create a wholly original look. We're taking cues from the best of both Western and Easter animation but no one has ever seen anything like what we're planning before." The two producers, who also used miniatures and animation combined with live actions to make their first movie The Quantum Terror, are now excited to bring this unique vision to life and offer audiences an engaging, visually stunning, and thought-provoking experience with ESCAPE FROM PLANET OMEGA-12. Stay tuned and be the first to get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at the first season, upcoming stellar cast announcements, as well as info on possible NFTs, comic books, and future game dev by joining us at https://www.subscribestar.com/christophermoonlight.
*** Christopher Cooksey is available for interviews ***
Using AI and Depth Maps to Create Consistent and Controllable Environments
Two new animation tutorials to help you build your cinematic world.
If you're new to my blog, I'm Christopher, and along with my producing partner Doug, we're creating an animated pilot for what we hope will become a long-running sci-fi adventure series: Escape From Planet Omega-12. Conceived in the tradition of classic space movies like Forbidden Planet and Star Trek, novels like A Princess of Mars, Starship Troopers, and The Martian Chronicles, and animation like Samurai Jack and the '80s fantasy classic Fire and Ice, we're making this for die-hard science fiction fans who've been underserved by Hollywood for far too long. Our goal is to create something both adult and entertaining, meaningful and relatable.
The story follows Tara, a young woman newly married to the captain of an intergalactic privateer ship. When tragedy strikes during their mission to claim a primitive planet teeming with savage alien life, Tara is forced to flee to the surface in an escape pod after her husband and the crew are murdered. Armed with only a few weapons and accompanied by a floating robot assistant, she must learn to survive quickly as the local wildlife tries to eat her and a mysterious, malevolent force hunts her down. VFX Element of Tara Climbing Out of Her Escape Pod.
With no provisions, no training, and no proper clothing, Tara must adapt to survive. Help arrives in unexpected ways as she grows into her own person and discovers new adventures while searching for a way back home.
As writer, director, and animator, I blend my video artist experience with traditional VFX, hand-drawn animation, and practical effects – including miniatures and creature puppets – alongside AI to create the world of Omega-12, its inhabitants, and characters. Through this blog, I'll share project updates and tutorials to help inspire you to bring your own creative vision to life.
In this post, we're exploring how to create dynamic environments for your movie, adding depth and enabling fluid camera movement to follow the action.
Part one is available now on my Sci-Exploitation YouTube channel, which you can watch right here but be sure to also subscribe to that channel.
https://youtu.be/yTe3bQ_O3JA?si=Le7vWhrT-ll3sEfv
Part two is already available for current paid supporters which I'll post separately, and will be released publicly next week. Plus, supporters get access to additional tutorials and content that's too adult for YouTube's guidelines.
Consider becoming a supporter to help us create something truly unique in sci-fi animation while getting immediate access to exclusive content.
Using Claude to Perfect My YouTube Strategy: A Creator's Journey
Or, how I used AI to do the grunt work while I work on my movie.
Hey everyone! I want to share something pretty exciting about how I used AI to level up my YouTube game. Not just for making movies (though we'll get to that), but for actually getting them in front of the right people.
So here's the deal: I just launched a new YouTube channel focused on sci-fi filmmaking and my upcoming movie "Escape From Planet Omega-12." But here's where it gets interesting—I didn't just wing it with the video descriptions and metadata. I brought in Claude, an AI assistant, to help me optimize everything.
https://youtu.be/IPiA17Hm0Io?si=cMDMXrHJBB5eDhsW
The Power of AI-Enhanced Marketing
You know what's wild? As indie creators, we spend countless hours perfecting our craft, but often stumble when it comes to marketing. That's where AI becomes a game-changer. Claude helped me craft video descriptions that aren't just informative—they're strategically designed to catch YouTube's algorithm's attention while staying true to my indie vision.
When I first wrote my video description, it was... okay. But working with Claude, we transformed it into something that:
Clearly communicates what viewers will learn
Highlights the unique aspects of my approach
Structures information for both humans and search algorithms
Maintains my authentic voice and independent spirit
Beyond Just Making Movies
Here's what I'm realizing: AI isn't just for creating visual effects or animation (though it's amazing for that too). It's becoming an essential tool for indie creators who need to wear multiple hats. Think about it—we're not just filmmakers anymore. We're marketers, social media managers, and community builders.
The best part? AI helps level the playing field. We don't need expensive marketing teams or SEO consultants. With tools like Claude, we can optimize our content ourselves, ensuring our work reaches the people who'll appreciate it most.
Join the Revolution
If you're into sci-fi adventure that pull no punches or curious about creating indie films using AI tools, I'd love for you to join me on this journey. My new YouTube channel isn't just about showing off cool effects—it's about sharing real, practical knowledge about making movies in the AI age.
We'll be covering everything from using different AI tools like Viggle, Nim Video, Hailuo AI, and other either free or very afordable programs you probably haven’t even heard of for animation to integrating various AI tools for different aspects of production. Plus, I'll be documenting the entire creation process of "Escape From Planet Omega-12."
Why This Matters
The landscape of independent filmmaking is changing rapidly. AI isn't replacing creativity—it's amplifying it. Whether you're a filmmaker, an enthusiast, or just someone who loves seeing how movies are made, this revolution affects you.
By combining AI tools for both creation AND promotion, we're entering an era where independent creators can:
Produce professional-quality content on modest budgets
Reach their target audience more effectively
Build sustainable creative careers
Maintain creative control while expanding their reach
What's Next
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@SciExploitation/ to join me on this journey and if you become a Substack supporter, you’ll get early access to these videos, as well as exclusive and uncensored content. We're starting with Viggle AI tutorials, but we'll be exploring many more tools and techniques as we go. Every step of the way, I'll be sharing how AI helps not just with the creative process, but with getting our work seen by the right people.
Remember: The future of filmmaking isn't about replacing human creativity—it's about enhancing it. Whether that's through visual effects, animation, or even optimizing your YouTube descriptions, AI is becoming an essential tool in the independent creator's toolkit.
Let's make some movie magic together! 🎬✨
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