5/23/2005
Director Rich Sees Big Future For Stars In Video Games
By JOHN GAUDIOSIThe Hollywood Reporter
LOS ANGELES -
LOS ANGELES -
Director Matty Rich is putting his love of video games to good use by working with game publisher Ubisoft Entertainment as the creative director of the new car combat game, "187: Ride or Die Trying," a project that inspired him to consider what other creative opportunities gaming offers.
He further confirmed that the title will feature the voices and likeness of Larenz Tate ("Ray"), Noel Guglielmi ("Training Day") and rapper Guerilla Black.
"We are in the beginning stages of the video game world as it relates to Hollywood talent," Rich said. The next-generation consoles will improve games and stimulate more professionals to migrate into interactive entertainment as an additional creative outlet, he predicted, referring to the three major consoles unveiled last week during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2005 in Los Angeles: Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Revolution.
"Video games are the future of the entertainment business," Rich said. "I think in the future, you will find many games that will blend the emotion that a viewer gets from a movie."
The best thing about writing and directing a video game is that it's a more personal medium because of the interaction with the audience, he said.
"Working on '187' was absolutely rewarding for me as a director," he said. "I wanted this game to represent everything that I am about as a filmmaker - strong on characters, strong on story, and, most of all, fun."
Rich spent time in Hong Kong directing the team that created the game's 10 computer-generated cinematics. He said the game universe gave him complete freedom to move the camera and add visual effects and lighting to the story-driven sequences.
Rich also moved to Paris for nine months to work hands-on with the development team as creative/art director, designing the characters, cars and many environments for the game as well as crafting the dialogue.
"After working on '187' as creative director, I found a new creative outlet that I would like to continue," he said.
Music also plays a crucial role in games today, perhaps even more so than in films because of the long hours gamers spend with a title, and Rich was keenly aware of that element.
"Music motivates the player to continue playing and brings the gamer closer inside of the story," he said, adding that music bridges the game from make-believe to believability.
The 15 original West Coast rap songs produced by Guerilla Black and his Dolla Figga label for "187" add to the authenticity of the game, Rich said. "Since the game takes place throughout the streets of Los Angeles, the music had to have the West Coast flava," he said.
Rich also is keeping busy in the more traditional part of Hollywood.
He will direct rapper the Game in an untitled thriller before year's end, which Angela Mancuso, Delaney McGill and Jimmy Rosemond are producing.
In addition, he is following the current wave of video game-based movies with a personal interest.
"The cool thing about that is that there is already a built-in audience that will want to see a game made into a movie," Rich said.
"That would be very exciting for me to do."
He further confirmed that the title will feature the voices and likeness of Larenz Tate ("Ray"), Noel Guglielmi ("Training Day") and rapper Guerilla Black.
"We are in the beginning stages of the video game world as it relates to Hollywood talent," Rich said. The next-generation consoles will improve games and stimulate more professionals to migrate into interactive entertainment as an additional creative outlet, he predicted, referring to the three major consoles unveiled last week during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2005 in Los Angeles: Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Revolution.
"Video games are the future of the entertainment business," Rich said. "I think in the future, you will find many games that will blend the emotion that a viewer gets from a movie."
The best thing about writing and directing a video game is that it's a more personal medium because of the interaction with the audience, he said.
"Working on '187' was absolutely rewarding for me as a director," he said. "I wanted this game to represent everything that I am about as a filmmaker - strong on characters, strong on story, and, most of all, fun."
Rich spent time in Hong Kong directing the team that created the game's 10 computer-generated cinematics. He said the game universe gave him complete freedom to move the camera and add visual effects and lighting to the story-driven sequences.
Rich also moved to Paris for nine months to work hands-on with the development team as creative/art director, designing the characters, cars and many environments for the game as well as crafting the dialogue.
"After working on '187' as creative director, I found a new creative outlet that I would like to continue," he said.
Music also plays a crucial role in games today, perhaps even more so than in films because of the long hours gamers spend with a title, and Rich was keenly aware of that element.
"Music motivates the player to continue playing and brings the gamer closer inside of the story," he said, adding that music bridges the game from make-believe to believability.
The 15 original West Coast rap songs produced by Guerilla Black and his Dolla Figga label for "187" add to the authenticity of the game, Rich said. "Since the game takes place throughout the streets of Los Angeles, the music had to have the West Coast flava," he said.
Rich also is keeping busy in the more traditional part of Hollywood.
He will direct rapper the Game in an untitled thriller before year's end, which Angela Mancuso, Delaney McGill and Jimmy Rosemond are producing.
In addition, he is following the current wave of video game-based movies with a personal interest.
"The cool thing about that is that there is already a built-in audience that will want to see a game made into a movie," Rich said.
"That would be very exciting for me to do."
