Christian Cantamessa

Last updated

Christian Cantamessa
Born (1976-10-04) October 4, 1976 (age 48)
Savona, Italy
Occupation(s) Video game writer, designer, screenwriter
Notable workManhunt series
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Red Dead Redemption
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Christian Cantamessa (born October 4, 1976) is an Italian-American writer, director, and video game creator best known as lead designer and co-writer of Red Dead Redemption and the Manhunt series, [1] level designer on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas , [2] and writer of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor . [3]

Contents

He is also the founder and CEO of Sleep Deprivation Lab, which is a production company and video game consulting firm known for work on Rise of the Tomb Raider , The Crew , Forza Horizon , Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War . [3]

He also was the director and writer of Air , a feature film released in 2015 starring Norman Reedus, Djimon Hounsou, and Sandrine Holt. [4]

In December 2020, it was revealed that Cantamessa was working on story, world-building and cinematic direction for the reboot of Perfect Dark with Xbox's The Initiative studio. [5] . He has since left the project.

In October 2024, Cantamessa announced that he had founded a new game development company called Day 4 Night Studios, in collaboration with longtime friend Davide Soliani (creator of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and its sequel). Cantamessa is currently the co-Game Director on a new original game IP. [6]

Works

Video games

YearGame titleRoleNotes
2000 Disney's Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers Game design (Game Boy Color version)
2001The WatchmakerGame design, original story, quality assurance
2001 Rayman M Game design (battle)
2003 Manhunt Lead level designer and writer
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Level designer
2007 Manhunt 2 Designer and writer
2010 Red Dead Redemption Lead designer and writer [7] [8] Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction at 14th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards [9]
2012 Forza Horizon Additional writing [10]
2014 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Cinematics director, story [11] [12] Outstanding Achievement in Story at the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards [13]
Nominated for Direction in a Game, Cinema at the NAVGTR Awards [14]
2014 Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Additional story
2014 The Crew Story [15]
2015 Rise of the Tomb Raider Story consultant [16]
2017Dead AllianceCreative director
2017 Middle-earth: Shadow of War Story
TBD Perfect Dark (upcoming video game) Creative Consultant & Cinematics Director

Film

YearFilm titleRoleNotes
2015 Air [17] Writer and director [18] [19] Directorial feature film debut [20]
2018Awake [21] Writer [22] Premiered at South by Southwest 2018 [23]

Comics

YearSeries titleRoleNotes
2017 Kill the Minotaur [24] WriterPublished by Image Comics [25]

Related Research Articles

Image Comics is an American comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include Spawn, The Walking Dead, Kick-Ass, Invincible, Jupiter's Legacy, Witchblade, The Maxx, Savage Dragon, Bone, Saga, Radiant Black and Stray Dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djimon Hounsou</span> Beninese-born actor (born 1964)

Djimon Gaston Hounsou is a Beninese actor. He began his career appearing in music videos and made his film debut in Without You I'm Nothing (1990). He then earned widespread recognition for his role as Cinqué in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad (1997), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. For his performances in In America (2002) and Blood Diamond (2006), Hounsou was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Kirkman</span> American comic book writer

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for co-creating The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Invincible, Tech Jacket, Outcast, Oblivion Song, and Fire Power for Image Comics, in addition to writing Ultimate X-Men, Irredeemable Ant-Man and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt.

<i>The Walking Dead</i> (comic book) Comic book series

The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic comic book series created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore – who was the artist on the first six issues and cover artist for the first twenty-four – with art on the remainder of the series by Charlie Adlard. Beginning in 2003 and published by Image Comics, the series ran for 193 issues, with Kirkman unexpectedly ending the series in 2019. Apart from a few specials, the comic was published primarily in black and white. It began publishing colorized versions issue by issue, colored by Dave McCaig, starting in October 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Reedus</span> American actor and former model (born 1969)

Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor and former fashion model. He made his acting debut in the 1990s, starring in the role of Murphy MacManus in The Boondock Saints, followed by supporting roles in successful box office films 8MM,Blade II, and American Gangster. Reedus rose to prominence for his portrayal of Daryl Dixon in the hit AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2010–2022). Regarded as one of the show's most popular characters, he has starred in his own spin-off series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, since 2023. Reedus is the host of the AMC show Ride with Norman Reedus (2016–present). He has modeled for various fashion designers, including Prada.

<i>Rabbids</i> Multimedia franchise by Ubisoft

Rabbids, also known as Raving Rabbids, is a multimedia franchise developed and published by Ubisoft. It originated as a spin-off video game from the Rayman video game series, 2006's Rayman Raving Rabbids. Rabbids is centered on a titular fictional species of mischievous rabbit-like creatures, who speak gibberish and scream wildly whenever they experience an adrenaline rush. Most video games from the franchise are of the party video game genre, though other genres have been explored as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skybound Entertainment</span> American multi-platform entertainment company

Skybound Entertainment is an American multiplatform entertainment company founded by Robert Kirkman and David Alpert. It operates in concert with Image Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melissa McBride</span> American actress

Melissa Suzanne McBride is an American actress. She made her acting debut in 1993, and went onto appear in Walker, Texas Ranger (1997) and Dawson's Creek (1998). In 2007, she also starred in the box office film The Mist (2007). Her breakout role was Carol Peletier on the AMC series The Walking Dead (2010–2022), and later the series' spinoff The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023–present). She has garnered critical acclaim and received multiple awards and nominations for her role on the show. Originally cast in a minor role, McBride's role expanded over time to a main cast member and as of 2020, she is the second billed cast member in the opening credits of the show, and one of only two cast members to appear in every season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judge, Jury, Executioner</span> 11th episode of the 2nd season of The Walking Dead

"Judge, Jury, Executioner" is the eleventh episode of the second season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on March 4, 2012. In this episode, Rick Grimes and his group opt to execute Randall, much to the frustration of Dale Horvath. Dale fears that the group is losing their humanity, which prompts him to persuade some of the group members to protest against the consensus. Meanwhile, Carl Grimes behaves recklessly and carelessly, going as far as to steal Daryl Dixon 's gun and harass a walker, which will ultimately initiate grave consequences for the group.

The Walking Dead is an American zombie apocalypse media franchise centered on a number of television series based on the comic book of the same name. Set in one fictional shared universe, the franchise has developed into seven live-action television series, with one additional series in development. The franchise also includes eight web series that tie into the first two television series. The series all air on AMC and AMC+.

<i>Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor</i> 2014 video game

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a 2014 action-adventure video game developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. An original story based on the legendarium created by J. R. R. Tolkien, the game takes place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings film trilogies. The player controls Talion, a Gondorian Ranger who bonds with the wraith of the Elf Lord Celebrimbor, as the two set out to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. Players can engage in melee combat, and use wraith abilities to fight and manipulate enemies. The game introduces the Nemesis System, which allows the artificial intelligence of non-playable characters to remember their prior interactions with Talion and react accordingly in subsequent encounters.

Development of <i>Red Dead Redemption</i> Development of 2010 video game

A team of approximately 1,000 people developed Red Dead Redemption over five years. Rockstar Games published the action-adventure game in May 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A spiritual successor to the 2004 game Red Dead Revolver, its development was led by Rockstar San Diego's core 180-person team, who collaborated with Rockstar's Leeds, New England, North, and Toronto teams to assist development; Rockstar North, developer of the Grand Theft Auto series, consulted in the creation of the open world. After its announcement in 2009, the game was fervently promoted with press showings, cinematic trailers, and viral marketing strategies. Its release date, though subject to several delays, was widely anticipated. The working hours and managerial style of the studio during development was met with public complaints from staff members.

<i>Air</i> (2015 film) 2015 film by Christian Cantamessa

Air is a 2015 American post-apocalyptic film directed by Christian Cantamessa and written by Cantamessa and Chris Pasetto. Starring Norman Reedus, Djimon Hounsou and Sandrine Holt, the film depicts a dystopian future following a biochemical weapons disaster which has wiped out most of mankind and rendered the air unbreathable. The film focuses on a group of survivors in an underground facility as they struggle to survive after an equipment failure. Produced by Skybound Entertainment, the film was released in the United States on August 14, 2015. It received generally negative reviews from critics.

<i>Overkills The Walking Dead</i> 2018 video game

Overkill's The Walking Dead was a first-person shooter developed by Overkill Software and published by Starbreeze Studios and 505 Games. The title, based on the comics of The Walking Dead, has a strong emphasis on cooperative gameplay. The game was released worldwide for Windows in November 2018. On 26 February 2019, Skybound Entertainment terminated their contract with Starbreeze Studios, leading to the discontinuation of all efforts on the game, including cancellation of efforts to bring the game to consoles. Critical reception of the game was mixed, and it was a commercial failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SXSW Gaming Awards</span>

The SXSW Gaming Awards were awards given to video games during the annual South by Southwest Festival (SXSW), held in Austin, Texas typically in March of that year. The Awards were part of the SXSW Gaming Expo which is part of the SXSW Interactive branch of the festival.

<i>The Walking Dead: The Final Season</i> 2018 episodic graphic adventure video game

The Walking Dead: The Final Season is a 2018 episodic graphic adventure video game developed by Telltale Games and later Skybound Games, and the fourth and final main game in The Walking Dead video game series, based on the comic book series of the same name. Taking place some years after The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, the game focuses on Clementine's efforts to raise young Alvin Jr. (AJ), in the post-apocalyptic world, coming to join with a group of troubled teenagers surviving out of their former boarding school. Their path leads them to encounter a hostile group of raiders led by a figure from Clementine's past.

<i>Oblivion Song</i> Comic book series

Oblivion Song is an American comic book series created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Lorenzo de Felici, which debuted by Image Comics in 2018, and concluded with its 36th issue in June 2022.

<i>Invincible</i> (TV series) Animated superhero television series

Invincible is an adult animated superhero television series created by Robert Kirkman for the streaming service Amazon Prime Video, based on the Image Comics comic book series of the same name he co-created with Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley. It is produced by Skybound Entertainment, Wind Sun Sky Entertainment, Point Grey Pictures, and Amazon MGM Studios. The series follows teenager Mark Grayson and his transformation into a superhero under the guidance of his father, Nolan Grayson / Omni-Man, the most powerful superhero on the planet. During his transformation, Mark finds himself struggling between his personal life and superhero duties, and is forced to prove that he can be the hero that his father is, unaware that there's a sinister conspiracy going on that threatens the world, and will leave him questioning the true nature of his role. Steven Yeun stars in the series as Mark Grayson / Invincible alongside Sandra Oh and J. K. Simmons as Mark's mother and father, respectively, while the remaining cast members have recurring roles.

This is a bibliography of the comic book writer Robert Kirkman, the co-creator and writer of Invincible and The Walking Dead.

<i>The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution</i> 2022 video game

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution is a virtual reality first-person shooter survival horror game for SteamVR, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2 and Meta Quest 2. Developed by Skydance Interactive in partnership with Skybound Entertainment, it is a sequel to The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and based on the comic book series The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. The game was released in December 2022 for the Meta Quest 2 and PICO 4, and released for PlayStation VR2 and Steam in March 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Pometsey, Olive (April 13, 2019). "Red Dead Redemption game designer Christian Cantamessa on his career in gaming". British GQ . Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  2. ↑ Parkin, Simon (August 26, 2013). "The Hunt for One of Gaming's Most Mythical Creatures". The New Yorker . Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Parkin, Simon (August 26, 2015). "Here's the secret to making a truly cinematic video game". Business Insider . Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ Jaworowski, Ken (August 13, 2015). "Review: In 'Air,' Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou Keep Hope, and Themselves, Alive". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  5. ↑ Robinson, Andy (December 12, 2020). "Analysis: Who's working on the new Perfect Dark?". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. ↑ Dring, Christpher (October 3, 2024). "Mario + Rabbids and Red Dead Redemption creators form new studio: Day 4 Night" . Retrieved October 3, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ Jagneux, David (November 27, 2016). "How Red Dead Redemption's writer wants Start VR to change storytelling". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ Pieraz, Ana Maria Luide (November 30, 2016). "'Red Dead Redemption' writer Christian Cantamessa is thrilled at the opportunities that VR will present". International Business Times AU . Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  9. ↑ Graft, Kris (February 11, 2011). "BioWare's Mass Effect 2 Wins Game Of The Year At Interactive Achievement Awards". Gamasutra . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  10. ↑ Purdy, Shawn (April 18, 2014). "When Worlds Collide: hands-on with The Crew". Team VVV. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  11. ↑ Cruz, Eileen (July 28, 2014). "SDCC2014: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – Christian Cantamessa Roundtable Interview". ToonZone News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  12. ↑ "'Shadow of Mordor': Behind the scenes". Los Angeles Times . August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  13. ↑ Nutt, Christian (February 6, 2015). "Shadow of Mordor cleans up at the AIAS awards". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Nominations by Year". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Corporation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  15. ↑ Bigg, Martin (April 18, 2014). "The Crew was written by former writers of Red Dead Redemption and GTA Vice City". Team VVV. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  16. ↑ Boccher, Mike (February 4, 2016). "New Moving Hazard trailer shows weaponized zombies in action". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  17. ↑ Davis, Brandon (August 15, 2015). "Exclusive Interview: "Air" Director Christian Cantamessa". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  18. ↑ Kit, Borys (February 18, 2014). "'Walking Dead's' Norman Reedus to Star In, Robert Kirkman to Produce Sci Fi Thriller 'Air' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  19. ↑ Couto, Anthony (February 19, 2014). "The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman and Norman Reedus to Team for Sci-Fi Thriller Air". IGN . Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  20. ↑ LaPorte, Nicole (August 21, 2015). ""Walking Dead" Creator Robert Kirkman's Quest To Create The Anti-Marvel". Fast Company . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  21. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 4, 2017). "Jake McDorman, Analeigh Tipton to Star in VR Film 'Awake'". Variety . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  22. ↑ McLevy, Alex (March 16, 2018). "VR is getting very, very good". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  23. ↑ Aldrich, Ryland (March 14, 2018). "SXSW 2018: Exclusive Trailer for VR Original Series AWAKE". Screen Anarchy . Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  24. ↑ Johnston, Rich (March 20, 2017). "Skybound Launches New Comic, Kill The Minotaur – Take A Peek!". Bleeding Cool . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  25. ↑ Kit, Borys (September 21, 2017). "Robert Kirkman's Skybound Teams With Universal to Adapt 'Kill the Minotaur' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.