Christian Cantamessa

Last updated

Christian Cantamessa
Born (1976-10-04) October 4, 1976 (age 47)
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 is working on story, world-building and cinematic direction for the reboot of Perfect Dark with Xbox's The Initiative studio. [5]

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 [6] [7] Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction at 14th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards [8]
2012 Forza Horizon Additional writing [9]
2014 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Cinematics director, story [10] [11] Outstanding Achievement in Story at the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards [12]
Nominated for Direction in a Game, Cinema at the NAVGTR Awards [13]
2014 Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Additional story
2014 The Crew Story [14]
2015 Rise of the Tomb Raider Story consultant [15]
2017Dead AllianceCreative director
2017 Middle-earth: Shadow of War Story

Film

YearFilm titleRoleNotes
2015 Air [16] Writer and director [17] [18] Directorial feature film debut [19]
2018Awake [20] Writer [21] Premiered at South by Southwest 2018 [22]

Comics

YearSeries titleRoleNotes
2017 Kill the Minotaur [23] WriterPublished by Image Comics [24]

Related Research Articles

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

Djimon Gaston Hounsou is a Beninese-born 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">Ryan Ottley</span> American comic artist

Ryan Ottley is an American comic book artist and writer, best known for work on Image Comics' Invincible and Marvel Comics' Amazing Spider-Man.

<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>Lord of the Rings: Game One</i> 1985 video game

Lord of the Rings: Game One is a video game released in 1985 and based on the book The Fellowship of the Ring, by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was the follow-up to the 1982 game The Hobbit, but did not reach the same level of critical success as its predecessor. It's generally considered inferior by the gaming community, with many complaining about the removal of the real-time aspects and complex AI patterns of the previous game, and puzzles that lacked coherent solutions. To promote the game, Melbourne House commissioned hologram picture of a Nazgûl from a company called Holographix. It was available to purchase from Melbourne House directly using an order form on the instruction booklet included with the game. A sequel, Shadows of Mordor: Game Two of Lord of the Rings, was released in 1987.

<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">Angela Kang</span> American television writer (born 1976)

Angela Kang is an American television writer known for serving as showrunner on the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead for the final three seasons.

<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.

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

Air is an 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.

<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>Middle-earth: Shadow of War</i> 2017 action-adventure video game

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a 2017 action-adventure video game developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Shadow of War is the sequel to 2014's Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, both of which are based on J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. The game is set in between the events of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings film trilogies, from which the game also takes inspiration. The player continues the story of Talion, the Gondorian Ranger who bonded with the wraith of the Elf Lord Celebrimbor, as they forge a new Ring of Power to amass an army to fight against Sauron. The game builds upon the "nemesis system" introduced in Shadow of Mordor, allowing Talion to gain followers from several races of Middle-earth and command them in warfare.

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

The Walking Dead: The Final Season is an 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>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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Martinbrough</span> American comic book artist

Shawn C. Martinbrough is an American comic book artist. The long-time artist for Robert Kirkman's Thief of Thieves, Martinbrough is known for his film noir-influenced drawing style.

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

<i>Gran Turismo</i> (film) 2023 film by Neill Blomkamp

Gran Turismo is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Neill Blomkamp from a screenplay by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin. Produced by Columbia Pictures, PlayStation Productions, and 2.0 Entertainment, it is based on the racing simulation video game series of the same name developed by Polyphony Digital. It tells the true story of British teenager Jann Mardenborough, a teenage Gran Turismo player who became a professional racing car driver. The film stars Archie Madekwe as Mardenborough alongside David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner, and Djimon Hounsou.

<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. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. "'Shadow of Mordor': Behind the scenes". Los Angeles Times . August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  12. 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.
  13. "Nominations by Year". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Corporation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.