(MENAFN- Arab Times) LOS ANGELES Nov 12 (Agencies): Videogame creators are quick to say they would be out of their element if they would ever make a movie or tell a live action story. But Sergio Mimica-Gezzan thinks otherwise. 'You're dealing with people who are more filmmakers in their hearts than many of the film executives at the studios' the director of episodes of 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Heroes' told Variety because 'they're creating an environment that is obviously visual but at the same time they're representatives of their audiences because they create such an interactive experience that lives in the mind of the audience. They know their audience so well. They know all the questions their audience will ask but also all the answers. A lot of studio executives can't do that.'
Mimica-Gezzan is specifically speaking of the team at Microsoft's 343 Industries the gamemakers behind the upcoming 'Halo 5: Guardians' and the current stewards of the company's juggernaut 'Halo' franchise. The director is behind 'Halo: Nightfall' a live action digital series that launched today and promotes 'Halo 5' as well as updated versions of the previous 'Halo' games redesigned for the next-generation Xbox One console that are packaged as part of the 'Master Chief Collection' available now. With 'Nightfall' Xbox is doing more than just bringing to life 'Halo's' sci-fi world in a live action format: The series revolves around a new character to the franchise that will play a key role in 'Halo 5' when it's released next year. 'It was important for us to tell a story of a new character that we are introducing in this universe and will be very important in 'Halo 5: Guardians' and show that character in a different set of circumstances and different time of his life' said Kiki Wolfkill 'Halo's' executive producer at 343 Industries. Set between the events of 'Halo 4' and 'Halo 5' 'Nightfall is the origin story of Jameson Locke (played by Mike Colter) as he and his team of Office of Naval Intelligence agents as they're caught in a terrorist attack while on the distant colony of Sedra and drawn to an ancient artifact where they're forced to fight for their survival. Promotion Produced by Ridley Scott Microsoft treated the promotion of 'Nightfall' like a film or TV show taking the first footage down to San Diego Comic-Con this summer. The first two epsiodes were screened at 'HaloFest' a one-night affair Nov. 10 from Hollywood's Avalon Theater before launching on Xbox Live. Scott Free Prods worked closely with and 'Halo' franchise development director Frank O'Connor and 343 to develop the series and character with screenwriter Paul Scheuring who had worked with Mimica-Gezzan on 'Prison Break.' 'The game world brings with it some dynamic opportunities in how players interact with (a game) but going into the narrative and live action space makes the world tactile' said David Zucker president of Scott Free TV. 'To have the freedom to say this is the space in which we would like to tell our tale but have great latitude to create within that world is something that rarely comes along.' Mimica-Gezzan said it was key to have knowledgable producers he could turn to given he was a first-time director on a very well established property but because he also had a short amount of prep before shooting began. 'Whenever I needed an answer I was able to turn to Kiki and I would get very simple or honest answers that made sense to me' he said 'It really made my job much easier but in some way I became more confident in that what I was doing was the right thing. I wish it would be something I could repeat on every project.' That won't necessarily be projects at Xbox however. The launch of 'Nightfall' comes shortly after Microsoft pulled the plug on Xbox Entertainment Studios behind original productions like the 'Halo' series. The world of 'Halo' was already established down to the design of the characters' weapons and space-age military suits covered in battle armor. 'We would have been at a loss (if we had to) design all of that stuff ourselves' Mimica-Gezzan said. Still the 'challenge was the project itself and finding the film language that worked with the (game) franchise' he added. The director admits he 'walked into a world that I'd heard of but didn't really know' which he believes will help attract new gamers to the 'Halo' franchise. 'The way I approach every project is to treat myself as the first viewer' he said. 'If it works for me then it'll work for other people and hopefully they'll be just as excited.' Mimica-Gezzan however knows 'Halo's' core audience must be satisfied first. 'It has to be embraced by people who know the game the core players' he said. 'I will very much be monitoring how people react.' Franchise Master Chief stormed Hollywood. 'Halo' fans toasted the sci-fi video game franchise which centers on super-soldier protagonist Master Chief during a Monday celebration at the Avalon nightclub and theater. The event featured the debut of the 'Halo: Nightfall' live-action series and a preview of the multiplayer mode from the upcoming 'Halo 5: Guardians' game. 'We're super-excited about tonight' said Kiki Wolfkill executive producer at 'Halo' studio 343 Industries. 'It's the first time we've brought so much together at the same time. It's great that it's all here because there were several times we thought it might be impossible.' The first 'Halo: Combat Evolved' game launched in 2001 on the original Xbox and became a cultural sensation spawning several sequels spin-offs novels and comic books set within the game's universe. 'Nightfall' marks the second live-action 'Halo' spin-off after 'Forward Unto Dawn' which was released alongside 'Halo 4' in 2012. Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV production company is currently working on an untitled 'Halo' show scheduled to debut next year. 'Nightfall' and access to the 'Halo 5' multiplayer beta are included in 'Halo: The Master Chief Collection' which brings the four previous 'Halo' installments to the Xbox One console Tuesday. The 'Halo 5' multiplayer offers new ways for players to move on the battlefield including thrusting away from oncoming fire and pounding into the ground for a devastating attack. The beta test which will feature three modes and seven maps is set to kick off Dec 29 - the earliest beta test ever for a 'Halo' game. 'It's really hard' studio head Josh Holmes said backstage at HaloFest. 'The team is definitely going through a lot to get the beta out this early but I think we all agree it's worth it just because it's going to have such a positive impact on the game.'
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