[FILM: Interview] Indie Game: The Movie - The Brag

Indie Game: The Movie
Adventures In Underground Gaming
By Callum Fizpatrick

Should a videogame be considered art? It?s been a relevant debate in game culture for years. Some struggle to see true artistic expression in a medium that?s usually backed by multi-million-dollar companies and created by hundreds of people. But for others, it?s the ultimate artform ? the ?combination of storytelling, visuals and audio, wrapped up in an interactive package,? says James Swirsky, one of the filmmakers behind Canadian documentary Indie Game: The Movie. And that?s why he says indie games are so different: a peek behind their vivid graphics reveals a true reflection of the developer?s personality.

Part of the Official Selection and winner of the World Cinema Documentary Editing Award at Sundance 2012, Indie Game follows four game developers through their journey as they create and release their treasured videogames: design/programming team Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, as they eagerly await the release of their two-years-in-the-making Super Meat Boy; Phil Fish, who?s set to unveil the hotly anticipated Fez, which has taken him four years; and Jonathan Blow, contemplating creating a new game after Braid, one of the highest-rated games of all time.

First-time filmmaking duo Lisane Pajot and James Swirsky say it was the individuality behind the games that attracted them to the concept in the first place. ?We looked around the landscape of the genre and we just kept seeing these really cool, unique games that just felt like they were doing something different. And when you look behind them, oftentimes you?ll see that they?re insanely personal. They?re actually expressions of these people and reflections of themselves.?

The filmmakers were also intrigued by the idea that over the last few years, thanks to online marketplaces like Steam and Xbox Live Arcade, these indie developers had a shot at making a living off their art. ?These guys are making really personal games and putting them out there ? and if it?s the right game at the right time, it can really take off. That might not be the end goal, but their lives can be changed overnight.?

The game-makers? journey towards success, however, is paved with stress and anxiety, compounded by impending deadlines and social media pressure. ?It was hard to watch people struggle and go through really devastating moments,? says Pajot. ?As the filmmaker, you have perspective [on their situation], but when you?re in the moment and stuff is happening to the project you spent years on, it feels like the world is ending. You act irrationally and you lose objectivity. These guys put so much into their work and it was such a big part of their lives that you did worry about them at times.?

?One of the things you worry about is changing a situation or making it worse,? adds Swirsky. ?You just want to be part of everything, document it and watch things unfold. You don?t ever want to be one of the wrinkles.?

Approaching the editing stage, Pajot says the tricky part was trying to generate something that was relevant and ?techy? enough for an audience of gaming enthusiasts, while making it understandable for a broader audience.

?It was difficult making a film that represented this intense emotional journey, had enough context for a general audience to get a sense of this world, but also had enough ?meat? around it to satisfy gamers. Luckily a lot of gamers and developers have enjoyed it and like the fact that they can show it to their family and say, ?Hey, this is why I like games.? That?s the ultimate compliment for us.?

What: Indie Game: The Movie
Where: Possible Worlds Film Festival @ Dendy Newtown
When: Fri August 17 6pm drinks, 6.30pm film
More: Play videogames and enjoy free drinks and snacks from 8pm; tickets from dendy.com.au

Source: http://www.thebrag.com/2012/08/14/film-interview-indie-game-the-movie/

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