GAMELOADING: RISE OF THE INDIES Kickstarter Campaign Launches

Melbourne-based film-makers Lester Francois and Anna Brady, who form Studio Bento, today launched a $50k Kickstarter campaign to bring their indie games film; GameLoading: Rise of the Indies, to life:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/studiobento/gameloading-rise-of-the-indies

The feature length documentary about the exploding subculture of indie game developers around the world, has been in production for over a year, fully funded, to-date, by the passionate indie filmmakers themselves. The Kickstarter campaign to raise $50k is to cover the next phase of filming.

"We had the idea for the film, which was born out of our love and Passion for indie games, over 18 months ago and have poured our hearts and souls into it. Initially the film was about the indie dev scene in Australia but the film has since blossomed into covering the scene globally. For this to be fully explored and properly covered we need to travel to the US to meet up with developers at PaxPrime and the IndieCade awards, to New York, to Europe and to Japan." Said filmmaker Francois. "We want to make sure that we speak to developers from all over the world to make our film a true snapshot of the global scene."

The Film

GameLoading: Rise of the Indies aims to take a snapshot of the worldwide indie game subculture, by following the pioneers of indie development to see how they are changing the industry, and the views on what video games can be. It takes a personal and holistic look at this international creative community who are disrupting the traditional video games industry.

The film looks at both leading and avant-garde members of this passionate, creative community, going their own way outside the traditional video games industry; we will get a glimpse of the endless hard work, risks and sacrifices indie developers make to bring their creations into the world. What drives them? What does it mean to succeed? Will they make it?

It also aims to look at the indie game scene as a whole. Detailing the history and comparing the present indies with what was happening with indies in the 1980's.

"We look at what makes a indie team and demystify what goes into making a game and aim to talk to developers in the US, Europe, Japan and Australia and see what it is that really unites them."Francois commented.

"We are gamers ourselves, excited by the creativity and innovation of the indie gaming scene.We want to make our film personal and holistic; indie developers at all stages of the process telling their own stories, in their own words." Added Brady, "We have been working, planning and researching for a year, and have shot over a dozen interviews with developers from different parts of the globe at different stages in their careers."

Some of the high profile industry luminaries that have been interviewed for the film to date are: Chris Grant (Polygon), Dan "Shoe" Hsu (GamesBeat), Luke Muscat (Halfbrick), David Helgason (CEO Unity), ArashKeshmirian (Limbic Software), Chris Avellone (Obsidian), Eli Hodapp and Jared Nelson (Touch Arcade), Alexander Bruce (Antichamber), Sam Roberts (IndieCade), Mare Sheppard (MetanetSofware), Trip Hawkins (Founder, EA) and Khang Lee (Hawken).

And the list of participants grows, with filming lined up with Jens Bergensten (Mojang/Minecraft), Jakub Dvorsky (Amanita Design/Machinarium), Luca Redwood (eightyeightgames/10,000,000), James Mielke (Q-Games/BitSummit), Ian Dallas (Unfinished Swan), Xra (Data Tragedy/Memory of a Broken Dimension),Kelly Wallick (IndieMegabooth), Robert Briscoe (Dear Esther), Kellee Santiago (Ouya/ Thatgamecompany) and Henry Smith (Spaceteam).

The Kickstarter campaign will enable the impassioned film-makers to complete the filming of, what is set to be, a first-time, honest look at a growing and exceptional industry.

"We are so excited at what our film has become and will become and hope that the indie games scene gets behind us and helps us to reach our goal." Appealed Francois.

The Kickstarter Campaign

The Kickstarter campaign launched today, Wednesday 10th July 2013, at 10am EST. It will run for 35 days and hopes to raise a minimum of $50k. To support The Campaign and pledge please visit: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/studiobento/gameloading-rise-of-the-indies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gameloadingtv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gameloadingtv

About Studio Bento

Studio Bento is a digital studio in Melbourne, Australia that specialises in film and video production. Projects include TVCs, documentaries, interstitials, web-series, hype reels and Branded content that are distributed across TV, Internet, DVD, Smart Phones and Cinema.

Studio Bento is managed by producer Lester Francois who has a background in narrative and factual entertainment. In addition to traditional media he is currently developing cross-platform projects for the web and mobile apps.

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