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April 3, 2025
Beyond Liberty City: Unleashing the Cinematic Potential of Take-Two Interactive's IP
As a producer keenly observing the entertainment landscape, the industry’s continued reliance on established properties is clear. Disney’s recent live-action reimagining of "Snow White," which, according to Box Office Mojo, opened domestically to a disappointing $42.2 million against a reported $270 million budget, highlights the risk of relying solely on nostalgia without critical acclaim. Conversely, the resounding success of "A Minecraft Movie," which, as per Box Office Mojo, shattered records for video game adaptations with a $162.7 million domestic opening and over $313 million globally, demonstrates the immense potential of well-executed adaptations from the gaming world. However, the true gold lies in the narrative depth and established worlds of mature, story-driven franchises, where Grand Theft Auto (GTA) serves as a prime, yet not solitary, example.
The financial dominance of the video game sector is undeniable. In 2024, the global market is projected to generate $187.7 billion in revenue, significantly outpacing the film industry’s $527.8 million global box office gross in 2023. This stark economic reality underscores the massive, engaged audiences already invested in these digital worlds and their characters. While fairy tales offer nostalgic appeal and block-building games provide broad narratives, the complex and immersive universes crafted by companies like Take-Two offer a different, arguably more compelling, cinematic opportunity built on established lore, intricate storylines, and deeply invested fanbases eager for faithful big-screen adaptations.
Grand Theft Auto stands as a monumental success. GTA V has sold over 200 million units, demonstrating unparalleled cultural penetration. The anticipation for GTA VI suggests record-breaking entertainment launch figures. A film adaptation set in its vibrant, fictionalized South Florida would capitalize on this immense fervor, offering a familiar yet expanded world. GTA’s success highlights the potential of translating Take-Two’s narrative-rich games to cinema.
However, limiting focus to GTA overlooks other compelling IPs. The Max Payne series, with its gritty neo-noir atmosphere and bullet-time action, offers a distinct cinematic style ripe for a modern adaptation. Its dedicated fanbase awaits a faithful portrayal of Max’s tragic narrative. The satirical chaos of the Borderlands universe presents another opportunity for a high-energy, comedic sci-fi adventure. With over 81 million units sold as of 2023, a substantial audience exists for a well-crafted adaptation that captures its unique mayhem.
Beyond these, Take-Two’s portfolio includes other cinematic possibilities. The strategic depth of Civilization could translate into a sweeping historical epic. The intense psychological horror of BioShock, set in the unique underwater city of Rapture, offers a visually stunning and thematically rich cinematic experience. With over 43 million units sold as of 2022, BioShock’s passionate fanbase suggests strong potential for a successful adaptation that explores its complex narrative.
Successfully adapting these IPs demands respecting the source material while understanding cinematic needs. Collaboration between filmmakers and game developers is crucial to translate the games’ essence effectively. The success of "A Minecraft Movie" and the underperformance of "Snow White" serve as stark reminders of the importance of understanding the target audience and delivering a compelling vision. With the right creative vision, Take-Two’s rich library offers fertile ground for compelling and commercially successful films that resonate with existing fans and broader audiences, potentially surpassing the fleeting appeal of retreaded fairy tales. It’s time to look beyond familiar remakes and tap into the vast cinematic potential within Take-Two’s diverse and captivating worlds.
Matt Klosek
March 23rd, 2025
Hayabusa Commercial Shoot Recap
A recent commercial shoot involved getting some cool footage of a first-gen Suzuki Hayabusa at night around Coral Gables. The shoot was supposed to kick off at 10 PM, but we immediately hit a snag with a fuel injector issue. Had to fix that right there before we could even start filming. It was a quick reminder that stuff can always go wrong on location, and you gotta be ready to MacGyver things.
Our camera plan was pretty ambitious, trying to get some unique angles of this fast bike in motion. We had a custom rig on the back of the Hayabusa with both a GoPro for wide shots and a Sony FX3 for that high-quality, cinematic look. These were mounted on an arm sticking out from the back, designed for those smooth, low-angle tracking shots that would really show off the bike's speed and how it handles.
The footage from the first night showed the potential of this setup, getting that classic Hayabusa shape looking great against the night, lit up by our support vehicle. But the vibrations from a bike built for speed turned out to be a bigger issue than we thought, giving us some shaky footage. It was a good lesson about how the environment and the power of the machine can mess with your plans.
So, we had to rethink the camera setup actually to get usable footage. We decided to take off the crane arm. For the next night, the main Sony FX3 camera moved to the steady support vehicle for smoother tracking shots. The GoPro stayed put on the Hayabusa, giving us that cool first-person view to go along with the outside shots. While we were moving the Sony FX3 for a nice, still shot of the bike, we had another unexpected problem. A key bolt holding the camera to its mount snapped, completely smashing the FX3 and lens on the highway. Suddenly, our main camera was out of commission. That could have been a real problem, stopping the whole shoot and messing with our schedule and budget.
Luckily, the team stayed calm and had a backup plan. We had a spare camera ready to go, so we swapped it out and got it rigged up fast. This quick thinking meant we barely missed a beat and could keep filming. We adjusted our shot list a little, but we kept getting the footage we needed despite the equipment failure.
This whole experience taught us a few key things for future commercial shoots. First, even with all the planning and gear checks, you've got to be ready for things to go sideways on location. Second, having backup gear, even if it seems like overkill, is super important for keeping things on track when the unexpected happens. And maybe the biggest takeaway is that a calm and focused team can solve problems way better than a stressed-out one. Staying cool helps you figure things out and keep the project moving forward.
Even with the technical hiccups during the Hayabusa shoot, we ended up with some great footage and learned a ton about making commercials on location. The team's ability to roll with the punches, use our backup plans effectively, and stay professional under pressure was crucial for getting through it. These experiences just highlight how important it is to be prepared, flexible with your tech, and keep a cool head in the sometimes crazy world of filmmaking. We'll be using these lessons on all our future shoots to make things smoother and more efficient.
Matt Klosek
March 5th, 2025
Unexpected Detour: From Cinematography to… Vanilla Man?
Hey everyone, and welcome to my site! I’m excited to share some of the creative stuff I’ve been working on. Recently, a cinematography assignment took a really fun and unexpected turn.
The project was straightforward: shoot a music video. As someone who’s always been fascinated by how music and visuals work together, I was definitely on board. The rhythm of a track, the way it builds and changes – I try to bring that same kind of energy and flow to my film work. For me, music isn't just something you hear; it's another way to tell a story.
My friend Tony and I decided to make the assignment a bit more interesting. We came up with this plan where we’d each write and record an original song, and then we’d direct and film the music video for the other person’s track. It seemed like a cool way to push our creative boundaries and get some unique portfolio pieces. So, Tony recorded his song – a cover of “That’s Life.” He put his own spin on it, and it’s pretty awesome. Then it was my turn to come up with something. I sat down with my guitar, thinking I’d create a song that would lend itself to some interesting visuals.
What actually happened was… I ended up writing a song called “Vanilla Man.” It’s a silly, observational song about… well, being pretty ordinary. The lyrics are a bit out there, and the melody is probably not going to win any awards, but honestly, I had a blast writing it. It was a completely different kind of creative outlet than filmmaking. With movies, there are always things you need to get right – the shots, the story, the deadlines. But with “Vanilla Man,” there were no rules. It was just me messing around with rhymes, flows, and whatever else I found funniest, and it was surprisingly freeing.
I’ve actually found myself humming “Vanilla Man” while I’m editing, and it somehow makes the process a little less intense. It’s like my brain needed a break from all the serious filmmaking stuff, and this goofy song was the result.
Now comes the slightly ridiculous part: trying to figure out a music video for “Vanilla Man.” How do you create compelling visuals for a song about… well, me being fairly unremarkable? I’m still brainstorming ideas. Tony, meanwhile, is probably having a much easier time coming up with visuals for his cool cover of “That’s Life.”
But this whole experience has shown me that creativity can pop up in unexpected places. Sometimes, the things you do just for fun can actually teach you something about your own creative process. Even though I don’t see “Vanilla Man” hitting the charts anytime soon, writing it was a reminder that it’s okay to be a little silly and to just create for the fun of it.
Maybe some of that lightheartedness will even find its way into my film work. Maybe my next project will have a touch of that “Vanilla Man” vibe. Who knows?
Stay tuned for the music videos – they’re definitely going to be interesting to see. And to anyone checking out my work, I hope this shows that I’m someone who’s willing to try new things and find creative inspiration in unexpected ways – even if it means writing a song about being a “Vanilla Man.”