Recently Chris Daniels got to speak wtih Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Executive Producers, Josh Feldman and Lydia Antonini. We want to thank them for answering our questions as well as DKC Public Relations for arranging the interview.
What intrigued you the most about the prospect of yet another addition to the Halo universe?
LA: The opportunity to work with an ensemble cast in a deep & rich scifi universe was super intriguing.
JF: Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn reflects everything that fans love about Halo, but it’s also something entirely new: it’s the longest live-action incarnation of the franchise, so it was really exciting to exploit the format to really flesh out characters and plot that will live in Halo 4. To that end, this is really an additive experience.
What do you believe this series brings to the table that will invigorate a tired Halo player base?
LA: I’m not sure I’d categorize the fan base as tired, they seem super active from all that we’ve encountered! I think that we provide a wonderful emotional, human experience that deepens the connection that the gamer will have with Game 4.
When does this story take place in relation to the Halo universe as already told?
JF: Our story focuses on the origins of the human/Covenant war.
Will this series bring closure to the story? —or is more already planned? — Is there a laid out story line with planned ending? (number of seasons)
JF: 343 was eager for Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn to be a satisfying experience unto itself, you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy it. That said, hardcore fans will find lots of mythology embedded into the DNA of the series itself.
Favorite aspect of the show?
LA: I love our ending, it is such a moment of quiet for our characters after such a long journey – they’ve earned it and the weight of the world sits on their shoulders just beautifully.
JF: I am particularly proud of our cast. They showed up everyday and gave authentic, raw performances.
What are the most important aspects of the game world that were cited as needing to be included?
LA: We had to be detail perfect on the armor and guns, and of course Master Chief’s suit.
JF: There were certain details that I think run the risk of being considered spoilers, but there are some key links to the future of the Halo franchise that were built into the narrative of Forward Unto Dawn.
What draws you to the Halo franchise in general?
LA: The incredible characters… at every turn are people who make extraordinary choices in the Covenant war. Its easy to get lost for hours in Halopedia reading about all of them.
JF: What I find fascinating about Halo is how multifaceted it is. The games represent the cutting edge of combat, action and game play. Whereas the novel Fall of Reach, in my humble opinion, is a serious work of literate science fiction. Hopefully Forward Unto Dawn is the next great notch in the indelible belt that is Halo.
What do you feel was your most important role in motivating the team towards the goal?
LA: We had a very hard delivery date, I think balancing the parameters of the schedule against the creative needs of the show and the team was the number one goal that we all had to keep our eyes on.
JF: Any answer as to how we motivated the team would just sound self-serving. The truth is our team was as thrilled to work on this project as we were. The fact that this is the longest, and most ambitious live-action Halo project to-date served as a pretty singular motivation for everyone to work their hearts out.
Is entire first season already in the can?
LA: Yes.
Whats next for you specifically?
JF/LA: We have a couple of really exciting original projects we are working on with the writer E Max Frye (Band of Brothers) and we’re shooting a pilot presentation towards the end of the year.
