Here's an interesting turn for Valve Software: Not only is the Source engine being used to create an animated movie, the film itself may be partially distributed on Steam. What's more, virtual production sets will be converted into playable levels for a videogame version.
Variety reports that Shane Acker, the director responsible for "9" (2009), which was produced by Tim Burton, has teamed up with Ireland's Brown Bag Films to create the post-apocalyptic film "Deep." The team is using Valve's Source engine to cut production costs and to "amp up" the project's overall flexibility.
"Deep" was written by Jack Barton Mitchell and takes place after World War III. The main protagonist, a man named Sullivan who captains a nuclear sub, makes contact with a group of superior scientific intelligence called the Wayfarers. They have the power to save the earth, but it may come with a high price.
The Source-powered movie will be produced by Brown Bag's Darragh O'Connell and Gregory R. Little, who heads Brown Bag's L.A. production office. According to O'Connell, Valve's tools and technologies will provide Acker and Brown Bag real-time rendering and editing, simplified character animation and economical lighting,
Currently the movie is in its pre-production stage, and Mitchell is working on the screenplay. The working budget is a mere €15 million ($18.7 million) which is high-end for Europe but low for the U.S. Brown Bag has begun talks with potential distributors and sales agents, O'Connell said.
Brown Bag's previous work includes Academy Award nominated toon shorts "Give Up Yer Aul Sins" (2002) and "Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty" (2010). Its most recent project is the TV series "Doc MacStuffins" seen on Disney Junior.
