Christian Cantamessa

Christian Cantamessa (born October 4, 1976) is an Italian-American writer, director, and video game creator best known as lead designer and co-writer of Red Dead Redemption and the Manhunt series,[1] level designer on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,[2] and writer of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.[3]

Christian Cantamessa
Born (1976-10-04) October 4, 1976
Savona, Italy
Occupation(s)Video game writer, designer, screenwriter
Notable workManhunt series
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Red Dead Redemption
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

He is also the founder and CEO of Sleep Deprivation Lab, which is a production company and video game consulting firm known for work on Rise of the Tomb Raider, The Crew, Forza Horizon, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.[3]

He also was the director and writer of Air, a feature film released in 2015 starring Norman Reedus, Djimon Hounsou, and Sandrine Holt.[4]

In December 2020 it was revealed that Cantamessa is working on story, world-building and cinematic direction for the reboot of Perfect Dark with Xbox's The Initiative studio.[5]

Works

Video games
YearGame titleRoleNotes
2000Disney's Donald Duck: Goin' QuackersGame design (Game Boy Color version)
2001The WatchmakerGame design, original story, quality assurance
2001Rayman MGame design (battle)
2003ManhuntLead level designer and writer
2004Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasLevel designer
2007Manhunt 2Designer and writer
2010Red Dead RedemptionLead designer and writer[6][7]Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction at 14th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards[8]
2012Forza HorizonAdditional writing[9]
2014Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorCinematics director, story[10][11]Outstanding Achievement in Story at the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards[12]
Nominated for Direction in a Game, Cinema at the NAVGTR Awards[13]
2014Sonic Boom: Rise of LyricAdditional story
2014The CrewStory[14]
2015Rise of the Tomb RaiderStory consultant[15]
2017Dead AllianceCreative director
2017Middle-earth: Shadow of WarStory

Film
YearFilm titleRoleNotes
2015Air[16]Writer and director[17][18]Directorial feature film debut[19]
2018Awake[20] Writer[21] Premiered at South by Southwest 2018[22]

Comics
YearSeries titleRoleNotes
2017Kill the Minotaur[23]WriterPublished by Image Comics[24]

References
  1. Pometsey, Olive (April 13, 2019). "Red Dead Redemption game designer Christian Cantamessa on his career in gaming". British GQ. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  2. Parkin, Simon (August 26, 2013). "The Hunt for One of Gaming's Most Mythical Creatures". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  3. Parkin, Simon (August 26, 2015). "Here's the secret to making a truly cinematic video game". Business Insider. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  4. Jaworowski, Ken (August 13, 2015). "Review: In 'Air,' Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou Keep Hope, and Themselves, Alive". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  5. Robinson, Andy (December 12, 2020). "Analysis: Who's working on the new Perfect Dark?". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. Jagneux, David (November 27, 2016). "How Red Dead Redemption's writer wants Start VR to change storytelling". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  7. Pieraz, Ana Maria Luide (November 30, 2016). "'Red Dead Redemption' writer Christian Cantamessa is thrilled at the opportunities that VR will present". International Business Times AU. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  8. Graft, Kris (February 11, 2011). "BioWare's Mass Effect 2 Wins Game Of The Year At Interactive Achievement Awards". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  9. Purdy, Shawn (April 18, 2014). "When Worlds Collide: hands-on with The Crew". Team VVV. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  10. Cruz, Eileen (July 28, 2014). "SDCC2014: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – Christian Cantamessa Roundtable Interview". ToonZone News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  11. "'Shadow of Mordor': Behind the scenes". Los Angeles Times. August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  12. Nutt, Christian (February 6, 2015). "Shadow of Mordor cleans up at the AIAS awards". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  13. "Nominations by Year". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Corporation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  14. Bigg, Martin (April 18, 2014). "The Crew was written by former writers of Red Dead Redemption and GTA Vice City". Team VVV. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  15. Boccher, Mike (February 4, 2016). "New Moving Hazard trailer shows weaponized zombies in action". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  16. Davis, Brandon (August 15, 2015). "Exclusive Interview: "Air" Director Christian Cantamessa". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  17. Kit, Borys (February 18, 2014). "'Walking Dead's' Norman Reedus to Star In, Robert Kirkman to Produce Sci Fi Thriller 'Air' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  18. Couto, Anthony (February 19, 2014). "The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman and Norman Reedus to Team for Sci-Fi Thriller Air". IGN. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  19. LaPorte, Nicole (August 21, 2015). ""Walking Dead" Creator Robert Kirkman's Quest To Create The Anti-Marvel". Fast Company. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  20. McNary, Dave (December 4, 2017). "Jake McDorman, Analeigh Tipton to Star in VR Film 'Awake'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  21. McLevy, Alex (March 16, 2018). "VR is getting very, very good". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  22. Aldrich, Ryland (March 14, 2018). "SXSW 2018: Exclusive Trailer for VR Original Series AWAKE". Screen Anarchy. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  23. Johnston, Rich (March 20, 2017). "Skybound Launches New Comic, Kill The Minotaur – Take A Peek!". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  24. Kit, Borys (September 21, 2017). "Robert Kirkman's Skybound Teams With Universal to Adapt 'Kill the Minotaur' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
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