Bonne lecture !
Halo.fr : So, Hello Pete, can you introduce yourself. How old are you? What are you doing? What is your function in Project Chastity ?
Pete : Well, I'm Pete Cooper. I'm 24, and I am the writer, director and producer of the film Operation Chastity
HFr : Are you alone or with a team? How many guys?
Pete : Well, I have a small team directly assisting me at the moment - my assistant directors, my department heads, other advisors. However, we have a huge number of people actually helping with the film. So far I'd say we've had about 50 contributors.
HFr : So it's a pretty impressive project ! Are you habituate to organize and plan so big projects ?
Pete : This is the first time I've done such a big project. It's very intimidating! However, I think things are going very well so far.
HFr : It's pretty difficult to handle 15 guys on a website, so i can understand you ! And support too
More technical aspects : How do you build object, Which type of engine ? Are you experimented in engineering ?
Pete : I used to work in a special effects studio, which was where I was when I began the project. My experience is therefore limited, as I was only doing paperwork, but I trained to learn as much as I can! I have amazing people helping me with the props, like the weapons, the armour, and of course the Warthog. The Warthog is using its original engine but has been built out of plywood and fibreglass. The armour and guns will be made out of a variety of materials, like fibreglass, resin and plastic.
HFr : Maybe you're working with few guys of 405th ?
Pete : I am, yes! Adam, the owner, is helping with the website. DogWizard, smick6 and others are helping with props also. However, my main prop makers are friends and former colleagues. Matt Worsdell (aka Matsuo) is making lots of guns, while Ed Woodward is making armour and other props.
HFr : I've heard that you're based in the UK, so how do you organize you with this 50 guys ? Do you live in the same area ? Send objects by mail post?
Pete: It is difficult sometimes - lots of emails, phone calls, text messages, parcels in the post... it's very time consuming, but some how we get by. Our team is based all over the world, from the USA to Europe to China.
HFr : I suppose all of that is not free, from the beginning, what is the global cost of Project Chastity ?
Pete : well, the estimated budget of Operation Chastity is around £30,000. I expect it will be much more expensive by the time it is finished!
HFr : And how (where ?) do you find money?
Pete: From all kinds of places! I keep a day job, I sell my stuff, I receive donations from fans. Whatever I can to keep it going.
[b]HFr : If frenchies are interessted, where are we able to donate ?
Pete
eople can donate by Paypal through the website. We give presents to those who donate generously - prints of our concept art, patches and so on.HFr : Ok. Whenever of your “fan” aspect, what are your objectives, how have you plan to reach them without the financial of Bungie or Microsoft ?
Pete : The objectives of the project are to make an enjoyable movie that fans will enjoy, and to show others that amazing films can be made if you go that extra step further. The film is not making any profits, and is going to be released for free on the internet once it has done, like many machinima videos. I see no difference between what I am trying to do and the machinima makers like Rooster Teeth Productions, who make Red vs. Blue. We're all trying to do the same thing - make enjoyable content for Halo fans.
HFr : Yeah, i think really this is the best aspect of the Halo community ! Project Chastity seems to a super-production-machinima
. A little more about the movie, Who carry about the scenario ? Which period of Halo it will take place ? Pete : The film takes place in February 2553, in Argentina. The small remaining groups of Covenant fighters are being finished off by the UNSC, and our story follows a Marine Recon unit tasked with a very risky mission behind enemy lines in the last days of the war. The ONI are involved, and along the way they end up meeting and fighting alongside a Spartan, which they don't like very much. They see Spartans as bad luck. The story is a story about soldiers a long way from home who just want to survive long enough to see their friends and family again. The danger of the mission means they are very worried about their chances of survival. But there are many things they don't know about their mission, and they soon find out that things are not all as they should be.
HFr : Looks very interesting ! So you're the Writer, are you helped for the scenario ?
Pete : yes, I have a group of close friends who I bounce ideas off of. I have a script editor, Rich Badley, from England, as well as a script advisor, Eoin Cleland, who is from Ireland.
HFr : Project Chastity is a fan fiction, but is Bungie or Microsoft have taken a look on it ?
Pete : I am aware that they are watching the project, but they do not know all the details - they have never asked!
HFr : Naughty guys ! =D . How have you plan to integrate Covenant, special effects or disguises, both maybe ?
Pete : Perhaps both. We intend on using creature costumes for the most part, but we could use visual effects as well if we need to. All of the vehicles will be visual effects.
HFr : What ! You havn't plan to build a apparition or a phantom. Pretty ridiculous
Pete : We will have Banshees, Wraiths, Pelicans, Frigates, Cruisers, Warthogs, Scorpions... anything else you would like. Maybe Hornets?
HFr : In your mind, how far the project is build ?
Pete : We will hopefully be filming in March 2010. If we get things going quickly, do the music and the visual effects quickly, we will maybe see the film done by Winter 2010/2011.
HFr : Where have you plan to film ?
Pete : It will all be filmed in the UK, hopefully all over the place - maybe in the train tunnels in London, perhaps at a military base in the midlands, in the valleys of Wales... lots of places.
HFr : And who will be the actors ? You maybe ?
Pete : Haha, I will not be in it. We will be casting the film in December and January.
HFr : Maybe in the background, like Hitchcock in this times ^^. The actors will be volunteers or professionals ?
Pete : They will all be volunteers, as they will likely not be paid - however, I will pick the best I can for the film. I will be recruiting from film schools to try and ensure quality. But since the auditions will be open, whoever comes to the audition may get a part!
HFr : Maybe a message for the french actors who want to be in what we can call like a incredible fan-project. I think we are at the end, be sure that Halo.fr will follow you and the project ! Maybe a little word for the end ?
Pete : I just want to say thank you to everyone for continuing to support the project, especially my French-speaking following - pardonnez-moi pour ma francais mal.
HFr : Thanks a lot for the interview
Few exclusives photos :
