Sven Co-op Film Project Finally Official!

[Sven Viking]

Late last year we were contacted by Echo Films founder Rick Daniels, who expressed a great deal of interest in the concept of Sven Co-op. Film studios have been trying to get hold of a HL-related license for a long time now, but except for Half-Life: Uplink and the DoD miniseries, Valve have refused all offers. Echo Films saw Sven Co-op as the best available option for a film adaptation. It's important for independent films to be original due to stiff competition, so we were told not to inform the community right from the start. Now that scripting is done and the actual production is underway, however, Mr. Daniels has given us permission to tell you a bit about the movie.

Echo Films is the international version of Russian independent film studio "KinoCafe". They have made appearances on the New York Film and Video Festival with short films with numerous themes and Sven Co-op will be one of them soon. They have some big names working on this film, including Michael Yaremchuk of Cube and Sleeping Dogs Lie, so you know it's going to be good!

The story basically follows the concept of Sven Co-op: A group of random people suddenly find themselves in a situation they must get out of through puzzles or by force. This group consists of such diverse individuals as a scientist, a gardener, two Iraq veterans, a teacher, a single mother and a few other characters. They do not know why they suddenly spawned into the area they find themselves in, but they know they have to get out alive, as unknown soldiers and monsters want them dead. And the only way to do this, is to co-operate. Rick Daniels tells us that while the movie will be action-packed, it will also feature depth and drama, showing what happens when human beings are forced into a corner.


Do not expect this to be a Half-Life movie -- Valve holds the rights to all Half-Life content. Zombies and soldiers are fine, though, and Rick Daniels promised to give Tor (because he is a creation of Sven Co-op) a vital role in the movie! We are very proud that Sven Co-op will be featured in this independent film. Look for Sven Co-op the Movie at the New York Film and Video Festival in Fall 2008!

P.S. - Rick just sent us the following behind-the-scenes still from yesterday's shooting. This shot is exclusive to svencoop.com -- no direct links, please.

Also, make sure to drop by our new SC: The Movie forum section!

[Sven Viking]

Apparently Rick is aiming for a Gantz/Cube sort of tone with this one, by the way (though less violent to avoid an M rating). While I wish we'd been consulted more during the writing process, I'm really hopeful that this will turn out well.

[Nih]

Just a small thing, in "Do not except this to be a Half-Life movie", except should be expect.

I can't exactly confirm this, but there are "rumours" that Chubby the chumtoad may be featured in the movie as an easter egg. *wink wink nudge nudge*

[Sven Viking]

Thanks Nih! Fixed.

[Solokiller]

Finally sven co-op will receive the attention it deserves!

[Jazz Hands]

You should get Uwe Boll to direct.

[JPolito]

The images are broken, but this still sounds like a fantastic idea!

[Sven Viking]

The images are working for me on the SC main page... try reloading maybe(?)

Edit: oic, images were broken in the forum post because the links were relative. Thanks -- Fixed.

[JPolito]

Even more brilliant!

[Nih]

Just a note: We have set up a forum for further discussion of the film at http://svencoop.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=178.

Personally I'm ecstatic about the whole idea. The great thing about Svenco-op is that there's really no unifying theme or story, so we won't have to worry about any "Doom" situation.

See you at the premiere guys!

[Sven Viking]

Locking this thread -- use the new forum section instead:
http://svencoop.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=178