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Behind-the-scenes movie about making of 'Goldeneye' (the game) now out and watchable.

June 28, 2022

6 Min Read

[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]

Author: Altitude.film

When GoldenEye 007 released 25 years ago, it shook the gaming medium, the people that made it, and millions of players. Now director Drew Roller shares the untold story of one of gaming's most important, celebrated titles in his ‘for fans, by fans’ indie documentary GoldenEra, which has launched on Altitude.film and other digital platforms.
 

June 28 - LONDON: Altitude is thrilled to announce the release of the video game documentary GoldenEra on Altitude.film and other digital platforms in the UK and Ireland.
 

The feature-length documentary focuses on the untold story of the creation of iconic first-person shooter GoldenEye 007, and its remarkable legacy. Viewers will learn how a young and inexperienced team at UK development studio Rare were handed the James Bond licence, before making a game that would change the medium forever when it was released on Nintendo’s N64 console in 1997.
 

25 years after that launch, director Drew Roller has been given unrivalled access to numerous members of the original GoldenEye 007 team, as well as press and authors that covered the game or saw their careers shaped by its impact, and players whose lives it changed.
 

Filled with fascinating insights, insider details and a thorough look at GoldenEye 007’s legacy, Roller has crafted a truly independent documentary that is unashamedly created for fans, by fans.
 

“The film makes the case that the game set the standards for many different gameplay styles to emerge,” says Drew Roller, who has also worked as a software designer, writer, editor, music video producer and commercial director. “And it didn’t just influence who I am - through speaking to so many game industry experts, it’s clear it informed a lot of other careers. And perhaps moreso, the game went on to shape titles that have become phenomena of popular culture, such as Call of Duty and Halo. Equally, GoldenEye 007 introduced design conventions now standard in countless successful titles. When you play a game today, there’s almost certainly some GoldenEye 007 DNA in there. That’s what makes this story so important to tell.”
 

"It was sheer strength of passion and devotion that drove Drew and his small team to make this truly special piece of filmmaking - and for this reason we’re thrilled to release GoldenEra on June 27th” added an Altitude spokesperson. “Drew’s documentary is a captivating snapshot of a perfect storm and offers unique behind-the-scenes insights into the seminal game’s creation and legacy.”
 

Ultimately, GoldenEra tells the riveting tale of how creative freedom, raw talent and the world of James Bond were brought together by developer Rare - just at the time when new gaming tech allowed the developers to realise a vision that changed gaming forever. The film is deeply authentic, human and enthusiastic - and captures a moment in late ‘90s popular culture as important as BritPop and New Labour!
 

As many in the game industry will tell you, video games have had two eras: ‘before GoldenEye, and after GoldenEye’. And today, long after GoldenEye, Rare’s creation remains supported by an active player community who host tournaments and even update the game with modern features. A sign that 25 years after release, GoldenEye 007 is as relevant as ever.
 

GoldenEra is available on Altitude.Film and other digital platforms in the UK and Ireland from now on.
 

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Contact: [email protected] 

Visit: www.diva.agency

 

 

ABOUT ALTITUDE

Altitude Media Group is the independent UK based studio launched in 2012 by chairman Will Clarke and joint-CEO Andy Mayson. The group comprises of Altitude Film Production, Altitude Film Sales with Managing Director Mike Runagall, Altitude Film Distribution with Managing Director Lia Devlin, Altitude Factual with Managing Director Paul Sowerbutts and Altitude Television.  Since 2020, US based investment group 30WEST have held a significant minority stake in the group.

 

Since launching in 2013 Altitude Film Distribution have proudly supported talented filmmakers and given their films the dynamic and bold releases they deserve.

 

To date Altitude have championed over 150 films, ranging from the Academy and BAFTA award-winners, MOONLIGHT, ROCKS, MINARI, 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, AMY, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO through to critically acclaimed THE FLORIDA PROJECT, DIEGO MARADONA, LADY MACBETH, BEAST, THE RIDER, LES MISÉRABLES, WHITNEY and more.

 

Altitude’s recent releases include LANCASTER, Clio Barnard’s BIFA award winning ALI & AVA, Blerta Basholli’s triple Sundance Film Festival-winner HIVE, THE REAL CHARLIE CHAPLIN from BAFTA nominees Peter Middleton and James Spinney, Palme D’Or winner TITANE from writer and director Julia Ducournau, Oliver Stone’s JFK REVISITED: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, award-winning PIG starring Nicolas Cage, TINA from directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, Alex Winter’s ZAPPA, CROCK OF GOLD: A FEW ROUNDS WITH SHANE MACGOWAN from director Julien Temple, Russell Crowe thriller UNHINGED, Nick Rowland’s critically acclaimed CALM WITH HORSES, HORRIBLE HISTORIES: THE MOVIE – ROTTEN ROMANS, Jonah Hill’s MID90S and Brian Welsh’s BEATS.  In 2020 Altitude partnered with the WWF on the global event release of DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A LIFE ON OUR PLANET, which became the widest ever released documentary in the UK and Ireland.

 

Forthcoming releases include KURT VONNEGUT: UNSTUCK IN TIME from acclaimed director Bob Weide, feature documentary THE PRINCESS from Academy Award-nominee Ed Perkins, Ari Folman’s WHERE IS ANNE FRANK, TED K. starring Sharlto Copley, BUTCHER’S CROSSING starring Nicolas Cage, Paul Raci and Fred Hechinger and the yet to be titled feature documentary on iconic British filmmaking duo Powell & Pressburger narrated by Martin Scorsese and directed by David Hinton.

 

ABOUT DREW ROLLER - GOLDENERA DIRECTOR 

“This game had a huge impact on me. I have a successful career in interface design and filmmaking because I became addicted to GoldenEye and also Zelda: Ocarina of Time which were both games that changed my view on the world. I wanted to create interactive  experiences for people that delighted them.” 

Drew has a folio of work in software, music video and TV. Drew has written, edited and directed numerous commercial video projects and worked on Australian TV productions. 

Drew’s first feature-length directorial debut Acoustic Uprising was crowd funded successfully on Kickstarter in 2015 and debuted in April 2017. Shot in 10 countries, over 2 years, the film was a massive labour of love that shined a light on a mesmerising new approach to the ubiquitous acoustic guitar. 

 

 ABOUT DIVA AGENCY 

Diva is the UK’s leading gaming specialist creative agency. Founded in 2007, the agency-client roster includes some of the biggest publishers, games and entertainment brands in the world, including Activision, Epic Group, Sony PlayStation, Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Netflix, Bethesda, Creative Assembly, Secret Mode and Curve Games. 

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