Fred Grant's Metroid!

by Fred Grant

The Metroid fan trailer was both a chance to adapt a beloved video game into a live action story and an opportunity for me to stretch my directing legs by taking on a very effects heavy project. Knowing that the look of Samus was one of the most important aspects for the film's success, I sought out the help of Sean Michael Patton, an experienced costume designer/creator, to come up with a Zero Suit that was to both of our likings. I wanted Samus to maintain her sexy girlish figure but also look more tactical and military-appropriate while in her Zero Suit.  Finding the right actress was also a challenge, and Josefine Mikuta, a model/actress from Denmark (and who will represent Denmark in the 2013 Miss Earth Pageant) was eventually cast by Keyla McClure to play Samus Aran.  Shooting took place over one afternoon at Crawford Media Services. When Josefine went into wardrobe with Sean and hair/make-up with Christine Nguyen and came out as Samus Aran, the transformation was incredible. 

Josefine tries on the Zero Suit for the first time.

98% of the production was shot entirely on green screen, and almost all of the backgrounds and effects were created during post-production, which is why the short trailer took so long to be released to the public. Anthony Baker, a local Atlanta CG artist, was in charge of creating and rigging the “Power Suit”. We actually had to alter the design of the Power Suit so that Samus could fit into it since the Nintendo version was physically impossible. Kevin Ridgeway did an amazing job modeling Ridley, combining multiple versions of the creature from several different Metroid games together for a realistic and frightening appearance. Torey Haas added his creative touch with his stop motion Chozos. All of the visuals were wrapped up magnificently with sound design by Quyen Tran and narration by Marie Barker (Invasion of the Undead's Allison). While the Metroid Fan Trailer has been on my personal YouTube channel for a while now (I was initially using it to promote the Indiegogo campaign for my first feature film Dekiru) it is now officially on the MonsterBuster channel.

We had to modify the Power Suit design so it could accommodate an actual human body. 

Modeling Ridley!

Overall, the Metroid Fan Trailer was a big learning experience because it showed me where I was as a director and where I needed to improve. If you like it please check out Dekiru!