Ep231 - Gavin Rothery, Writer-Director ‘Archive’ & Art Department ‘Moon’

Early in his career, Gavin Rothery’s goal was to have two jobs: one that pays your bills and you that you enjoy. Then, simply transition the one you enjoy into the one that pays your bills. Starting in the Art Department, Rothery worked on games like Grand Theft Auto III, Battalion Wars, and movies like Moon, which starred Sam Rockwell. All of this, of course, led to Rothery writing and directing his first feature. In Archive, Theo James and Rhona Mitra unlock the year 2038. In the film, “George Almore is working on a true human-equivalent AI. His latest prototype is almost ready. This sensitive phase is also the riskiest. Especially as he has a goal that must be hidden at all costs: being reunited with his dead wife.” In this interview, Rothery discusses how he used his skills as a comic artist to move into the game industry and eventually filmmaking, how story relates to visual art, his fascination with Mythbusters, why you should hang on to ideas, and what he learned from Duncan Jones on the set of Moon. If you enjoyed this interview, join millions of viewers for the new YouTube video essay series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5