MTV Films has acquired the feature film rights to MARC ECKO'S GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE, the highly anticipated videogame from Atari and Marc Ecko Enterprises. The videogame is scheduled for a February 2006 release for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, for the Xbox videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft and for Windows.
GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE adaptation as a feature project promises to be an homage to graffiti's rich culture. Told through an alternate reality in a futuristic universe, the game represents the culmination of seven years of story and character development by fashion pioneer Ecko, the visionary behind several of today's most respected youth lifestyle brands. Ecko will serve as producer on the project with MTV Films' Gregg Goldin, who brought the project to the company. Jason Weiss and David Gale will be developing on behalf of MTV Films. GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
"We are eager to continually tap into the unique culture that exists in the video gaming world because these types of projects have a unique connection to the MTV audience," said Gale, evp, MTV Films. "MARC ECKO'S GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE is an incredibly cool and different title and one that we believe will redefine the industry. We are extremely excited to join forces early on and tap into the creativity of Marc Ecko and Atari on this unique project."
Added Ecko: "When I first began working on GETTING UP seven years ago, I wanted to create a storyline that provided a rare look inside of one of the most influential, yet often overlooked, artistic movements in recent history. Today, graffiti is a global cultural phenomenon and few understand its impact better than MTV, pioneers in its use as a motion graphics tool nearly two decades ago. I am delighted to have the ability to bring the depth of our story to life on film and look forward to working with the great team MTV has assembled."
Set in the city of New Radius, GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE features a world where freedom of expression is suppressed and graffiti has been outlawed by a tyrannical city government. In the game, players assume the role of Trane as they learn and master various graf skills and journey from toy (beginner) to legend. During their quest, players find themselves with an even greater burden: to use their high-wire graffiti talents to expose the oppressive mayor and rid the city of his stranglehold.
Providing voice work in GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE will be Sean "Diddy" Combs, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, George Hamilton, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam West, Andy Dick, Charlie Murphy, The RZA and Michael "M.C. Serch" Berrin. Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli will voice Trane, the game's lead character.
New York-based Atari Inc. (www.atari.com) develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company's 1,000+ titles include hard- core, genre-defining franchises such as DRIVER, THE MATRIX (ENTER THE MATRIX and THE MATRIX: PATH OF NEO), STUNTMAN and TEST DRIVE; and mass-market and children's franchises such as Nickelodeon's BLUE'S CLUES and DORA THE EXPLORER, and DRAGON BALL Z. Atari Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Ent. SA, the largest interactive games publisher in Europe.
MTV Films (AEON FLUX) is the feature film development and production division of MTV that releases films in conjunction with Paramount Pictures. Since its inception in 1995, MTV Films established itself as a unique movie label with a slate of diverse and successful films that have grossed more than 800 million dollars in domestic box office.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc., is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services: MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these brands are trademarks of MTV Networks.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
