The making of ‘Defy’, the Assassin’s Creed IV short film

Ubisoft takes gamers backstage for the making of the ‘Defy’ short film that highlights the finer points of the game’s authenticity, idealism, and exploration… and how best to knock over a Spanish Galleon.

To capture the true values of the brand: authenticity, idealism, and exploration, Ubisoft® and Sid Lee have emphasized the darker aspects of liberty and the brutal struggle to break free from the restrictions of society. Set during the assault of a Spanish Galleon, the film showcases one of these struggles, as the pirates strike a blow against the Spanish Empire.

Starting in the serenity of the water, the camera rises vertically, passing through different levels of the Galleon. Each new level decides the fate of the soldiers, but it also reveals something else, the struggle for freedom. The further up the galleon, the closer we get to the ultimate liberty, symbolized by Edward, standing on the top of the mast.

Adam Berg, a multi-award winning director who has worked with Nike, Ikea and Philips, directed the film. His vision and attention to detail brought each scene not just authenticity, but also real tension. From lowering a whole section of the ship under the water, the wild fights of the stuntmen and explosions on the deck, the film was created as real as possible, without any short cuts.

The overall production has been directed by MPC, a key actor in the Hollywood industry who has produced, amongst other, the special effects of Prometheus. Revealed on August the 21st in the 90’’ version, the movie has evolved to a 60’’ format.

It’s always interesting to get a look into the backdrop of what goes into making a film of any type, but it’s especially cool to see the workings of this one. Defy is, after all, a film about a game. More than that even, it’s a film that is supposed to convey certain aspects of that game and promote it as well.

I personally thought there was a lot more CGI used in t he filming than there actually was. The fact that the ship was more or less real is pretty incredible- not to mention the fact that it must have cost a fortune. But then again, Assassin’s Creed is a marquee series and if any game would get the star treatment from Ubisoft, it’d be this one.

Look for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag to board the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U and PC on October 29th in North America with Xbox One and PS4 editions arriving soon after.