I: The Beginning of My First Short Film

This is the first post and introduction to documenting the process on making my first short film. I want to share my progress as a way to share, reflect and learn as I go, and to also feel some accountability knowing I need to make regular updates. If no one reads this, then it’s just me journaling I suppose lol.

In this first post, I will share the idea for the film and why I went with the subject matter.

Have you ever heard of a game called Arc Raiders? It’s a video game released in October 2025 by Embark Studios. A newer-ish studio that was founded by former DICE employees who created incredible games such as the Battlefield and Star Wars: Battlefront series. Fast forward several years of development and they created an awe inspiring experience that took the gaming community by storm. If you’re not familiar with the game, please check out the gameplay trailer on YouTube.

The level design, the setting, the sound scapes, the gun play, the oh shit moments and the Leapers hurling themselves at you from hundreds of yards away help make Arc Raiders one of the best games of the decade.

Within the first week of the games initial release, I was convinced this would be adapted into a series or film. It may take time but with its popularity it’s too good to pass up. So it got me thinking…what if I made a short film set in this world? What if I focus on two characters with a simple premise that I can actually shoot with my camera? Could I use minimal VFX to capture the essence of the game’s experience?

And so the day dreaming began…

I knew the premise had to be simple, the VFX had to be minimal and overall scope of the project had to be above all else - doable. The film can’t take a year to shoot and sit in post for 3 years. I needed something I could shoot within two weeks and do all the post myself within 6 months with a full time job. So I came up with a simple story that follows a veteran raider who shows a young rookie how to navigate the place they call Topside.

Before I write any script, I watch the ideas play out in my mind. If I have a good grasp of the characters, story and key moments then I can sit down to write to those images. In my next blog post, I’ll share the script and key storyboards for it. I will probably do a post on each of the aspects of making the film too: location scouting, costume designs, VFX shots, scheduling, color grading etc.

I appreciate you reading this post and hope you stick around for the final film. In the meantime, here are some official key images from Embark Studios for Arc Raiders to get an overall feel for the world…