Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn: Difference between revisions

*''Blu-ray/DVD'': December 4, 2012 <ref name="thb101012"/>

'''''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''''' is a live-action film and miniseries set in the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' universe]]. Although shot as a feature-length film, ''Forward Unto Dawn'' was originally released as a webseries consisting of five roughly 15-minute episodes, the first of which was released on October 5, 2012,<ref name="Bulletin 5252012"/> with the rest following on a weekly basis. The series' plot is set 31 years before ''[[Halo 4]]'', occurring in the early days of the [[Human-Covenant War]] circa [[2526]],<ref name="THB 7.18.12">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/07/19/The-Halo-Bulletin-71812.aspx ''The Halo Bulletin: 7.18.12'']</ref> and revolves around [[Thomas Lasky]], a young cadet at [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]], and how [[John-117]] inspired him to eventually become a leader. Lasky is also a prominent character in ''Halo 4'' as a commander on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053273 '''Variety''': '' 'Halo' Web series to bow before next game'']</ref> The name of the series, aside from being a reference to the [[UNSC frigate]] ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'', is given new significance in the series as part a running motif based around [[Forward Unto Dawn (poem)|a poem]]. The series was known as ''Sleeper'' during pre-production.<ref name="Sparkast 14">[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_014.mp3 ''343 Sparkast 014]''</ref>  

According to director [[Wikipedia:Stewart Hendler|Stewart Hendler]], time was considered the primary challenge when embarking on a production of this scale on a relatively short notice. Primarily written by screenwriters Aaron Helbing and Todd Helbing, work on the script is noted to have began around [[2011|December 2011]]. Production officially stated in late April 2012.<ref name="sleeper"/>

Filming, which lasted for a total of five weeks, started in April 28, 2012 at [[Wikipedia:Simon Fraser University|Simon Fraser University]] in [[Wikipedia:Vancouver|Vancouver]], [[Wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]], [[Wikipedia:Canada|Canada]], a popular filming location for many notable science fiction series like [[Wikipedia:Stargate SG-1|''Stargate SG-1'']] and [[Wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|''Battlestar Galactica'']]. Since much of the series is set at Corbulo Academy, an actual, existing location was used to give the school a concrete identity. Although many other locations around the world were initially considered to represent the academy, the SFU was chosen because of its rugged, decidedly futuristic architecture.<ref name="sleeper">'''[[Awakening a Sleeper]]'''</ref> For the filming, the campus was decorated with additional embellishments, including various UNSC [[propaganda]] murals and a statue of the academy's namesake, the Roman general [[Wikipedia:Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo|Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo]].<ref name="Kotaku 512012">[http://kotaku.com/5906858/first-look-at-the-set-of-the-halo-4-live-action-series '''Kotaku.com:''' ''First Look at the "Set" of the Halo 4 Live Action Series'']</ref> Most outdoors scenes within the academy, as well as the establishing shots of the campus and select indoor scenes like the mess hall, were filmed on-location at SFU.<ref name="sleeper"/>

After the first week of filming at the SFU campus, the second week was spent shooting the forest scenes, namely the cadets' training exercises and the final battle sequence, including the Warthog chase. The forest location was a woodland in a drainage basin north of Vancouver. Despite some logistical problems, the site attracted the attention of the crew because of its unique, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Most of the interior scenes at the academy were filmed on set during the last three weeks of filming. While the SFU campus is recognizable as a real-world location, the sets were designed with an emphasis on giving the series a unique signature aesthetic. The largest of the three major sets was a single 25-meter long hallway, which was used to represent many different hallways in the series, primarily the main corridor at the Corbulo Academy dorms. As part of the hallway set, a single dorm room was also created and was similarly used to depict several different rooms. The third major set was the cadets' locker room and cryo training facility.<ref name="sleeper"/>

While the role of the main protagonist is filled by [[Thomas Lasky]], who is also a major character in ''Halo 4'', [[John-117|Master Chief John-117]] also plays a pivotal role in the series. Lasky is played by Australian actor [[Wikipedia:Tom Green (Australian actor)|Tom Green]].<ref name="credits">[http://www.microsoft.com/games/mgsgamecatalog/halo4_fud_credits.aspx '''Microsoft Game Studios''': ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Series Credits'']</ref> The Master Chief is portrayed by Canadian actor [[Wikipedia:Daniel Cudmore|Daniel Cudmore]], best known for his role as the mutant [[Wikipedia:Colossus in other media#X2|Colossus]] in the [[Wikipedia:X-Men (film series)|''X-Men'' film series]]. Cudmore also performed the Master Chief's stunts, as he doubles as a stunt performer. He considered the role a challenge; as the cumbersome suit would significantly mute natural movement, Cudmore found that his physical acting came across more clearly by exaggerating his movements.<ref name="sleeper"/> As ''Forward Unto Dawn'' is set thirty-one years before ''Halo 4'', the production team originally experimented with de-aging [[Steve Downes]]' voice so he could voice the fifteen-year-old John-117; Cudmore would act only as the Spartan's physical embodiment. However, the team realized that Downes' altered voice sounded too high-pitched. Thus, a separate actor, {{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3773430/ Alex Puccinelli]}},<ref name="credits"/> was given the role of voicing John, whose voice would evolve over three decades to possess the gruffer quality of Downes' performance.<ref name="THB 7.18.12"/>

When the main roles were being cast, it was considered important that the cadets would appear believable as young and inexperienced teenagers forced into a life-and-death situation.<ref name="sleeper"/> At the time of casting, there was a fair amount of secrecy surrounding the production, then known only as ''"Sleeper"'', and the actors were not initially informed that the series would be set in the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' universe]].<ref name="cryo"/><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZHvDfNZe6o '''YouTube''': '' Halo After Dawn: Episode 3 - The Haircut'']</ref> In preparation for their roles, the actors for the main characters were given a collection material to study, including the existing [[Halo novels|''Halo'' novels]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bOajLVJ3CE '''YouTube''': ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn - Anna Popplewell (Exclusive Interview)'']</ref> Although basic background profiles had been created for the characters in advance, the actors were given a degree of freedom to build on the cadets' backstories themselves.<ref name="cryo">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jHclMt97Qw '''YouTube''': ''Halo After Dawn: Episode 4 - Cryo'']</ref> Over the course of the week before the filming began, the actors for the cadets of Hastati Squad underwent an intense basic training regimen, fashioned after military training, under the supervision of the series' stunt coordinator James Bamford as well as an additional military consultant. Taking place in a warehouse in Vancouver, the program consisted of basic physical exercises, various military drills, and even live-fire weapons training with assault rifles so the actors would be able to perform their parts in a more convincing manner and be acclimatized to moving as a unit. Stewart Hendler wanted Bamford to go as far as possible with the training, to the point of the actors vomiting and "calling their agents", although all of them endured through the process.<ref name="sleeper"/>

UNSC officer uniforms seen in the series are largely derived from the designs seen in ''[[Halo 3]]'' and ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', but are given an olive drab coloration as opposed to the blue-gray or white typical of [[UNSC Navy]] uniforms. Although it has been previously established that unaugmented humans must enter [[cryonics|cryo-sleep]] fully naked, this was circumvented by giving the cadets dedicated "cryo-suits" to wear in scenes involving cryo-stasis. The suits were created by a Vancouver wet suit company and were designed to be skintight with the requirement they could be removed on camera for the scene with Lasky removing his suit in the shower to reveal his blisters.<ref name="looks"/> However, not all of the cadets wore the rubber suits in the cryo scenes,<ref name="cryo"/> and would instead use a similarly colored bodysuits made of fabric.

Most props, including the Master Chief's [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV MJOLNIR armor]] and the body armor sets and weapons used by the cadets and Marines, were created by Los Angeles company Legacy Effects, which has previously worked on major film productions such as ''[[Wikipedia:Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]]'', ''[[Wikipedia:G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia:Pacific Rim (film)|Pacific Rim]]''. The MJOLNIR armor is visually based on the design from the ''[[Halo Legends]]'' short ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''. Realizing the suit physically proved to be a challenge, as the original model was not designed to be worn by an actual person. Built specifically using Cudmore's body as a template, most of the armor components are actually made of a flexible material to allow more unrestricted movement. Due to sweat building up in the heavy and fully enclosed rubber suit, the suit was cleaned with vodka after each filming session. The visor was separately processed by eyewear manufacturer [[Wikipedia:Oakley, Inc.|Oakley, Inc.]] to give it its iconic, golden reflective coating.<ref name="looks"/>

Although ''Halo''-themed weapons and other items existed as leftovers from prior live action projects, Legacy built most of the weapons from scratch with additional attention to detail such as LED lights and a tactical [[flashlight]] in the MA5 assault rifles.<ref name="sleeper"/> In addition to these new props, ''Forward Unto Dawn'' also reuses a number of props and costumes from previous live-action media. The [[ODST armor]] from ''[[The Life]]'' is seen in several episodes. Additional ODST and Marine Armor was possibly borrowed from ''[[Halo: Landfall]]''. The [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR armor]] worn by [[Kelly-087]] and [[Frederic-104]] originally appeared in ''[[Deliver Hope]]'', in which the suits were worn by [[Kat-B320]] and [[Thom-293]], respectively. The suits and helmets were repainted and physically altered to distinguish them from the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V armor]] they originally portrayed; for example, the jowl and forehead armor guard on Kelly's helmet are taken from one of the suit's [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/FJ/PARA variant|FJ/PARA]] knee guards.

A Blu-Ray/DVD combo "Deluxe Edition", containing additional exclusive material including art cards, a poster and over 100 minutes of bonus content, was released for [[Wikipedia:DVD region code|Region 2]] on May 27, 2013.<ref name="cvg"/><ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Halo-Forward-Deluxe-Edition-Blu-ray/dp/B00BJMYEYG/ '''Amazon''': ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Deluxe Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo'']</ref>

*[[Dimah Tchakova]] {{1st}}<ref name="Times"/>

*[[Kelly-087]] <ref name="IMDb"/>

*[[Kennedy Mehaffey]] {{1st}}<ref name="Halo Waypoint"/>

*[[M6H Personal Defense Weapon System]] {{1st}}<ref name="Sparkast 14"/>

*[[MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System]]<ref name="Sparkast 14"/><!-- In 343 Sparkast 14, it is stated that many of the weapons and other technologies in ''Forward Unto Dawn'' are represented by their ''Halo 4'' incarnations, which canonically were already in use when the series takes place. This indicates that the MA5D and the M6H, respectively, are the assault rifle and magnum models depicted in Forward Unto Dawn.-->

*A [[:File:H4FUD-CAMS-Stylized-ODST-Mural.jpg|mural of an ODST]] seen at Corbulo Academy is a heavily stylized version of a [[:File:ODST Sniper.jpg|piece of concept art]] for ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.<ref name="Kotaku 512012"/>