halo forward unto dawn halo forward unto dawn military science fiction web series set universe halo franchise consists minute episodes released weekly starting october later released single film dvd blu ray later series produced marketing effort video game halo intended widen audience halo series stepping stone potential halo film written directed shot vancouver days budget usd million shots computer generated imagery approximately quarter feature film visual effects received praise reviewers coming age story follows cadet sixth century military training academy attacked religious alliance aliens unsure future military feels pressured follow footsteps mother brother surviving squad mates rescued master chief death romantic interest inspired chief initiative aids saving remaining cadets received crew received awards work editing producing filming series won motion picture sound editors golden reel award sound editing reviewers impressed special effects action packed second act found plot slow half characters developed series nominated primetime emmy award main title design development success previous live action promotional shorts landfall life industries studio charge development halo franchise wanted use live action series appeal audience people unfamiliar halo games director franchise business management industries explained intended audience saying looks like video game going crowd live action format chosen ability better develop characters series introduce character halo universe role video game halo developers wanted protagonist emotion master chief face seen convey understanding universe better engage unfamiliar viewers microsoft considers series step advertising material length film failure previous effort aimed produce standalone series enjoyed necessarily playing games budget series usd million microsoft largest investment live action promotion director said best funded web series time sort mid road healthy pilot super low budget movie idea directing video game based web series pitched declined saying interested video game subject halo fan series having read novels played games potential writers interviewed industries selected write draft script aaron wrote pitch set harvest planet attacked halo contact harvest industries decided use brothers script complete demonstrated best understanding halo universe chosen write forward unto dawn final plot developed intention introducing new character tie halo harvest script explore known halo universe addition providing input script representative set times ensure series break canon shooting special effects series shot days forests vancouver additional stages production team vancouver months set design legacy effects company worked previous shorts road vehicle mounted appears produced landfall stunt driver found prop handles roads extremely size height wheel steering advantage drifting chase shots pursuit vehicle camera boom mounted roof rig involved low trailer cameras focus actor vehicle driven visual effects supervisor hired create shots computer generated imagery quarter blockbuster film feature appear completely computer generated academy space elevator weapons muzzle flashes shots master chief felt visual effects area needed particular focus spent larger percentage budget master chief costume computer generated imagery normal production scene involves elite stalking cadets geometry elite exists halo video games couldn directly mental ray maya outdoor attack academy filmed required reconstruction laser measurement add aliens weapons lighting effects convincing manner later scene forest complex use techniques lacking geometric shapes university campus instead arc visual effects supervisor scattered set measuring distance studio model area software maya add weapons fire shattering pink fired rendered shots hit concrete master chief armour opening sequences episode artificial intelligence aboard spaceship sequences entirely computer generated animation team production company setting forward unto dawn takes place fictional planet humans outside solar system protagonist aboard spaceship named infinity forward unto dawn portrays memory events cadet training facility children high ranking officers training cadets war colony planets army attacks academy causing confusion panic clear collection alien species offended humanity seek events portrayed forward unto dawn earliest encounters characters master chief unaware existence casting characters production team responsible casting microsoft maintained final decision use instead previous voice artist master chief approved microsoft actors playing cadets attended boot camp shooting raise fitness assault courses rifle drills armour costumes cast members drove training causing saw bonding experience plays protagonist cadet plays adult rendition ambivalent role military considering diplomacy better option warfare military family mother colonel brother played shock special forces unit halo universe thomas officer green portrayed regular teenager unsure future research role green required watch previous shorts read halo encyclopedia industries uses preserve halo canon executive producer considers important character halo universe halo cast play role master chief largely height physique director wanted contrast size master chief teenage cadets centimetres tall actors playing cadets deliberately chosen short order accurately portray master chief watched landfall shorts read halo novels history character having played games expressed interest history master chief character view war role soldier required portray character series thinks character torn aiding cadets completing mission master chief confidence actions inspire cadets legacy effects took body scan model provided microsoft edited proportions correct prototype printed final suit majority suit rubber foam similar helmet compared wearing walking water perform stunts suit body repeatedly watched video movements immediately shot ensure deliberate appearing robotic trying movements little larger life sense humanity praised physique moving fluid manner suit plays cadet contrary beliefs supporter war portrays competent cadet hardened childhood surrounded violence romantic connection interrupted attack new halo series cast role thinks characters aesthetic series potential draw new audience characters include cadets april senior cadet squad leader played played cadet military family gained entry academy achievements played played played episodes release april announced play prime marketing website halo series weeks leading release halo series episode attracted million views youtube weeks march million views second episode attracted million views weeks million views march statistics include views halo series consists minute shorts released october subsequent episodes released weekly minute extended version included limited edition version halo available blu ray dvd itunes video demand services december blu ray dvd versions contain bonus features including audio commentary industries live action red entitled sleeper making documentaries january announced international distribution rights forward unto dawn television toys produced units statue tie december statue thirty tall model master chief fighting hunter depicted forward unto dawn november coincide release halo released model spaceship model approximately metre long scenes video game web series critical reaction reviewers divided standard expect series compare budget web series par film ign reviewer considered cadets ready cannon fodder having received minimal development quality episode betrayal cadet little impact shallow development appreciate green acting episode noting death scene handled particularly forced shed calm exterior react emotionally later review blu ray complimented audio video quality inclusion documentary commentaries movie metropolis found characters lacking half noted second half characters actually clichés pick personality way impressed soundtrack thinking worthy big screen action flick complimented special effects saying cgi work enhanced high definition exposed overall thought despite action exciting pedestrian half adequate acting prevent appealing audience existing gamers reviewer appreciated direction series judged editing keeps script sinking weight melodrama close ups welcome hiding weaknesses inexperienced talented cast echoed thoughts slow half exciting second half awards nominations
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn