Matt Hartle is a writer, director, designer, and VFX artist. His groundbreaking book, ‘Of Courage and Sacrifice’ is redefining the term Science Fiction.
As a visual effects expert, he has crafted a world that breaks barriers and is teed up to become a film or mini-series. Matt has been fortunate to contribute to several of the Harry Potter films, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and the Lionsgate logo, to name a few. There is no limit as to how far and deep his creativity can reach.
He gave us an exclusive interview on the key successes that he has had as an author and director. His vision for the future is one that you don’t want to miss.
Robots and Science Fiction, how did you get into writing in this genre, and more so, how did Of Courage and Sacrifice come about?
I’m a big fan of technology and science fiction. Like many people in my field (filmmaking), I remember Star Wars being the first film I ever loved and knew every line to. As kids, my brother and I watched our bootleg VHS copy so many times the tape wore out–the picture was scratchy, and the sound was wobbly! So this genre has always been appealing.
The world of ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice’ was something I’ve been working on for a long time–I started making notes back in 2009-2010. Initially, I planned to write a screenplay and began by working on an outline. Personally, I don’t find writing screenplays to be very fulfilling unless you can actually transition the script onto the screen–then it’s loads of fun! However, most often when you write a screenplay, that’s how it stays– an indicated concept. Writing a novel provides the opportunity to develop the characters and render their world. As a creative, I find that far more satisfying!
I started writing ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice’ in 2018, a very turbulent time in this country politically and economically. It provided a rich background to inspire the story. Then, as I was finishing my first draft, covid happened, and again life seemed to mirror many of the themes I was exploring in the book. With the rise of AI technologies, the near collapse of the world’s economies, and an even more divided political climate (the attack on the capital), the world of the ‘Bot Trilogy’ seems to be manifesting itself! Of course, I hope it doesn’t, but from a narrative perspective, it has made the story relatable and even plausible!
My biggest challenge in writing ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice’ is that I had never written a novel before. It was a long process but one I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m happy to say my next novel, ‘The Magu Program,’ which will be published in the next several months, has been a much less daunting prospect! Having already written a book, the next one felt much more achievable.
The main character Adam Wesley, tell us more about his creation, his personality, your vision for him throughout the book, and his progression as a lead character?
Adam Wesley is the reluctant hero of these stories. Whenever I write a character, I try to make them well-rounded and dimensional but never perfect. I believe conflict is at the root of all good storytelling, and for me, that starts with the characters. If they are too perfect and capable, they become dull and predictable. With Adam specifically, I wanted someone uniquely skilled in the situation he finds himself but also reticent to become involved because of challenges in his past. He comes from a military family of rich tradition. The expectation is that he will follow in the footsteps of those before him, as his brother already has. However, his father was killed in action, leaving him and his brother orphans to be raised by their grandparents. He blames the military and his father’s service for this and wants nothing to do with any of it. Tiny spoiler–in the third book, this all comes back around, and Adam is forced to face his destiny!
Because of the tragedy in his past, Adam tends toward being a loner and self-reliance. People begin looking to him for guidance and leadership when things start heating up during the Transition (something you will learn about in ‘Of Courage and Sacrifice’!). He doesn’t want the responsibility but finds himself relying on his friends as much as they depend on him. He must learn to trust those around him, to believe in himself, and to accept that no one can move through this world without help if any of them are going to survive. He operates in survival mode, seeking to avoid conflict and to live another day. This is not always appreciated or accepted by those around him and breed’s conflict. Not all the battles they fight are with the bots!
You are a true legend in the video and film industry. Is it easier for you to write stories and imagine them or create magic on the screen?
Legend?! Wow–not too sure about that but thank you! I certainly have been doing it for a long time.
I think it’s much easier to write than it is to visualize, although because I have been a visual artist my whole career, it does inform everything I write. I almost always have an image in my head as I write, so the task becomes describing it. Writing doesn’t have the limitations of visual art: fighting with the software and resources or just the sheer complexity and time required to execute something. Writing is a purely creative medium and relies entirely on what you bring to the table–which is both exhilarating and terrifying! I use Scrivener to write, and I believe a person could learn all the tools I use in that software in under half an hour. After that, it’s up to you as the author to see what emerges. It has taken a long time, decades in fact, to learn to express myself through writing, but I love every minute of it!
Not to sell the visuals short–I am always considering how what I am writing could be visualized and brought to life. For me, that is the ultimate manifestation of creativity, to visualize what I’ve written. Filming something, editing it, adding vfx, taking it through color, adding sound design and a soundtrack–it’s all so varied and complex and completely satisfying. The difference for me between the two is that when I step behind the camera, I am thinking of what we can create despite the limitations–with writing, I’m mostly wondering what will happen next!
How do you manage work and family life? Walk us through a day in the life of Matt Hartle.
Balance is something my wife and I struggle with daily, as I’m sure many of us do. There is never enough time to get to everything, so we prioritize and do our best!
As I’ve mentioned before, one of the critical ingredients for me with writing is protected, consistent time. I find it imperative to find a rhythm when I write. I get up at 5am to start my day. I write until 6 when it’s time to make breakfast and help get our family ready and out the door. After my wife and kids are off, I head downstairs to exercise. We purchased a Hydrow rower several years back, and it’s been life-changing–I highly recommend it! I get to the office by 8-830. By that time, the day is already rolling. I’m a partner and the Executive Creative Director at Baked Studios, a visual effects company. We have offices in Los Angeles and New York, with many people spread remotely between. By the time I reach my office, New York has been going for several hours. There have usually been emails, slacks, phone calls, etc., and the day is already running at full pace.
I endeavor to leave my office by 7-8 in the evening, depending on our production schedules and deadlines. I hope to make it home before my kids are off to bed. My wife and I have dinner, maybe watch a show, and then aim to be in bed by 10-1030 to read for a bit.
By the end of the week, everyone is ready for a break and some downtime!
Featured Film or Mini-Series, if ‘Of Courage and Sacrifice’ could make it on the screen, which option would you prefer and why?
Honestly, I would be thrilled by either, but if there was a choice, I would lean toward a series. I believe the book has enough depth to support this format, and with several more novels on the way, a lot can be developed. I’ve been speaking with several producers and production companies, and this also seems to be their opinion. A series offers the opportunity to flesh out storylines and characters in a way a film might be challenged to do–I believe some of the best content being produced right now is in the series format. It seems a viable option, with studios like Amazon, Netflix, HBO, and Apple leveraging episodic properties. Of course, film could be great as well. That format would offer a more contained presentation, but again, with several more books on the way, there are opportunities for sequels, even spin-offs.
As I was publishing this first book, I wrote several short stories digging deeper into a few characters and the world itself. I’ve worked hard to create a universe that can support a variety of stories, and these shorts were a testament to that. Every time I begin writing in the Bot Trilogy universe, I feel as though I have only begun to scratch the creative surface, which is incredibly exciting! There are so many stories I want to share with my readers!
Currently, I’m in the final stages of editing my new book, ‘The Magu Program.’ I plan to publish in the next few months, after which I will be moving directly into writing the next installment of the Bot Trilogy. I’ve been outlining for several months and can’t wait to start writing!
For Press Interviews with Matt Hartle Contact Michael Beas at [email protected]