Trading Card Spotlight - Rob McCallum
Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Rob McCallum whose documentary is displayed on card number 585 from the Superstars of 2013 Collection. Rob is the writer and director of "Nintendo Quest", a documentary following one his friends on a quest to collect ALL North Ameircan NES games in the collection. Rob McCallum has spent the last 20 years making documentaries on the coolest subjects imaginable: cartoons, action figures, video games and music. He's garnered three Emmy-nominations for his writing and directing skills, won numerous awards for his films and raised over $500,000 via crowdfunding initiatives. Robs current project is a sequal to the Quest, called "Nintendo 64 Quest" which currently is a Kickstater and has already had its project backed in only an hour.
When did you decide you wanted to be in the documentary business?
2013 after it was ridiculously obvious that I couldn’t afford to make the kind of narrative films that I liked to write. I had always made documentaries up to that point, but I really wanted to write adventure/fantasy/sci fi stuff. Turns out making documentaries, at least a lot of the ones I’ve made, is like making an adventure movie!
How long did it take to film the first Nintendo Quest documentary and what was the biggest obstacle?
Filming took place from May 2013 to April 2014. The biggest obstacle was distilling all the material down into a 90min film that did the adventure justice and paid off the biggest things that mattered: the pursuit of a dream.
Do you remember your first console game you played and what do you remember about it?
Definitely! Spiderman for the 2600. I definitely wanted it to be more like the cartoon and remember trying to will those visuals onto the screen. The controls were frustrating too but yet it was Spider-Man in a new adventure not accessible anywhere else!
What are your opinions about today’s generation of consoles? How do you compare them to older, classic ones?
I really don’t compare consoles that much, more compare which games and which eras and gaming and what they offer, what they don’t. I just like a good game experience regardless of system, tech specs, controller etc.
Do you remember your first arcade game you played and what do you remember about it?
Probably Pac-Man but I don’t have vivid memories of it. Daytona USA on the other hand… I was hooked from the first race and couldn’t get enough of it. Every Saturday was an adventure to the arcade in the mall. Family trips became the hunt for arcades as well. We’d almost always end up somewhere where I’d get a good hour to myself, and I’d find a few cabs that would happily drain my quarters. Great fun.
What games today do you play and what are your favorite genres of games?
I play a lot of casual stuff, mainly sims or turn-based RPGs. Always on the hunt for a good mobile game because with so much travel, I need a good time killer at airports. I’ve specifically been enjoying Dave the Diver and Dredge more recently.
What other documentaries have you made or want to make in the future?
I’m always looking for a good story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and you might rise up and cheer or you might sink back and cry. Those are the stories I want to tell. In terms of previous work, I’ve made Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe, Planet Cool Stuff, Missing Mom, Video Game Box Art, Power of Grayskull: The Definitive History of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Action Figure Adventure, Kittie: Origins/Evolutions and of course, Nintendo Quest and Nintendo 64 Quest plus a few others too.
What do you think it is about collecting that intrigues gamers of all ages?
Game collecting, or collecting in general, is very much like the games we play. There’s a bit of a puzzle element, some RPG traits, certain adventurous moments… but you get to live it. And when you find these relics, these pieces of treasure, it’s kind of like leveling up!
What other documentaries do you love and why are they special?
Anything where there is a transformative arc for the main subject. Show me a strong before and after and I’ll happily watch it. Fact is always more interesting than fiction, so count me in!
What does it take to be a producer and filmmaker and what advice do you have for others?
Like any career, it takes tenacity, a lot of trial and error but more than anything the ability to communicate and work with tons of different types of people and work together to solve problems you couldn’t even imagine.
Are video games aimed mainly at children, adolescents or adults?
Games are for everyone.
Do you believe some video games are too violent and lead to violence in America today?
I think some games depict a lot of violent, graphic, intense imagery but predicting how art will impact, inspire, or trigger someone is pretty difficult. Even with the strongest correlations and scientific data it still seems hard to know what game might cause what when a closely related clone doesn’t have that impact.
Which company makes the best video games and why?
That’s different for everyone and depends on a lot. It’s hard to argue with Nintendo’s track record, but at times it’s also kind of lacking in terms of a range of experience. I would never count them out and Nintendo is the one company that continues to have the ability to surprise the world.
What is your opinion on the price tags of retro games today?
Supply and demand. It’s really exciting to see and find expensive games. They are worth what you’re willing to pay. I love that there are many ways to experience these games regardless of dollars in our wallets.
What is your favorite portable gaming device and why?
Probably my iPhone. I’ve sunk hundreds of hours into very compelling game experiences that I’ve recommended as much as any console game. I guess the Switch would also count though I’ve only used it undocked a handful of times. That’s a satisfying game library.
If you could describe Walter Day in one word, what would that word be and why?
Archivist. He’s doing his best to keep track of gaming’s big moments with effort and style not matched by many.
What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘Nintendo?
Joy, surprises, and excitement.
What is your favorite video game of all time and why?
Skies of Arcadia, Ducktales, and Final Fantasy always top my list for the sheer joy of them.
Where do you see console games in the next 10 years?
Same as they are now. Being enjoyed by billions of people around the world, with more or less the same kind of technology though likely some new hooks and gimmicks that really add to the experience.