Surgent Studios’ Dead Take is a game that isn’t hesitant to delve into the more sinister aspects of the entertainment business. InDead Take, Friends and fellow actors Chase Lowry and Vinny Monroe (played by Neil Newbon and Ben Starr) are competing for the same part in the newest movie directed by famous filmmaker Duke Cain. Creative Director Abubakar Salim modeled Chase, Vinny, and the other characters in the game after his own time in the acting world, while the actors themselves used their personal challenges and successes as inspiration.
Abubakar Salim drew from other people’s stories and his own experiences.
At a gathering where Game Rant was present,Salim and Newbon discussed the factors that influenced them when creating Dead Take and depicting Chase Lowry, respectively. “The inspiration stemmed from the experiences I’ve observed as an actor,” Salim shared, “[and] the tales I’ve heard from other actors and actresses.” He highlighted how life in the industry can transform an actor, and how they might become entirely different individuals because of their quest for fame and achievement.
“I’ve encountered, in life, people who were very close to that major opportunity, but they tend to always be second,” Salim explained. “And what that does to an actor is one of the aspects I concentrated on.” Salim, who established Surgent Studios and previously createdTales of Kenzera: Zau, has consistently been transparent about his goal to provide chances for actors in a field that frequently overlooks them. He selected Starr and Newbon for the roles of Vinny and Chase because he believed they had encountered similar situations and could use that to enhance their portrayals in the game.
Chase Lowry Was “Very Meaningful” For Neil Newbon
“You heard it in the trailer – it’s absolutely intense,” Newbon said when asked how he used his own experiences to accurately portray Chase Lowry. The seasoned actor has had numerous successes throughout his career, including his acclaimed performance asAstarion in Baldur’s Gate 3, but he has faced challenges too, and was honest about how tough his journey has been and how that contributed to his portrayal of Chase’s desperation and frustration:
It’s extremely challenging to be an actor, and you must indeed give up a lot, and no one truly expresses this until you go through it yourself. While others may inform you that it will be difficult, you don’t grasp the true meaning of that until you become a creator in any artistic field. At that stage, you come to understand what self-sacrifice for an art form, something you deeply care about, ultimately entails.
However, Newbon also mentioned that his depiction of Chase wasn’t directly inspired by his own life — a realization he only came to after his friends brought it to his attention. “There’s a small part of Troy [Baker] in there,” Newbon said excitedly. “He’s an amazing actor and also a powerful presence, and he was a major influence for all of us in the gaming industry.” He describedTroy Bakeras “one of the pioneers of gaming,” and mentioned that he viewed his colleague as a source of inspiration to such an extent that he subconsciously incorporated Baker’s traits while portraying Chase Lowry.
Dead Take is a much darker and more eerie game thanSurgent Studios’previous releases — Salim and Newbon recommended that players experience the game while using headphones, and to “have a friend on speed dial” for certain frightening moments. Much of what makes the game a compelling horror narrative lies in its recognition that every victory brings a corresponding challenge, as well as the extent to which actors are truly willing to give up for their craft.
