Godlike: a League film
Hey summoners! Today we’re showcasing a visually stunning and emotionally powerful film by League player and acclaimed writer/director Mickey Finnegan. In “Godlike,” a League of Legends player loses his mother, and sets out to find himself through the high stakes world of competitive esports.
Read on to learn about Mickey and his work!
What inspired you to make Godlike?
I’ve been directing professionally for eight years and playing League for three. I also followed the LCS during that time and was inspired by some of the pro player stories and experiences I’d heard about. This gave me the opportunity to bring together two of my favorite things in the world: film and gaming. Once I got the idea in my head, I brainstormed with Jennifer Khoe (“Godlike” producer) to come up with a narrative that would resonate with both fans of the game and people who know nothing about esports.
Why is esports such an inspiration?
One of the things that really drew me to this project was seeing how the personal stories of professional gamers shared relatable themes, emotions, and origins. Many of them have experienced depression, loneliness, being bullied at school, or feeling like outcasts. But through online games, they are often able to find themselves and encounter other like-minded people. Some of them are even fortunate enough to make lifelong friendships and careers out of gaming.
What was the most fun part of making the film?
The most fun part was getting to work with Team Liquid. Having them was a huge boost to bringing the world of the film to life. It’s also fun to see them as actors. They did a great job and we were thrilled to have them participate. I also think they had a good time as well!
Do you have any funny stories that came about during your process of making the film?
We had to shoot the scenes that take place in a PC Bang during working hours, since we couldn’t close down the place. So we filmed at the PC Bang before it opened, and then the place would fill up. On the day that Team Liquid was there, I could tell there were a number of people who were showing up just to play League and were surprised to see the team filming. There were these three guys in particular that were taking pictures from afar. So I asked them, “If I let you guys take a picture with the team, will you be extras in the film?” They said yes, and they got real photos of themselves with Team Liquid while we rolled camera!
Do you have any plans to make more League-inspired films?
I certainly hope so. We would love to make a feature film where we get to dig deeper into the League esports community and tell a full coming-of-age story through the lens of gaming. (It would also be really cool to see more live action shorts and films using League characters!) Whatever it might be, I would certainly love to create more.
What was your favorite part of the film? Let us know in the comments!
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