A Cumbrian woman is part of the writing talent behind a new Peaky Blinders Virtual Reality game that launched last week.
Kerry Kolbe of Ulverston and her writing partner Karen Bird – who has worked on TV Shows including Shameless and Waterloo Road – took up a writing post with London-based games company Maze Theory in 2019 and worked remotely to script the game with its design team throughout the lockdown.
The duo are also key team members of Barrow arts charity Signal Film and Media, based at Cooke’s Studios on Abbey Road – with Kerry leading the charity alongside co-director Loren Slater and Karen acting as trustee and tutor.
Kerry said: “I was thrilled when Russ from Maze Theory brought me into their team right at the start of the development process, just after I graduated from my Screenwriting Masters at the National Film and Television School in 2019.
“My writing partner Karen joined us during lockdown and we spent the best part of two years working on the script most weeks.”
Released last Thursday, Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is a virtual reality adventure that’s been widely celebrated for its authenticity.
The pair’s script is approved by show creator Steven Knight and is delivered by lead cast members Cillian Murphy, who plays enigmatic gang leader Tommy Shelby and Paul Anderson, who plays volatile brother Arthur Shelby.
The story gives gamers the chance to explore the iconic locations of the criminal underworld of 1920s Birmingham including The Garrison Pub and the Shelby family betting shop.
Co-writer Karen added: “With Peaky Blinders it was a fresh challenge for me to write for interactive games – thinking of ways to use objects and actions to embody meaning without dialogue and devise all the different branches that players might choose to take.
“It was brilliant to be set loose with the rich, complex, compelling characters Steven Knight created and to invent new characters to expand that world.”
The Peaky Blinders game has so far attracted warm reviews, with Eurogamer billing it ‘a superfan’s dream come true’ and The Metro’s reviewing saying ‘what Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom has in spades is authenticity…The King’s Ransom feels rather like an extended episode of the TV show.’
Signal Film and Media organises workshops for young people aged eight upwards to gain creative skills, including the BFI Film Academy, a six-month course led by Ms Bird which is designed to prepare budding filmmakers and creatives for work in the media industry.
Kerry stressed the importance of role models for young people in Barrow who, unlike teens who live in cities, do not have the BBC or other creative companies on their doorstep.
She said: “Co-director Loren and I set Signal up as local graduates who wanted to work in film but weren’t sure where to start on returning to Cumbria.
“Particularly coming from working-class backgrounds with not much money and no connections, the idea being a professional artist or filmmaker can feel abstract and unattainable.
“At Signal we are super approachable and open in talking about how we’ve got to where we are, and we bring back alumni of our past BFI Academies to explain how they’ve progressed in film, TV or games.
“By sharing with local young people our experience of working on a high-profile project like Peaky Blinders, we can show it’s possible to pursue your creative dreams whatever your background and wherever you’re from.”
Karen added: “At Signal I love helping young people come up with ideas, explore their creativity, develop their confidence and get clearer on what direction they might take for a creative career.
“The BFI Film Academy is a viable route to an industry job, and it’s so fulfilling when I hear that past participants have gone on to exciting things.
Signal Film & Media will be recruiting for a number of youth courses in 2023 including for 16-19-year-olds such as Get Digital and the BFI Film Academy, both of which are led by Karen Bird. Courses cover all aspects of production and involve making a short film.
The new Peaky Blinders game is available on virtual reality formats Metaquest 2 and Pico 4
