Peter Molyneux himself walks us through the process of making a movie. Double-click the window for a full-screen view.

Lionhead's The Movies will be an unusual game that will let you play as the owner of a major motion picture studio. You'll make films all throughout the 20th century and beyond by employing temperamental celebrities, costly writing teams, and your own ingenuity. In The Movies, your best bet for box office success is to try to be an innovator by making a film with the first onscreen kiss or the first onscreen fistfight. In this interview, Lionhead's Peter Molyneux explains the process of making a motion picture in The Movies. Watch our new exclusive movie for more details.

GameSpot: Thanks for taking the time for this interview, Peter. Could you briefly explain what goes into making a motion picture in The Movies? Is it an incredibly difficult and time-consuming process?

Peter Molyneux: There are two ways of making movies. The first is simple and quick: The player decides the genre, casts the stars, hires the director, chooses the set that will be used, and decides on the sequence of action, which should mean you're ready to make your movie in under a minute. This mode is ideal for players who want to focus on other areas of the game. But for those who are more passionate about making their own unique movies, there is the option to get far more involved in the movie-making process. Players can change backdrops, dress sets with props, choose the stars' costumes, and be far more hands-on with scripts and the shooting of the movies. This process can take between two and 20 minutes, but the extra time guarantees that such movies will be totally unique to the player.

GS: Could you explain how players will be able to create different types of movies? How would players go about creating a horror film, a Western, a romance movie, or a comedy, for instance?

PM: There are a couple of ways you can dictate the genre of the film. For example, you could choose a set with a cellar in it, place two actors in that setting, and give one of them a knife when the cameras start to roll. The actor holding the knife will attack the other actor. The other way is to choose specific sets, which lend themselves to a specific genre, and [then] choose the preset scenes, which apply to that genre.

GS: We know that although players will need to conserve their funds by reusing sets, costumes, and actors, they will also benefit from innovating--by breaking new ground with their movies. Could you explain how this system will work in the game?

PM: If you have a rough knowledge of the history of the movies, then that should give you an idea of when there have been new technology developments. The real knack to being a successful movie mogul is, of course, knowing when to take that next step. For example, if you notice a spate of horror films has been released over the past few months, you may decide that the time has come to change direction, [so you decide to] make disaster movies. But if, at the same time, you see there has been a terrible natural disaster in the world (you will know about major news events like this in the game), perhaps that would not be the most diplomatic genre to film! Also, as you play though the game, you'll get bonuses for mixing genres and setting up film action in ways that other players do not.

GS: Exactly how much control will players have over their movies and their filming? How much control will they have over set placement, filming different angles, the way in which actors deliver their lines, wardrobe, and so on?

PM: In this game, quite a lot of control will rest with the director you hire, but you have the option--with the sliders bar--to change the content, mood, and flow of the scene that's being shot. For players who want even more control over the moviemaking process...stay tuned.