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BLACKBERRY KAT
ON CRACKING THE WHIP
Copyright 2008 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ August 15th 2008 ]
Kathryn
Clements, senior brand manager for Tomb
Raider, continues our brand new series focusing
on a behind-the-scenes look at developing Tomb
Raider Underworld. Kathryn has been instrumental
in the rejuvenation of the Tomb Raider franchise,
and below are her words on her daily activities.
"There
is never, ever a typical day when you're a Brand
Manager for Tomb Raider. It's part of the reason
why I love it so much, keeps you on your toes.
Plus it's very gratifying seeing a such a brilliant
vision and character coming to life.
"Really
though, you don't want to hear about what a day
in my life is really about. I know the scoop,
this needs to be a thinly disguised way of telling
you loads of juicy, secret stuff about what's
coming up and how our Lara is faring in Tomb Raider
Underworld. So, let's see what happened today...
"First
up, my blackberry is my alarm clock. People call
me Blackberry Kat at work as it's permanently
attached to my fingers. Crack-berry, smack-berry
it's all the same. Being a Brit and being based
Stateside means I'm hyper aware of what happens
over night in Europe so I'm straight on it in
the morning answering my Euro colleagues' emails
whilst I'm still in my pyjamas, I doubt I make
any sense. So this morning, hot topics were; the
international synchronisation of the first Tomb
Raider Underworld gameplay video and some rather
lovely Tomb Raider Underworld Collector edition
packs and merchandise that are in the works (give
us a month and Keir will have all the details).
"Did
you know we were releasing the first Tomb Raider
gameplay trailer today? You are so in for a treat.
There's been a question buzzing around the forums
on the story and you'll find the answer once and
for all today...
"Let's
scoot through the day. 9 am - 11 am. Call UK about
Tomb Raider packaging, confirm that the back of
box design is finalised, talk about what the special
edition pack will contain and how it will look.
Then speak to Kerrin who looks after PR for all
the PAL countries that don't have Eidos offices.
Discussed what we will show at Leipzig and how
we will get lots and lots of covers for magazines
in the countries he looks after (basically we'll
give the journalists hands on previews of three
levels) and when those previews should come out
(mid September). Following that walked straight
into a meeting to learn all about a Canadian exhibition
and some very interesting opportunities that were
available to Tomb Raider.
"11am
- 1pm. Ran around, lay on floor, made sure everyone
was synched up for the launch of the trailer.
Check out Gamespot at 4pm PDT. Reviewed and discussed
a video that shows the very special Alison
Carroll becoming Lara
Croft. (It's coming soon, next week hopefully)
I'm in it - wish I'd brushed my hair beforehand...
hindsight is a beautiful thing. It's been a crazy
week for Alison. I spoke with her on Tuesday.
She is a wonderful, warm and very beautiful person
(in every sense of the word) and is so proud of
being the face of Lara. Personally I love her.
What a woman!! She can do three back flips in
a row without breaking sweat (in a very small
space) and still has a smile afterwards. We wanted
her so badly as the next Lara and have being training
her hard. And she put Tomb Raider in the news...
we made the BBC, ITN and Channel 5 news in the
UK plus so many papers. She's great.
"2pm
- 4pm. We always have a "synch" meeting
on a Thursday at 2 (such corporate speak, I know).
There's a group of us. Mike Cala (Sr Designer
- makes all the ads, packaging - very talented,
has a certificate for boxing - don't mess). Seamus
(responsible for all the renders, very ,very good
artist, likes spam, funny, I have a badge with
his head on it if anyone wants it), Rose (singer
and dancer and producer, very organised and calming)
Matt Knoles (Marketing Mgr in the US, broke his
foot playing football and has bionic powers now)
Darrell Gallagher (Creative Director for Crystal,
a fellow Brit, with an incredible eye for detail
and brilliant imagination) Estuardo (captures
all our videos, great man, has a problem with
biscuits but knows how to make Lara move) and
Jae (does all the screens and so much more, an
absolute rock and diamond, brings in brownies
- what's not to love?).
"The
meet is all about making sure we're on track and
delivering everything that's needed. Today we
talked mainly about the trailer (out today - shameless
plug) and the next "Beneath the Surface"
video which features Toby Gard and Eric talking
all about the Tomb Raider Underworld story...
it's just been completed. Keir will have to tell
you later when it's coming, we couldn't decide
in the meet.
"That
actually took us up to 3pm. Can't say what happened
after, it was a meeting but what we talked about
is all top secret. The rest of the afternoon /
evening is a blur. Caught up with Eric on some
presentations he was doing the next day, answered
emails, looked at the latest version of the game
(Thailand level - I didn't know that Lara could
rappel and shoot until today). And annoyed people
generally as is my job, us Brand people we always
want stuff.
"So
that's s it. That was my Tomb Raider day. I am
now going to sign off, fall into bed (it's late)
and send this to Keir so that you can have this
for tomorrow. Thank you very much for having me
as a guest on the forum. Enjoy the trailer and
all the news about the Thailand level that's going
to start emerging online."
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