HAVING grown up in Vittoria and now living in Oakville, Riley Marini is a videographer, photographer, and prop maker who aspires to become a professional cinematographer. Since graduating from Sheridan College’s Film and Television program a few years ago, he has worked on a multi-million-dollar video game, an upcoming movie, and more.

Last February, Mr. Marini explored “a surprising opportunity” building props for Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming film Frankenstein (2025) at the Movie Armaments Group’s shop in Toronto. He said he submitted a resume to the organization years ago and last year they contacted him.

“It was fascinating to experience a different side of production. Unlike my usual role, which keeps me on my feet all day, this position offered a more straightforward nine-to-five schedule,” he said.

“I had a lot of fun and learned a great deal at the shop. I was involved in sanding and painting rifles for the film, and it was intriguing to see the meticulous work that goes into even the smallest details. Although much of this work is behind the scenes, it plays a crucial role in the production.

“I have a great deal of respect for Guillermo del Toro and appreciate his work. His dedication to detail, especially as someone who is into props and cosplay fabrication, is something I really appreciate.”

On August 30, video game publisher Ubisoft released Star Wars Outlaws, an action-adventure game set in the Star Wars universe. The game was made by a team of approximately 600 people working at 11 video game development studios.

Mr. Marini worked intermittently on Star Wars Outlaws as a production assistant for video game developer Ubisoft Toronto starting in winter 2022. He said the work was “incredibly rewarding.”

“My role included marking up talent, preparing props, managing sets in the motion capture area, and operating the slate for takes. I worked on the reveal trailer and a pickup day for additional mocap gameplay,” he said.

Mr. Marni described his entrance into the video game industry as “remarkably serendipitous.” He said it started after he photographed an actor at Fan Expo in Toronto promoting a fan film, Rancid Cargo, related to the video game series Dead Space. Taking the photo led him to become involved in the project as a special effects assistant and still photographer.

“Interestingly, while I had aspirations to work in gaming during my younger years, I found coding unappealing. When I discovered my passion for filmmaking, I never imagined I’d circle back to the gaming world, especially so close to home—I had assumed such opportunities would require relocating to the States,” he said.

“This unexpected turn of events has resulted in an ideal situation for me: I’m able to work in the video game industry without the need for programming, in a role that perfectly aligns with my filmmaking background. It’s truly the best of both worlds.”

As “a devoted Ubisoft fan for as long as I can remember,” Mr. Marini has fond feelings for the publisher and its studios. He remembers being excited to support a local developer when he bought Ubisoft Toronto’s inaugural release, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist, in high school.

“Ubisoft’s games have significantly impacted my life, from the nostalgia they evoke to unforgettable experiences like meeting actors and development team members at Fan Expo,” he said. “Now, contributing to their projects feels surreal. It’s a full-circle moment, as my journey with Ubisoft truly began with me simply being a passionate fan.”

That serendipity was compounded by the fact that he was working on a Star Wars video game. He said the series “has always been one of my favourite franchises.”

“While the movies might not be considered high art, they’re exceptional pieces of filmmaking, particularly the behind-the-scenes work on the original trilogy. I’ve long admired the visionaries behind these films and the profound impact they’ve had on Hollywood and my own journey as a filmmaker,” he explained.

As a result, his experience arriving on set to shoot the reveal trailer for Star Wars Outlaws was nothing short of “truly magical.”

“Despite hints from gaming rumors and LinkedIn job postings, I could hardly believe I was working on Star Wars—even after signing the paperwork. Walking into the studio, hearing the soft Star Wars music, and seeing the rough storyboard for the trailer felt surreal. At 25, it was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life.”

“Tears welled in my eyes as I realized I was contributing to Star Wars history. The full impact didn’t hit me until Ubisoft’s online conference when they revealed the finished trailer. My role included tasks like shaking the chair for hyperspace scenes—seemingly minor, but part of a much bigger picture.”

Mr. Marini said he’s keen to continue working for Ubisoft Toronto, seeing it as “an important background objective” on his path to becoming a cinematographer.

“Ubisoft’s practice of hiring camera operators and even bringing in renowned cinematographers for projects like Far Cry 6 fascinates me.”

“The motion capture studio has shown me the diversity of career paths in this field. The mix of experiences here inspires me to deepen my skills both at the studio and through personal projects.

This experience is crucial for my ultimate goal in cinematography and launching my own production team.”

Asked what interests him about cinematography, he said, “I’ve always been more visually oriented,” though he noted he also loves writing.

“For me, cinematography is about translating ideas into images, conveying concepts with minimal words. It’s like breaking down a script visually for the audience. The excitement comes from bringing mental images to life on screen, creating something that resonates instantly with both myself and the director,” he explained.

As he’s acquired more experience, he’s become “particularly passionate about action and fight scenes.” It helps that he trains in martial arts as a hobby.

“I believe there’s a lost art in capturing these moments, as many big-budget films today prioritize flashy CGI over strong narratives and visual finesse,” he said. “While it might take me longer to build an extensive reel, I’ve discovered my true niche lies in action and stunts cinematography.”

Last summer, Mr. Marini was “training in martial arts and networking with stunt performers” until he suffered an injury while training, which compelled him to pause some projects and focus on others. But he didn’t let it slow him down too much: he said he continued brainstorming ideas for action projects.

“I’ve officially launched my production group, Marini Motion Media. We’ve worked on a few projects, including a Star Wars short and a Casey Jones fan film. The latter was my first experience with action shooting and led to exciting opportunities, including helping a friend secure a Director’s Guild of Canada apprenticeship and catching the interest of a stunt trainer.”

To keep up with Mr. Marini, visit his website, rileymarini.com, or the Instagram page for Marini Motion Media, instagram.com/rileymarini.shoots/.

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Originally published January 22, 2025