Hi, I'm Matthew Tibbenham. I am a Technical Creative Director specializing in the intersection of AAA gaming, cinematic storytelling, and generative AI. My career is built on a foundation of high-stakes narrative production for world-leading studios, including Supermassive Games (The Dark Pictures Anthology, Directive 8020), Maze Theory (Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom), and Marvel (Doctor Strange). Whether I’m architecting complex gameplay systems in Unreal (C++) and Unity (C#) or directing high-fidelity AI video sequences, I bring a "studio-first" rigor to every frame and every line of code. I specialize in high-velocity, AI-augmented development—using the latest LLM-driven workflows and generative models like Sora and Google Veo to prototype and deploy polished, immersive realities at a fraction of traditional timelines. As the founder of Happy Sisyphus Productions, I bridge the gap between technical engineering and emotional resonance. From producing award-winning films like Surviving Confession to creating deeply personal XR titles like Colors of Our Memories, my work is defined by atmospheric tension and narrative depth. I help brands, founders, and studios take a "vibe" or a complex vision and engineer it into a functional, cinematic reality. If you are looking for a partner who understands the language of Blumhouse and Sony Screen Gems but operates at the speed of the modern AI-driven frontier, let's build the next generation of interactive storytelling together.

Matthew Tibbenham

PRO

Hi, I'm Matthew Tibbenham. I am a Technical Creative Director specializing in the intersection of AAA gaming, cinematic storytelling, and generative AI. My career is built on a foundation of high-stakes narrative production for world-leading studios, including Supermassive Games (The Dark Pictures Anthology, Directive 8020), Maze Theory (Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom), and Marvel (Doctor Strange). Whether I’m architecting complex gameplay systems in Unreal (C++) and Unity (C#) or directing high-fidelity AI video sequences, I bring a "studio-first" rigor to every frame and every line of code. I specialize in high-velocity, AI-augmented development—using the latest LLM-driven workflows and generative models like Sora and Google Veo to prototype and deploy polished, immersive realities at a fraction of traditional timelines. As the founder of Happy Sisyphus Productions, I bridge the gap between technical engineering and emotional resonance. From producing award-winning films like Surviving Confession to creating deeply personal XR titles like Colors of Our Memories, my work is defined by atmospheric tension and narrative depth. I help brands, founders, and studios take a "vibe" or a complex vision and engineer it into a functional, cinematic reality. If you are looking for a partner who understands the language of Blumhouse and Sony Screen Gems but operates at the speed of the modern AI-driven frontier, let's build the next generation of interactive storytelling together.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Matthew Tibbenham. I am a Technical Creative Director specializing in the intersection of AAA gaming, cinematic storytelling, and generative AI. My career is built on a foundation of high-stakes narrative production for world-leading studios, including Supermassive Games (The Dark Pictures Anthology, Directive 8020), Maze Theory (Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom), and Marvel (Doctor Strange). Whether I’m architecting complex gameplay systems in Unreal (C++) and Unity (C#) or directing high-fidelity AI video sequences, I bring a “studio-first” rigor to every frame and every line of code. I specialize in high-velocity, AI-augmented development—using the latest LLM-driven workflows and generative models like Sora and Google Veo to prototype and deploy polished, immersive realities at a fraction of traditional timelines.

As the founder of Happy Sisyphus Productions, I bridge the gap between technical engineering and emotional resonance. From producing award-winning films like Surviving Confession to creating deeply personal XR titles like Colors of Our Memories, my work is defined by atmospheric tension and narrative depth. I help brands, founders, and studios take a “vibe” or a complex vision and engineer it into a functional, cinematic reality. If you are looking for a partner who understands the language of Blumhouse and Sony Screen Gems but operates at the speed of the modern AI-driven frontier, let’s build the next generation of interactive storytelling together.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

VR Game Designer at Maze Theory
February 1, 2021 - April 1, 2022
Guided narrative design and co-writing for Peaky Blinders: The King's Ransom VR game; utilized Unity to craft compelling storylines and gameplay mechanics; directed performance capture and narrative sequences; collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive integration of story and gameplay.
Narrative Designer at Supermassive Games
April 1, 2022 - June 1, 2024
Shaped narrative vision and design for multiple projects within The Dark Pictures Anthology; aligned with overall creative direction and collaborated across departments to shape cinematics and storytelling.
Creative Director/Lead Game Designer/Founder at Happy Sisyphus Productions
January 1, 2019 - Present
Led a team of talented professionals in creative development, production management, and leadership for independent feature films and immersive entertainment; served as chief visionary, managing resources, budgets, and deadlines; pioneered innovative approaches to immersive experiences and fostered a cross-disciplinary environment.
Director/Writer/Producer at Freelance
January 1, 2018 - April 1, 2019
Collaborated with writers, producers, and directors to provide precise feedback guiding TV and feature film scripts to high-quality material; contributed to script development and creative direction across projects.
Director's Assistant at Soni Pictures Entertainment
August 1, 2011 - March 1, 2012
Delivered additional footage for film locations around NYC; directed split-unit work and provided script notes across development stages.
Director's Assistant at Blumhouse Productions
May 1, 2022 - Present
Director's Assistant for Deliver Us From Evil; contributed behind-the-scenes footage and production support.
Academic Adviser & Guest Lecturer at University of Cambridge
May 1, 2022 - Present
Academic Advisor for the Writing for Performance postgraduate program; delivered captivating lectures on film, television, video game writing, and narrative design.

Education

Masters of Arts at Goldsmiths, University of London
August 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022
Graduated with Distinction • Developed immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences utilising Unity and C# programming language, resulting in a showcase of interactive virtual experiences. • VR/AR, programming, narrative & video game design modules

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Gaming, Education, Software & Internet, Professional Services
    uniE621 Peaky Blinders: The King's Ransom
    VR Narrative Game Designer, Writer, Performance Director on Maze Theory’s VR game
    uniE621 Colors of Our Memories
    Colors of Our Memories is a VR narrative experience developed in Unity. I served as Creative Director, Game Designer, Game Developer, and Writer, leading the project from concept to implementation. Built using Unity and C, the experience blends environmental storytelling, interactive mechanics, and emotionally driven narrative design. designer gamedeveloper VR Unity C
    paper The Philosopher's Paradox
    Video Game and Narrative Design Quest example for a 3rd Person Action Adventure Game. Design Writing VideoGame
    uniE621 Follow the Dark
    For Follow the Dark, I acted as both Director and Producer, balancing creative leadership with hands-on production management. I led the creative vision, directed cast performances, managed crew operations, and maintained production workflow from pre-production through post. I also contributed directly to the film’s edit, shaping narrative flow and tightening dramatic beats to enhance audience engagement. Poster created by Constance Tso. Directing Film FilmDirecting Producing ProjectManagement CreativeDirection