Within the week, I received invitations to two in-world events related to upcoming documentaries about virtual worlds and the people that inhabit them. It's interesting seeing the increased public and media attention to the social and emotional implications of virtual worlds and MMORPGs on the people that play in them.
The first was this past Friday, a meet-and-greet with Victor Pineiro, the writer/producer of the new documentary "Second Skin," (pictured above) which he describes as an "intimate, disturbing look at computer gamers whose lives have been transformed by the emerging genre of computer games called Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs)." A short film preview is viewable at Bowling Green State (Click here to teleport.)
Then on April 6 at Hyperborea Park South, filmmaker Jason Spingarn-Koff throws an in-world "Perform-a-thon" fundraiser for his own documentary about Second Life:
In return for pledges at the Perform-a-thon, SL avatars will have the opportunity to re-enact famous shots from movie history (such as Easy Rider and The Shining) and pose for photos with friends. The top 20 fundraisers win a chance to be extras in the movie and invitations to a special preview screening event in SL.
Oh and FYI, the trailer running on the Secondlifedoc.com website has the only image I've seen of the real life person behind the avatar Aimee Weber. Quite the cute metaverse entrepreneur, I have to say.
The complete press release follows...
Independent Filmmaker Hosting a Unique Fundraiser to Help Underwrite Documentary on Second Life**
April 6, 2008 Hyperborea Park South 156, 98, 22 Second Life: Independent filmmaker Jason Spingarn-Koff is looking to residents of Second Life to help underwrite the next phase of his documentary on the popular 3D virtual world with a unique fundraiser. On Sunday April 6, 2008 from Noon to 3:00 PM SLT (Pacific Standard Time) Spingarn-Koff will host an in world "Perform-a-thon" at Hyperborea Park South (156, 98, 22.) In return for pledges at the Perform-a-thon – SL avatars will have the opportunity to re-enact famous shots from movie history (such as Easy Rider and The Shining) and pose for photos with friends. The top 20 fundraisers win a chance to be extras in the movie and invitations to a special preview screening event in SL (TBA) Avatars can sign up to register and make a suggested pledge of $15.00 USD (4000 lindens) at http://secondlifedoc.com or pay avatar Jay Spire directly in world.* (New to Second Life? Sign up at secondlife.com for a free account.) Builders are welcome to contribute movie scene sets (costumes and props are also encouraged) at http://web.mac.com/jskoff/sldoc/register.html; the best one wins a prize of 10,000 Lindens!
Spingarn-Koff says, “After more than a year of self-financing, and shooting more than 40 hours of material, I’m seeking donations to get to the next phase. My goal is to finish by end of summer for festivals, followed by theatrical release and television broadcast. Your contributions will allow me to continue this extremely timely project.”
PROJECT SUMMARY: This feature-length documentary takes a first look at how an emerging virtual society is having a profound impact on people’s real lives.
What if you could become someone else? A man or woman. Fashion model, rock star, or medieval wizard. Even an animal. If you could be anything, what would you choose? Welcome to Second Life. The program (most refuse to call it a game) is run by a San Francisco company named Linden Lab. Everything in this three-dimensional computer generated world – from island beaches to urban shopping malls -- is built by millions of users, dubbed "residents," who log-in from across the globe. The world even has a real economy, with more than $1 million changing hands every day -- sparking virtual jobs that pay real profits and even make a few rich.
When does a game stop being a game? This film takes viewers across that delicate and shifting line -- following people as they forge virtual identities and relationships, with surprising effects on their real lives. The story follows a small cross section of people inside the virtual world and in real life, including: A young woman becomes a star designer of virtual clothes and buildings. A couple falls in love inside Second Life, meets in real life, and makes plans to live together. A man adopts the avatar of a girl who he believes is the expression of his subconscious. Another layer follows the growth and evolution of the virtual world, from Linden Lab to Metaverse visionaries. The bigger story is the birth of a new type of virtual society that could have a major impact on real society in the future – affecting the way we all interact.
Filmmaker’s Bio: Jason Spingarn-Koff (jskoff.com) is a New York-based documentary filmmaker specializing in science and technology. He co-produced NOVA's "The Great Robot Race," following a dramatic competition to build robotic vehicles and race them across the Mojave Desert in the DARPA Grand Challenge. He has produced and directed for “History Detectives” (PBS), “Science Investigators” (PBS), Frontline/World (PBS), and MSNBC, and was Development Producer for the Emmy winning “Rx for Survival.” His Masters thesis “Robofly,” about the quest to build the world’s first robotic fly, aired on PBS and won a national Student Emmy. Jason is a graduate of Brown University and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Media Contact: Jason Spingarn-Koff at jasonskoff@gmail.com, Jay Spire in world or KeikoKetsugo@aol.com or in world Keiko Ketsugo.
*All proceeds go to the film. Contributions are not investments and will not be repaid.
**Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it was grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe.
