Synopsis Read an interview with Douglas Gayeton
Cinemax Reel Life presents an unusual film that tells the story of a man who doesn't really exist, at least not in the flesh-and-blood world: Molotov Alva, a virtual character that filmmaker Douglas Gayeton conceived to escape the real world. The first documentary shot entirely in a virtual online platform, Molotov Alva and His Search for the Creator: A Second Life Odyssey explores this new plane of interaction, and introduces us to its inhabitants.
Within this 3D world, users can create almost anything: from the way they look to the environment in which they live. It's a place where people come to escape, find better or more transcendent versions of themselves, learn universal truths, and explore outrageous dreams and fantasies. But while it is a place users can be anything they want to be, there are boundaries - just like in the real world.
In his personal journey, Molotov (an avatar who is physically modeled after Gayeton) encounters many people in cyberspace who enlighten him about his environment.
Orhalla Zander is a seeker who scoffs at the pursuit of personal possessions, and is the first person to inspire Molotov to seek the "Creator." Molotov also meets a woman named Deedee, and finds that her Second Life persona is radically different than her real-life one. Another woman, Christine, has been a cyberpunk, an anime character and a "furry" to blend in with different groups within the world; none of these guises have brought her any closer to the Creator. Alabaster Crone is a "griefer," someone who destroys things and creates chaos to provoke change. He tries to convert Molotov to his cause, but fails.
Eventually, Molotov meets Abigail, a woman who just might be his soulmate. Ultimately, however, their inability to achieve any kind of a physical connection, or even make progress towards normal societal goals like marriage and children, dooms their relationship.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Douglas Gayeton is the mastermind behind Delta State, an animated TV show about a group of students who possessed psychic powers and could also enter an ethereal realm. He's also collaborated on several ARG (alternate reality games) projects. Together with William Gibson, Gayeton wrote and directed a video game based on the feature film, Johnny Mnemonic. Gayeton has also created and designed several online social networks.
CREDITS: A SUBMARINECHANNEL production. Written, Directed and Produced by Douglas Gayeton; Executive Produced by Femke Wolting and Bruno Felix; Edited by Pier Giorgio Provenzano. |
