The phenomenon of massively multiplayer online role-playing games seems like the perfect documentary subject. Collectively, MMORPGs have upwards of 50 million worldwide users and counting. The dilemma in selling a movie like Second Skin is not in finding an audience, the challenge is finding compelling images to put on screen. People don’t normally line up around to block to watch people sit in front of a computer for 12 hours a day.
Based on the audience reaction at Friday night’s premiere, the solution to the visual problem provided by director Juan Carlos Pineiro worked swimmingly. A rock concert atmosphere complete with a standing ovation followed the screening. A deft combination of dramatically animated statistical graphics combined with artfully incorporated machinima give the film a visual punch to match its compelling subject matter.
The film follows the lives of a handful of people immersed in online role-playing games. The recovering addict and his conflicted support councilor, the couple that falls in love in-game, and four best friends whose real lives begin to encroach on their hours of virtual ass-kicking as a top World of WarCraft guild. In between check-ups on the various story lines, interviews with experts in the field, statistical break-downs of the industry, and a visit to a Chinese virtual gold farm round out the film.
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