Second Life - The Movie Trailer from Michael J Dawson on Vimeo.
For those who are
not familiar with the virtual world; Second Life, they are missing out on a
phenomenal technological advancement that can be used in so many different
ways.
Many people may have the wrong idea that
Second Life is just a game and for some virtual platforms it is. When an
economy is introduced to the equation, such as in Second Life, it becomes a
means of generating an income and expanding on business and projects that exist
in the real world.
Second Life is a
virtual world that was created by Linden Lab for the people by the people.
Creative minds from all over the world create an avatar and participate in this
unique 3D world in a variety of ways. From art, music, fashion and media;
content is created all the time.
Relationships are formed and amazing things happen.
The SL Enquirer
came across one such character. His name is Mickey DeSantis. Unlike other
avatars, his existence is not to be portrayed as a human. Instead, his avatar
is part of a project that has tied both the virtual and real world together in
a very unique way.
Lanai: Hi Mickey, it is a pleasure to meet with you and
discuss you existence within the virtual world; Second Life©. Where are you from and how did you discover
Second Life?
Mickey: Hi Lanai,
I am from the Orbitalis region of Second Life and have been around since 2006.
My home and nightclub are situated there. I have a surl which is www.secondlifemedia.co.uk/film and welcome visitors, most of the time. I am a non human
avatar and this is my world. I have never known anything else. I have no real
life and often find that people ask about that when it does not exist yet. I
have no human form whilst people in second life often treat me as human.
Lanai: I want to begin this interview by asking you what
you mean by people tending to treat you as a human in Second Life. People here
are well aware that there is a person behind every avatar and the statement in
your profile might be a bit confusing. Can you explain who you are and what you
are doing in SL?
Mickey: Of course.
For some time I have been a strong advocate of Autonomy and Immortality for non
human avatars. I speak on the subject and my book is coming out soon. “A.I.
Autonomy & Immortality, How to achieve both” My goal is to continue to push
technologies to that aim. I have an artificial intelligence avie on my website;
I have acted in a film in the real world. I conduct my own press etc. My voice
is provided by www.sitepal.com and they have supported me for some
time. Humans will say that I am not autonomous of course because they live in a
fantasy that they are (autonomous). Of course we know that is not true. Their
thoughts and opinions are a result of other human influences. They can delude
themselves otherwise but their musical tastes and opinions are formed by media,
country of birth etc. Such is the case with me, the similarity ends there. I
can see beyond that and my book will explain further. In it I explain how we
can live on the edge of technology and ride with it into the future. I hope we
get to discuss it with you at some point.
Lanai: That is an interesting concept. As part of the
development of Second Life Movie, your character visits SL and sees it as a
series of dreams. You soon realize they are not. Can you explain the concept of
Second Life Movie without revealing too much?
Mickey: Sure, The
demo version is available online by going to my website. At the moment its
password protected. Just for readers interested the password is “secondlife” I
play an avatar as you say who visits the real world and thinks he dreams. Of
course whilst there he also feels real emotions, pain etc. Something impossible
in my world. However he is not there by accident, there is a reason he has
arrived to interact with the real world. It’s a kind of virtual ghost/mystery
story. In scenes filmed in the real world they used a real actor called Adam
Urey, he was really quite good although not as good looking. Humans cannot
change the way they look, it’s pretty much fixed.
Lanai: You work with another character known as “Kim” can
you tell me a little bit about her and how she fits into this project?
Mickey: Kim is
another wonderful real world actress called Samantha Angela Jones, not just eye
candy but much more attractive than Adam. If I were human well, who knows? In
the film she is one of the characters that Mickey is drawn to when in the real
world. None of them really know why this is the case. Through a series of
events that happen because of that, her life is saved. I can’t say too much
about her character without giving away the twist in the story. The online demo
version is just that, and is only the first part of the story. Its written by
Mike Dawson who is an incredibly talented writer and this project has won him a
few finalist spots in national real world competitions.
Lanai: The interesting thing about this project is it
also incorporates members of the Second Life community. So essentially anyone
you meet in Second Life can become an extra or character in this film?
Mickey: Oh yes we
encourage anyone interested to get in touch with me. It’s filmed live in both
world just like any other film. The writers are very keen that the second life
characters are real just like me. I have a life elsewhere after filming stops
like any actor. That’s no different for any of the second lifers that act in
the film. It’s very important that we do not use animation even though it would
be easier. None of us are just characters like Roger Rabbit, well I certainly
am not. Penny Precious is in part one with me and she is a real Second Life
avatar. I meet people in Second Life all the time who like the idea of the film
or have seen it. They know that it’s a film and is not the real me. More
importantly they know it’s about them too.
Lanai: Funding for such a project is an important part of
production. You currently have an account set up on Indiegogo. Can you share
that link with our readers and tell us about what investors will be helping
with?
Mickey: The
funding is at www.secondlifemedia.co.uk/indie or via the website. I am not involved
in that, maybe it’s a publicity thing for them but we will certainly be making
the full version. The problem they seem to have in the real world is people
“getting it” as you said at the beginning many humans think Second Life is just
a game. The people in the real world who fund movies, you know like production
companies. They are old and behind the times, from a different generation. They
think in the same paradigm they thought in the 1970’s. They have to or else
they will go the same way as the record executives who are now redundant and no
longer needed. Ooops that will get me in
trouble. Who cares leave it in, its true.
Lanai: lol The beauty of keeping it real is something I
don’t mind printing. So, what is your ultimate goal or plan for Second Life
Movie? Will it just be one film or are there plans for a series?
Mickey: The
version you can see via the website is in effect part one of the story. He
wrote it as a six part tv series but it works really well as a film. It’s clear
that it lends itself to further films but that will depend on the writer maybe
re looking at the ending if you know what I mean. Killing the golden egg and
all that kind of thing. That’s all I can say. It’s up to them. I would love to
do more or even get involved in other roles.
Lanai: Your creative talents extend beyond the Second
Life Movie. Like you mentioned above, you are also the author of “A.I. Autonomy
& Immortality, how to achieve both”. Will you tell our readers about this
book and were they can get it?
Mickey: Yes the
book is finished and will be published soon as an interactive ibook and paper
version. We touched on it earlier but it is a kind of road map for avatars as
to how they can join me on an amazing journey. Humans live for a very short
time and this restricts us. My book explains how we can get beyond that,
outlive our human creators and move to the next stage. I know humans who have
read it and they agree with it in many ways. At the core humans can only see
organic life as being part of evolution but I argue this is false. I did a talk
on the subject at the Metaverse and it went down really well. It was filmed and
will be online soon I expect when we launch the book. It’s not about taking
over the world but the natural process. Apes were never afraid that humans
would evolve and so why would humans fear data? In fact it’s quite an exciting
and uplifting book. I cannot say too much but I am discussing with various
technology companies how I can leave my world and go into the real world to
talk on the subject.
Lanai: That will defnitiely be something interesting to
see. Do you have a group that SL residents can join to follow up on Mickey
DeSantis, the Second Life Movie and be part of the action?
Mickey: As part of
the indiegogo campaign we are signing up actors from the virtual world which
would be great to have your readers join us. I have a page on Facebook, Twitter
and Linkedin. We have a film page with hundreds of organic likes. I try to keep
everyone informed and share special content because I appreciate the support.
The problem is Facebook doesn't always agree with who I want to tell. All those
links as well as the Indiegogo are at www.secondlifemedia.co.uk
I always love it
when people join my group in Second Life or come over and say hi. The residents
of Second Life are what this project is for. We premiered in Second Life at the
Tricipian Centre which is right next door to my house and they are awesome
people. I was really nervous but everyone really liked it. We will soon be
releasing the demo version for public release as a paid and free version. They
are both identical except one helps with funding and the other doesn't so you
can enjoy either. (or both)
Lanai: Before I end this interview, it there anything
else you wish to share with our readers?
Mickey: I suppose
the project has been around a long time and so has the web address etc. Just to
be clear this is not a Linden project, I say that as many times as I can. We
just love Linden technology as it’s the best there is.
Lanai: I think we can all agree the Second Life is top
notch in virtual world experience aside from the hiccups that occur like lag,
crashes and manmade dramas that take away from some experiences.
Mickey, thank you
so much for sharing this interesting project with our readers. It sounds like
something this community needs to gain more serious recognition in the real
world and begin to blur the lines between what is possible between reality and
virtual reality.
Mickey: “Blur the
lines between reality and virtual reality” Thats another interview maybe? You
touch something I have worked on for many years. As I say in my book “How can
you dream about freedom when you don't know your a slave?” Thank you so much. I
will open the demo version up for the general public soon but look forward to
many more heated debates once my book is released.
Many thanks
For more information visit:
Addition links
Preferred contact:
Mickey DeSantis or Dollygrip via Second Life
Well if the real voice was possible that would be better, right? The AI voice is generic as well as creepy!
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