Avatar Days is a shy of four minutes film directed by Gavin Kelly from Piranha Bar, post production and animation boutique. Shot and edited in only four days (also part of the Darklight Film Festival), the film follows four MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game) players who agreed to talk about their online WoW personas.
As we sit back and listen to the stories the camera takes us on a little journey through the rainy and monotonous city life following the characters of this story with a little catch – the characters have been digitally modified to look like their very own avatars.
For those who played WoW (World of Warcraft) before the short brings in a nostalgia for what have been and for those who are still avid players it brings excitement and a great depiction of what it means to be a gamer.
But the film also appeals to a broader audience as even those who have never played a game in their life will surely notice the great narration and sound combined with beautifully shot and edited scenes.
More than anything, however, the film provides us with an entirely new perspective on the gaming world as we follow the large Tauren blend in with crowds on the streets of Dublin, undead Warlock waiting in line of a grocery store, and see other avatars in the office, on a cigarette break, and taking public transportation. All of the scenes are accompanied by a voiceover narrative of each character detailing why they play the game and what their character means to them.
The only game I have ever played more than once was Jewels on my phone. Not a big gamer I know, but like the four people from Avatar Days I do spend a lot of my free time on other things, so I know what it means to be passionate about something.
I read a number of comments in response of posting the video on youtube and vimeo, and as many of the movies/documentaries on the gaming world it came with what seemed to turn into a long debate on the subject. As always, there were those who love the game together with a style of life it brings and those who don’t understand what it means to others. But the most important thing is that the debate continues and will only grow stronger as new technologies and software give the gaming world yet another amazing boost.
CREDITS:
Directed by Gavin Kelly
Produced by David Burke
Production manager Marc Long
Director Of Photography Fergal O’ Hanlon
Editors Paul Giles, Damien O’ Connell
3D Animation Lead John O’ Connell
3D Animation Will Sharkey, Cormac Kelly
RED Camera Kindly Supplied by “The Production Depot”
Music by Steve Lynch at StellarSound
Digital Transfer Technial Assistant Cathal McHugh
Compositing Arron Ingles, Declan MacErlane
Related Links:
Avatar Days on Vimeo
Avatar Days on YouTube