CSI: NY - The Joy and Perils of Machinima on Primetime TV
Even though it's been a few days since the premier of the CSI: NY machinima blend piece, Down the Rabbit Hole, I still don't have a very clear reaction to it.
On one hand, the quality of the commercial machinima is incredible and I'm happy to acknowledge that this is a big step forward in mixing the technique with traditional movies/entertainment. Seeing machinima of Second Life on my TV screen was like seeing an old friend!
However, the joint efforts of CSI, Cisco, and The Electric Sheep, are part of a larger marketing campaign. As such, I am left with two large puzzles:
1. A technical issue: The Second Life seen in the CSI episode is the enhanced, Windlight edition, that is not yet available to the general public. Hugh Hancock alluded to it in the Machinima for Dummies book as an improvement on the graphics. Unarguably, it does a lot for the appeal of the platform, but I wonder how many people logged on to discover that the world isn't as pretty or doesn't work quite as seamlessly as it did on TV. Then again, I suppose this wouldn't be the first time television has lied. :)
2. A consistency point: Somehow, the goal of the CSI show seems at odds with the invitation to have people join a virtual world.
I don't typically watch CSI, but these kinds of police shows have an underlying theme -- that some kind of mind perversion is what creates criminals. The machinima section here basically depicts the technology that may enable those outlaws. Although there was a reference to the empowering characteristic of virtual worlds for people with disabilities, the sheer force of the imagery presented is making viewers think "hey, this looks so sexy, I have to try it!" The real murder under investigation starts to feel unreal, if you don't lose sight of it altogether.
Somehow, I'm more excited to see the TV series made by NBC in collaboration with Pierce P. The story line sounds more promising and internally consistent.
I hope Paul will chime in with his views on this moment in history. I'd also love to hear from other machinimists, with their thoughts on the episode and of Second Life as an up-and-coming machinima platform.
Labels: Cisco, CSI:NY, Down the Rabbit Hole, Frank Dellario, Hugh Hancock, Linden Lab, Second Life, The Electric Sheep Company
posted by rodica
at 10:41 AM
2 Comments:
A bit late to the game as I had a hard time tracking down the episode here. After finally being able to watch "Down the Rabbit Hole" I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Side-stepping the VW/Machinima relevance for a sec, it fit pretty well into the CSI franchise, navigated past some cringe-worthy moments and came off as a pretty good episode on the overall.
I agree with ya, Rodica. From the rooftop view, this was a great showcase for Machinima. It was pretty groundbreaking and quite astounding to see Machinima used in such a high-profile series. Not sure how CSI:NY's numbers compare with that of South Park, but there's a good chance this was the highest profile use of Machinima yet. This aside, the segments were pretty numerous and well produced - hat's off to the ILL Clan for doing some fine damn work.
As far as the question marks around the technical are concerned, it's true that there's a transference experience issue between what was broadcast and what people using vanilla-SL would see. However, I doubt many would notice a difference in the visual integrity of the two clients. On top of this, if there enough complaints I'm sure LL would probably jump on that release schedule and fast.
VWs and crime drama: It's true that there is the pervasive theme of social perversion (which is CSI's schtick). They tend to relate to current/in-the-headlines fads and VWs are just a fruitful orchard to cherry-pick from. Its unfortunate that a crime drama would introduce VWs as yet another place crime/violence happens (not very balanced with more positive aspects - though there was the juxtapose of people with MS using SL vs. that decapitation - ZING!). Thankfully, however, the world got its balance on Thursday. The one-two punch of CSI:NY on Wednesday, and then SL-infused ep of The Office the following night was great way to display VWs as something to be a part of - not strictly tied to twisted sociopaths.
All and all, the show was a good spotlight for Machinima. I think even the most casual of viewers could detect how close to traditional animation fare it was. That mental leap from one of "oh cool" to "wow, you could really use it create your own story" isn't a tough one and think just that aspect alone was visible.
Let's hope just a few of those 16 million viewers turned off their TVs that night with this in mind.
Hey guys, I just wanted to jump in here to give some perspective as one of the folks who shot the footage for the episode. Kerria Seabrooke and I definitely agree with you that the episode was a great opportunity for SL Machinima to be seen by a whole demographic who would never have come across it otherwise.
In terms of the client though just a point of clarification - not all of it was done with Windlight.
Many of the scenes (the OI, the chase and the corridor) were actually shot with the standard viewer, manipulating the environment and lighting with assets available to anyone who logs in (and isn't afraid to spend a few
Lindens.)
Re: portrayal of SL and VW's in general, it's important to realize that CSI:NY is a crime show. So, they're going to use SL as a place where a crime is committed.
AJ Buckley did a nice job of portraying someone who's into VW's without playing the stereotype. Plus the use of Old Gearhead - who owns a motorcycle shop and sells women's shoes in SL on the side was (IMO) a good way to show the reality - that successful people who aren't 'social misfits' do enjoy having an alternate persona in SL.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home