Molotov Alva
Encyclopedia
Molotov Alva and His Search for the Creator: A Second Life Odyssey, originally titled My Second Life: The Video Diaries of Molotov Alva, is a 2007 American documentary film
created by Douglas Gayeton
. Molotov Alva tells the story of a man's passage from his real (analog) life in Petaluma, California
into a new (digital) existence inside Linden Lab
's virtual world
Second Life
. The production was filmed entirely in Second Life using machinima
, the use of real-time 3-D graphics engines to create animated films.
Molotov Alva was commissioned in 2006 by VPRO
, a Dutch television broadcaster, and by Submarine, a Dutch television and internet production company. The first dispatch, titled "Out of His Skin", was placed on YouTube
in February 2007. A rough cut of the documentary premiered at Toronto's Hot Docs
Film Festival in 2007. It subsequently appeared in festivals around the world, including the Tokyo International Film Festival
, the Rome Film Festival and SXSW. The North American broadcast rights were purchased by HBO Documentary Films in August, 2007, marking the first time a US television network purchased a series which premiered on YouTube
.
The first six episodes of Molotov Alva and His Search for the Creator premiered on Cinemax
on May 15, 2008. The final four episodes were distributed via Video On Demand, iTunes
, and YouTube
, making it the first simultaneous multi-platform distribution of an American television series.
Alva considers all that he has left behind in coming here, and concludes that when his memories of the real world eventually recede into nothingness, his old life will have disappeared.
However, he ultimately decides that his new home is merely a trap, one that keeps him tied to memories of the life he'd just left. Molotov eventually gets rid of his home (and everything in it) and continues on his journey.
.
sex slaves, Cyberpunks and Furries. Despite these encounters, Molotov and Orhalla fail in their search.
They set up house together but are continually troubled by their inability to have physical intimacy. Orhalla ultimately appears with news that he’s found the Creator. Faced with the decision of either staying with Abigail or joining Orhalla, he ultimately decides to complete his unfinished journey.
Molotov tries to escape to a desert island, only to find that the corporations have made it even here.
”. He joins a gang of them and takes part in a number of attacks on other members of the virtual world until deciding that such aggression is ultimately pointless.
He subsequently becomes depressed and for the first time misses his real world life. Finally, Abigail announces that she has found a way out of this virtual world and leaves.
Molotov realizes that Abigail is the only real thing he’s found in this virtual world and follows after her.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
created by Douglas Gayeton
Douglas Gayeton
Douglas Gayeton is an award-winning American multimedia artist, filmmaker, writer, and photographer who divides his time between a farm near Petaluma, California and Pistoia, a medieval Tuscan town....
. Molotov Alva tells the story of a man's passage from his real (analog) life in Petaluma, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
into a new (digital) existence inside Linden Lab
Linden Lab
Linden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
's virtual world
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
. The production was filmed entirely in Second Life using machinima
Machinima
Machinima is the use of real-time 3D computer graphics rendering engines to create a cinematic production. Most often, video games are used to generate the computer animation...
, the use of real-time 3-D graphics engines to create animated films.
Molotov Alva was commissioned in 2006 by VPRO
VPRO
The VPRO was established in the Netherlands in 1926 as a religious broadcasting organization. Falling under the Protestant pillar, it represented the Liberal Protestant current...
, a Dutch television broadcaster, and by Submarine, a Dutch television and internet production company. The first dispatch, titled "Out of His Skin", was placed on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in February 2007. A rough cut of the documentary premiered at Toronto's Hot Docs
Hot Docs
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is North America's largest documentary film festival, conference, and market, held annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
Film Festival in 2007. It subsequently appeared in festivals around the world, including the Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
, the Rome Film Festival and SXSW. The North American broadcast rights were purchased by HBO Documentary Films in August, 2007, marking the first time a US television network purchased a series which premiered on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
The first six episodes of Molotov Alva and His Search for the Creator premiered on Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
on May 15, 2008. The final four episodes were distributed via Video On Demand, iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, and YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, making it the first simultaneous multi-platform distribution of an American television series.
Principal characters
- Molotov Alva: a resident of Petaluma, CaliforniaPetaluma, CaliforniaPetaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San...
who abandons his “carbon-based existence” to live inside a virtual world called Second Life. - Orhalla Zander: first appearing in Dispatch #3, this hobo becomes Molotov’s guide for the rest of his journey
Plot synopsis
The documentary consists of ten parts or "dispatches". Each explores a different facet of life in virtual worlds and purports to be an actual video diary filmed within Second Life by Molotov Alva.Episode 1: Out of His Skin
A man leaves his Petaluma, California home and enters a virtual world called Second Life as an avatar named Molotov Alva. He arrives with no possessions, not even clothing.Alva considers all that he has left behind in coming here, and concludes that when his memories of the real world eventually recede into nothingness, his old life will have disappeared.
Episode 2: Molotov's Conundrum
Molotov sets out to create a life for himself in Second Life. He begins by building his own home and furnishing it with objects he discovers during his travels.However, he ultimately decides that his new home is merely a trap, one that keeps him tied to memories of the life he'd just left. Molotov eventually gets rid of his home (and everything in it) and continues on his journey.
Epidode 3: The Trouble with Money
Molotov meets a hobo named Orhalla Zander, who introduces the "Five Ways of the Seeker". These include:- The Seeker Goes Everywhere
- The Seeker Forever Remains In Motion
- The Seeker Tries Everything Once
- The Seeker Neither Earns nor Spends
- The Seeker only Journeys with other Seekers
Episode 4: Some Friends He Made
Molotov attempts to make friends in Second Life. Along the way he meets the people of Port Caledon, a Luddite community still living in the 19th Century. This episode was included in the Animation Show of ShowsAnimation show of shows
The Animation Show of Shows is a traveling selection of the year's best animated short films, curated and presented by Acme Filmworks founder, Ron Diamond. It began in 1998 with the aim of showing the most original, funny, intelligent short animated films from all over the world and presenting them...
.
Episode 5: Oh The Places They Will Go
Molotov and Orhalla search for the Creator of Second Life. Their journey brings them into contact with GoreanGorean
The Gorean philosophy is a philosophy espoused in the science fiction novels by John Norman. A number of fans of Norman's work have attempted to live their lives according to this philosophy...
sex slaves, Cyberpunks and Furries. Despite these encounters, Molotov and Orhalla fail in their search.
Episode 6: Molotov Perplexed
Molotov decides to search for a mate and settle down. Various misadventures ensue until Molotov finally meets Abigail.They set up house together but are continually troubled by their inability to have physical intimacy. Orhalla ultimately appears with news that he’s found the Creator. Faced with the decision of either staying with Abigail or joining Orhalla, he ultimately decides to complete his unfinished journey.
Episode 7: Somewhere Out There
Molotov and Orhalla return to many of the locations they’d visited earlier in the documentary, yet find no sign of the Creator. Orhalla ultimately brings Molotov to the Oracle, who explains that there is no one single creator of Second Life, but that it is, instead, a world made by its users, each of whom is the Creator.Episode 8: Flower Power
Having solved the riddle of the Creator, Molotov sets out to become one himself. He apprentices at various jobs, including a stint with Otis Mapplethorpe, “the Johnny Appleseed of this new world”, before setting out to make his own exotic plants. The high demand for his products attracts the attention of a large company, which crushes him with their mass produced goods. Molotov soon learns that corporations have entered this virtual world en masse and have filled it with their “brand pollution”.Molotov tries to escape to a desert island, only to find that the corporations have made it even here.
Episode 9: Action / Reaction
Molotov’s anger with this virtual world’s shortcomings leads him to become a “grieferGriefer
A griefer is a player in a multiplayer video game that deliberately irritates and harasses other players.-History:The term was applied to online, multiplayer computer games by the year 2000 or earlier, as illustrated by postings to the rec.games.computer.ultima.online USENET group.-Overview:A...
”. He joins a gang of them and takes part in a number of attacks on other members of the virtual world until deciding that such aggression is ultimately pointless.
Episode 10: Molotov Alva Will Live Forever
Molotov reconnects with Abigail and they rekindle their relationship. The two even consider starting a family, but after Molotov realizes that he is immortal he abandons the thought of having children.He subsequently becomes depressed and for the first time misses his real world life. Finally, Abigail announces that she has found a way out of this virtual world and leaves.
Molotov realizes that Abigail is the only real thing he’s found in this virtual world and follows after her.