Noam Argov, Director, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2024, NYU, Production Award

Project Type: Short

Genre: Drama

Length: 18 minutes

Field of Science: Technology and Psychology

Stage: Post-Production

Synopsis: 

ADAM leads a double life: Oscillating between his real-world existence as an isolated gamer kid who rarely leaves his house in Brooklyn, and his virtual persona, BIGADAM05, a domineering, often bullying, successful tennis player in a Metaverse VR game.

The film starts when Adam wins yet another match against his long-time opponents in the game. He celebrates the victory by going overboard in ridiculing and insulting another player in front of fellow gamers in the audience and sharing virtual intimacy with his online girlfriend SAM. Riding high on the excitement of the win and the growing connection between them, Sam suggests meeting for the first time in real life tonight. Nervously agreeing, Adam grapples with the challenge of aligning his confident and overly masculine game persona with his real-world self.

During their initial real life encounter, Adam and Sam struggle to bridge the gap between their virtual connection and the palpable unease of reality, as they try to navigate the real world chemistry they clearly don’t have yet. As Adam attempts to impress Sam in person, his insecurities intensify, and he’s unable to make a move. In a desperate bid, Adam suggests returning to the VR game where he clearly feels more confident. In VR Adam and Sam are able to finally kiss in real life, albeit with their headsets on. As they manage to get physically intimate, however, the two players that Adam antagonized earlier reappear for revenge and subject Adam’s avatar to humiliation and sexual assault in front of his online community.

After finally pulling himself out of the game, Adam is traumatized but confused and humiliated about the emotional reality of this virtual incident. To cope, he denies the reality of the assault, but in doing so is also backed into denying his relationship with Sam, citing both were just in the game. Fleeing Sam’s house, Adam makes his way home on a crowded train and his trauma starts to feel even more tangible. In the final scene of the film, Adam commits a virtual suicide by deleting his beloved avatar. And haphazardly rebirths anew as a different avatar. However, Adam is left feeling hollow, unsure of who he is and who to be next.