Of Machinima and restroom etiquette

I would like to say that my interest in this movie is purely academic, but alas I cannot. Oft a subject shunned by many, the etiquette of behavior in a men's restroom is an unspoken social norm that even I adhere to. For instance, one sacrosanct rule at the urinal would be not to look over at your neighbor. This unspoken compact is adhered to in restrooms all over the world, and as this video would suggest, non-compliance will lead to general anarchy and a profound tear in the very fabric of civilization.

Now to explain my academic interest in this clip. This video represents a nice example of the emergent art of Machinima. The hacking of video games to transform them into movies is surely an unintended use for the games. This activity however, has gained somewhat of a following. Heck, there's even a Machinima film festival being hosting by the Museum of the Moving Image in NY. I think that the art of Machinima offers artists and filmmakers interesting possibilities, in terms of conveying their vision and message. Think about it, I am not sure how you would produce the above video with real people, without them breaking in laughter in front of the camera. I am not much of a gamer (I am still trying to justify the purchase of a Nintendo DS lite in my mind), but I think that there's a secret thrill in seeing one's favorite games being used in ways that the developers did not originally intend. Also, given the ubiquity of electronic games now, I also think that Machinima offers filmmakers new audiences if there is something that goes beyond merely teen humor. Martin Scorsese once said that the future of cinema lies in the hands of a 12 year old with a handycam in her hands. I think that his prophecy of what is to come should be amended to, the future of cinema lies in the pale, pimply teenage boy with the game control in his hands.