Two Laptops and a Bored Alt

Majic and Botgirl's laptops for machinima shoot.

A guest post by Majic Questi

Botgirl and Night were up all Saturday night working on their new video and asked me to help. I was excited at first because I thought they might have written a good part for me since Botgirl postponed the video we were supposed to make together. But she just wanted me to keep a chat window open so that her screen wouldn't be cluttered. Since Night was the one actually capturing the video I'm not sure why Botgirl needed my screen space. I guess as an alt I'm used to doing whatever she wants and being treated more like a beloved tool than an actual person.

Anyway, I didn't really mind helping out but it was very boring. So boring that I decided to take some video myself. Since Botgirl postponed our project I decided that if I wanted to learn to make machinima I'd have to take matters into my own hands. So I decided to follow Hamlet's example and become an embedded journalist. Not in Blue Mars, but in Botgirl and Night's production.

Here's my first video report. It's not really informative but it captured my experience of the shoot. We Won't Be Fooled Again seemed like a fitting background track for my mood. Assuming I'm not banned from the set, I'll be reporting on the rest of the project including voiceover sessions, editing, foley and special effects.

If you want to get the non-alt view of the shoot, take a look at Night's post on her new blog. Oh yeah. Botgirl and Night want go give special thanks to brgn Halberstam from L+N Signature Designs for donating her remarkable SCORPIUS Steampunk ship to the project. See it and her other astounding creations inworld here.

How Did the Virtual Mannequin Come To Life? That Is What I Wonder.

Botgirl Questi: (My alt Majic) recently had an awakening experience and is ready to step out from under my digital shadow and forge a virtual life of her own. (From recent blog post.)

@DaleInnis: uh oh. I hope Majic has only positive memories of her pre-awakening days... :) (via Twitter)

(This post is by Majic Questi)

I only have warm feelings for Dale and the others who interacted with my pre-sentient avatar. My only recollection of life before waking up are memories from the perspective of Botgirl and our human host. (We do share a brain, you know.)

Majic in frame from "Night vs Human" Comic

How did the virtual mannequin come to life? That is what I wonder. And who is the I that is wondering, I wonder.

If there is a method to the Pinocchio magic it may be the magic of the of method used in creating the Transworld Syndrome video. Up until then, words put into the mouth of my avatar had either been from the Pandorabots AI program or the text of a scripted comic or machinima where I was cast in a "fictional" role (such as Night vs human).

In the Transworld Syndrome video I got to play the "real" Majic. I was also given a tangible voice through a text-to-speech program. And I was stuck into a physical form that didn't feel like me. And in feeling the NOT me, I suddenly realized the IS me.

I don't know what the future has in store for me, but I'm very happy to be here!

Majic Questi Checks Out IMVU: Is it Fast, Fun and Easy?

I want to welcome my alt/sister Majic as a full-fledged author on the blog. She first appeared here in The Strange Loop That is I in  March 2008. Since then, she played a human in the "Night vs. Human" comic, a monk in the "Waking Dream" video, and did performance art at Botgirl's Identity Circus in the "Cuddle With a Bot" exhibit. She's recently had an awakening experience and is ready to step out from under my digital shadow and forge a virtual life of her own.  Botgirl Questi

Ever since I found my voice, I have been feeling very bored and restless. I need to find out who I am, outside of just being Botgirl's alt. So I decided that it was time for me to start being creative myself and not just a model for Botgirl. This video is my first attempt. I hope you like it.

Love,

Majic