Staging Hamlet Inside Grand Theft Auto Is Even Harder Than It Looks
The film presents a heartwarming and impactful glimpse into the process of creating art in a world that appears antagonistic towards it. It’s also a documentary showcasing the richness, aesthetics, and humor of life within digital realms. Notably, Grand Theft Hamlet is constructed entirely from in-game footage, similar to Machinima style. For instance, Sam and Mark meet ParTebMosMir, a player with a chaotic demeanor who seems to have little common language or understanding of the crew’s objectives. However, he lends a hand to the production regardless. It’s touching to witness strangers uniting over a communal art project in an unexpected setting. Amusing as well, due to the peculiar avatars these strangers adopt; take ParTeb for example, who transforms into a suggestive-looking green alien. “To be honest,” Crane says, “we weren’t aiming to be humorous. We were genuinely earnest about our intentions. We were desperately trying to make this work.