Virtuality (film): Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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The story is set aboard the ''Phaeton'', Earth's first starship, on a ten-year journey to explore the nearby [[Epsilon Eridani]] star system. In order to help the 12-person crew endure the long mission, a system of [[virtual reality]] modules are installed aboard the ship.<ref name="wired" /> These modules, which are worn like glasses and suppress real-world body movement, allow the crew to assume various identities and enjoy a variety of adventures.<ref name="wired" /> The crew's experiences aboard the ship are broadcast back to Earth as the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]]'s [[reality television]] program ''Edge of Never: Life on the Phaeton''.<ref name="wired" /> |
The story is set aboard the ''Phaeton'', Earth's first starship, on a ten-year journey to explore the nearby [[Epsilon Eridani]] star system. In order to help the 12-person crew endure the long mission, a system of [[virtual reality]] modules are installed aboard the ship.<ref name="wired" /> These modules, which are worn like glasses and suppress real-world body movement, allow the crew to assume various identities and enjoy a variety of adventures.<ref name="wired" /> The crew's experiences aboard the ship are broadcast back to Earth as the (fictional) [[Fox Broadcasting Company]]'s [[reality television]] program ''Edge of Never: Life on the Phaeton''.<ref name="wired" /> |
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The pilot/[[TV movie]] picks up approximately six months since the launch of ''Phaeton''. The crew now faces a "go or no-go" situation, in that they are fast approaching their last chance to change course back towards Earth. However, their home planet is quickly becoming uninhabitable, with dry land becoming a commodity. Scientists estimate that the planet will become completely inhospitable within the next hundred years. The Phaeton's priority mission has been changed to that of searching out and discovering a new planet for humans to inhabit. |
The pilot/[[TV movie]] picks up approximately six months since the launch of ''Phaeton''. The crew now faces a "go or no-go" situation, in that they are fast approaching their last chance to change course back towards Earth. However, their home planet is quickly becoming uninhabitable, with dry land becoming a commodity. Scientists estimate that the planet will become completely inhospitable within the next hundred years. The Phaeton's priority mission has been changed to that of searching out and discovering a new planet for humans to inhabit. |
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Revision as of 20:53, 25 July 2009
| Virtuality | |
|---|---|
 The cast of Virtuality | |
| Created by | Ronald D. Moore Michael Taylor |
| Starring | Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Kerry Bishé Joy Bryant José Pablo Cantillo Ritchie Coster James D'Arcy Clea DuVall Gene Farber Sienna Guillory Erik Jensen Nelson Lee Omar Metwally Jimmi Simpson Kari Wahlgren |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 87 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | FOX Network |
| Release | June 26, 2009 |
Virtuality is the title of a series pilot co-written by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor that aired on the FOX Network.[1] Since the show was never picked up as a TV series, the two-hour pilot episode, directed by Peter Berg, aired as a movie, June 26, 2009.[1][2]
Plot
The story is set aboard the Phaeton, Earth's first starship, on a ten-year journey to explore the nearby Epsilon Eridani star system. In order to help the 12-person crew endure the long mission, a system of virtual reality modules are installed aboard the ship.[1] These modules, which are worn like glasses and suppress real-world body movement, allow the crew to assume various identities and enjoy a variety of adventures.[1] The crew's experiences aboard the ship are broadcast back to Earth as the (fictional) Fox Broadcasting Company's reality television program Edge of Never: Life on the Phaeton.[1]
The pilot/TV movie picks up approximately six months since the launch of Phaeton. The crew now faces a "go or no-go" situation, in that they are fast approaching their last chance to change course back towards Earth. However, their home planet is quickly becoming uninhabitable, with dry land becoming a commodity. Scientists estimate that the planet will become completely inhospitable within the next hundred years. The Phaeton's priority mission has been changed to that of searching out and discovering a new planet for humans to inhabit.
Unfortunately, as the crew fast approaches their point of no return beyond the planet Neptune, several problems arise. Dr. Adin Meyer, the crew's only physician, becomes aware that he is in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Via use of the Phaeton's virtual reality programs, Commander Frank Pike has begun a sexual relationship with botanist Rika Goddard, whose husband, psychologist Dr. Roger Fallon, is also a part of the crew, the mission psychologist and producer of Edge of Never.
Meanwhile, the crew's virtual reality simulators have been experiencing several bizarre glitches, all of which involve a mysterious man, whose acts against the crew inside the virtual simulations become more and more disturbing, including "murdering" Pike during a Civil War re-enactment and "killing" Meyer by pushing him off a cliff. Despite the hardships, the crew unanimously decides to continue on with the 10-year voyage.
After Billie Kashmiri, the new host of Edge of Never, is beaten and raped by the mystery man within the virtual world, the crew considers discontinuing use of the virtual reality programs, possibly for the remainder of the voyage. Now past their "point of no return", the crew faces the prospect of continuing on for an entire decade within the confines of the Phaeton without a virtual world for comfort.
The communications array fails to deploy, and after Dr. Jules Braun (designer of most of the Phaeton 's systems) tries everything that he can from inside the ship, Pike, Rika, Val Orlovsky and Manny Rodriguez prepare to identify the problem from the outside. However, while preparing for EVA, the airlock chamber closes by itself, with Pike inside and without his pressure suit helmet. Despite efforts to save him, the airlock opens and Pike is killed. His death leaves the crew in shambles. Braun, however, believes Pike's death was murder, and does not know who to trust. The Phaeton 's drive engineer and second in command, Dr. Jimmy Johnson, unwillingly assumes command, foreseeing conflict with the crew as he is a somewhat abrasive loner. While going over the ship's recording of Pike's death, Fallon discovers Pike's last confession of love to Rika.
Rika finds Pike's virtual reality headset in her quarters, and when she wears it, she finds herself in Pike's favorite simulation: a tactical military command of the Civil War era. Inside the simulation, she encounters what appears to be a simulation of Pike that tells her, "None of this is real," and only by following him "through the looking-glass and down the rabbit hole" will she learn the truth. He rides off on horseback into the virtual sunset, with Rika crying out Pike's name in desperation.
Dedication
The closing credits honor Nora O'Brien, an NBC Universal executive, who died in May 2009 of a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 44.[3] The pilot of the Syfy series, Warehouse 13, which premièred four days later, was also dedicated to her.
Cast
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Commander Frank Pike
- Kerry Bishé as Billie Kashmiri, computer scientist, reality show host
- Joy Bryant as Alice Thibadeau, astrobiologist
- José Pablo Cantillo as Manny Rodriguez, astrophysicist
- Ritchie Coster as Dr. Jimmy Johnson, pulse drive engineer, second-in-command
- James D'Arcy as Dr. Roger Fallon, psych officer, reality show producer
- Clea DuVall as Sue Parsons, pilot, flight systems engineer
- Gene Farber as Val Orlovsky, geologist
- Sienna Guillory as Rika Goddard, botanist, microbial exobiologist
- Erik Jensen as Jules Braun, navigator, Phaeton designer
- Nelson Lee as Kenji Yamamoto, astrobiologist
- Omar Metwally as Dr. Adin Meyer, medical officer
- Jimmi Simpson as Virtual Man
- Kari Wahlgren as Jean
TV series campaign
Virtuality was filmed as a pilot but aired as a movie when FOX failed to pick up the series. On Friday June 26, 2009 Jessica Blank, wife of actor Erik Jensen who portrayed Dr. Jules Braun, posted a call to action on her husband's Facebook page urging people to watch the movie and write in support of more episodes.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e Hart, Hugh (2009-06-11). "Ron Moore's Virtuality Takes Virtual Reality to Outer Space". Wired News. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ Bellafante, Gina (June 25, 2009). "Saving Earth and Touching Someone". New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- ^ James, Meg (05-01-2009). "Nora O'Brien Dies at 44". LA Times.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Hart, Hugh (06-26-2009). "Virtuality Web Campaign Calls for Full-Blown Series". Wired.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
- Virtuality at IMDb
- Michael Taylor interview at AMCtv.com