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Extra Life

Extra Life is a short experimental documentary that explores identity within video games and virtual worlds, delivered entirely through the medium of the games themselves and featuring various digital avatars people have created.

Focusing on how digital avatars relate to the real-life people, and whether people live different lives online, we try to reveal how gaming technology is changing the way people see themselves.

  • Matthew Harmer
    Director
  • Tommaso Di Paola
    Director
  • Matthew Harmer
    Writer
  • Matthew Harmer
    Producer
  • Tommaso Di Paola
    Producer
  • The Professor
    Key Cast
    "The Professor"
  • Sebille
    Key Cast
    "Sebille"
  • Mr Good
    Key Cast
    "Mr Good"
  • Dr Squatson
    Key Cast
    "Dr Squatson"
  • Anniedora
    Key Cast
    "Anniedora"
  • Tommaso Di Paola
    Editor
  • Jade Evans
    Title Design
  • James O'Connell
    Music and Sound Design
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-fi, experimental, future, Existentialism, Gaming, People, Identity, Technology
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, screen recording.
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • The Smalls Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    September 7, 2019
  • The Barbican Centre
    London
    United Kingdom
    August 5, 2019
Director Biography - Matthew Harmer, Tommaso Di Paola

Matthew Harmer is an award-winning freelance director and DOP based in London, working in short-form documentary and branded content, with a focus on working with charities and sustainable organisations. He strongly believes that film is a powerful tool in raising awareness about the important issues the world faces, and through making engaging and empathetic films, filmmakers can have a positive impact on society. matthew-harmer.com

Tommaso Di Paola is an award winning film editor based in London. After studying Video Design at the Istituto Europeo del Design in Milan, he worked for Lost Values, a small design studio, followed by John Wright Photography and Nice and Serious, a successful creative agency that focuses on sustainability and environmental issues. He is also the co founder of Eyes and Ears, an award winning production company that focuses on documentaries and commercial filmmaking.

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Director Statement

With gaming becoming an increasingly bigger industry, people living more of their lives online, and virtual reality becoming more mainstream, the digital identities people create for themselves will have more and more influence on real life.

For this film we really wanted to take the viewer into some of the virtual worlds that exist within games and let them hear from people as their avatars.