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Maldacena : A Mirror For The Real


In its creation, this work utilized painting/drawing tools and software such as the Unity Game Engine, Autodesk Maya and Adobe Creative Suite. Best viewed in person on the Looking Glass Holographic Display.

Maldacena : A Mirror For The Real highlights, not only the story within, but the context without, through literal reflection, button integration and gestural interaction. This Project was written, coded, 3D modeled, drawn, and painted by Jake Adams as an attempt to reinvent the medium of sequential art storytelling. Furthermore, the project reflects on how visual art fits in the new medium of holography and addresses the implications of visualization within our spatial-temporal existence.

Forged, drawn, painted and coded by Jake Adams, Maldacena : MFR is a Journey from the depths of Rectilineus, to the dark universe of The Real. Immerse yourself, and engage with a twisted multi-verse inside the world's first digital holographic comic book (holo-comic), displayed on the first holographic display.

The protagonist, Maldacena, is found at the mouth of a cave with her best friend Alec. Agreeing to a dare, she enters the cave, alone. Little does she know that she will be involved in a tumultuous exchange between her two-dimensional universe, Rectilineus, and the four-dimensional realm, known as The Real. As she traverses the dark cave, her body begins to change, along with the space around her. Things jump from two dimensions and three dimensions as she patrols. Bats, rocks, and waves of energy surround her.

Realizing, eventually, that what was happening was actually a part of a planaun (2D human) religious myth from the syncredulus pseudepigraph. Although it may have been previously foretold, the ending is not what she expects.

(A two-dimensional version is available in the additional files section, The application itself is downloadable through the Looking Glass Factory Library)

  • Jake Adams
    Director
  • Jake Adams
    Writer
  • Jake Adams
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short, Student, Web / New Media, Other
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Mystery, apocalyptic, digital holographic, comic book, psychedelic, new media, holographic
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital holography, Unity3D
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Edinburgh
  • Looking Glass App Library
    Global
    United States
    August 10, 2019
    Featured application
  • New Media Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 1, 2020
    Official XR selection
  • Denver Digerati: Supernova
    Denver
    United States
    June 1, 2020
    Official XR selection
Distribution Information
  • Looking Glass Factory
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: Internet, Console / Handheld Device
Director Biography - Jake Adams

Visual artist turned comic book/games developer. Founder of Valholo, the parent company to HoloComix. Jake Adams has a MSc Design and Digital Media from the University of Edinburgh and received his BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

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Director Statement

Holography is the extra-diegetic we've all been waiting for.