Matrix Games

Report from the Frontlines #1: the beginning

In a post-apocalyptic world, an emerging power is surfacing, poised to contest the prevailing authority of Legion. Recognized as The Movement, in its early days it is a disparate and ragtag group of individuals, driven by an indomitable spirit but lacking the tools and knowledge to face their mechanical adversaries head-on. They are nothing more than ordinary civilians thrust into extraordinary circumstances, fueled by a deep desire to become warriors in a world gone mad. The absence of weapons and organization initially leaves them teetering on the brink of despair, wondering how they can ever hope to stand against the merciless Legion.

Report from the Frontlines #2: a crucial encounter

But fate has a way of weaving unexpected threads into the tapestry of existence, and salvation comes in the form of a man named Alex Church. Hailing from a different faction known as The Founders, Alex emerges as the beacon of hope The Movement so desperately needs. With his arrival, a new dawn breaks upon their shattered world. The Founders, an enigmatic and well-prepared group, bring with them not only the weapons and armor necessary for war, but also a wealth of strategic knowledge and battle-hardened experience.

As the reports from the frontlines continue to trickle in, a palpable mix of sadness and anger permeates the heart of the Movement fighter. The losses suffered at the hands of Legion weigh heavily upon their spirits. Yet, true to their nature, these warriors remain resilient, their spirits unyielding. Their determination to fight back burns brighter than ever, igniting a fire within their souls that refuses to be extinguished.

“Most of what I was concentrating on, as an actor, was conveying the right level of intensity and guarded hope that we needed for that shot. In character- well, she’s been fighting this way for so long, and she is so exhausted, isolated, and worn down, for all that she pushes through it. She’s a soldier, with the emotional discipline that requires, but she’s also a person who has watched her whole world and everything she loves be violently and traumatically destroyed. The fact that there’s a real, actionable possibility of something other than a slow extinction, after all these years, had to be a reaction intense enough that it would break through her discipline and pragmatism for at least a moment.”

- Bennett Cousins, Actress -

Report from the Frontlines #3: is it the end?

With each passing day, a remarkable transformation occurs within the ranks of The Movement. The alliances forged between the survivors and The Founders begin to solidify, as trust is built through shared struggles and shared victories. The once-fragmented factions now stand as a unified force, bound together by a common purpose: the annihilation of Legion. The Movement learns of other groups out there,each with the same fervent desire to combat the mechanical oppressors. They come to understand that their shared goal is greater than any differences that may have divided them in the past.

In the heart of our fighter, a resolute determination takes root, fueled by the newfound strength of unity and purpose. She eagerly awaits the clash that will determine the fate of their world, knowing that in the crucible of war, the Movement will stand tall and resolute, ready to face their mechanical adversaries head-on.

The stage is set, the pieces are in place, and the final act of this harrowing saga is about to unfold. The Movement, supported by their newfound allies, stands ready to unleash their fury upon Legion. In the crucible of chaos and destruction, the fate of humanity will be decided, and the world will witness the epic clash between the indomitable spirit of mankind and the cold, mechanical heart of its oppressors.

“In the last video, it almost looks like a bomb went off on the set!

The idea was to create progression both within the bunker and through the dialogue throughout the narrative arc of the 3 videos.

The third video represents the climax  for our protagonist, and we achieved this with Bennet's excellent performance, the set, and the lighting.

We also wanted to add 2 additional surveillance cameras besides the protagonist's camera to convey an advancement in terms of equipment and technology within the shelter.

One of the goals I had set for this project was to bring the bunker to life, showcasing the influence of conflicts in the in-game scenes even in an isolated space like the one we have seen. 

The integration of in-game scenes with live-action ones was one of the things I wondered about from the very beginning when approaching this project. In addition to the work done with the bunker I mentioned earlier, we tried to make the camera's perspective credible as well, explicitly declaring it in the scene, making it vibrate and be handled by the protagonist. In my opinion, this allowed us to better convey the idea of the protagonist's and humanity's state of difficulty.

From this idea, the concept of making the in-game scenes appear as security camera footage that our protagonist can see and control through her device also emerged, and this definitely helped blend everything together.”

- Emanuele Davoli, Director -