December 4th 2024.
People have always doubted the possibility of a Grand Theft Auto movie, but little did they know that a performance of Hamlet in GTA 5 would become a reality. This groundbreaking production, with contributions from fans around the world, has now been turned into a feature-length documentary that is currently playing in theaters. It's hard to believe that this all started as a lockdown project, when most of us were struggling to find motivation for our own creative pursuits.
While many of us were busy baking banana bread and endlessly scrolling through Twitter, Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane were doing something truly remarkable. They staged a production of Hamlet within the virtual world of Grand Theft Auto 5, and even documented the entire process. Suddenly, my own lockdown accomplishments seem rather unimpressive in comparison.
The idea for Grand Theft Hamlet came about during the first lockdown, when Pinny and Sam decided to combine their talents and create something truly unique. Pinny, a documentary filmmaker, and Sam, an actor, had both been involved in previous productions of Hamlet, so this was not their first foray into the world of the play. However, this project would prove to be their most ambitious yet.
Mounting a play on a traditional stage is challenging enough, but doing so in a virtual space during a pandemic, while also coordinating with players from around the world, seemed like an impossible task. Sam even admitted to feeling nervous about whether anyone would even show up to participate. But to their surprise and delight, people did show up, and the production gained traction and momentum.
For Pinny and Sam, lockdown was a time of creative freedom and a chance to let go of the pressure to get things perfect. This mindset led to the success of their production, both on stage and on screen. The resulting film exceeded their expectations and has even been shown at festivals and won awards.
Grand Theft Hamlet is not the first film to use video game footage, but it stands out for its scale and collaborative nature. Players from around the world joined the production, and their rehearsals and performances are captured in the final film. Unlike many other videos of gameplay, Grand Theft Hamlet feels more like a traditional movie, thanks to Pinny's skillful structuring and direction.
One creative decision that Pinny made was to keep the map of the game visible in the corner of the screen, mirroring the experience of playing GTA. While some may argue that this takes away from the cinematic feel, Pinny wanted to remind the audience that this project was taking place in a virtual world. As they say, there is a method to the madness.
The worlds of Middle Ages Denmark and pixelated Los Angeles may seem worlds apart, but there are surprising parallels between Shakespeare's play and the game. Both are centered around violence and the pursuit of power and reputation. In many ways, Grand Theft Auto serves as the perfect setting for Hamlet. As Hamlet himself would say, "Something is rotten in the state of San Andreas."
While playing the game, Sam noticed connections between the game's visuals and Shakespeare's text. He marveled at the beautiful sunsets in the game and how they mirrored Hamlet's words. And despite the violence and isolation in both worlds, the multi-layered nature of Hamlet lends itself well to the online world of avatars and non-player characters.
Pinny and Sam hope that their project will challenge the stereotypes and prejudices often associated with both theater and video games. They believe that both can be forms of art and should not be looked down upon. As Sam puts it, "The experience of playing Grand Theft Auto is extraordinary. It's an incredible piece of art." And Pinny adds, "The idea that Hamlet is the greatest example of British culture is ridiculous."
Grand Theft Hamlet is an incredible and ambitious project that invites viewers to reconsider their preconceptions about cinema, theater, and video games. It's a testament to the universality of Shakespeare's work and how it can be adapted in unexpected places. So, who knows, maybe we'll see Macbeth in GTA 6 next.
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