Voidance
It is a difficult time for the agents of the Atopian Traxanian Interstellar Consociation, in final negotiations to bring the nearby world of Cho-Hacha into the fold but matters complicated by a recent terrorist attack which is believed to have been the work of Marai Hariya separatists, fanatics whose reasoning and aims are unclear other than disruption of the prosperity and order which membership of ATIC will bring.
In final training to become an ATIC Offworld agent, Alana is tasked by the virtual presence of Agent Polo to investigate a recent incident at the Forge, a trading and transit station where it is believed Marai Hariya were responsible for the deaths, recreated in simulation where she can interact with all those present and intervene, determining the individuals responsible and their goals and, in theory, preventing the attack.
The debut feature script by Dungeons and Dragons fan Simon X Frederick, Voidance is written in that format, a scenario to be played out in a small space of connected rooms over and over until an optimal solution is reached, dealing with the non-player-characters who populate the bar and deliver prepared soundbites of information, the majority of the effects budget expended in the opening titles of deep space shuttles docking with the facility.
Directed by Breaking Infinity’s Marianna Dean, producer Zoe Cunningham is Alana, inept, possessed of a sad expression and a bad haircut and dense as a dwarf star as she stumbles through a test she is allowed to take a competence defying twenty times as bodies pile up around her before she calls for yet another reset, initially perplexed then shocked as she first realises she is intended to actually solve the case then horrified when it finally occurs that her loyalty and fitness to serve are being measured as well as her dubious ability.
With no sense that the Forge is a transit point to interstellar travel, former soap opera director Dean filling the hub of galactic trading and intrigue with locals imbued with the wonder and awe of the locals down the Rover’s Return (on karaoke night, no less) as well as auctioned off Doctor Who set dressing, that the budget is limited is not Voidance’s downfall so much as the indifference displayed by the aspirational agent who rather than a top candidate seems perplexed by the whole affair, unable to grasp the concept of undercover or even low profile.
Rashomon having presented different perspectives, Copenhagen different possibilities, Hell Bent exploring grief as much as the underlying mystery and Cause and Effect having advanced each iteration of the time loop to comprehension and countermeasures, Voidance is a videogame where the lead character struggles to get past the opening scenes, repeating them over and over while theorising aloud, undoubtedly frustrating for the player but utterly exasperating for those watching and waiting for something to happen.
Following its European premiere at the Sci-Fi London Film Festival on Sunday 17th May, Voidance will be available on digital download across the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand from Monday 25th May
