Jake meets his avatar

If you had the option of becoming someone else for a time, would you do it? That is the position Jake is in. The scene I am referring to is when Jake gets to the base and Norm takes him to see his avatar

(This clip http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi686228505/ via IMDB).

Combined with the visual and musical aspect the scene tries to connect you with Jake. The loud noises and commotion in the beginning of the scene depict that the base is rowdy and everybody has someone to talk to. But Jake doesn’t. He is by himself in a new environment. Then Norm comes and the background noise dies away. This could be to emphasize the introduction of a new character but I think it also demonstrates the focus Jake feels when he is actually being acknowledged. The mysterious music from then on is a light tone with chimes mixed in and it helps the audience feel the gayety of Jake’s journey. This section of the scene tries to have the audience share in Jake’s mysticism, a similar feeling to that of receiving Christmas presents and you are anxious to find what you got. Also the way the scene is shot, at jakes level helps the audience to see how Jake sees, giving another connection from Jake to the viewer. When Norm says, “Looks like you… This is your avatar now Jake” the music tone heightens and helps the audience to feel a sense of pride and mystery to having something this special. We have to acknowledge the fact that Jake is becoming a part of this world through the death of his brother. The music also depicts a feeling of uncertainty, because Jake feel’s something for his brother, yet is anxious for this new opportunity.

This scene argues the audience to feel what Jake feels; to place yourself in his shoes for just a moment; to feel the mysticism of being able to lead a separate life, so to speak. This scene sets up the adventure of becoming someone else. Of being able to leave your troubles behind for just a moment and feel the rush of freedom (of course, for those of you who have seen the entire movie we know that one can never just leave all their troubles behind, they always find a way of catching up to us). On a personal level the music helps the audience to make that connection to Jake and to connect also with your past experiences of wanting a sense of freedom, and adventure, where in the life you live you may be lacking those attributes. The music, I think, is the key ingredient in this scene, because the high resonance and beautiful chimes fill the gaps between the dialogs. The public representation is the repetition that everyone can find some good in the world, whether it’s in a new friend, like Norm, or in new adventure, represented by the avatar. The connections made define a sense of belonging that captures the audience and makes them want more: developing an avatar for the audience, in essence, to escape away from reality for awhile.