A mover, also called a film[1] or mover film,[2] is a recording of moving pictures synchronized with sound, affording the capability to capture theatrical performances and subsequently exhibit them repeatedly.[3] Movers constitute a visual artwork that emulates experiences and conveys ideas and narratives through the employment of mobile images.
Movers or cinema represent one of the most modern forms of recreational activity in the world. This innovative medium emerged in 171 AG with the release of The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South in Republic City, an endeavor driven by Iknik Blackstone Varrick and Varrimovers International, a subsidiary company of his conglomerate that focused on the production of films, thereby pioneering the motion picture industry.[4][5][6]
History
Origins
In 171 AG, Iknik Blackstone Varrick made the decision to unveil one of his most recent ventures to a gathered audience, which included Asami Sato and Bolin, aboard his yacht. This new endeavor encompassed the development of motion pictures, referred to as "movers" by the businessman. Alongside his assistant, Zhu Li Moon, Varrick offered his guests a presentation utilizing a projector to showcase a short film reel capturing the animated movement of an ostrich horse galloping. Despite its innovative nature, Varrick ordered the projection to be shut down, claiming it to be already old news. Eagerly, he announced his intention to produce and create movers that convey narratives with action, romance, and comical ones involving animals with a focus on children as the target audience.[4]
Although Varrick was initially interested in telling stories, his focus was soon shifted by the outbreak of the Water Tribe Civil War, which caused a harbor lock-down in the Southern Water Tribe that grounded his ships and hurt his business.[7] After being branded a fugitive, Varrick fled to Republic City with Team Avatar and created Varrimovers International, a branch of Varrick Global Industries that would focus on the production of movers.[6] The company developed the first mover designed for public screening: The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South, released in an episodic format. The project consisted of a series of propaganda films against the Northern Water Tribe featuring Bolin and Ginger, which purpose was to sway the United Republic's opinion in favor of the South during the civil war and, more specifically, to persuade President Raiko to sanction United Forces military intervention.[8]
Production commenced immediately, marked by the simultaneous direction of multiple films and the release of promotional posters.[9] Leveraging his extensive resources, Varrick took a step further by pioneering the technology required for crafting remote-detonated explosives for use as pyrotechnics and enlisted the help of trained animals to act in the mover.[5] Directed by Varrick, the mover displayed footage of the North's occupation of the Southern Water Tribe cut with a series of shots of a fictional Southern hero, Nuktuk, fighting against the invasion with the help of his trusted animal companions Roh-Tan (played by Avatar Korra's polar bear dog, Naga) and Juji (played by Bolin's fire ferret, Pabu). In the film, Nuktuk must defeat the evil Unalaq in order to save his girlfriend Ginger and the rest of the world.[8]
The first mover was released theatrically in Republic City shortly after production. It was met positively by the public, with young children comprising the major demographic. Each mover ended with a cliffhanger, and subsequent episodes were scheduled for release the week after the previous installment's showing.[5] Subsequently, Varrimovers International organized an elaborate premiere for the mover's finale to be screened in the Pro-bending Arena, attracting widespread attention from the Republic City press and extensive media coverage by Shiro Shinobi. The red carpet event spared no expense, boasting the presence of renowned entertainers brought in from Ba Sing Se, lavish decorations imported from the Fire Nation, and an array of cuisine brought in from all over the world. The Pro-bending Arena was filled to capacity, with attendees from all demographics as well as President Raiko and First Lady Buttercup Raiko as honored guests. It was revealed during the premiere that Varrick planned to kidnap the president with the intention of blaming the incident on the North, forcing the United Republic of Nations to enter the war in support of the South. As a result, he was arrested for their crimes.[10]
The mover was also distributed outside the borders of the United Republic of Nations, attracting a worldwide fanbase, such as Macao and Lily, who tracked down Bolin for an autograph at the Misty Palms Oasis.[11] However, the true message of the film was not always retained, as some citizens in Ba Sing Se regarded them as comedies.[12]
Evolution and expansion
The new pastime activity instantly gained massive approval, mostly from children, who comprised the largest demographic, but also from adults who were amazed by both the new technology and by the storyline. Although movers grained the most popularity in Republic City, they later took off in the other nations, such as the Northern Water Tribe.[13] Since the first movers, more enterprising filmmakers picked up the art form, experimenting with their own method of filming.
Republic City became home to several home theaters, dedicated buildings with screens and seating for whole crowds interested in watching the latest products from Republic City's studios. While the mover industry is still fairly young and it faces some discrimination from cultural critics, it is currently growing in popularity and shows no signs of slowing down. Other cities throughout the world now create their own movers and host their own mover theaters, but Republic City remains the home of the industry.[3]
Even though Varrimovers International pioneered the mover industry, the enterprise encountered numerous challenges since Varrick decided to focus on other projects, leaving Hongmei, an experienced mover executive, in charge. Amidst rising competition from emerging mover companies, Varrimovers International attempted to produce new blockbuster movers. These included titles like It Happened One Harmonic Convergence, Bender: Never Say Bend, and Varrick: The Man, The Myth, The Legend. However, these endeavors ended in failure. The company conducted filming throughout the city, both on location and at various studio facilities, eventually dwindling down to a solitary studio housed in an old warehouse inland of Yue Bay.[6]
Sengo: Lady of the Winds
Building off the success of the Nuktuk franchise, VI's final attempt to reclaim its former glory manifested in the creation of a new mover titled Sengo: Lady of the Winds, a "spiritual successor" to Nuktuk. This production centered on a female airbender character as the hero. However, financing the mover proved to be an expensive endeavor following a series of prior failures. Determined to remedy the studio's woes with a potential hit, Hongmei allocated the company's entire budget to the new project.[6]
Nevertheless, the progress of Sengo encountered setbacks due to the interference of the Creeping Crystal Triad. A lieutenant of the triad, Amrita, had previously extended financial support to Hongmei, facilitating the establishment of his own mover company prior to affiliating with VI. Recognizing a lucrative opportunity to secure a portion of the profits, Amrita sought to secure a role as an executive producer within the studio. Driven by her passion for movers and aspirations of attaining wealth and renown as a director, Amrita's ambitions took a turn when her proposal was declined by Hongmei, as he refused to collaborate with the Creeping Crystals, which incited the mob to unleash terror upon the production, ultimately compelling Hongmei to capitulate.[6][14] In response to these adversities, Bolin assumed the responsibility of enlisting a team of security personnel, including Erdene, Qacha, Thi, Meeka, and Dae, to safeguard the integrity of the mover's production. Hongmei was forced to rush the final stages of the film in order to release the project at the Pro-bending Arena premiere.[15][16][6]
In light of VI's precarious financial situation, Hongmei made the decision to engage the services of mediocre director Wing Len, who spent exorbitant resources toward special effects and the premiere, as he was determined to turn Sengo into a triumphant success. He spared no expense, procuring top-tier film equipment, cameras, and lighting devices. Throughout the production, intermittent tours of enthusiastic fans visited the set. Hongmei assumed the role of a tour guide, projecting an air of enthusiasm as he showcased the mover's impressive aesthetics. He emphasized the mover's role as a spiritual successor to the Nuktuk franchise, underscoring the significance of its main character being a female airbender. Such moments infused a sense of optimism among the team, fueling aspirations that the mover, if executed seamlessly, could potentially reinstate Varrimovers International's prominence within the mover industry.
However, Hongmei's team faced new obstacles and encumbrances: The concerns and mounting dissatisfaction of Xue, the lead actress portraying Sengo; the snobbish arrogance and duplicity of Quin Yu, the famous actor playing the villainous Imperator Kuvai; the fraudulent airbending talents of "stuntmaster" Breeze, supported only by his assistant Aiko, an actual airbender; and the stalling and divisive behavior of the mover's director, Wing Len. Despite the efforts exerted by Bolin's assembled team to stave off the interference of the Creeping Crystal Triad, the production faced another looming threat: The crew members, beset by weariness, frustration, and a lack of willingness to collaborate, posed a significant risk to the timely completion of the mover prior to its scheduled premiere.[6]
The first Creeping Crystal attacks were subtle, as Amrita did not actually want the production entirely derailed; she only wanted Hongmei to feel the pressure. The triad members worked their way through the undercity tunnels of Republic City until they were beneath the Varrimovers International Studio, where they could earthbend to affect the building above. First, they caused small, repeated tremors that seemed only to occur when the cameras were shooting. Later, a triad member with some skill at sandbending let dust into the studio to cling to the matte paintings as they were drying, ruining them enough that the artists had to start over from scratch. While Hongmei was aware of the origin of these movements, most of the crew believed the production was having bad luck and diligently continued to work on the film. This incited Amrita to escalate and attack with stronger tremors, capable of knocking over sets onto cast members and even damaging the warehouse itself. Still, Hongmei persisted in refusing Amrita's intimidation tactics, as the production was close to finish the mover.[14]
Mover theaters
Numerous home theaters were established especially in Republic City after the initial success of the mover industry. The Songbird Theater became the largest mover theater in the capital, standing proudly in the center of the Harmony Park district. With tall green pillars stretching up to a pagoda roof decorated with golden lanterns, it is a homage to classic Earth Kingdom architecture. Once, the Songbird was known as the Mask, and it was an operatic theater, but the Mask closed down under competition from the new hottest theater in the district, the Echo Flower, which had been carefully constructed for optimal acoustics using earthbending and metalbending.
The Mask was then bought by an enterprising businessman named Aklaq, who sought to follow in the footsteps of Varrick by capitalizing on the world of movers. Aklaq undertook a transformation of the Mask, rebranding it as the Songbird, where mover premieres are now frequently hosted. Buoyed by the Songbird's accomplishments, Aklaq strategically expanded his ventures by acquiring adjacent properties, which were subsequently developed into a complex of mover theaters. These theaters showcased a diverse range of movers throughout the day. Earning a reputation as the preeminent mover theater within the city, the Songbird stands as the most renowned mover theater in the capital. While admission prices are notably higher, the Songbird promises visitors an unparalleled mover experience.[17]
Known movers
- Bender: Never Say Bend — A failed blockbuster attempt produced by Varrimovers International.[6]
- Ice Warriors — A mover directed by Wing Len.[18]
- It Happened One Harmonic Convergence — A failed blockbuster attempt produced by Varrimovers International.[6]
- Love of a Lion Turtle — Hongmei's successful debut mover.[6]
- Ostrich horse at a gallop — A sequence of photographs depicting a galloping ostrich horse.[4]
- Sengo: Lady of the Winds[19]
- The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South (171 AG) — An anti-North propaganda mover.[8]
- The Crescent Island Doom — A mover directed by Wing Len.[18]
- Varrick: The Man, The Myth, The Legend — A failed blockbuster attempt produced by Varrimovers International.[18]
- Untitled mover — About a dancer who was raised by owl wolves.[20]
Trivia
- The ostrich horse featured in one of the first movers[4] developed by Varrick parallels the real world development of moving pictures, as one of the first films to be produced was that of a galloping horse.
- During the first decades following the emergence of films at the start of the 20th century, the media was also used to produce propaganda films with political purposes, especially during World War I.
- The mover titled It Happened One Harmonic Convergence is a reference to the 1934 film It Happened One Night, while Bender: Never Say Bend references the 2010 film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.