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S1m0ne (also spelled Simone) is a 2002 science fiction drama film written, produced and directed by New Zealander Andrew Niccol, starring Al Pacino.
Most of the names in the film are chosen for their link with computers. The title could be interpreted as "simulation number one" and includes both numbers of the binary number system. Other characters in the film are named after computer companies: Corel, Claris, Dell, Hewlett, Mac and Lotus. Simone's costar (Jay Mohr) is named Hal Sinclair, after the computer HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Viktor Taransky is named after Victor Frankenstein, a character which he could easily be likened to, and fugitive film director Roman Polanski. Victor also comes from the name of the Victor 9000.
Viktor is based on Ray Kurzweil, and the movie is based on Kurzweil's 2001 TED Conference presentation of his female alter ego, Ramona. The scene in which Viktor performs a concert is modeled very closely with Kurzweil's Ramona presentation.
The film producers thought of using an actual computer-generated character to play the part of Simone. After discussions with the Screen Actors Guild, who were worried that the replacement of all actors would be the next inevitable step, they decided to use an unknown actress in the role and make her look slightly less realistic in post-production. Pre-release publicity issued to news media actually did suggest that a completely computer-generated actress would be used. Rachel Roberts, the Canadian fashion model who played the role, was not initially credited in the movie (her credit was added for the home video release; in the theatrical release "Simone" was credited as "herself"), and she worked under the pseudonym "Anna Green" during production.
According to The Truman Show director Peter Weir, he sees real life prototype for Viktor in 'S1m0ne' as entertainer Michael Jackson: "And Michael Jackson, he is also the real life Victor in 'Simone'. He had a talent and all he wanted was to share this and bring people happiness and escapism through entertainment. And people turn it around, they make it about the individual rather than the creation. It is the actual films, the actual music - that's what it's all about... People lose sight of this and the media make it all about the celebrity." Wikipedia |
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