Reality Shifting: a new normal?

Our dreams of travelling this past year have thus far been uneventful. The moment you feel the sudden urge and hope to travel, even if it is to the 7-Eleven downstairs, the pandemic has other plans for us but this article is not going to bum you out any further. Who says you have to travel physically when you can do it in the comfort of your bed?

Alternate Universe Short Film

Like many other trends that emerged from TikTok, reality shifting or better known as Shifting is one of the craziest and absolutely mind-blowing breakthrough trends to exist today. It is the concept of training one’s mind to enter a new reality, either created originally by oneself or built upon existing fictional worlds such as the Harry Potter (HP) universe. From fanfictions to reenactments, shifting is the latest phenomenon to take over the plethora of fandoms to exist in our world.

This trend began with the individuals wishing to attend Hogwarts School of Magic and meeting the fictional characters. Particularly, Draco Malfoy, one of the well-known antagonists of the HP universe.

A short film, Alternate Universe, written and produced by a second-year Taylorian from the School of Communications, Nicole Law Xin Yi, is the visual representation of what shifting is. The story revolves around Ava who has successfully shifted to another reality to be with her comfort character. However, happiness does not last forever leaving her no choice but to return to where she came from.

“I wanted to introduce this topic to people out there as it is so rare and to emphasise what you would experience while shifting, it’s all real - you can feel, you can touch, and all. People might be very skeptical, that's why this video is to show them that it is actually possible.”

The limit of the human mind has yet to be fully discovered and what you are about to read is still at the tip of the iceberg we humans have yet to fully comprehend to this day. There are only a handful of places for us to travel to, but when Shifting, you can go to places your passports can never have the access to. Nay, there is not even a need for a passport; just your mind, your imagination, and a sprinkle of patience.

Shifting can be daunting to people, but it is quite the complete opposite. You are given full control of your actions, thoughts, and feelings as you would in reality while being in your desired universe.

“The fact that our mind could shift our consciousness to another reality says a lot. There is no limitation or restriction to our creativity.”

While this is just the first of many short films Law has yet to produce, she has given some insight as to what else we can look forward to in her works.

“A sense of escapism and a sense of familiarity. Something that is out of this world where you can’t experience reality. Since I was little, I have been a huge fan of Harry Potter and it has inspired me to the point where it has become my escapism whenever I watch it. I want my audience to feel that way too.”

Alternate Universe is set to change the limitations we have set for ourselves within the confines of the pandemic, and that is a very real phenomenon.

“Creating this could also reminisce the day of them (audience) shifting to remind them how special it was. And that it was real, you’re not alone, I believe you.”

Catch the short film on her YouTube channel here.