Editing Keymaker

{{short description|Fictional character from The Matrix Reloaded}}
{{for|the keymaking machine|Key (lock)#Key duplication}}
{{Infobox character
| name               = Keymaker
| series             = [[The Matrix (franchise)|The Matrix]]
| image              = The Keymaker.jpg
| caption            = Keymaker in his workplace
| first              = ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' (2003)
| last               = ''[[The Matrix: Path of Neo]]'' (2005)
|creator             = [[The Wachowskis]]
| portrayer          = [[Randall Duk Kim]]
| voice              = {{ubl|Randall Duk Kim <br>(''[[Enter the Matrix]]'')|[[Peter Renaday]]<br>(''[[The Matrix: Path of Neo]]'')}}
| alias              = The Exile
| species            = [[Computer program]]
| occupation         = [[Key (lock)|Key maker]]
| gender             = [[Male]]
| nationality        = 
}}

The '''Keymaker''' is a fictional character, portrayed by Korean-American actor [[Randall Duk Kim]], in the 2003 film ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]''. He is a computer program that can create [[computer shortcut|shortcut]] commands, physically represented as [[Lock and key|keys]], which can be used by other programs to gain quick access to various areas within the [[simulated reality]] of the [[Matrix (fictional universe)|Matrix]]. He appears as an elderly, bespectacled Korean man dressed in a button-down shirt, smock, and an apron hung with bunches of keys.

==Backstory and role==
The Keymaker is an "Exile", a program whose usefulness has come to an end and that has chosen to hide in the Matrix rather than be deleted. The [[Oracle (The Matrix)|Oracle]] tells [[Neo (The Matrix)|Neo]] that he will need the Keymaker's help in order to reach the Source, the machine mainframe; however, he is being held captive by a dangerous Exile known as the [[Merovingian (The Matrix)|Merovingian]]. Neo, [[Morpheus (The Matrix)|Morpheus]], and [[Trinity (The Matrix)|Trinity]] are rebuffed when they demand that the Merovingian release the Keymaker, but his wife [[Persephone (The Matrix)|Persephone]] betrays him and takes them to where the Keymaker is being held: a small room in which he toils over a key-cutting machine. Thousands of previously made keys hang in bunches on the walls.

Morpheus and Trinity, separated from Neo, flee with the Keymaker as the Merovingian's [[Twins (The Matrix)|Twins]], the police, and three [[Agent (The Matrix)|Agents]] (sent to terminate the Keymaker as he is an Exile) pursue them onto the city freeways. The Keymaker assists in the escape by quickly providing Trinity with the ignition key needed to start a motorcycle, saving her the time of waiting for hot-wiring instructions to be uploaded into her mind.

Following the escape, the Keymaker meets with three crews of Zion rebels to describe the security measures in place around the building which houses the door that leads to the Source. Two electric power stations must both be shut down in order to disable the alarm system, after which Neo will have only a short time to reach the Source before the building is destroyed by explosives; in addition, if the door is opened while the alarm is still active or if anyone other than Neo tries to open it, the explosives will detonate. As the other two crews attack the power stations, the Keymaker leads Neo and Morpheus to a hall within the building, filled with doors that represent [[backdoor (computing)|backdoor access]] to other parts of the Matrix.

They are interrupted by the arrival of [[Agent Smith]] and dozens of copies he has made of himself. The Keymaker hurriedly opens a door, allowing Neo and Morpheus to take cover inside a room as the Smiths open fire, but sustains multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. Before dying, he gives Neo a single key on a chain around his neck—the one needed to reach the Source—and points Morpheus toward a door that will allow him to re-enter the Matrix proper.

==Role experience==
Casting director [[Mali Finn]] succeeded in bringing Kim to the attention of [[the Wachowskis]], the creators of the ''Matrix'' series. "Randall Duk Kim was cast for his talent, his presence and his voice," said Finn.<ref name="MF">{{cite web|url=http://www.koreamjournal.com/Magazine/index.php/kj/2003/june/artists_trax/the_key_to_randall_duk_kim |title=The Key To Randall Duk Kim |publisher=KoreamJournal.com |author=Terry Hong |access-date=2008-12-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520035915/http://www.koreamjournal.com/Magazine/index.php/kj/2003/june/artists_trax/the_key_to_randall_duk_kim |archive-date=May 20, 2009 }}</ref> After meeting the Wachowskis, Kim said he agreed to the Keymaker role "without a single bit of hesitation."<ref name="MF"/> Kim described the Keymaker as a character that belongs in ''[[The Wind in the Willows]]'' but then somehow ended up in ''[[Alice in Wonderland]]'' and then got lost in the Matrix.<ref name="EW">{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444153__453600,00.html|title="The Matrix"s Keymaker speaks out|publisher=[[EW.com]]|author=Brian Hiatt|access-date=2007-12-16|archive-date=2008-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119093915/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444153__453600,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Wachowskis' thoughts on Keymaker were coming on the spot as various takes were done.<ref name="EW"/> He is a creation of collaboration;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://matrix.stratics.com/content/gamedata/interviews/dukkim_interview.php |title=MxOS Exclusive Interview: Randall Duk Kim |publisher=Matrix.Stratics.com |access-date=2007-12-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120004646/http://matrix.stratics.com/content/gamedata/interviews/dukkim_interview.php |archive-date=November 20, 2008 }}</ref> for example, Lana Wachowski suggested that Kim cut his stride in half, so that the Keymaker's movements appeared as more of a scurry, than a normal gait.<ref name="EW"/>

In an interview with Tim Lammers to promote the DVD release of ''The Matrix Reloaded'', Kim said, "I'm so happy to be part of such a wonderful tale as this. I was a fan before I even got the audition call for ''Reloaded''".<ref name="FV">{{cite web|url=http://www.fox5vegas.com/entertainment/2562875/detail.html |title=Keymaker Actor Unlocks Wonders Of 'Matrix Reloaded' |publisher=Fox5Vegas.com |access-date=2008-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520011804/http://www.fox5vegas.com/entertainment/2562875/detail.html |archive-date=2009-05-20 }}</ref> "When I got the part, you could hardly keep me from flying off the ground," Kim gleefully recalled.<ref name="FV"/> Despite the elaborate set-up and tireless hours, Kim said he could not get enough of the ''Matrix'' experience. "On every single day of that shoot I felt like a little kid on big adventure," Kim enthused.<ref name="FV"/> "And working for [the Wachowskkis], they're childlike in their creativity—it's just contagious".<ref name="FV"/> Kim said further that the [[Stunts#Vehicular stunts|stunt drivers]] in the freeway motorcycle chase scene were some of the most amazing people he had ever met.<ref name="FV"/> "That was real. I would say [[Carrie-Anne Moss|Carrie]] and I did about three-quarters of what's seen up there," he revealed.<ref name="FV"/> Kim was backed by professional motocross racer David Barrett in a jump that was a double on the Ducati motorcycle used in the freeway chase.  In a June 2001 interview, stunt player Debbie Evans said it was "pretty ambitious, because those bikes aren't made to do that sort of thing, but we pulled it off".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/rl_cmp/rl_interview_debbie_evans.html |title=Interview - Debbie Evans |publisher=WhatIsTheMatrix.WarnerBros.com |access-date=2008-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821143723/http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/rl_cmp/rl_interview_debbie_evans.html |archive-date=August 21, 2008 }}</ref>

The Keymaker also appears in the short [[Parody#Film parodies|lampoon]] ''MTV Movie Awards Reloaded'', produced for the [[2003 MTV Movie Awards]].

==See also==
*[[Simulated reality]]
*[[Source code]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.matrixresolutions.com/keymaker.html Keymaker at MatrixResolutions.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111003174933/http://www.trumix.com/download.php?eurl=http://media.libsyn.com/media/scifitalk/RandallDukKim.mp3 2004 interview with Randall Duk Kim (mp3, 23,9 MB)]

{{Matrix}}

[[Category:The Matrix (franchise) characters]]
[[Category:Fictional artificial intelligences]]
[[Category:Fictional technopaths]]
[[Category:Fictional mechanics]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 2003]]
[[Category:Fictional revolutionaries]]