Films : Half Life : all
animate! synopsis
A neurotic stop-frame analysis of the daily torture of the desk-bound being, freeze-frame tensions disrupting the film’s surface and material.
one sentence synopsis
An intense, visceral and neurotic study of the desk-bound being.
short synopsis
Isolated office workers perform gruelling and surrealistic routines in this intense, neurotic study of the desk-bound being, pushing Super 8mm filmmaking to new extremes.
long synopsis
Set against a haunting score and visceral soundtrack, isolated office workers perform gruelling, pointless and surrealistic routines in this intense, neurotic study of the desk-bound being.
Striking monochromatic photography, enriched by fleeting passages of bold colour and fearless splicing, push Super 8mm filmmaking to new extremes.
key credits
- director
- Matt Hulse
- half lives
- Fiona Staniland
- Sarah Beauvoisin
- Mark Bishop
- Sam Dore
- Nick Currey
- music
- Daniel Padden
Matt Hulse
short biography
Matt’s practice crosses boundaries between film, video, animation, interactivity and installation. In 1994 he completed the Electronic Imaging course at Duncan of Jordanstone and his many prizewinning films that have followed were screened in a retrospective at Dresden Filmfest 2002.
His first animate! work was Hotel Central which shared with Jean Luc Godard the Special Award for Film at the Split Festival of New Cinema 2001. He lives in Edinburgh.
3 November 2004
artist statement
The film is a fleeting and intense exploration of large, cold isolated office blocks and lone, alienated workers, stuck in bizarre routines in a nasty grey oppressive city. You may have heard of lone soldiers in the jungle who are still fighting the Vietnam War when it’s been over for 30 years?
Our characters here are similar, like workers carrying on at their desk in desperation after some terrible urban disaster. Meanwhile the computers and offices have evolved and are able to move/change/dance – this is where the animation comes in!
animate! films by this artist
artist’s website
Matt’s own website
a film by Matt Hulse
direction
- director
- Matt Hulse
cast in picture
- half lives
- Fiona Staniland
- Sarah Beauvoisin
- Mark Bishop
- Sam Dore
- Nick Currey
live-action personnel
- prop maker
- Guy Bishop
- Tadhg O'Sullivan
- production manager
- Lucy Brown
image personnel
- stills
- Alice Nelson
sound personnel
- music
- Daniel Padden
support
- primary funding
an animate! commission funded through Finetake by Arts Council England and Channel 4
© Matt Hulse 2004
Half Life title card. A misaligned Super 8mm splice creates a sandwich of dust around the celluloid, partially obscuring the cold winter sunshine (North Wales)
-click on image for full size still
Rush hour traffic, Warsaw
-click on image for full size still
Traffic speeds eastwards from the Plac Konstytucji, Warsaw
-click on image for full size still
A Warsaw office block
-click on image for full size still
Mr Budzik deals with his paperwork, seemingly finalising a deal on a Fleischermachinenfabrik (Meat Processing Machine Factory)
-click on image for full size still
Mr Marker (Nick Currey) generates data for his hand-cranked computer (designed by Tadhg O’Sullivan & Guy Bishop)
-click on image for full size still
Depleted by routine, he rubs at his permanently sealed eyes
-click on image for full size still
He dreams in colour
-click on image for full size still
He dreams of light
-click on image for full size still
Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration
-click on image for full size still
Back to work
-click on image for full size still
Somewhere, elsewhere, outside (in this shot – Berlin), trains pass by
-click on image for full size still
Ms Szminka (Fiona Staniland) collates and files Mr Marker’s data
-click on image for full size still
Ms Szminka collates and files Mr Marker’s data
-click on image for full size still
She has precise legs and impressive shoes
-click on image for full size still
A log is kept of her activity using the latest in self-adhesive technology
-click on image for full size still
Ms Szminka checks up on her little secret
-click on image for full size still
She has been cultivating a colourful little allotment in the filing cabinet
-click on image for full size still
But Half Lives get no breaks
-click on image for full size still
Mr Budzik (Mark Bishop) winds up a worker
-click on image for full size still
Day and night and day and night – moonlight by Lucy Brown
-click on image for full size still
Trains pass, just like moods
-click on image for full size still
Rather important looking office block, Warsaw
-click on image for full size still
Fraulein Stromkreis (Sarah Beauvoisin) focuses on the power supply
-click on image for full size still
Fraulein Stromkreis focuses on the power supply
-click on image for full size still
She triggers a flash vision of Mr Pineska (Samuel Dore)
-click on image for full size still
In a moment of passion / panic Fraulein Stromkreis triggers an alarm
-click on image for full size still
Mr Marker stands to attention as a military parade passes by
-click on image for full size still
Ms Szminka freezes
-click on image for full size still
Mr Pineska stands fervently to attention
-click on image for full size still
Mr Budzik gives a furtive little glance as if to say “we know you’re out there”
-click on image for full size still
The booming fallout scours the barren landscape (North Wales)
-click on image for full size still
Mr Pineska is wound back up and put to work, transporting data
-click on image for full size still
The cold moon penetrates the prefabricated office block then envelopes it in night
-click on image for full size still
Ms Szminka scratches at the rash of information
-click on image for full size still
technical
process summary
Filmed entirely on Super 8mm using Kodachrome 40ASA colour, Kodak Tri-X 200ASA b&w and Quarzchrome 50ASA b&w. Shot with Nizo 801 macro & Bauer C700XLM. Telecine at BBC London to DigiBeta & DV.
Offline edit & soundtrack design at home by director using Premiere Pro & Adobe Audition. Online to DigiBeta at ARC Facilities (Edinburgh).
master copy format
- format
- DigiBeta
- colour or black & white
- colour
video distribution format
- video format
- DigiBeta
- screen aspect ratio
- 16:9
- video standard
- PAL
- sound type
- stereo
distributor
LUX
info@lux.org.uk
+44 (0)20 7503 3980
www.lux.org.uk
