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

Half Life

Hotel Central

artist’s website

Idlevice

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

film still: *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)

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

film still: Rush hour traffic, Warsaw

Rush hour traffic, Warsaw

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Traffic speeds eastwards from the Plac Konstytucji, Warsaw

Traffic speeds eastwards from the Plac Konstytucji, Warsaw

-

click on image for full size still

film still: A Warsaw office block

A Warsaw office block

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Budzik deals with his paperwork, seemingly finalising a deal on a Fleischermachinenfabrik (Meat Processing Machine Factory)

Mr Budzik deals with his paperwork, seemingly finalising a deal on a Fleischermachinenfabrik (Meat Processing Machine Factory)

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Marker (Nick Currey) generates data for his hand-cranked computer (designed by Tadhg O’Sullivan & Guy Bishop)

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

film still: Depleted by routine, he rubs at his permanently sealed eyes

Depleted by routine, he rubs at his permanently sealed eyes

-

click on image for full size still

film still: He dreams in colour

He dreams in colour

-

click on image for full size still

film still: He dreams of light

He dreams of light

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration

Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Back to work

Back to work

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Somewhere, elsewhere, outside (in this shot – Berlin), trains pass by

Somewhere, elsewhere, outside (in this shot – Berlin), trains pass by

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Ms Szminka  (Fiona Staniland) collates and files Mr Marker’s data

Ms Szminka (Fiona Staniland) collates and files Mr Marker’s data

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Ms Szminka  collates and files Mr Marker’s data

Ms Szminka collates and files Mr Marker’s data

-

click on image for full size still

film still: She has precise legs and impressive shoes

She has precise legs and impressive shoes

-

click on image for full size still

film still: A log is kept of her activity using the latest in self-adhesive technology

A log is kept of her activity using the latest in self-adhesive technology

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Ms Szminka checks up on her little secret

Ms Szminka checks up on her little secret

-

click on image for full size still

film still: She has been cultivating a colourful little allotment in the filing cabinet

She has been cultivating a colourful little allotment in the filing cabinet

-

click on image for full size still

film still: But Half Lives get no breaks

But Half Lives get no breaks

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Budzik (Mark Bishop) winds up a worker

Mr Budzik (Mark Bishop) winds up a worker

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Day and night and day and night – moonlight by Lucy Brown

Day and night and day and night – moonlight by Lucy Brown

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Trains pass, just like moods

Trains pass, just like moods

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Rather important looking office block, Warsaw

Rather important looking office block, Warsaw

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Fraulein Stromkreis (Sarah Beauvoisin) focuses on the power supply

Fraulein Stromkreis (Sarah Beauvoisin) focuses on the power supply

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Fraulein Stromkreis focuses on the power supply

Fraulein Stromkreis focuses on the power supply

-

click on image for full size still

film still: She triggers a flash vision of Mr Pineska (Samuel Dore)

She triggers a flash vision of Mr Pineska (Samuel Dore)

-

click on image for full size still

film still: In a moment of passion / panic Fraulein Stromkreis triggers an alarm

In a moment of passion / panic Fraulein Stromkreis triggers an alarm

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Marker stands to attention as a military parade passes by

Mr Marker stands to attention as a military parade passes by

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Ms Szminka freezes

Ms Szminka freezes

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Pineska stands fervently to attention

Mr Pineska stands fervently to attention

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Budzik gives a furtive little glance as if to say “we know you’re out there”

Mr Budzik gives a furtive little glance as if to say “we know you’re out there”

-

click on image for full size still

film still: The booming fallout scours the barren landscape (North Wales)

The booming fallout scours the barren landscape (North Wales)

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Mr Pineska is wound back up and put to work, transporting data

Mr Pineska is wound back up and put to work, transporting data

-

click on image for full size still

film still: The cold moon penetrates the prefabricated office block then envelopes it in night

The cold moon penetrates the prefabricated office block then envelopes it in night

-

click on image for full size still

film still: Ms Szminka scratches at the rash of information

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