Alessandro Bavari: Camera Tremula 1, Noise Melange, XYZ Ocula Depth Fulvio Sturniolo: Camera Tremula 2 Jeff Ensign aka Evolution Noise Slave: Sonic Harmonium Format: Pal Widescreen 1050x576 Duration: 8:27 mins --------------------------------------------------------------- Prizes - Golden Nica at Prix Ars Electronica 2011. - Special Award IED at Skepto International Film Festival. - Best Experimental Film at the 2nd Stortford Film Festival. - Best Direction Prize at the Cinemavvenire Video Festival. - 1° Prize Art Lab at the Festival Internazionale del Cinema d'Arte. - 1° Prize ex aequo at the Corto Dorico Short Film Festival + a Special Mention Prize. - Best Design Prize at the 13th Animation Film Festival Animated Dreams. - Finalist as Best Direction at the Animago Award. - Finalist at the Bolzano Short Film Festival. http://www.alessandrobavari.com/ info@alessandrobavari.com --------------------------------------------------------------- SINOPSYS Metachaos, from Greek Meta (beyond) and Chaos (the abyss where the eternally-formless state of the universe hides), indicates a primordial shape of ameba, which lacks in precise morphology, and it is characterized by mutation and mitosis. In fact the bodies represented in METACHAOS, even though they are characterized by an apparently anthropomorphous appearance, in reality they are without identity and conscience. They exist confined in a spaceless and timeless state, an hostile and decadent hyperuranium where a fortress, in perpetual movement, dominates the landscape in defense of a supercelestial, harmonic but fragile parallel dimension. In its destructive instinct of violating the dimensional limbo, the mutant horde penetrates the intimacy of the fortress, laying siege like a virus. Similar to the balance of a philological continuum in human species, bringing the status of things back to the primordial broth. STATEMENT METACHAOS is a multidisciplinary audio-visual project, articulated in a short film, a set of photography (http://www.alessandrobavari.com/english/Metachaos-photographies/gallery_Metachaos-photographic_series.htm) and mix-technique paintings. The purpose of the project is to represent the most tragic aspects of the human nature and of its motion, such as war, madness, social change and hate. An accretion of feelings that are metaphorically represented by specific visual forms, which are abstract conceptually, but concrete and tangible formally. The application of acid and monochromatic tints, besides the strong contrasts, makes everything intentionally more oppressive and tragic. In order to obtain a more immersive and plausible version, the shot was taken adopting the camera live technique. The extreme and frenetic motion of the shoulder camera, similar to the subjective one, becomes a main constant, so that, along with the persisting cuts used to edit the video, create a bigger sense of instability and danger. In fact, thanks to the dissemination of Technology, it is possible to notice that the unconscious-esthetic potential of the shots available on Youtube, characterized by a pseudo-documentary and amateur approach, often offer an unexpected emotional involvement, which trigger an exhibitionistic-voyeuristic interchange between the author and the consumer. The irrational gesture and action of the bodies, as if a collective form of madness controlled them, are inspired by artists like Bosch and Bruegel who, between the ‘400 and ‘500, produced an iconography where irrational images show sickly madness and pain. The project has been realized using different techniques: live shots taken in discharged industrial sites, CGI animations, tracking and motion captures, besides various other analogical ones. American Jeff Ensign, aka Evolution Noise Slave composed the original sound track, which has been progressively updated during the video production. The musical score was inspired by 6 separate pieces Jeff had previously created that were then combined into a hybrid. The composition was also based in part from a sonic interpretation of the ideas presented in Antonin Artaud’s the Theater and Cruelty overlaid on Bavari’s images. JURY STATEMENT FROM PRIX ARS ELECTRONICA 2011. Alessandro Bavari’s “Metachaos” is an impressive display of the amazing graphics that can be produced with leading-edge hardware and software. The 8-minute clip begins with a sequence of clear, geometric forms that suggest a serene world. But it doesn’t take long until it’s apparent that this was just the calm before the storm. Shadowy creatures and shockingly grotesque figures intrude into this domain rendered in black & white and sepia tones and rip it to pieces. Using the interplay of light and shadow, intentionally shaky camera movements and quick cuts, Bavari takes us on a tour de force through an unsettling imaginary cosmos that grips viewers and doesn’t let them loose. In addition to its extraordinary visuals, “Metachaos” features an i

• published: 21 Oct 2010
• views: 347412

**BLOG POST www.asworldsdivide.com www.facebook.com/asworldsdivide TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT… Whilst pondering how best to encapsulate a brief update on the film, I found myself looking back over the various evolvements that have unfolded since my returning from Mentawai almost two years ago; and, in the end, decided that perhaps I’ll just begin there. So, basically, at that stage, whilst I did foresee the importance in utilizing the development of this project to learn about the processes of filmmaking, I envisioned – after having neglected using this approach whilst being taught about literacy at school or, perhaps closer to reason, having yet to realize an ability or means to truly express how I feel – that, to ensure the film would achieve a desired standard, I’d piece together the story and, after developing it enough to portray a sense of why this experience had had such a profound impact on my life, use it to then lure the interest and talent of a professional script writer… believing that they could help me decipher an intelligible interpretation of the emotions felt and perspectives gained throughout this journey. A stage, approximately one year ago, I had reached. It was at this point though, after finalizing a draft of the film and making contact with two respected writers, that – contrary to what I’d previously considered the only possible option for my situation – to my surprise, I found myself contesting the practicality of this proposed strategy and, subsequently, believing that – for the purpose of my intention – this tactic may in fact be backward. I mean, really, how should I expect that a stranger, or anybody else for that matter, could truly understand and give accurate description to the depth of thought, feeling, and ways in which this experience did and has affected me, if I was unable to verbalize it myself? So, now, a year on, and after a great deal of reflection, I’m pleased to report that a first draft of this new version has been completed; which, when comparatively measured against the time and fairly tentative divulgement applied to the previous, I see as being quite an exciting advancement. Despite this though, I’m unable to offer comment on how it’s been perceived by others just yet, as I’m still in the process of sourcing feedback. But nevertheless, I will say that, for me, personally, after having now discovered and developed through this project a true sense of expression, it is – for one of many other (not so selfish) reasons – why this film has already been a success. Looking ahead, I’ll continue to make necessary improvements – such as cutting the films duration (currently at 120min) back to a length that’s slightly more (commercially) user friendly – and then, assisted by the direction gained through opinion and criticism of others, fine-tune and prepare a version for submission to the various avenues offered to advance it. However, for now, I’ll be taking a short break from staring at and thinking about the film and, instead, will be focusing some time again on the MENTAWAI SUPPORT PROGRAM Lastly though, I thought I’d share with you an early example of the proposed culling operation I mentioned above… showing you a scene, which, as such, due to it falling into the category of not having enough bearing on the stories progression to justify it’s place, has now been removed from the film. So, please, if you have the time, do take a moment to view this otherwise exiled compilation of visual stimuli. More updates, soon. Cheerio

• published: 03 Oct 2011
• views: 3190