frankstudio4b

[frankstudio4b]

This semester I made my dream toy and it was awesome.

[frankstudio4b]

Reflection

This semester I just had a lot of fun, and I've been able to confirm that I definitely do not regret doing this degree, in fact it's one of the best decisions I've made. I'm very proud of the Bat-Computer, and it feels like a very full circle moment as I see elements of all the work I've made prior to this one reflected in parts or the process of making bat-computer.

I've always been looking for a way to combine all the aspects of art that I love making into one project. This installation combines the set design of theatre, the storytelling/acting of film and the fine arts context of contemporary video. I feel as though the work I made in second/third year has really informed and almost led up to doing this. This kind of set design/installation work is definitely what I want to explore after graduating. I also hope to maybe turn bat-computer into a show?

Major things I've learned this semester:

Teamwork!

Doing group exhibition and setting up that show definitely altered and further informed my practice. It taught me a lot about appreciating and investing in other peoples practices, even ones that are far out of my usual realm of knowledge. It's changed how I view my own practice and I've enjoyed comparing similarities and differences with others. I've really loved to learn from my peers lately. I've also loved to teach!

Installation

Team work also made me very aware of how I install and how easy it is to make sure it's perfect and clean. I never really used to care about install just because I was mainly making video work, but this project and this semester has challenged me to improve my installations and it has definitely paid off.

Handyman things

I've also been using my hands a lot, like building, and sawing and drilling and stuff. Which has actually been an extremely helpful skill and has made me feel confident that I can construct something out of uni if I want to. Even without Tim lol

Tech!

Oh Mike, I have learned so much from that man this year.

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Added details

Updated Bat Signal/Suit Hologram

Power chord piping

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final install for exposure with some added pieces

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The movie don’t look up executed the realistic feeling of seeing what it would be like when these catastrophic major events happen. In fiction they seem ridiculous but in reality it would be how humans actually react. Of course the surrealism in this film is timothee chalamet being a redneck hippie guy.

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Visual Model for exposure install

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The Bat-Bot

In the beginning of the story Batman gets help from an AI that is built in to the Bat-Computer.

I modelled the voice of the Bat-Bot off of HAL9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. I like how the voice has human like qualities to it but is still obviously robotic. It's also weirdly relaxing and creepy.

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The Rise and Fall of Phoenix Jones

This video essay by Atrocity Guide was actually a big inspiration for my project. Phoenix Jones was a major player in the "real life superhero" movement that occurred in the late 2000s/early 2010s. Phoenix Jones patrolled Seattle but had different methods that unsettled his other peers who went for a more humanities approach to crime fighting. Jones would track and assault people with a vigilante style that closely resembles Batman, he was often described as an "anti-hero". Phoenix had a full bulletproof suit and was armed with pepper spray, a baton and years of Martial Arts training. This story is wild and they way it was documented when it was happening is what I based most of my footage to look like.

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Batman and I are probably drastically different heights as Batman is usually visualised as a tall white man. But! In Frank Millers run of the Batman comics, Batman was actually short and buff rather than tall and lean

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Is Batman a cruiser?

He wears leather and waits around dark corners for men to appear, which is like pretty gay

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Miguel Ángel Rojas works on cruising and anonymity

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Should I film more?

The narrative made sense even without the scenes I haven’t filmed yet however there is a few continuity issues of the characters saying things are about to happen or have happened but never happen.

I could either refilm the stuff I’ve already done or add the extra scenes.

Or i could rewrite it.

I think I’m just a bit lazy lol and want to focus on exposure but I also want to finish this project

#thinking

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A nice install pic

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Getting into performance art

I did some work with Julieanna Preston which involved a lot of workshopping performance and movement. Which was foreign to me at the beginning but during the process I felt really into it and it started to excite me.

Then I dressed as Batman at my group show opening, wearing this full leather suit in a hot room full of people. I ended up walking around semi in character and just profusely sweating all over.

The next day someone said they loved my performance work that I did the night before. I didn't originally intend for it to be performance but now that I think about it... Hell yeah! I love live performance and characterisations. I think I'd definitely do something like that again. the performance work "The Great White Way"

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