SPOKEN UTOPIA
A dystopian hip-hop short film inspired by the brutalist architecture of Newcastle. Completed in 2015 as the dissertation project for my BA Combined Hons. Contemporary Music and Sociology, Newcastle University.
I directed, produced, filmed, edited, choreographed and composed for the film myself, over the course of six months. I collaborated with poet/visual artist David C. Lacey for the words/poems and a host of local dancers.
The film pushes many boundaries and explores the nature of cults and occultism, and could be summarised as ‘cults dancing about architecture’. A culmination of 3 years studying utopian theory and music practice.
I made this with no budget, over the course of about 6 months, using a JVC camcorder borrowed from Newcastle’s music department, Ableton Live and a cheap SM57 clone.
The film combines non-narrative storytelling, elements of the built environment, cultism, kabuki theatre, interpretive dance with a dark and pulsating aesthetic. The visual element reads as a bizarre visionary experience combined with a found art object.
Musically the soundtrack is heavy, beat-driven and harsh combining atmospheric noises and a sonically dense palette that combines hip-hop, techno and grime.
