 Dirs: Various, 2007, some subtitles
It’s been ten years since onedotzero began their ‘adventures in moving image’ and in that time we’ve seen an unprecedented democratisation of the filmmaking process. Advances in consumer technology have made it possible for almost anyone to produce a film quickly and easily With cheap digital video editing software built in to almost every new PC and a plethora of content distribution methods available, does anyone actually need to lay out the 18 quid required to purchase a DVD such as this one? The answer is a cautious ‘maybe’. While streaming services such as Youtube are all well and good if you want to watch poorly-lit people droning into their webcams and clips of The Simpsons, the sheer volume of content makes interesting and innovative material difficult to find. Perhaps, then, the remit of onedotzero is to act as a content filter – bringing new original material to the fore.
For anyone who hasn’t seen a onedotzero DVD before, the range of material on offer will seem breathtakingly eclectic, encompassing computer animation, puppetry, abstract imagery and narrative shorts all jumbled together in a digital pick and mix. Jason Forrest’s Joel Trussel: War Photographer, uses the winning combination of Vikings and heavy metal guitars in a 70s kids-show animation style that produces one of the stand-out pieces on the disc. Similarly, both Soot Giant by Geleyn/Genoulaz and 12foot6’s Urban Animal use humour and simple techniques to produce pleasing (if not wholly innovative) contributions. Compare this to The Blackheartgang’s The Tale of How, which is epic in its scope and realisation, but somehow remains utterly charmless – a shame, given the amount of work that has obviously gone into it. In contrast, Ian W Gouldstone’s BAFTA winning Guy 101 uses simplistic computer animation to augment a story told in voiceover. While from a technical standpoint its use of stock models and basic typography is primitive, the compelling story hooks viewers in a way that other, flashier elements of the disc singularly fail to do.
And it could be argued that flashy elements are what onedotzero is all about. It’s difficult to believe that distorted techno soundtracks and fuzzy visuals are still considered cutting edge some ten years after the festival first began, and films such as Artificial Worlds v3.0 offer nothing that CHRIS CUNNINGHAM hasn’t already shown us. While those working in the visual effects industry will probably appreciate the technical prowess on display, clips such as this offer little to the average, non-propellerhead viewer. Similarly, Alex Chandon’s Borderline has some interesting shots of London distorted into Escher-esque mazes, but feels more like something one would glance at in a gallery than actually sit down and watch.
It’s difficult to summarise onedotzero_select dvd5, simply because its mandate is so broad. While the there’s no disputing its eclecticism, something feels utterly amiss about the whole enterprise. The best films on the disc are those that bypass the need for flashy visuals and instead rely on straightforward storytelling or simple presentation. The remainder feels like the same sort of mashed-up eye candy that onedotzero has been presenting for the past decade. While it may dazzle for a moment or two, the over-riding feeling is one of form over content. Something entirely different is needed in order to evolve moving images on to the next stage. Quite what that consists of is anyone’s guess, but one suspects that it’s not going to be unlistenable soundtracks and migraine inducing shape-jams.
Extras:
This Limited Edition package includes a bonus BBC Film Network New Music Shorts DVD. |
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