COMING SOON: Man V. Candy Machine

“My dynamic manifestation was designed to be the ultimate in lineology! You can’t off me. I’m my own progenitor, mentor, lover and offspring!” -CANDY MACHINE

We’re going to let you guys in on our secret next project that’s been in the works for a few years now. It’s MAN V. CANDY MACHINE, something we are calling an “Internet Tele-Play,” currently in development to be released later this spring. OK, so we may not have James Cameron’s Stereoscopic 3-D cameras or millions of dollars to throw into this production, but what we do have is a highly original and well-written screenplay, a top-notch production staff, and we damn well know how to use a green screen.

Now you might be wondering, what is MAN V. CANDY MACHINE?

And what is, for that matter, an “Internet Tele-Play?”

It’s something I’ve wanted to produce and direct from the moment the writer first shared it with me over two years ago. It’s the story of the conflict between an archetypical (Middle) man and (Omni) machine who he consults for his everyday / everyneeds. We are employing new technologies, as well as developing new applications for those technologies to provoke the audience to consider the question, “Is man destined to be controlled by machines?” The footage was shot from 3 perspectives – Man’s, Candy Machine’s, and the third person. We are working with a Flash developer–the great and powerful Alec Oliver–to present the video in a way that allows the viewer to toggle between these different perspectives, sort of like a choose-your-own-adventure video. We’re also hoping to further customize the experience for users by integrating GPS and IP address metadata into the action of the narrative, sort of like how ads are targeted and therefore remarkably relevant (or not) on Google or Facebook. The idea is that the user has an unique, interactive experience with his or her computer vis-a-vis an original online interface that allows the user to participate in the storytelling in a way that is not possible on popular Internet video sites such as YouTube or Vimeo.

Character design for MAN by Gretta Johnson, © NHQ 2010

Gretta Johnson illustrating storyboards for MAN V. CANDY MACHINE

Storyboards for MAN V. CANDY MACHINE by Gretta Johnson, © NHQ 2010

The aesthetic is a robust mix of equal parts vintage and contemporary Sci-Fi and Western styles. This includes all aspects of production, from cinematography to sound design to acting to editing. The author has often likened the character of MAN to a “Futuristic Frontiersman.” This image has all sorts of salient references in popular culture, from the Revisionist westerns of Sergio Leone (Spaghetti) and Alejandro Jodorowsky (Acid), to dystopian Sci-Fi films like Blade Runner (action thriller) and Brazil (satire)

The production will bear many similarities to a video game. We are proposing a new way of participating with and thinking about media. We are activating the user by giving him or her the ability to control certain elements of the production, certain parts of the story that make up the whole. We are inviting the user to reconstruct the experience of watching a video based on their own personal value system (choose-your-own-adventure) instead of what we, the producer/distributor, decide is important. The user is invited to interpret their experience as they are having it. The action of interpreting media, of analyzing it in realtime and making choices and performing actions that cause that media to change—this type of user behavior is commonly found in the realm of the gamer, but it is also most often associated with the behavior and practice of the game designer.

MAN through the viewfinder of the 5D, photo by Daniel Postilnik © NHQ 2010

Extreme Close-Up on MAN’s mustache, photo by Caleb Condit © NHQ 2010

“I’m a settler, ain’t you never heard of it? I’m living on a quicksand nature urban development.” -MAN

Stills from security camera footage, © NHQ 2010

There is some thrill in manipulating media that we consume, that we did not create. That is the thrill of the artist-interpreter. By giving the user the ability to edit his or her experience (the chance to determine the outcome) not once, but multiple times, we are inviting our audience to experience a limited but not insignificant degree of that thrill. An important goal to identify, then, is the desire to “thrill” the audience, or for the experience to be “thrilling.” Perhaps a more precise name, instead of Internet Tele-Play, is Internet Thriller? Are we reinventing a genre, or simply contributing to the one first discovered upon clicking an unassuming link to the screaming monster, the Rickroll, the Leekspin, the meme du jour?

“Settle down there Organ Machine. Tuesday morning is too early in the work week to see your short– To see your short– To see your short and curly circuitry!” -CANDY MACHINE

We wrapped just last week on principal photography, and you can see more photos on our Flickr page. The work was long and hard but tons of fun and totally worth it. We have our very talented and professional production team to thank for this. They include Production Manager Daniel Postilnik, actors Eddie Jordan and Rico M. Benzito, Production Designer Gretta Johnson, Wigmaster Mark Botelho, Sound Op Brian Sulpizio, Assistant Camera Robert Cauble, Director of Photography Caleb Condit, and Writer Jonathon Anthony. We’d also like to thank Joe and Leo at Zacuto and Ben at Kolakvideo for hooking us up with lots of high-quality professional gear for very reasonable prices. Now all that’s left is several weeks of postproduction–editing, sound, motion graphics, software development: the works. Stay tuned here for updates on production and release–we’re currently planning a series of related events featuring this and other works for Spring/Summer 2010. Let us know if you’d like to learn more or are interested in getting involved, we’re having a blast! Till then…