Dance

Dance (55 seconds)
Dance is from a series of films made using small scale, battery powered automata, which are allowed to live out short existences on screen. It is important to point out that they are not animations but instead rather capricious mechanical creations. This very short film documents moments in the life of a small automaton (actually an electric toothbrush). I think the film is fairly self-explanatory and it tackles some of my favourite themes: disappointment, loneliness and futility. On the whole though, it is meant to be funny.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• dance
• art
• video
• alex
• pearl

[KahnBB6]

You initially give the impression that the automata is self-guided. The allure of automata from the 1500s to present has been the suspension of disbelief that a manmade mechanical "creature" could demonstrate a skill or intelligence.

This is stop-motion animation.

If you hadn't mentioned anything about automata in your description, the film would speak for itself more freely without distracting associations.

[rotagavin]

It is'nt stop motion animation, it is an electric toothbrush moving at random which was, for me,one of the most important elements of the film when i made it. the idea of chance and play is central to the production of much of my work.

[KahnBB6]

All right. It may indeed not be stop motion, but I'm looking at the frames very closely and it appears like stop motion on low quality video. Sorry. You should export another version with close attention paid to the framerate being locked at 29.97fps. If you've uploaded from a WMV file, that format is particularly bad at portraying accurate motion.

Nothing wrong at all with the movie or the approach except for that very critical issue.

[rotagavin]

Hello again, The frames were removed deliberately to cause this confusion. The frame rate of the original is full quality quicktime 25fps but still appears "animated' this has been slightly exagerated by Utube's compression over which I have no control. I save the full quality versions for screening in galleries and film festivals. Other stuff (often better quality)can be seen on my website www.rotagavin.blogspot.com thanks for your interest & comments

Alex

[chloeakers]

The ending always makes me laugh! I love the amount of hate comments you have on your videos =p Its funnier to me as you laughed about the comments in the lecture you gave us!

Chloe =]

x

[CopyYou]

we wanted to do it with a women's well OK or mans vibrator what ever takes your fancy ! but your tooth brush look cleaner than a big black rubber dildo in a dress buzzing around ! !

[rotagavin]

Why? its fun

[KahnBB6]

I'll take a look at your website versions then.  Thanks!