40 page color zine with introduction by artist. Printed QR code gives access to full streamable film online. A four fold 16”x20” movie poster printed on 80# cover recycled paper. CD containing all nine original motion picture soundtracks.
“… a witty and evocative video pop opera, a form that combines words, music, and images into miniature graphical essays on cars as metaphors, in a manner pleasantly akin to Robert Ashley’s video opera Perfect Lives.” - David Finkelstein (Film International)
The truly futuristic modes of travel we envisioned have stalled, and the ancient, at times surreal, four wheel roll of metallic ants persists. Perhaps I should be content with plug-in cars, ride share apps and what seems to be a near future of diverless vehicles. For better or worse, the car as we know it survives and creating this work was my way of making amends to that fact. - Tommy Becker
Screenings: The 58th Ann Arbor Film Festival, 27th Chicago Underground FF, 37th Kassel Documentary Film & Video Festival, Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Zebra Poetry Film Festival, Athens International Film & Video Festival, Experiments in Cinema, Visions in the Nunnery 2020, 22nd Annual Moviate Underground Film Festival, That One Film Festival, Other Cinema’s Optronica (performance)
“Equally skilled as a musician, lyricist, and image-maker, he is a master of using simple, clearly constructed assemblages of words, music and images to reveal the hidden underpinnings of American life.” - David Finkelstein (Film International)
“strangely whimsical.. leave behind all your own theories and presumptions about what the art of filmmaking is..” - Kirk Fernwood (One Film Fan)
Screenings: The 58th Ann Arbor Film Festival, 27th Chicago Underground FF, 37th Kassel Documentary Film & Video Festival, Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Zebra Poetry Film Festival, Athens International Film & Video Festival, Experiments in Cinema, Visions in the Nunnery 2020, 22nd Annual Moviate Underground Film Festival, That One Film Festival, Other Cinema’s Optronica (performance)
Emotions in Metal • 21 min • SD, HDV & 16mm archival • 2019 • Rent
“Emotions in Metal” is an art rock film by Tommy Becker. The film is divided into nine vignettes that blend the artist’s: video, music, poetry, performance and computer generated design. The short works link thematically in their investigations into human-vehicle relationships. Whether, performing instructional poetry in the garage, documenting the interiors of strangers’ cars or celebrating art world connections to the road, the work balances a playful humor with a critical eye on where society is currently parked.
Video, Music & Text: written, recorded, edited and performed by Tommy Becker.
All nine tracks from the film in MP3 format.