Monday 07 Mar 2005
It’s robot-boy with attitude, baggies, and an iPod. New York-based UVPhactory created the new video for hip-hop artist Peter Miser and yes, these cool hip-hop robots can dance.
New York’s UVPhactory created the concept, designed and executed the 3D animation, lensed the live-action footage and completed the offline and online editorial for the three-and-a-half minute video for Miser’s new single, Scent of a Robot.
The single tells the story of a cubicle-dwelling everyman who inadvertently discovers that he’s a robot. The video switches between human and robot perspective – first we see the human face (Miser) brushing his teeth, getting to work, getting an earful from his boss (the cyclops style floating robot), then we switch to see Miser as robot. The baggy jeans, the attitude, the feeling of talent forcing itself through the motions of a dull job – the transition from human to robot is obvious, but the character remains the same throughout.
Existential design
Work started in the summer of 2004 when Miser commissioned UVPH to create the video. “We got to work shooting the live-action footage in a variety of New York locations: subways, a Manhattan office tower after hours, an apartment and even in the bathroom of our offices,” says Welsh.
“Things really clicked when we heard Scent of a Robot. I thought the lyrics were powerful, but I didn’t want to just illustrate them, I wanted to find an unusual angle,” says UVPH creative director Alexandre Moors.
“The lyrics are about a guy who finds out he is a robot. I thought it would be interesting to have a robot schooled in all the human behaviours, who sees things through ‘human’ eyes, who thinks he is ‘more human than human.’”
The ‘more human than human’ theme is the company’s nod to Blade Runner – in classic sci-fi movie the phrase is the slogan of the company that designs the Replicants.
@digital_arts on Twitter.
Top10.com: broadband & mobile phones
Looking for cheap broadband or mobile phone deals? Compare offers on broadband, mobile broadband, mobile phones and more. Top10 is the UK’s most popular telecoms comparison site. Compare & Share at Top10.com
Picture it Found
Shutterstock is the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world. Every day we add thousands of photographs, illustrations, and vectors to our outstanding collection of premium, royalty-free images. 10% off your subscription with coupon code: DER410
Online recruitment for the UKs creative sectors
Recruiters: Search users CVs and portfolios or post your job all from the online comfort of your desk.
Candidates: Find 100's design, digital, creative, new media and web jobs or upload your CV and portfolio and let employers find you!
Click here for the latest reader comments