Back in 2005, the British Film Institute commissioned multimedia artists (and one-time Wired Rave winners) Jennifer and Kevin McCoy to create one of their diorama extravaganzas -- a miniature film set that mixes fandom and geek chic. Their colorful creations look utterly 1930s retro, but their topics and subtle set props are completely contemporary (if not sci-fi). Now, BFI is showing off the duo's finished work in its just-opened London-based Southbank cinema arts complex.
The McCoys combine DIY robotics, custom code, and elaborate miniature film sets to create real-time vignettes. With the project, they're turning the lens on themselves -- the couple has surrounded themselves with surveillance cameras that spy on their daily happenings and interactions. Yeah, personal. "It's very abject to include ourselves," Kevin explained to me a while back. "Like little voodoo dolls."
BFI also commissioned a piece that turns the utopian architectural plan New Babylon by Constant Nieuwenhuis into a miniature Alphaville-like film set. There are 36 sets and cameras, editing in real-time to a large wall-mounted plasma screen (last pic). [All pics from theMcCoy's website.]
