Short Film: Paintwork

"Paintwork" by Tim Maughan

Two-time BSFA award nominee Tim Maughan has set his short sci-fi story “Paintwork” to video.  It recounts an act of defiance by a Bristol graffiti artist named "3Cube" in a near-future dystopia where consumers are assaulted by interactive ads through their head-mounted displays (similar to Google Glass) by means of QR codes.

"New Scientist’s Arc Magazine and science fiction author Tim Maughan are proud to announce the online debut of the low budget, experimental short film Paintwork. Set in near-future Bristol – the British city known internationally for spawning Banksy – it follows augmented reality graffiti artist 3Cube as she illegally transforms an all-too familiar advertising billboard into a work of high tech street art, and poses questions about the relationships between technology, advertising and the control of public spaces.

Heavily influenced by Chris Marker’s seminal 1962 film La Jetée, Paintwork blends still photography by Laurie Eagle and computer animation by Alan Tabrett with audio from two stalwarts of the Bristol music scene in the form of narration by renowned MC Koast and an exclusive soundtrack from influential dubstep producer Forsaken. Based on the title short story from Maughan’s critically acclaimed collection, Paintwork was premiered in an early form in February as part of the arts festival Sonic Acts in Amsterdam, but today sees the unveiling of the completed version."

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