PLAY COGITO
by Russell W.B. Kirkby
Shot on Super 16mm film with budget of $25,000 courtesy of the Screen Innovation Production Fund of New Zealand and further sponsored by Red Bull and Vodafone:
Cogito is a six minute mixed media mind-job embedded with symbols for those with eyes to see. A post modern interpretation of Descartes meditations using an alternative narrative strategy.
The tag line: “How do you know what you think you know?
Synopsis: A man narrates his personal deconstruction of his reality as he journeys to an audition to discovers that he is an actor auditioning for the film he is already in.
Well done Russell. Your family is very very proud .xx
A vividly shot conceptual film with a thought-provoking narration and interesting use of mixed media with the close up of ants, histograms and blood cells. The film leaves the impression of a futuristic setting and time, particularly the filming of the bus station which looks like the subway from Total Recall. There is a sense of mystery too about the protagonist. We are not permitted to get too close to him. It would be interesting to expand on his inner thoughts and vulnerabilities for a feature idea. Maybe he wakes up and realizes he is part of a wider conspiracy he has to solve, like the altered reality in Total Recall. The techno soundtrack was really funky as well and kept the viewer interested. Congratulations Russell!