Elective: ART • DV & 16mm • 30min • 2023 • Soundtrack • Rental

Elective: ART is an art rock film that reflects on my twenty year journey as a high school art teacher. Original song writing and spoken word combines with performance art, archival footage and direct 16mm film elements to celebrate the freedom of imagination, autonomy in creativity and necessity of creative practices in our schools. The film depicts an art wizard unlocking a student's imagination sending them into a surreal world where a color wheel escapes the classroom. Aided by primary colors, a hero's journey ensues as the class clown is tasked with retrieving the wheel and freeing other students from the tedium of their school day.

Elective: ART is a celebration of youth and the freedom found in the creative process. It's also a reflection on schools. In particular, the lack of autonomy students' have in their education. The work is dedicated to adults who have graduated, but continue to embrace learning and find freedom in absurd creative play.

​Video, Music & Text: written, recorded, edited & performed by Tommy Becker • Vocals, Guitars, Keys & Drum Programming by Tommy Becker. Video synth elements by Kit Young • Interlude soundscapes by Tommy Becker & Lori Varga • "Yes/No" - Written & Read by Richard Olsen • Rhythm bed on Teenage Shaman by Stephen Becker. Bass guitar on "Into the Night", "Marks We Made" & “Line, Shape, Hue ” by John-Paul McLean • Shadow animations on, “Line, Shape, Hue” by Lydia Greer • Marbled 16mm film by Lori Varga • Operatic vocals on “Deer Children” by Caroline Clarke • Mask animation by Greedy Limb • Vocals recorded at Different Fur Studios & mixed by Grace Coleman • Archival 16mm film sourced by Craig Baldwin • Other archival footage sourced from Prelinger Archive & POND5. A huge thank you to my all students for participating in this film and creative adventures over the years!