“Equally skilled as a musician, lyricist, and image-maker, he is a master of using simple, clearly constructed assemblages of words, music and images to reveal the hidden underpinnings of American life.” - David Finkelstein (Film International)
“strangely whimsical.. leave behind all your own theories and presumptions about what the art of filmmaking is..” - Kirk Fernwood (One Film Fan)
Emotions in Metal • 21 min • SD, HDV & 16mm archival • 2019 • Rent
“Emotions in Metal” is an art rock film by Tommy Becker. The film is divided into nine vignettes that blend the artist’s: video, music, poetry, performance and computer generated design. The short works link thematically in their investigations into human-vehicle relationships. Whether, performing instructional poetry in the garage, documenting the interiors of strangers’ cars or celebrating art world connections to the road, the work balances a playful humor with a critical eye on where society is currently parked.
SCREENINGS: Chicago Underground FF, Ann Arbor FF, Zebra Poetry FF, Kasseler Dokfest, Athens International F&VF, The Film & Video Poetry Symposium, Moviate Underground FF, Experiments in Cinema FF, That One Film Festival. AWARD: “Best Short - Music Video” - Athens International Film & Video Festival 2020.
Video, Music & Text: written, recorded, edited and performed by Tommy Becker. Vocals, Guitars, Keys & Drum Programming by Tommy Becker. Theme Song for Driving written by Tommy & Stephen Becker.
40 page color zine with introduction by artist. Printed QR code gives access to full streamable film online. A four fold 16”x20” movie poster printed on 80# cover recycled paper. CD containing all nine original motion picture soundtracks.
Theme Song for Driving - Emotions in Metal • 2019 • 1min clip
The sun is setting as I attach a cherry blossom branch to the grill of the car. I power on the dash cam and the ritual begins. A meditative drive through the neighborhood.
Mobile Solitude - Emotions in Metal • 2019 • 1min clip
Today, more than ever, our surroundings are infected with mass amounts of irrelevant data. Could cars become mobile meditation spaces? Could a sanctuary for our minds be parked out front?
Brushy Wayne - Emotions in Metal • 2019 • 1min clip
For me, Thiebaud's streets are ideal streets; long, straight stretches of blacktop, glowing in California sunlight, void of traffic. They invite us to take a long, slow drive along the edge of the city. This piece is a tribute to Wayne's landscapes.
A Way Through - Emotions in Metal • 2019 • 1min clip
We consider our car interiors to be private spaces, but they are publicly viewable. The camera searches for answers before getting pulled into a swirling of digital space. (video synth by Kit Young)