De Facto

An experiment to preserve consciousness and memory for all eternity is about to proceed but an unlikely source from the distant future is monitoring the situation. It has been decided that an intervention is required.

De Facto explores concepts of the self, technology and artificial intelligence through the real and surreal, with apparent visions delivered from the future with the intention of altering the past.

  • John Vincent
    Director
  • John Vincent
    Writer
  • Myriam Mégharbi
    Writer
  • John Vincent
    Producer
  • Myriam Mégharbi
    Key Cast
  • Mark Ozzo
    Key Cast
  • Luke Dash
    Digital 3D Models
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Sci Fi, Horror, Surrealism
  • Runtime:
    27 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 21, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - John Vincent

John Vincent is an Artist and Film Maker based in Letchworth Garden City. His work ranges from short experimental films and video/audio installations to digital art and painting. Experimentation with digital media has led to further exploration of his interest in technology and the interplay of analogue and digital often manifesting in surreal and dreamlike imagery and sound.

The subject matter of Vincent’s work is often informed by a background in painting, local history, the utilisation of archives and memory blended with contemporary scenarios and imagined futures typically through a personal geographical relationship with a location.

Within his work there are also notions of a contemporary suburban Gothic with elements of horror that touch on science fiction and time travel with a distinctly British feel. These ideas have led to the exploration and representation of eerie atmospheric interpretations of everyday life and tend to be represented by missing or hidden elements within scenes often conveying a sense of mystery by alluding to events that have already occurred (or are about to).

Vincent has received a number of commissions for digital projects over the last few years resulting in some exciting collaborations and research based work.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I was inspired by the idea of uploading consciousness to a digital environment to preserve an individual and the ramifications that might come from that. I am also interested in the idea of time travel. Within 'De Facto' I decided to apply both concepts. In the film, there are references to AI, climate change and the access of the wealthy to certain technologies.

The technologies in this instant are seemingly delivered from the future but cobbled together in the present. Despite this, they are still powerful enough to affect thoughts, dreams and actions of the protagonist.

The protagonist is challenged and provoked by a duplicitous being - amplified by the machine - with an aim to achieve its goal by whatever means necessary. Although these intentions are not entirely clear at the outset, there is a realisation that our protagonist may have added a safeguard, not just for herself but for humanity.

De Facto: "Existing in fact whether with lawful authority or not" - in this instance the facts are malleable as suggested in the titles where the future affects the past.