Real Weapon

The work exists in two versions: vertical and horizontal. And also, in two languages - Russian with Russian subtitles and English with English subtitles (full dubbing).

Machinima, original scenario, shooting, editing and music.
Video essay in the machinima* genre. The scenario features real dialogues and quotes from on-line chats shot in the GTA V gaming environment.

Machinima matches the DIY principle of using those media and facilities that are available at the moment, referring to both self-organization practices and digital anarchy.

The main character is some kind of Danila Bagrov [the main character of Russian cult movie ‘Brother’ by Aleksei Balabanov] – the way he would be like if he was transferred in the art sphere. He’s my exaggerated alter ego as well. If we focus on the ‘search of power – search of truth’ fable, this character, as well as Bagrov interpreted by [Sergey] Bodrov [Russian actor], seeks to escape the deceitful duality, duality of art in the capitalism era, in this case.
He is a typical representative of precariat, with all the helplessness and romanticism that are typical of this segment.
The plot is structurally divided into parts similarly with the 12 steps program that the character undergoes. However, in this version of the program addiction is replaced by capitalism, while art takes the pace of god.

Any communication becomes a form of violence. Real art, just like real weapon, can be only such a communication that brings a real change into the participiants; world. Thereafter, real communication breaks the logic of the capitalist production.
The transmission of real situations into the gaming environment illustrates the critical introspection that remains locked in the vacuum of escapism before any direct action takes place.