Private Project

Skin Deep

In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, the taboo behind having visible tattoos in the Western world is beginning to dissipate. However, certain stigmas still remain. In Skin Deep, these stigmas are investigated, the process of tattooing is broken down, history of tattoo art is briefed, and the personal experiences of a tattoo artist are discussed.

  • Alexander Martinson
    Director
  • Alexander Martinson
    Producer
  • Shanna Goodwin
    Key Cast
    "Herself"
  • Corey Shortt
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 8, 2019
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Black Box Film Festival
    Tampa
    United States
    May 7, 2020
    Achievement in Cinematography
Director Biography - Alexander Martinson

Alex Martinson is a Korean-American film writer, director, and editor based out of Tampa, Florida. He is currently pursuing a BFA in Film & Media Arts at The University of Tampa. Alex originally enrolled as a marine biology major but switched paths after two semesters to pursue his true lifelong passion of film and art, which grew dramatically. While generally working on experimental, documentary, and short narrative films, he has also worked on performance art. Through his life experiences, the main goals of his films are to create wider awareness of hot social topics and personal struggle. He has created documentaries around Florida as well as in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he captured footage for one of his latest works in progress, Battered By Batten, a look into the life of a family with two terminally ill children.

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Director Statement

Tattoos in Western society have always been on a somewhat slippery slope in terms of what is deemed "socially acceptable". In this day and age however, they are becoming much more mainstream and popular. A social stigma still remains, albeit small, surrounding what tattoos are and what they mean. I decided to talk to a professional tattoo artist to address these issues - tattoos in society, their history, how they're created - to touch on the topic. As one with several tattoos myself, I was able to learn more about things I wasn't previously aware of, as well as inspire others to take an interest in the ancient art of tattooing.