From the interference patterns of neutrons to data centres and salt lakes, »Brute Force« captures how our world’s complexity collides with the simplified rationalities of our digital age.
| locations | USA, France, Germany, Austria |
| year | 2022-2024 [work-in-progress] |
| filed as | essay-film / experimental documentary |
| format | DCP 4K, 17:9, colour |
| length | 29 min |
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Synopsis
»Brute Force« explores how our knowledge-making practices affect the world.
Using insights from quantum theory and geology, the film unveils the intrinsic omissions, distortions, and ecological impact of data extraction.
The film shows that through mapping and computing the world we in turn transform, shape and control the territories we were trying to capture. But much like our data centres, the land itself keeps a geological record of its own transformation, sedimenting the material traces of our technological residues.
»Brute Force« is the result of over five years of artistic research, driven by my interests at the intersection of geopolitics, ecology, and technology.
The film is currently in its final stages of production. Further details will be available soon.
Film stills
| directed, produced and edited by | Felix Lenz |
| co-directed & sound by | Ganaël Dumreicher |
| produced at | Design Investigations, University of Applied Arts Vienna |
| research & concept | Felix Lenz |
| DoP | Stella-Joya Puelacher |
| DoP [France unit] | Jaakko Taavila |
| additional DoPs | Jonas Heuwieser • Felix Lenz |
| voice-over co-written by | Laura Stöckler • Felix Lenz |
| poem written by | Karen Barad |
| voice-over spoken by | Day Eve Komet |
| voice-over i.a. based on conversations with | Vladan Joler • Diego P Fernandez |
| production coordination & research assistance | Laura Stöckler |
| additional research | Dunia Sahir |
| VFX | Lena Kalleitner |
| additional VFX tracking | Denis Ketov |
| additional sound-design | Lisa Hollaus |
| bird sculpture | Lucy Li • Angela Neubauer • Felix Lenz |
| model-building | Isabel Prade • Felix Lenz |
| gaffer [studio] | Sebastian Kubelka • Jaakko Taavila |
| best boy [datacenter] | Vincent Forstenlechner • Mathis Walter |
| location scouting [Owens Lake, USA] | Sebastian Mc Anulty |
| photo editing | Max Scheidl • Vincent Forstenlechner |
| mentoring | Anab Jain |
| artistic consultation | Marco Ferrari • Bouchra Khalili |
| scientific consultation Utah, USA | University of Utah |
| research professor, atmospheric sciences [University of Utah] | Kevin Perry |
| research professor, geology and geophysics [University of Utah] | Diego P Fernandez |
| lab assistance [University of Utah] | Sierra Rose Stauffer • Jasmine Garcia |
| research assistant, geology and geophysics [University of Utah] | Samuel Lopez |
| scientific facility Grenoble, France | Institut Laue-Langevin |
| physicist [ILL / TU Vienna] | Hartmut Lemmel |
| communication officer [ILL] | Steph Monfront |
| data centre Vienna, Austria | Earth Observation Data Centre For Water Resources Monitoring |
| managing director [EODC] | Christian Briese |
| data centre Vienna, Austria [NTT] | NTT Global Data Centers |
| managing director [NTT] | Walter Kasal |
| marketing manager [NTT] | Michelle Heitkamp |
| server racks Vienna, Austria | Next Layer Telekommunikationsdienstleistungs und Beratungs GmbH |
| head of infrastructure [Next Layer] | Thomas Fennes |
| supercomputer, Vienna Austria | Vienna Scientific Cluster and Technical University Vienna |
| VSC Team | Julia Wimmer • Josef Beiglböck • Irene Reichl • Markus Hickel |
| silicon mine, Hirschau / Schnaittenbach, Germany | Amberger Kaolinwerke |
| marketing & communications [Amberger Kaolinwerke] | Stefanie Jahn • Elisabeth Kraus |
| communications [Amberger Kaolinwerke] | Franzheim Britta |
| geologist [Amberger Kaolinwerke] | Alexander Braatz |
| special thanks to | Eva Fischer • Patrick Zwerger • Antonia Rahofer • Valerie Bachschwöll • Linda Wonnebauer • Bady Minck • Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu • Christina Gruber • Laurenz Rogi • Neptunia Monna Anarchus • Benjamin Knoebl • Nadine Weber • Tanja Traxler • Leo Mühlfeld • Haidy Darwish • Ines Frieda Försterling • Anna Rimmel • Markela Koniordou • Isabelle Edi • Sibylle Lenz • Karlheinz Hakl • Christijan Narat • Patrizia Winkler • Alex Gschnitzer • Laurenz Rogi • Stephan Sinn • Veronika Koukal • Basil Taiful • [Anonymous] |
| produced with the kind support of | BMKOES • ORFIII • Land Tirol • Bildrecht • HUFAK • Die Angewandte |
| sponsored by | EIZO |