Felix Lenz - Brute Force

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Synopsis

»Brute Force« explores how our knowledge-making practices affect the world. Drawing on quantum theory and geology, the film exposes the inherent omissions, distortions, and ecological impacts of data extraction. Through mapping, measuring, and computing, we transform, shape, and assert control over the very territories we seek to capture. Yet much like our data centers, 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.

Film stills

Credits

concept, research & direction: Felix Lenz
co-direction: Ganaël Dumreicher

produced by: Felix Lenz
produced at: Design Investigations, University of Applied Arts Vienna

DoP: Stella-Joya Puelacher
DoP [France unit]: Jaakko Taavila
additional DoPs: Felix Lenz • Jonas Heuwieser
drone operator: Felix Lenz

voice-over spoken by: Day Eve Komet
voice-over written by: Felix Lenz • Laura Stöckler
voice-over inspired by conversations with: Karen Barad • Vladan Joler • Diego P. Fernandez
voice-over additional research & consultation: Dunia Sahir
music: Ganaël Dumreicher • Fabian Lanzmaier
sound design: Ganaël Dumreicher
additional sound design: Lisa-Maria Hollaus
voice recording: Noé Reichert
re-recording mix: Bernhard Zorzi

production coordination & research assistance: Laura Stöckler
bird sculpture: Lucy Li • Angela Neubauer • Felix Lenz
model building: Isabel Prade • Felix Lenz
gaffer [studio]: Sebastian Kubelka • Jaakko Taavila
best boy [data centre]: Vincent Forstenlechner • Mathis Walter
location scouting [Owens Lake, CA]: Sebastian Thor McAnulty
photo editing: Max Scheidl • Vincent Forstenlechner

editing: Felix Lenz
VFX: Lena Kalleitner
additional compositing: Denis Ketov
colour grading: Fatih Öger
title & credit design: Manu-Sophie Linder

artistic advisor: Anab Jain
further artistic consultation: Marco Ferrari • Bouchra Khalili

cooperating institutions and corporations:
scientific facilities, Grenoble, France: Institut Laue-Langevin
physicist [ILL & TU Vienna]: Hartmut Lemmel
communication officer [ILL] & archive footage: Steph Monfront

silicon mine, Hirschau, Germany: Amberger Kaolinwerke
marketing & communications: Stefanie Jahn • Elisabeth Kraus
communications: Britta Franzheim
geologist: Alexander Braatz

scientific consultation Utah, USA: University of Utah
research professor, atmospheric sciences: Kevin Perry
research professor, geology & geophysics: Diego P. Fernandez
research assistant, geology and geophysics: Samuel Lopez
lab assistants: Jasmine Garcia • Sierra Rose Stauffer
hyperscale data centre Vienna, Austria: NTT Global Data Centers | Wien 1 Data Center
regional operations director AT/CH: Walter Kasal
marketing manager EMEA: Michelle Heitkamp
server racks: next layer Telekommunikationsdienstleistungs und Beratungs GmbH

data centre Vienna, Austria: Earth Observation Data Centre for Water Resources Monitoring
managing director: Christian Briese

supercomputer Vienna, Austria: Vienna Scientific Cluster & TU Wien
VSC Team: Josef Beiglböck • Markus Hickel • Valentin Hirschbrich • Julia Wimmer

special thanks to:
Foad Alijani • Neptunia Monna Anarchus • Valerie Bachschwöll • ORF III Cultural Committee • Haidy Darwish • Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu • Isabelle Edi • Eva Fischer • Ines Frieda Försterling • Christina Gruber • Alex Gschnitzer • Karlheinz Hakl • Benjamin Knoebl • Markela Koniordou • Veronika Koukal • Sibylle Lenz • Marija Milovanovic • Bady Minck • Leo Mühlfeld • Christijan Narat • Antonia Rahofer • Anna Rimmel • Laurenz Rogi • Stephan Sinn • Basil Taiful • Tanja Traxler • Nadine Weber • Patrizia Winkler • Linda Wonnebauer • Patrick Zwerger

Produced with the support of the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport, in cooperation with ORF III, as part of the “Pixel, Bytes + Film” funding program.

produced with the support of: BMKOES • ORFIII • Land Tirol • Bildrecht • HUFAK • Die Angewandte
distributed by: Lemonade Films
supported by: EIZO