As a lifelong cinephile who’s witnessed the evolution of cinema, I must say Harmony Korine‘s latest project, Baby Invasion, is nothing short of revolutionary. His daring approach to storytelling and artistry is a breath of fresh air in an industry that often feels stagnant and predictable. The way he seamlessly blends various mediums like gaming, digital art, and music, creates a unique experience that transcends traditional filmmaking.
Harmony Korine, casually smoking a cigar and accompanied by an artistic collaborator wearing a bright ski mask, brought his distinctive, energetic style to the Venice Film Festival in Italy on Saturday. He was there to talk about his newest art film titled Baby Invasion, which takes inspiration from video games.
Under Korine’s careful highlighting, the work in question deviates significantly from the conventional definition of a “film”. Instead, it narrates the escapades of a bandit crew known as “The Duck Squad”, who orchestrate armed robberies on mansions while disguising themselves with digital avatars resembling babies to maintain anonymity. This 80-minute visual adventure, akin to a first-person shooter game, will debut this coming Saturday night, right before midnight, at the iconic Sala Grande cinema in Venice.
At a dynamic and somewhat disjointed press gathering, Korine offered insights into the functioning of his Miami-based creative group, EDGLRD. He didn’t hesitate to poke fun at what he perceives as the declining nature of conventional movie-making, an art form in his opinion.
“Korine mentioned that he’s no longer focusing on movies as such, rather on unique experiences. He suggests that while it’s not essential, Hollywood could be wise to nurture the younger generation since there are signs of Hollywood losing its structure.”
“He remarked that many of the most gifted and imaginative individuals are being drawn away from traditional careers by gaming and live-streamers such as IShowSpeed. Instead of focusing on creativity, they’re becoming engrossed in convention, causing those who were once so full of ideas to seek alternatives and explore new avenues since movies have lost their dominant position in the world of art.”
Korine expressed that “things are no longer straightforward” and suggested that films might cease to evolve beyond big-name franchises (IP) or exclusive high-end experiences.
He said that he believes the 19-year-old YouTube streamer IShowSpeed is “the new Tarkovsky.”
Speaking as a fervent admirer, I’d like to delve into the creation of ‘Baby Inva’sion.’ Director Harmony Korine revealed that the foundation of this art film is raw footage from home security cameras capturing actual burglars. These ‘performers,’ so to speak, were individuals he recruited following their arrest for robbing homes belonging to some of his friends in Miami. Subsequent layers were then crafted by the talented collective of game designers and digital artists Korine has brought together. The movie’s soundtrack was masterfully composed by the enigmatic electronic musician known only as British, whom Korine communicated with primarily through Discord and Sony Playstation. Incidentally, the film’s voiceover artist was a captivating find on OnlyFans, who sells her soothing voice for its ASMR qualities.
According to Korine, he hasn’t made up his mind about how the project will be distributed, but he hinted that the version of “Baby Invasion” displayed in Venice is merely the foundation for what’s to come. In its complete form, as per Korine, viewers will have the opportunity to delve into and unlock several additional layers or segments within the experience, totaling around five to six sub-worlds. These extra layers could resemble a blend of film and gaming aspects.
It emerged that the unidentified accomplice in the ski mask turned out to be Gaspar Noé, a renowned French film director known for art-house productions. His role in “Baby Invasion” was previously shrouded in secrecy, referred to as enigmatic. During the press conference, when asked to clarify his part, he politely declined and opted to stay quiet instead.
Last year, Korine unveiled a fresh, experimental approach in his filmmaking and artistic endeavors at Venice, with the global debut of the mind-bending hit-man art film “AGGRO DR1FT“, starring Travis Scott and Spanish actor Jordi Mollà.
On a Saturday in the heart of Venice, a reporter quizzed me about my choice to unveil that movie exclusively at strip clubs instead of going the traditional route of a public release. As a gaming enthusiast, I might say:
Korine simply expressed his excitement, saying, “I found it intriguing.” He enjoyed visiting the nightclubs, and it seemed to him that it was the perfect moment to take action.
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2024-08-31 17:55