ROUTINE REPETITIONS
LOCATION, MANIPULATION, ROUTING, & PRIMING
Routine Repetitions is a short design fiction film that explores a near future where advertising companies modify users GPS routes through paid placements, routing them past business that pay more, without the users knowledge. The film follows a runner using a new fitness app that generates tailored roots based off his biometric data. He begins to notice that his routes take him by numerous coffee shops owned by the same chain. This film was part of Between Lines.
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Team
WYATT OLSON + LAURA LE
DURATION
2 WEEKS
genre
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Team
WYATT OLSON + LAURA LE
ROLE
VISUAL DESIGNER
FILMMAKER
Duration
4 WEEKS
Project Type
DESIGN FICTION FILM
PROCESS
Routine Repetitions was written in and shot in one week. To find the larger framework motivating the short film, see the Between Lines project page. It was produced in under a week in Seattle, WA, and filmed on location across multiple north Seattle neighborhoods. The script was written in a weekend and subsequently story boarded and shot listed within the following two days. After a two-day shoot I began a rapid 3-week post-production pipeline which included numerous screen replacements and compositing projects—alongside standard post-production finishing, edits, color and sound.
OUTCOMES
Routine Repetitions was one of the most difficult films to shoot. On our first day of shooting, we had no additional crew. We were able to pick up one additional person for our second shoot day. This film drew many comparisons to Black Mirror and was conceptually popular among many of the study participants who viewed it. Likewise, it pushed viewers to consider to what degree companies alter and manipulate recommendations for profit. This film pushed people to consider other uses for design fiction films as well—tying form and delivery method back to public awareness.
Reflection
Routine Repetitions was one of my favorite concepts. While it was conceptually coherent and drew on many current trends—it was one of the more ambiguous final films. This hampered the possible takeaways as viewers were sometimes confused about what was shown. While initially, this was disheartening, I viewed it as an opportunity to reflect on my practices and methods of storytelling and design filmmaking. While some issues could indeed be attributed to the short timespan, the process provided a key way to unpack assumptions about audience understanding, intention, and clarity.
Interested in learning more about the project? CONTACT ME.
