Infomatic Films is a site dedicated to exposing the truth behind issues that the public at large may not know about. It aims to educate the masses in a light hearted 1950's style but with a real meaning that people can either investigate further themselves or just ignore and carry on with their day to day lives. As they say in the Matrix -
"Ignorance is bliss." The main thrust of the site are the movies. They're simple cartoons illustrated and narrated in a 1950's up beat and carefree style. The films are written and produced by my brother. The films are illustrated and animated by an artist. The voices are performed by voice artists and the sounds and scores produced by a sound
artist. All are volunteers committed to getting the real truth out into the public domain, provoke discussion and open people's eyes. My brief was to design and build a website to act as a vehicle for the films and a point of contact. My initial idea was that of a machine. The word 'Infomatic' together with the 1950's theme already used in the films conjured
up ideas of the 1950's consumerist ethos and mass production. The mass production idea of a Cola vending machine matches the messages being conveyed in that Infomatic Films believe that people in the main believe and accept everything they're told and shown and simply comply. It's reminicent of mass produced items that have a
singular purpose and never deviate from the production line accepting their fate, which is ultimately to be used in order for something bigger and richer than themselves to prosper by. I looked at various 1950's machines and spotted a beautiful photo of a Cola vending machine in red and white. I knew that this would be the basis of the site which
would also create a wealth of word play to continue the playful theme already set. I used lots of photographs of 1950's vending machine as a reference and made a 3D version which is used as the actual page background. I changed the words and graphics on the original machine to match the intention of the films. For example instead of 'Ice Cold' it
now says 'Cold Truth.' Instead of 10 cents it now says 'Our 10 Cents worth.' These and other word plays enforce the light hearted feel. I also chose photo realistic and technically illustrated imagery for the site as this was a style used heavily in the 1950's. The name Infomatic Films is also set in fonts used on the vending machines of the time to
really push the 50's authenticity. I also altered the actual manufacturers name from 'Vendo' to 'Info' to really add some detail. I also designed merchandise in the form of a T-shirt to a fridge magnet so people of all types can help spread the word and help fund the next film. The vending machine model is also displayed as if being showcased at an exhibition to
install that shiny happy feeling but if you look closer you'll see that everything is not OK when you start reading some of the previously mentioned small detail changes that use word play. This is the feeling that I wanted to achieve. To make it look as though everything is fine on the surface but, look a bit closer you'll see the sinister undertones.
