5 Questions with Luke Strickler (2064: Cloud 9.2)
1) What have you been up to since we last spoke in June?
Last time we talked I said I'd make a new 2064 so long as they didn't rerelease Halo 3, as it would destroy my life. Little did I know at the time that they actually did rerelease it back in 2014. So that took up a lot of July and August... Other than that I've been inside, making animations and trying to bring some productive feeling to being on my computer all day. I also made an 8 bit point and click game about Christianity, a third mini installment of the 2064 series that's on my YouTube, and some three layer brownies. Of all of those, the brownies taste the best.
2) What made you want to continue fleshing out the 2064 universe?
I want to build a little world in them. The creators I like the most make stuff that pulls me out of the real world, that has some line in the sand like "okay we're here and there's new rules". 2064 feels like the closest thing I'm capable of doing that with right now. I want to write for TV because I feel it's the medium that does that best, but that's a long road so right now I'm making my own. This is my train set in the basement.
The first 2064 was, to me, more about figuring out what works. I hadn't explored the software or the world as much yet, and thought of it as a fun throwaway short that'd mostly be for me, but was happily surprised when the people around me liked it as much as they did. With this second one, I wanted to show a more specific feeling inside that world. To show a character and their reaction to the technology, specifically this constant want for advancement with no clear end goal.
3) What was the biggest in going from Part 1 to Part 2?
Is there supposed to be a word after "the biggest" on this question? Honestly I'd love to answer without context and guess at it.
-The biggest challenge was feeling like I had to do something really big to justify making a Part 2, despite no one ever asking me to justify it to them.
-The biggest difference was working in a new visual style and figuring out what looked good in it. Originally I was going to export it at a way higher quality, but it was burning up my computer so I switched it to 1/3 resolution and it gave it this lofi scanner look I ended up loving.
-The biggest worry was doing a harder emotional beat. They mean more than jokes and I do them less.
-The biggest joy was working with my friend Liam Senior to make the music. Also gun shark.
-The biggest pain was I didn't organize my files as well as I should have, and that's on me.
-The biggest success was someone in a YouTube comment said it reminded them of this animator Umami's work and I'm a huge fan. Check out his web series "Interface", it's my favorite indie animated series next to Don Hertzfeldt's "World Of Tomorrow".
4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?
I watched Koyaanisqatsi for the first time and it's a great documentary on productivity and modern life. No dialogue, all visuals, which is probably why it feels so fresh almost 40 years later. The editing feels like something you'd see on Adult Swim's "Off The Air". I also watched Blade 2 recently and it kicks ass. Put him in the Avengers then get rid of everyone else except the Hulk. Blade Hulk, 2024.
5) What’s next for you?
I'm gonna try to figure out another installment of 2064. I've got a fantasy for one more big installment in the series, then putting them all together into a single longer short. I don't know that I'll ever be done with the series, but I do like finality. Plus once I can see my friends again and go inside stores I may want to spend less time alone at my computer. Probably not, but it's a nice thought.
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