# animate! › Films › Half Life by Matt Hulse › all › synopses › direction & collaboration › full production credits › film stills › tools & processes › format & distribution › background material Canonical: https://animate.org.uk/films/halflife/all Discovery terms: 2000s animation, stop-motion animation, super 8 film, work, stress, isolation, experimental short film, filmmaker, artist The following is the archived page text; discovery terms above are separately sourced metadata. Archive status: restored in 2026; historical calls, deadlines and services are closed. --- **Half Life** a film by Matt Hulse 2004, 5 min 45 sec ![Half Life, still: Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife10.jpg) Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration ### animate! synopsis A neurotic stop-frame analysis of the daily torture of the desk-bound being, freeze-frame tensions disrupting the film’s surface and material. ### one sentence synopsis An intense, visceral and neurotic study of the desk-bound being. ### short synopsis Isolated office workers perform gruelling and surrealistic routines in this intense, neurotic study of the desk-bound being, pushing Super 8mm filmmaking to new extremes. ### long synopsis Set against a haunting score and visceral soundtrack, isolated office workers perform gruelling, pointless and surrealistic routines in this intense, neurotic study of the desk-bound being. Striking monochromatic photography, enriched by fleeting passages of bold colour and fearless splicing, push Super 8mm filmmaking to new extremes. ### key credits **director** Matt Hulse **half lives** Fiona Staniland Sarah Beauvoisin Mark Bishop Sam Dore Nick Currey **music** Daniel Padden ### Matt Hulse #### short biography Matt’s [practice](http://www.lux.org.uk/featured.html) crosses boundaries between film, video, animation, interactivity and installation. In 1994 he completed the Electronic Imaging course at Duncan of Jordanstone and his many prizewinning [films](http://www.idlevice.com/) that have followed were screened in a retrospective at Dresden Filmfest 2002. His first animate! work was [Hotel Central](https://animate.org.uk/films/hotelcentral/) which shared with Jean Luc Godard the Special Award for Film at the Split Festival of New Cinema 2001. He lives in Edinburgh. 3 November 2004 #### artist statement The film is a fleeting and intense exploration of large, cold isolated office blocks and lone, alienated workers, stuck in bizarre routines in a nasty grey oppressive city. You may have heard of lone soldiers in the jungle who are still fighting the Vietnam War when it’s been over for 30 years? Our characters here are similar, like workers carrying on at their desk in desperation after some terrible urban disaster. Meanwhile the computers and offices have evolved and are able to move/change/dance – this is where the animation comes in! ### animate! films by this artist [Half Life](https://animate.org.uk/films/halflife/) [Hotel Central](https://animate.org.uk/films/hotelcentral/) #### artist’s website [Idlevice](http://www.idlevice.com) Matt’s own website ### a film by Matt Hulse ### direction **director** Matt Hulse ### cast in picture **half lives** Fiona Staniland Sarah Beauvoisin Mark Bishop Sam Dore Nick Currey ### live-action personnel **prop maker** Guy Bishop Tadhg O'Sullivan **production manager** Lucy Brown ### image personnel **stills** Alice Nelson ### sound personnel **music** Daniel Padden ### support **primary funding** an animate! commission funded through Finetake by Arts Council England and Channel 4 © Matt Hulse 2004 [![Half Life, still: *Half Life* title card. A misaligned Super 8mm splice creates a sandwich of dust around the celluloid, partially obscuring the cold winter sunshine (North Wales)](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife01.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife01.jpg) **Half Life** title card. A misaligned Super 8mm splice creates a sandwich of dust around the celluloid, partially obscuring the cold winter sunshine (North Wales) - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Rush hour traffic, Warsaw](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife02.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife02.jpg) Rush hour traffic, Warsaw - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Traffic speeds eastwards from the Plac Konstytucji, Warsaw](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife03.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife03.jpg) Traffic speeds eastwards from the Plac Konstytucji, Warsaw - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: A Warsaw office block](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife04.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife04.jpg) A Warsaw office block - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Budzik deals with his paperwork, seemingly finalising a deal on a Fleischermachinenfabrik (Meat Processing Machine Factory)](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife05.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife05.jpg) Mr Budzik deals with his paperwork, seemingly finalising a deal on a Fleischermachinenfabrik (Meat Processing Machine Factory) - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Marker (Nick Currey) generates data for his hand-cranked computer (designed by Tadhg O’Sullivan & Guy Bishop)](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife06.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife06.jpg) Mr Marker (Nick Currey) generates data for his hand-cranked computer (designed by Tadhg O’Sullivan & Guy Bishop) - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Depleted by routine, he rubs at his permanently sealed eyes](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife07.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife07.jpg) Depleted by routine, he rubs at his permanently sealed eyes - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: He dreams in colour](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife08.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife08.jpg) He dreams in colour - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: He dreams of light](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife09.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife09.jpg) He dreams of light - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife10.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife10.jpg) Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Back to work](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife11.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife11.jpg) Back to work - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Somewhere, elsewhere, outside (in this shot – Berlin), trains pass by](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife12.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife12.jpg) Somewhere, elsewhere, outside (in this shot – Berlin), trains pass by - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Ms Szminka (Fiona Staniland) collates and files Mr Marker’s data](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife13.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife13.jpg) Ms Szminka (Fiona Staniland) collates and files Mr Marker’s data - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Ms Szminka collates and files Mr Marker’s data](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife14.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife14.jpg) Ms Szminka collates and files Mr Marker’s data - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: She has precise legs and impressive shoes](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife15.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife15.jpg) She has precise legs and impressive shoes - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: A log is kept of her activity using the latest in self-adhesive technology](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife16.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife16.jpg) A log is kept of her activity using the latest in self-adhesive technology - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Ms Szminka checks up on her little secret](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife17.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife17.jpg) Ms Szminka checks up on her little secret - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: She has been cultivating a colourful little allotment in the filing cabinet](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife18.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife18.jpg) She has been cultivating a colourful little allotment in the filing cabinet - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: But Half Lives get no breaks](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife19.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife19.jpg) But Half Lives get no breaks - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Budzik (Mark Bishop) winds up a worker](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife20.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife20.jpg) Mr Budzik (Mark Bishop) winds up a worker - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Day and night and day and night – moonlight by Lucy Brown](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife21.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife21.jpg) Day and night and day and night – moonlight by Lucy Brown - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Trains pass, just like moods](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife22.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife22.jpg) Trains pass, just like moods - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Rather important looking office block, Warsaw](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife23.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife23.jpg) Rather important looking office block, Warsaw - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Fraulein Stromkreis (Sarah Beauvoisin) focuses on the power supply](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife24.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife24.jpg) Fraulein Stromkreis (Sarah Beauvoisin) focuses on the power supply - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Fraulein Stromkreis focuses on the power supply](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife25.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife25.jpg) Fraulein Stromkreis focuses on the power supply - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: She triggers a flash vision of Mr Pineska (Samuel Dore)](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife26.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife26.jpg) She triggers a flash vision of Mr Pineska (Samuel Dore) - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: In a moment of passion / panic Fraulein Stromkreis triggers an alarm](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife27.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife27.jpg) In a moment of passion / panic Fraulein Stromkreis triggers an alarm - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Marker stands to attention as a military parade passes by](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife28.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife28.jpg) Mr Marker stands to attention as a military parade passes by - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Ms Szminka freezes](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife29.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife29.jpg) Ms Szminka freezes - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Pineska stands fervently to attention](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife30.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife30.jpg) Mr Pineska stands fervently to attention - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Budzik gives a furtive little glance as if to say “we know you’re out there”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife31.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife31.jpg) Mr Budzik gives a furtive little glance as if to say “we know you’re out there” - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: The booming fallout scours the barren landscape (North Wales)](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife32.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife32.jpg) The booming fallout scours the barren landscape (North Wales) - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Mr Pineska is wound back up and put to work, transporting data](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife33.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife33.jpg) Mr Pineska is wound back up and put to work, transporting data - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: The cold moon penetrates the prefabricated office block then envelopes it in night](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife34.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife34.jpg) The cold moon penetrates the prefabricated office block then envelopes it in night - *click on image for full size still* [![Half Life, still: Ms Szminka scratches at the rash of information](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/halflife35.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/halflife35.jpg) Ms Szminka scratches at the rash of information - *click on image for full size still* ### technical #### process summary Filmed entirely on Super 8mm using Kodachrome 40ASA colour, Kodak Tri-X 200ASA b&w and Quarzchrome 50ASA b&w. Shot with Nizo 801 macro & Bauer C700XLM. Telecine at BBC London to DigiBeta & DV. Offline edit & soundtrack design at home by director using Premiere Pro & Adobe Audition. Online to DigiBeta at ARC Facilities (Edinburgh). ### master copy format **format** DigiBeta **colour or black & white** colour ### video distribution format **video format** DigiBeta **screen aspect ratio** 16:9 **video standard** PAL **sound type** stereo ### distributor LUX [info@lux.org.uk](mailto:info@lux.org.uk) +44 (0)20 7503 3980 [www.lux.org.uk](http://www.lux.org.uk/) **Half Life** film, stills and other materials © Matt Hulse 2004