Game Show
Tom Hickox Official Music Video
TITLE: Game Show
ROLE: Design, Animation and Direction
AGENCY: Remote Control
CLIENT: Tom Hickox
Description: Inspired by both the Cambridge Analytica and the Edward Snowden scandals of personal data being illegally mined and sold for nefarious political use, the song connects news audio (performed by CNN's Clarissa Ward, BBC's Nick Beake and the actor Rory Kinnear) with the sung perspective of a citizen who has lost control of what he or she is sharing.
The accompanying animated video depicts a surveillance state through the concept of a dystopian game show, featuring players from both sides of US politics, social media kingpins, and other world leaders.
I was commissioned by Remote Control Agency and Tom Hickox to create an animated music video for Tom's latest release, 'Game Show.' Drawing from the inspiration behind the track, I set out to visually capture the essence of the lyrics. The concept was sparked by reimagining the iconic hammer scene from Pink Floyd's The Wall, but with CCTV cameras replacing the hammers. I aimed to blend various mixed-media elements, all within a predominantly black-and-white aesthetic, to evoke the mood and tone of the song.
I hand-drew many of the assets and incorporated photographic collage elements to create caricatures of recognisable figures central to the privacy debate. I love working with texture and animated textures, which are present throughout the video. While the video leans into a moody black-and-white palette, there’s a splash of colour especially with the blue butterflies scene, a momentary escape from the video’s otherwise dystopian vibe. This project was incredibly fun to work on, giving me the freedom to experiment in ways that corporate and commercial projects often don't allow.
