– Presentation
“The Chaøs Chrønicles is a transmedia project, a father and daughter’s journey and their intertwined visions of a world in turmoil. They travel the world as nomads, always challenging our notion of reality, drifting through transitory spaces, searching the boundaries and limits. They abandon themselves to life’s coincidences and unexpected encounters.
The premise is clear. Lukas and Mayliss do not want to take on a conventional journalistic approach neither do they want to shock with sensationalism, but rather to comprehend and decipher this world we live in. Their wish is not to draw an inventory of problems and solutions but simply give their point of view and engage in reflection. Mayliss has been traveling and observing the world alongside her father since she was 5 years old. The notion of transmission is very important in this project. Through these journeys Lukas hopes to extend his daughter’s education, guiding and protecting her in the experiences. More than a documentary, this project is a testimony of an era lost between a past that does not want to die and a future that does not want to be born. Using various mediums, Lukas and Mayliss seek to transmit the emotions they gather throughout their voyages.”
– The Genesis
It all began in 2010 with a manifesto written by Lukas which was the foundation block of ideas developed within the project. From this text the journey was born, a road trip that would begin on the west coast of the U.S. to finish 8 weeks later in New York. Despite a major lack of funds and proper material, the trip still went ahead and without any safety net. The need to document these encounters was felt stronger everyday. Initially the project featured photographs uploaded onto a blog, this triggered the growing interest from internet users which made the first crowdfunding possible, reaching 100% with only 7 contributors.
It is the beginning of a chain reaction, a second crowdfunding with this time 30 contributors enable us to go on a second trip, then a third, supported by 60 contributors. The number of images proliferate, so do the kilometres covered. A small team starts to form. Consisting of an image editor, an artistic director, a writer and various musicians who create the original soundtrack, the project evolves and opportunities start to flourish. From july to september 2014 ARTE creative brings a small financial help by broadcasting a series of 5 short films. Presented in the format of a web series and breaking records in number of views on their internet platform, these “fragments” highlighting various thematics are excerpts taken from the huge database of images we have accumulated during their travels. This is a great opportunity for us to show what we can and wish to do.
Bit by bit the project takes on its transmedia format. We started to present exhibitions merging photos, paintings, video projections of their 3 teasers and 5 fragments all linked together by Lukas’s writings on the world’s present state.
An application has also been designed but is still under development due to insufficient funds buta website was created gathering all pertinent information and presenting all the various facets of the project. In order to be able to submit their applications to various financial help organisms such as the CNC a press kit has been elaborated and a production company was created. We haven’t get any funding yet. With all these developments the projects has evolved immensely and is now well structured. 2014 was a productive year!
– The needs
Now that the base is set, with a great team aboard, over 2000 photographs and several dozens of video hours , we are now looking for means to develop the project.
Financial help is crucial in order to purchase more material and to go on the next tour and film images that will be used in the editing of the firs long feature film U.S. Coast to Coast.
We are also looking for ways to broadcast the fragments (their english and spanish subbed version is still unexploited), and seeking festivals where to present the films or venues interested in presenting the project in its immersive installation format where photography, projection, texts, slide show and objects acquired throughout their travels are fused together giving the project its transmedia dimension.
Besides the United States we have also filmed in Central America as well as south east europe, just a few days before the crisis in Ukraine erupted.
Ideally we would like to do one trip and year and if possible produce one film a year as well as put out fragments when the opportunity presents itself.
In order for contributors to follow the project live but also gain the support of a larger audience the full development of the application is necessary.
There is no doubt that this project has grown exceptionally and found its raison d’être but there is still a lot more to be done.
Prøject web site : www.thechaoschronicles.org