Algorithmic Music
I am incredibly fortunate to be among the few who have had the opportunity to immortalize one of my creations on screen. It truly is a blessing to witness a simple sketch I once doodled out of boredom in class come to life on a physical set.
With Penny, I'm excited to embark on what I hope will be the first of many stories I share, thanks to the support of a fantastic crew. Each member contributes unique talents, and their hard work helps bring this vision to life. I aspire to continue creating new worlds, characters, and narratives, especially with such gifted artists by my side.
I am grateful to consider these talented individuals not only my crew but also my friends, and together, we are embarking on a creative journey that I cherish deeply. This was my first time in the director position, and although I stumbled quite a bit along the way, I was fortunate to have these lovely people there to lift me and guide me toward improvement. I want to acknowledge my director of photography, Andreas Jarvis, who always strove to understand and enhance my scattered ideas. The story of Algorithmic Music belongs to both of us, and I am thankful for your contributions and insights throughout this process.
Algorithmic Sound
The Sound Department having fun between takes
Penny finds herself alone and immortal at the end of the world, where childlike wonders unexpectedly strikes her in her solitary existence. One day, she comes across an electric keyboard, and through playing it, she experiences brief moments that fill her with happiness. However, this newfound bliss comes at a cost; the keyboard drains her last power reserves. This leaves Penny in a dilemma, debating whether to continue playing and embrace the happiness it brings or to conserve her energy and live on, sacrificing her joy for survival.
Starring Hugo Soosaar as Penny, "Algorithmic Music" is a short, soft sci-fi story that explores Penny's journey as a lonely robot who discovers the joy of art and the sacrifices needed to make it. This short was developed as part of an episodic series I created and developed during our third semester in the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School's Audiovisual Major, which includes two additional episodes titled "Signals" and "A Love Code."
Penny’s Maintenance
The Art Department fixing small details of the suit as the Camera Department sets up for a shot
My inspiration for Algorithmic Music comes from multiple sources, starting with the children's books my mum used to read to me, the Indonesian manga "Only Human" by Mukhlis Nur and "H2O Reborn" by Sweta Kartika, the many Tokusatsu films from my childhood, and, most significantly, the Portal game series, which heavily inspired the worldbuilding, themes, and music of Algorithmic Music.
I dedicated the film to my mum because of her undying love and support, which enabled me to reach this significant milestone at age 20. Because of the imaginative worlds and stories she exposed me to, I've always been captivated by high-concept ideas and expansive world-building. I even brought my own sci-fi story to life. It filled me with immense pride to be invited to screen it at Universitas Indonesia Film Festival 2023 and the Sognielettrici Festival 2024
I wanted to create children's stories centred around the premise of "a robot alone at the end of the world and struck by childlike wonders." Penny and her stories are truly personal to me, as they are stories I would have loved and related to as a child. I want to expand on this series and tell more stories of Penny's silliness in a seriously dead world, hopefully in the form of a 3D animated series or a proper children's book.
Bubbles
A test shot to see how the practical effects would blend
Director: Adrian Siry
Director of Photography: Andreas Jarvis
Writer: Adrian Siry
