Conversations feat. Johan Kotlinkski, Peter Swimm, and David Sugar
Chip music tutorials feat. Glomag and Bit Shifter
Plus a full color 16-page collector’s booklet featuring photos and all new essays from critics and noted members of the chip community.
Summary
Reformat the Planet (RTP) is a feature length documentary which delves into the movement known as chip music, a vibrant underground scene based around creating new, original music using obsolete video game hardware. Familiar devices such as the Nintendo Game Boy and Nintendo Entertainment System are pushed in new directions with startling results.
Reformat the Planet wallpapers for your desktop or phone:
Reformat the Planet began with the intention of documenting the influence of video game culture on an increasingly diverse range of modern art. Originally titled Play, the project served as the genesis of 2 Player Productions in 2005. The fledgling crew set out conducting interviews with various artists, including several noted members of the game development community. After documenting several live chip music performances in New York City and being invited to film the first year of the now annual Blip Festival, it was clear that they stood before a rich cultural mine that few were tapping in any long-form projects. The decision to focus the film on the varied personalities of the NYC chip music scene was a quick and obvious one.
Following its premiere at the 2008 South by Southwest Film Festival, RTP continued to play to eager audiences around the globe. Trendsetting music outlet, Pitchfork.com, streamed the film online as part of its new video service, "Pitchfork.tv." and record view numbers resulted in the limited engagement being extended for an additional week.
During preparation for the film's DVD release, tragedy struck when hard drive failure wiped out nearly the entire film. In the time it took to rebuild the film from the source tapes, 2 Player watched the NYC chip scene evolve in drastic new directions. Changing styles and an influx of new performers is the inspiration for the follow up documentary RTP 1.5, an exclusive feature of the Reformat the Planet DVD release.
Agreed! The electronic music live performance scene is very different from any other musical genre, because for the most part, the sounds are pre-fabricated. At most, the Dj, producer, performer, whatever, can mix different tracks, use special sound effects, change tempo/pitch, etc- but essentially the songs are created beforehand, and are just being played back to the audience.
This is why generally, electronic music Dj's don't really go in for "jumping around, doing scissor kicks" and such.
That being said, there is nothing really wrong with getting a bit sweaty and flinging your hair around at an electronic music concert. Just because it isn't done much, doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done.
Besides, chip isn't exactly mainstream- it's been underground for a long time, and is still pretty underground. So who cares if the artists producing the music don't conform to the other artists in the electronic music scene?
trailer music tracks
7August 13, 2010
Nathan Echo
Nullsleep - "Salvation for a Broken Heart"
Nullsleep - "On Target" (the track at 00:45)
Martin Galway - "Neverending Story Theme"
Random - "Micawber's Moan"
chipsters
6August 13, 2010
Chris
What's the track at 0.45? Absolutely immense!!
LOL @ dave
5August 12, 2010
glomag
"wrong for the niche that will ultimately keep such a movement popular."
yeah, cause it's failed so miserably so far. I wouldn't second guess a community that is growing so exponentially and yearly confounds the expectations of even the most chip-faithful.
@Don: I believe it's Mountain Dew.
Re: I'm sorry
4August 12, 2010
Don
dave, next time we'll outfit the stage like our mom's basement and sit at our computers eating Doritos and sipping Pepsi during shows...
RTP
3August 03, 2010
Gabrielle
Watching this film evolve from an idea, has been the most rewarding, artistic, and totally new experience I've witnessed.Watching the live performances was unlike any concert I've ever seen. What an amazing rush!this art form has to be experienced to be truly appreciated.Long live the Chip scene!
Can't Wait!
2July 31, 2010
Brett
Really looking forward to this release.
I'm sorry
1July 31, 2010
dave
Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the old 2 channel synth sound.. but the stage presence is just awkward. I don't think this type of music blends well with jumping around, doing scissor kicks, getting all sweaty from flinging your hair around.. seriously, like.. you're not playing conventional instruments, why try to put on such a conventional show?
..again.. please don't take this as a knock against what you're doing, because it's great. I just think some of the theatrics being attached to it, while fun for some people, are wrong for the niche that will ultimately keep such a movement popular.
2 Player Production’s flagship project comes home to DVD featuring gorgeous packaging and DVD menus designed by
This is why generally, electronic music Dj's don't really go in for "jumping around, doing scissor kicks" and such.
That being said, there is nothing really wrong with getting a bit sweaty and flinging your hair around at an electronic music concert. Just because it isn't done much, doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done.
Besides, chip isn't exactly mainstream- it's been underground for a long time, and is still pretty underground. So who cares if the artists producing the music don't conform to the other artists in the electronic music scene?
Nullsleep - "On Target" (the track at 00:45)
Martin Galway - "Neverending Story Theme"
Random - "Micawber's Moan"
yeah, cause it's failed so miserably so far. I wouldn't second guess a community that is growing so exponentially and yearly confounds the expectations of even the most chip-faithful.
@Don: I believe it's Mountain Dew.
..again.. please don't take this as a knock against what you're doing, because it's great. I just think some of the theatrics being attached to it, while fun for some people, are wrong for the niche that will ultimately keep such a movement popular.