Short Pick Of The Day: ‘Money Is The One True God’ By Lachlan Turczan

“A kaleidoscope of currency reveals what humans have valued over time.” Music video for Blake Mills’ “Money is the One True God.”

Directed by Lachlan Turczan, U.S., 2021.

Notes from the filmmaker:

I made hi-resolution scans of banknotes from 23 countries ranging from the 1800s to the modern-day. Machine learning was used to further enhance these scans so that I could zoom in on the intricacies of the engravings. Using replacement animation techniques, the guilloché patterns wash over the viewer in a barrage of linework and geometry. Iconic scenes throughout history are also shown: the age of exploration leads to industrialization, wonders of the world are replaced by office buildings and icons of freedom stand in stark contrast to images of slavery. The project culminates with the collective eyes of all world leaders staring back at the audience.