Double Conscience (partially lost event-exclusive double-projection film based on Kendrick Lamar album; 2014)

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Both the left and right projections playing together at the MOCA Grand Avenue[1]

In 2015, the MOCA (the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles) premiered the 15 minute double-projection film Double Conscience[2], directed by Kahlil Joseph, which depicts both the struggles and joys of street life in Compton, California with Kendrick Lamar's critically acclaimed good kid m.A.A.d city acting as the film's soundtrack. The left projection[3] is currently publicly available online. The right projection, however, has yet to be fully publicly released with only two snippets found on YouTube amounting to just under two minutes of footage[4][5].

Plot

The following plot is only from the left projection as very little can be inferred from the short clips, screenshots and pictures taken of the right projection. It can be assumed the left and right screens relate to one another. A review from Eric Ducker of the Verge provides a general synopsis of the film and Kahlil Joseph's career and no specific visual details of the right projection.[6] He does claim that the projections are "either supporting or ricocheting off of each other."

The film opens with the sporadic first verse off of the hit song m.A.A.d city with flashing images of street violence to match the lyrics. The song suddenly cuts off and changes to a scene of two men visiting a coffin. The most noticeable footage is of a young Kendrick Lamar in 1992, recorded off of a home VHS tape. Another VHS tape is shown, this time with Kendrick's father brandishing a shotgun with his friends in a parking lot. Young Kendrick Lamar makes another appearance, this time sleeping in bed with the prayer interlude of Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst playing. The film cuts back to the present day with a man hanging on a post light as if he were Dracula sleeping, with the isolated vocals of the song good kid playing over. A mock shoot out is shown with a quote from Amiri Baraka. The atmosphere of Compton continues to build as short segments of The Art of Peer Pressure and Poetic Justice play as a group of young men drive in a mini van through out the city. Backstreet Freestyle and Swimming Pools play over the next portion of the film, featuring crip walking, heavy drinking, and house parties. A shot of a baby sleeping alone during the party serves as an introduction to the sentimental part of the film, with the song Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst playing as close up shots of everyday people from Compton appear. Kendrick Lamar's sister is shown as the screen flashes while firing bullet sound effects play over. The chaotic opening song, m.A.A.d city, briefly interjects with the similar depictions of violence and distress to match. Sing About Me continues to play with videos of churches, hairdressers, marching bands and public swimming pools are shown. The closing shot is of a home in Compton California.

The film noticeably does not use the songs Sherane, Money Trees, Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Real or Compton.

Availability

The full film was circulated from March 20, 2015 - August 16, 2015 at the MOCA Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. [7] Double Conscience would be shown in-person again at the Sundance Festival in Utah in January of 2016[8]. The left projection was publicly uploaded to the now deleted post on Chayse Irvin's website, dating back to February 23, 2016.[9] The film would however be abruptly removed as late as March 6, 2016.[10]

One of the earliest re-uploads of the film's left projection was made anonymously to MediaFire on March 3, 2016[11]. On October 22, 2016 YouTube user Gianni Inizrillo uploaded a 0:16 clip of the short film[12]. On November 28, 2016, YouTube user Sharp Clouds uploaded a 1:16 clip of the right projection, which is either blacked out or not shown for most of the short clip.[13]