In Hyperway (2018), a group of astronauts departs on an intergalactic journey from Los Angeles to an alien world in an air-conditioned Honda Civic. This surreal odyssey takes them through the California desert highways and into exotic, otherworldly landscapes. During their travels, they explore and debate a diverse range of topics such as: What is the purpose of space travel? What is an earthling? How does the artist Daniel Buren’s essay, “The Function of the Studio,” relate to interstellar travel? After arriving at their alien world, the astronauts experience a physical and mental transformation where their imaginations overcome their senses and become their reality. Lines become blurred. Alone in their creation in the desert, they conflate the real world with a fantasy populated by imaginary creatures and sentient beings. Meanwhile, a celestial being deseeding through time itself questions the multiverse and an asteroid drifts aimlessly through space foreshadowing some unforeseen cataclysmic event.

Directed and Conceived by Christopher Richmond

Staring: Augusto Aguilera, Christina Catherine Martinez, Jan Tumlir

Featuring: Adam Moskowitz, Colin Trenbeath, Marvin Astorga, Alli Miller, Aitor Lajarin, Santiago Vernetti, Lila De Magalhaes, Benjamin Lord

Cinematography: Colin Trenbeath

Editing: Eric Sheehan, Christopher Richmond

Original Score: Brandon Rolle

Electronic Composition: Office of Analogue and Digital, Mahadev Shastri (Actual Values)

Re-Recording Mixing and Mastering: Nathan Whitcomb

Sound Design, Production Design, Costume Design, and Art Direction: Christopher Richmond

Clay Asteroid: Evan Walker

Clay Coyote, Bear, and Car Figures: Orr Herz

Asteroid Set Decoration: Alli Miller

Make-up FX: Rachel Kooyman, Alli Miller

Body Makeup: Julie Hassett

Additional Cinematography: Boa Simon, Gina Napolitan, Emmett Casey, Zac Baney

Aerial Cinematography: Boa Simon

Assistant Camera and Set Photography: Garret Hill

Sound Department: Garret Hill, Christopher Richmond

Dog Wrangler: Sarah McMenimen

HD Color Correction: Colin Trenbeath

Asteroid Visual Effects: Andres Jaramillo

Music:

“Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BMV 1004” Performed by Adam Moskowitz, By Johann Sebastian Bach

“Gentle” Performed by Xina Xurner, By Marvin Astorga and Young Joon Kwak, Courtesy of Xina Xurner

Additional sound: Nature audio provided by Quiet Planet, Freesound.org licensed under Creative Commons: CC BY 1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

Special Thanks: Moskowitz Bayse, Lundgren Gallery, DXIX Projectors, James Dean, Scott Arundale, Sam Burton, Lucia Fabio, Robert Mueller, Elisa Harkins, Daniel Schade, Karl Haendel, Emily Mast, Chris Michno, Josh Grier, Mike Grier, Echo Park Film Center, Arden Surdam, Randy Rose, Ellen Schafer, Eleanor Swordy, Meredith Bayse, The Cactus Store, Nate Page, Alisa Ratner, Jenny Hou, Ava Tramer, Sally Koblinsky, Debby Richmond, and Tracy Richmond