The short virtual reality film BattleScar is close to Rosario Dawson’s heart, not because of the creative process itself, but rather because the film functions as a time machine. As a New York native, the film’s dedication to punk invokes a deep nostalgia for the actress’ Lower East Side youth. Its 3D rendered fire escapes, walls full of Patti Smith references, and stacks of freshly stapled DIY zines all hearken back to the energy of Dawson’s childhood.
Set in NYC’s late ’70s punk scene, BattleScar marks the first installment of a three-part series created by illustrators Nico Casavecchia and Martin Allais. The nine-minute VR film is completely voiced by Dawson and centers on 16-year-old Puerto Rican runaway Lupe, who ends up getting arrested for vagrancy. Upon her arrest, she finds a kindred spirit in her cellmate and fellow runaway Debbie, who is actively plugged into the thriving Bowery punk scene. From there, the two begin a friendship and hedge plans to start a band, despite the fact that Lupe’s musical experience is limited to her childhood church.
The Legend of Che Guevara
While the VR experience is too short to lay out an extensive plot, both the physical and cultural design of BattleScar successfully transport viewers to the world of CBGB and a booming DIY literary scene. Since Dawson was born during the tail-end of this movement, she vividly remembers witnessing the energetic aftermath of the LES punk scene as a child. So, understandably, narrating this project brought up complex feelings about what defines New York culturally — or, perhaps more accurately, what used to define NYC. Click to read full article
