The Book of Shadows is a multimedia (non)reality experience; an adventure in a land of dangers, mysteries and untold truths, where alchemy, magic and science are intertwined in secret ciphers and cunning plots, all on a background of ancient struggles between occult powers. The project recreates a visionary parallel world revolving around a mysterious manuscript and a deck of Tarot cards, obscure works of a fictional Alchemist.
The Book of Shadows is:
the Alchemist's manuscript & deck of tarot
the mockumentary
the tour of exhibitions
the mockumentary
the tour of exhibitions
the tarot set box published by Lo Scarabeo
The Mockumentary
London, 2010. After centuries of being hidden away, an obscure manuscript along with a pack of tarot cards, both written in a mysterious unknown alphabet, are brought to light.
Could the manuscript be hiding some coded knowledge to be kept secret or protected at any cost? Is it dangerous as some scholar suggest? Why every one want it? Who is the unknown Alchemist who created it? The academic world is in confrontation with conflicting theories and opinions. What is the truth about the most mysterious book ever written?
For the first time, CCB History attempts to unveil a secret jealously guarded for centuries, presenting the most accurate and complete documentary every filmed about this controversial subject, with the contribution of eminent experts: art historians, philosophers, expert in military cyphers and codes, logicians and ancient language researchers, historians, theologians, occult expert and sociologists.
With the special participation of
Prof. Roger Scruton writer and philosopher, Oxford University, UK
Dr. Augustus Casely-Hayford School of Oriental and African Studies, London University, UK
Mary Greer, writer, teacher and tarot reader
The mockumentary has the special participation of Arturo Brachetti, in the role of the supervillain.
In certain moments the fabric of the parallel world is ripped apart and another level of reality appear: an animation, narrated by international star Arturo Brachetti, tells the Alchemist’s story.
Director: Andrea Aste
Voices Over: prof. C. Irving Bell & Arturo Brachetti
Voices Over: prof. C. Irving Bell & Arturo Brachetti
Script & Animation: Andrea Aste
Editing and Special Effects: Andrea Aste
Music: Giorgio Boffa
Editing and Special Effects: Andrea Aste
Music: Giorgio Boffa
Duration 1 h 15 minutes
Language: English
Production: Andrea Aste
you can find more footages of the Film and short videos about the project on my Youtube Channel
Some pictures of the fictional world I've created
The Royal Museum of the History of Science, London
The exhibition in London 'The Alchemist. His life His Time', Royal Museum of The History of Science.
The exhibition in London, Royal Museum of The History of Science.
The advertising of the exhibition in Paris. The exhibition was in tour all around the world, a planetary success.
The discovery of the Alchemist's laboratory in London, you can see the planimetry of the Alchemist house with the trap door to his secret laboratory.
London: the advertising of the Exhibition. It was a sensation event, for the first time the content of the Alchemist's laboratory was presented to the public.
The Asteian Library in London. An ark of knowledge ...it keeps many things hidden form the public view....
the Alchemist.... up in the sky
The most famous esoteric magazine in the world Hermetisme Esoterique, founded and directed by Madame Werefkin, a famous (and infamous) occultist.
Professor Prescott's book De Divinatione Unveiled with the controversial decoding of the Alchemist's cipher.
the Alchemist in New York!
The discovery of the first tarot ever created was a real event!
The controversial Madame Werefkin, a strange occultist of Russian origin.
Before & After the video editing
Renata Manfreda on the set as Dr. Lavinia Hubris-Lobachevsky
Myself... A little role. just to have fun, Professor Medardo de Fiaba....
the magic of the Green Screen! Umbra Secret Sect Spokesman
