Fast Film

Fast film makes you realize how basically every film has the same plot just done differently (hero, bad guys, girl who gets captured, escape, chase, fight, etc.) and recreates it perfectly using clips of film entirely photocopied frame by frame and put on paper. That alone (the paper part) is amazing in itself.

But I found myself just marveling the entire time as I watched this short and despite there being no one main character with which to identify, I was rooting for the hero nevertheless. It was also interesting and humorous in the way that the filmmakers made the characters seem aware that they were in a film based on certain reaction shots from other films - so it was self reflexive in this way. As I watched I couldn't help think "My God, these people have an encyclopedic knowledge of every old film ever made" since the story scripted for the paper movement cleverly parallels what's going on in the film clip(s).

You have to watch this. This isn't your typical artsy short film. It is a feast for the eyes and the mind.

10/10 amazing

I cannot watch this enough times. Hands down my favorite art short ever.

Several years ago, a short film won an Oscar and it consisted of tons of clips from classic Hollywood films. At the time, I thought the film didn't really deserve the award, as there was no original content--just a nice collection of clips from old films. However with FAST FILM, someone got the idea of using classic clips in a whole new and exciting way. Using modern computers, the film makers were able to use film clips in a peculiar way--a way that is frankly too tough to explain! You just have to see it for yourself, but this is NOT just a cheap assemblage of clips. Instead, the clips move and tell a fast-paced story that is just beyond words! Now as for the story, it's not all that important. Instead, FAST FILM is more like an art film--like something you'd see in a modern art gallery. Captivating and strange--it's well worth a look.

I've got to tell you the circumstances where I first saw this.

I went to an short animation fest in Taipei, Taiwan, with my eldest daughter. We walked into the screening room when Fast Film had been playing for about a minute; in other words, we missed the first minute or so.

My daughter and I were laughing, screaming, cheering, looking at each other in amazement. This thing is such a labor of love. I could easily add comments that fairly well mirror others here in the IMDb, but I'll just refer you to them. I found them to be good reads, and I concur; the artists involved tapped into something about early American film, and as such taps into the collective dream we call life. And to top it off, it takes its silliness seriously, and its seriousness zanily.

You can buy this film (+ electronic license) from an online dealer for US$3. I did, and I watch it once a month or so. Go to any reputable search engine and find it.

300 different feature films.

65,000 photocopies.

14 minutes of jaw dropping, fun animation.

This is one of those films that simply must be seen to be believed. I believe the director, Virgil Widrich, is once again, taking an animation style into a whole new direction. This man has innovation coming out of his pores. To recast these iconic film actors as into collective hero, damsel in distress and villain takes a unique perspective and skill set.

Fittingly, this compilation (of a sort) is available on a compilation of shorts over at www.Filmporium.com. The $5 DVD also comes with the bizarre bed-time story "Hilary" and the noir "Le Foto Dello Scandalo".