As part of a 3 film showing at USC with Director Snow in attendance, SO IS THIS seemed to steal the show (even over the far more famous WAVELENGTH). Consisting solely of single individual words of (mainly) White Letters on a (mainly) Black screen with no sound, SO IS THIS is a fascinating featurette on the relationship of words and cinema.
The words form a text, and that text is the film. Yet, if one were to read a paper printed script, it does not convey the same meaning as the words comprising the script do when projected individually on the screen. This is one of the many ways in which the meaning of the film and the "words" that make it up wrap around itself in the viewer's head (remember, there is no SOUND, so the only sound you "hear" - besides the rustling in the theater - are one's own as you silently "read" them to yourself).
Astonishingly, despite the fact that it is just a series of words, the film itself develops a "personality" of sorts. Prodding, cajoling, baffling and ultimately, toying with the viewer. A one of a kind experience.
The words form a text, and that text is the film. Yet, if one were to read a paper printed script, it does not convey the same meaning as the words comprising the script do when projected individually on the screen. This is one of the many ways in which the meaning of the film and the "words" that make it up wrap around itself in the viewer's head (remember, there is no SOUND, so the only sound you "hear" - besides the rustling in the theater - are one's own as you silently "read" them to yourself).
Astonishingly, despite the fact that it is just a series of words, the film itself develops a "personality" of sorts. Prodding, cajoling, baffling and ultimately, toying with the viewer. A one of a kind experience.