Topic: Brickfilm of the Week: Zap (May 15, 2015)
This week’s Brickfilm of the Week is Zap by David Betteridge.
Zap is a music video for a song of the same name by the band Ether Real and was commissioned by the band's record label Truelove Records. It is the first known brickfilm that wasn't commissioned by The LEGO Company to receive a wide public release as it was shown by MTV and other music channels upon release. It was created by David Betteridge and is his only brickfilm. Betteridge claims the film was released in 1989, but this is debatable as the song Zap was not released until 1991.
SPOILERY DISCUSSION BELOW!
Zap is an important part of brickfilm history. Released sometime between 1989 and 1991, it is one of the earliest known brickfilms of all time. Zap was produced over three and a half months in 1989. Betteridge and co. were given a budget of £3000 which allowed them to shoot on 35mm film and use a hand-cranked camera from 1903, modified to include an animation motor. The LEGO Company did not view Zap favourably and threatened to sue, although they never followed through with this threat.
What are your thoughts on Zap? What did you like about it? What do you think of its place in brickfilm history? Did you have a favorite moment?