Topic: Brickfilm of the Week: Writer's Block (May 1, 2015)
This week’s Brickfilm of the Week is Writer's Block by Kevin Horowitz and Jacob Schwartz.
Writer’s Block follows the story of a writer who is transported to a surreal world after he gets writer's block. It was made in 2007 by Kevin Horowitz and Jacob Schwartz for their school’s film festival, where it won Best Animated Film. It also was nominated for many Brick Award for the Film Arts awards (a precursor to the Bricks in Motion Awards) and won Best Director. Kevin Horowitz (Quigibo) and Jacob Schwartz (Fractalman) were two members of Brickfilms.com and also made films such as Flight of the Penguin and People Come In, Pizzas Come Out.
Watch Writer's Block on YouTube
SPOILERY DISCUSSION BELOW!
On the surface, Writer’s Block is a very simple story: writer can’t think of anything to write, sleeps on it, then decides to write about his difficulties coming up with something to write. What makes Writer’s Block stand out is its surreal approach to the crucial part of the story: how the writer comes to the idea of writing about writer’s block. Through a series of bizarre and otherworldly images, Kevin Horowitz and Jacob Schwartz animation strange, morphing shapes that only stop-motion really can pull off. The use of bright, solid LEGO pieces for certain shapes reflects a very deliberate choice and use of color and shape. Ultimately the conclusion to the film is pedestrian, but the journey to the end is the real draw of this film.
What are your thoughts on Writer’s Block? What did you like about it? What do you think of the surreal imagery? Did you have a favorite moment?