Private Project

Chops

“Chops” is an experimental film made in 2024 by Colorado artist and filmmaker John Dawson. The sound design was done by synth and electronic artist David Fodel out of Lafayette, CO.
This short film is 100% hand made by drawing, painting and scratching directly onto 16mm film stock. It is paint with a pulse, abstraction that moves and comes alive. .

  • John Dawson
    Director
    Jam It, The Big Job, Soup Mix, Image Dance, Flo Go, Zap On
  • John Dawson
    Producer
    Jam It, The Big Job, Soup Mix, Image Dance, Flo Go, Zap On
  • David Fodel
    Sound Design
  • John Dawson
    Animation
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Experimental, Animation, Arthouse, Underground, Art
  • Runtime:
    1 minute 53 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    16mm
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Festival Fotogenia
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    November 21, 2024
    World Wide Premiere
  • Broken Film Festival
    Guelph, Ontario
    Canada
    April 25, 2025
    Canada Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Post-Cinema Film Festival
    Sicily
    Italy
    May 25, 2025
    Italy Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival
    Morgantown, West Virginia
    United States
    April 11, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Wunderground Film Festival
    Kemzeke
    Belgium
    May 4, 2025
    Belgium
    Official Selection
  • Umbria Underground Film Festival
    Amelia, Umbria
    Italy
    June 5, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Experimental Brasil
    Rio De Janeiro
    Brazil
    July 27, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Celluloidra Revolverrel - Hungarian Experimental Film Festival
    Esztergom
    Hungary
    August 29, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Festival l'Art en chemin 2025
    Drucy - TRUMILLY, Oise
    France
    September 14, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Altered Images
    London
    United Kingdom
    October 25, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Punto y Raya Festival
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    December 5, 2025
    Official Selection
  • West Bengal
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    November 29, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Fisura, International Festival of Experimental Film & Video
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    February 17, 2026
    Official Selection
Director Biography - John Dawson

John Dawson lives just outside of Boulder, Colorado and is the son of Colorado watercolor artist Milly Dawson. He is a visual artist with a background in traditional animation, film making, video production, graphics, photography, sculpture and fine art. His films have been screened and won awards in several different film festivals all over the world.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My films are all about the colors, motion, rhythm and having fun! You can think of them like a ride at the amusement park or view them the same way you might view fireworks or abstract painting. They are designed to bridge all language and cultural barriers making them internationally flexible. Norman McLaren, Len Ley, Stan Brakhage and Steve Woloshen were all great influences and inspiration for my works.