Private Project

The Big Job

“The Big Job” is an experimental action/adventure film made with found footage and direct camera less animation. It has the look and feel of a coming attraction, TV opening for a cheap spy/cop show or a cheesy action film. Lots of color, texture, motion and action in this one. This short film is 100% hand made on found footage and is a one man production made in 2022. Drawing, painting and scratching directly onto 16mm and super 8 footage is the way that this film was produced. The music comes from Bensound.com. Norman McLaren, Len Ley and Steve Woloshen were all great influences and inspiration for this work.

  • John Dawson
    Director
    Jam It, Soup Mix, Image Dance
  • John Dawson
    Writer
    Jam It, Soup Mix, Image Dance
  • John Dawson
    Producer
    Jam It, Soup Mix, Image Dance
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Genres:
    Animation, Experimental, Arthouse, Art, Short, Short Subject
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    250 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • DIAMOND BELL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Tamil Nadu
    India
    October 9, 2022
    World Wide Premiere
    Award Best Experimental Short Film
  • Mokkho International Film Festival
    Pondicherry
    India
    November 8, 2022
    Award Best Experimental Short Film
  • Stockholm City Film Festival
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    November 16, 2022
    Sweden Premiere
  • Boden International Film Festival
    Boden
    Sweden
    November 20, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Global Independent Film Festival of India
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    November 25, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Knight of the Reel Awards
    Hyderabad, Telangana
    India
    November 25, 2022
    Award Experimental Film
  • Royal Society of Television & Motion Picture Awards
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    December 12, 2022
    Award Experimental Film
  • The Golden Short Film Festival
    Abruzzo
    Italy
    January 20, 2023
    Italy Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Druk International Film Festival
    Paro
    Bhutan
    January 23, 2023
    Bhutan
    Experimental Film Outstanding Achievment
  • Geneve Awards
    Geneve
    Switzerland
    January 20, 2023
    Switzerland Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Continental Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    March 25, 2023
    Award Winner
  • Bizarrya Short Film Festival
    Porto
    Portugal
    March 15, 2023
    Portugal Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Sipontum Arthouse International Film Festival
    Puglia
    Italy
    March 31, 2023
  • Film Language IFF
    Paris
    France
    April 18, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Lyons Internation Film Festival
    Lyons, Colorado
    United States
    April 29, 2023
    Awarded animation best color and sound
  • Pune Short Film Festival
    Pune
    India
    May 26, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Vancouver Independent - International Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    September 12, 2023
    Canada Premire
    Official Selection
  • Mosaic World Film Festival
    Rockford, IL
    United States
    September 15, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Istanbul International Experimental Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    May 8, 2024
    Turkey Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - John Dawson

John Dawson lives just outside of Boulder, Colorado and is the son of Colorado watercolor artist Milly Dawson. His fine artworks have been shown and sold in galleries in Colorado and online as well. He worked on and off for a small commercial animation studio in Denver for seven years in the late 70’s and early 80’s. His film “Jam It” from 2022 has screened and won awards in film festivals all over the world.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This short film is 100% hand made on found footage and is a one man production made in 2022. Drawing, painting and scratching directly onto 16mm and super 8 footage is the way that this film was produced. Norman McLaren, Len Ley and Steve Woloshen were all great influences and inspiration for this work.