Private Project

Zap On

“Zap On ” is an experimental film made by Colorado artist and filmmaker John Dawson in 2024. This short film is 100% hand made by drawing, painting and scratching directly onto 16mm film stock. It is paint with a pulse and abstraction that moves. I am taking an old school technique and trying to do something modern and current.
My films are all about the colors, motion and having fun! I hope people are entertained and energized by all of my films. You can think of it like a ride at the amusement park or view it the same way you might view fireworks or abstract painting. The films I make are designed to bridge all language and cultural barriers and are 100% universal.
The music is by Monument Music from pixabay.com. Norman McLaren, Len Ley, Stan Brakhage and Steve Woloshen were all great influences and inspiration for this work.

  • John Dawson
    Director
  • John Dawson
    Producer
  • John Dawson
    Animation
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Music Video, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Art, underground, animation, experimental animation, experimental, Art House, Short
  • Runtime:
    1 minute 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 28, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    150 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • FilMuzik Arts Festival
    Gioiosa Ionica, RC
    Italy
    March 12, 2024
    World Wide Premiere
  • City of Art International Film Festival
    Madrid
    Spain
    May 29, 2024
    Spain Preimere
    Official Selection
  • Extremely Shorts Film Festival
    Houston, TX
    United States
    May 31, 2024
    USA Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Eichsfelder Filmfestival
    Heilbad Heiligenstadt
    Germany
    August 9, 2024
    Germany Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Short Way International Short Film Festival
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    August 17, 2024
    Brazil Premiere
    Award Winner Best Short, Short and Best Director Of A Short, Short
  • 20th International Short Film Festival Detmold
    Detmold, Nordrhein-Westfalen
    Germany
    August 23, 2024
  • Berlin Dynamic Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    August 25, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Flickers Eindhoven
    Eindhoven
    Netherlands
    August 31, 2024
    Netherlands Premiere
    Official Selection
  • International Stockholm Film Festival
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    August 31, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Mosaic World Film Festival
    Rockford, IL
    United States
    September 13, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Festival l'Art en Chemin 2024
    Trumilly
    France
    October 4, 2024
  • Ridgway Independant Film Festival
    Ridgway, CO
    United States
    November 16, 2024
    Official Selection
  • West Bengal Short Film Festival
    Bengal
    India
    November 17, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Canberra Short Film Festival
    Canberra
    Australia
    November 21, 2024
    Official Selection
  • The Animation Marathon
    Athens
    Greece
    November 22, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Wallachia Int'l Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    December 6, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Global Independent Film Festival of India
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    November 25, 2024
    Award Winner
  • art + film + vienna
    Wien
    Austria
    May 17, 2025
    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 and having fun! I hope people are entertained and energized by all of my films. You can think of it like a ride at the amusement park or view it the same way you might view fireworks or abstract painting. Norman McLaren, Len Ley, Stan Brakhage and Steve Woloshen were all great influences and inspiration for this work.