Pongo Labyrinth [VTuber KawaiiMermaid120’s Final Livestream], 11min., USA
Directed by Nathan William Frost
An eerie glitchy stop-motion video made by Nathan Frost about a Virtual YouTuber's final livestream.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?:

I was inspired to make Pongo Labyrinth from growing up on the internet and seeing it evolve and devolve in real time. Mostly devolve, through online parasocial relationships of creators and Silicon Valley algorithms used to suppressed people In actual need of help. This new era of the internet has led to creators having to bend a knee to algorithms and be someone they're not. Creators are forced to make quick and sanitized art to keep up with the algorithm. It leads to burnout and kills creativity. It also leads to creators getting addicted to likes and followers as a source of dopamine. Due to the abusive algorithm, some creators lean into their audience/viewers' support for their own benefit. They become obsessed with power. Only then will viewers see the creators' true colors as the persona starts to slip, one way or another. I made Pongo Labyrinth to express that mind-numbing horror of losing one's true self on the internet.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?:

Pongo Labyrinth took a year to make from the idea stage to the ten minute and 30 second finished work. The idea of an orangutan in a fleshy landscape came to me while at college in biology class for some reason.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?:

DIGITAL DEMISE

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?:

Constructing the faceless ape took some trial and error to get the design right. I wanted to lean into a more uncanny look, as it's not a real ape. It has no eyes or fingers. It's a figment of the web. A digital hallucination, essentially, mimicking something.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?:

I'm glad they liked it! I appreciated that they respected it.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?:

It was a mixture of growing up watching Godzilla films and being exposed to a lot of the weirder art on early YouTube, like Don't hug me I'm scared and Username 666.

It made me realize, wow, people can make things!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?:

I've seen Looney Toons: back in action way too many times.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?:

The festivals I've been to have been good thus far. But I think for other artists, lowering prices would help, which can allow less fortunate filmmakers to get their art out there. Also, a complete ban of generative AI slop from all festivals. It kills art through its plagiarism.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?: It's been okay, it needs better moderation though. Film freeway does not ban nor acknowledge scam festivals that are there to steal money. But from the festivals that are real, they've been good and very kind!

10. What is your favorite meal?:

Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas from Chili's.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I'm working on a feature-length film for my next project. I'm making it independently all by myself. It's going to be my biggest project so far. It will be done eventually. I'm taking my time with it. That's all I'll say for now.