Inspired: Michel Gondry

It seems that people either loved Be Kind Rewind, or hated it. I’m solidly in the love column and all due to the genius of Michel Gondry. He’s the same crafty director from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep.

In BKR, Gondry introduces the concept of “sweding“: remaking something from scratch using whatever you can get your hands on.

They do this with Ghostbusters, etc. But the best is a documentary about Fats Waller with cardboard cars, a upright bass made of tires, kids with musical note hats dancing in front of a blank stave, a crazy organ using heating vent pipes. Brilliant things! And all made with real locals from the New Jersey town. I wish I could find a clip online to show you just how amazing it is.

And it runs in the family, his brother “Twist” is also a producer and has made a lot of interesting commercials you would recognize. What did they feed these kids growing up!?

So, a note to Michel Gondry: you are invited to my wedding. I can’t even guess what you could do with some construction paper and ribbon for our variety show. Please email me and I’ll send you our invitation.