Watch: A Google-Search-Gone-Wrong Short Film – ‘Trichotillomania!’
by Alex Billington
November 24, 2023
Source: YouTube
“Why do I pull out my hair?” That’s the question Kelly typed into Google one day while in lockdown. And she ended up on a journey into the depths of the internet, spiraling around the hallowed halls of Google. Trichotillomania! is an animated short made by filmmaker Kelly Schiesswohl (aka “kelly4.me“) based in NYC. It’s a very personal film created during the pandemic while in lockdown, literally “what should I do besides Google search whatever is on my mind.” It’s all about what happens when someone tries to search at home for a medical diagnosis. It’s never a good idea, but we all do it. Of course. The film uses a few different animation techniques, mainly 2D drawings along with some felt stop-motion scenes. It’s a clever little 4-min film addressing neuroses and anxieties. Just about everyone should connect with this, even if you’ve never searched for this specific disorder, there’s probably something else you’ve stumbled upon thanks to Google that shocked you. I really like the fun animation when she searches on “Oogle”. Tread carefully on the web…
Thanks to Short of the Week for the tip on this. Intro from YouTube: “The story of one girl’s Google-search-gone-wrong to find out why she can’t stop pulling out her hair.” Trichotillomania! is an animated short film written and directed and produced and animated by Queens, NY-based filmmaker Kelly Schiesswohl (aka “kelly4.me“) – you can see more of her work on her Vimeo or visit her official website or follow her on IG @kelly4.me. Via her own site where she describes: “Her work uncovers the humor in any situation – dark, embarrassing, charming, cheeky, and more. She invites viewers to see her flaws and strangeness in ways that ask them to embrace their own.” Made entirely by Kelly on her own. “Created in her childhood bedroom during lockdown, on an old iMac donated by the college she studied at, the US based director’s first short film is a window (or rather multiple windows) into the spiralling human psyche during an online search.” For more info on the film, visit Kelly’s site or SOTW. To watch more shorts, click here. What did you think?
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