Being Born Twelve Times

Being Born Twelve Times
Still frame.
Directed by	Zarel Smith
Produced by	Zarel Smith
Written by	Zarel Smith
Starring	Zarel Smith
Edited by	Zarel Smith
Distributed by	Classical Claw Films
Release date	30 June 2019
Running time	1 minute
Country	New Eiffel

Being Born Twelve Time is a 2019 New Eiffelic surrealist art short film created, directed and produced by Zarel Smith. It is Smith's third independent film. The film would later be distributed by the erstwhile Classical Claw Films. The film stars Smith as the only actor.

According to Smith, the film is about "...the story of the Post-World War II economic boom and the financial crisis of 2007–2008, and what it is like growing up poor in a capitalistic society". The film was released on 30 June 2019.

Production

Smith in August 2020

The idea came to Smith a few weeks prior while he began to rediscover his interest in the surrealist film genre. Smith said that the film was not made directly to criticise capitalism, but instead highlight the hardships some people faced. The first version of the film was shot in mid-June 2019. However, due to unknown reasons, the footage was later scrapped. The footage which would end up being used was shot on 30 June – the same day as the film's release. It was filmed on an iPhone 7 at 240 frames per second, and a black and white filter was added in post-production.

Release and legacy

The film was released on 30 June 2019. Later releases were distributed by Classical Claw Films. The film is often credited to what kickstarted the modern surrealism era in New Eiffelic cinema, although the film was critically panned by wider audiences. Being Born Twelve Times was Smith's favourite film until the release of Insaniam in May 2020, which Smith now regards as his "magnum opus".

See also

• Cinema of New Eiffel
• Layers (2018)–another surrealist film by Smith