Before the Hollywood Sign became the iconic symbol of the Entertainment Industry, it was merely an oversized billboard… Filmmaker Nate Barlow’s ten-minute animated short takes the audience on a fantastic historic journey covering 97-years of the Signs ups and downs, modifications, decay, and reconstruction. Using a unique computer simulated time-lapse technique to overlay the Sign’s history, Barlow then brings in another layer by superimposing the chronology of major technical advances and milestones within the Film Industry.
As Barlow states, “A billboard is not always a billboard… Beyond the show business iconography, the story of the Hollywood Sign and its ups and downs are a direct reflection of the times, a town, an industry, and what is happening in culture. It’s alive and has become the very symbol of everything around it."
…"The inspiration for the film came the first time I drove way up into the Hollywood Hills and truly sensed the size and scope of those letters, I instantly became captivated. Upon researching, I realized there was so much more to its story than most people know, and I wanted to share that history in the most visual way possible.”
The sign which is now part of the famous Griffith Park in Los Angeles – draws thousands of local and international visitors every year hoping to become part of the extraordinary narrative of this living legend. Barlow’s innovative short with its perfect musical score, captures that truly magical and entertaining experience that fans and film critics are raving about!
“… a must-watch for cinema buffs across the board.”
“…a fantastic animated short!”
– Film Threat – 8/10 Score
Film Threat Review: https://filmthreat.com/reviews/a-brief-history-of-hollywood/
Barlow wrote, directed and produced the project, with original music by composer, David James Nielsen.
See the film's trailer below or on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/451997737
About Filmmaker Nate Barlow
In addition to A Brief History of Hollywood – Barlow is also Co-Producer of a current feature documentary entitled, The Water of Life focusing on the craftsmen, chemists, and renegades at the heart of the whisky revolution that turned the industry into the titan it is today.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Nate quickly rejected an engineering career to become a filmmaker in Los Angeles. He wears many hats in the Industry, from producer to writer, actor, director, and executive. Previously he wrote Random Encounters and produced & directed Tales From Beyond starring Adam West, which won several awards on the film festival circuit.
Upcoming Festivals
- The Valley Film Festival – Los Angeles: http://www.valleyfilmfest.com/valleyfilmfest/app/films/2962/
- Eastern Nigerian International Film Festival • November 3-6, 2021 • Abuja, Nigeria: https://www.eniff.org
- St. Louis International Film Festival • November 20, 2021 • St. Louis, MO, USA: https://www.cinemastlouis.org/sliff/brief-history-hollywood
- Sanctuary International Film Festival • November 21, 2021 • Sanctuary Cove, Australia: https://sanctuaryfilmfestival.com
- Los Angeles Show Biz Shriners Film Festival • January 17-21, 2022 • Los Angeles, CA, USA: https://sharpo.com/the-harolds/
