iW’s Online Video of the Day: The “Catfish” Directors Capture a Mini Metropolis

Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, the boys behind the documentary sensation “Catfish,” have no problem with switching genres. Since garnering critical acclaim, controversy and a bevvy of disbelievers with their debut (now featured in the Current TV series “50 Documentaries You Must See Before You Die,”) they have gone on to helm the upcoming horror sequel “Paranormal Activity 3” (hits theaters in October) and now this fascinating gem of a short that you can check out below.

The 5-minute plus doc offers a tantalizing glimpse at a massively ambitious kinetic sculpture from artist Chris Burden. Named Metropolis II, Burden’s four-year undertaking aims to capture the scope of a thriving city, in Hot Wheels miniature, where the traffic is dictated not by the cars; drivers but by lanes that speed or slow your progress.

Vividly filmed, the short offers teasing shots at the creation with voiceover from Burden and the directors. “How do you feel when you watch it?” one of the directors asks. “Great,” Burden replies. “I love hearing that the cars are going 230 miles an hour. It makes me very hopeful for the future. That’s about the speed they should be running.”

Later, Burden adds: “It’s about to be over, the idea that a car runs free. Those days are about to close.”

How he pulled it off is anyone’s guess, but just wait till you see what he and his team managed to accomplish. Stick around till the end for a wide shot that fully encapsulates this epic undertaking.

Burden’s Metropolis II will be on view at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art beginning this fall. From the looks of this video, the Museum might have an Alexander McQueen-sized hit on their hands.