Michael Snow: So is This

So I was interested in what Michael Snow was going for in his film. I wanted to see some of the things he said about what he was thinking while making this film, so I found this interview... Obviously this just a tiny section of Michael's answer, but I found it interesting:

HOME: SEPTEMBER 17, 1999: SCREENS
Expanding Cinema
Avant-Garde Artist Michael Snow
BY ATHINA RACHEL TSANGARI

MS: "No. So Is This, another film that you're showing at Cinematexas, works purely by controlling the time by which you see something, by bringing in reading. The whole film is built around the word "this," which is used in infinite ways. It sometimes means "this screen" or "this film" or "this word on the screen." "This" is the most present word there is, which puts the spectator in the now, in the present tense of the viewing experience. There is a kind of conversation between the screen and the spectators. It's so unusual for people to read together!"

Michael really tests the viewers. I know I was really tested because I wanted to take notes during the screening, but I couldn't get myself to look away from the screen because I was afraid that I would miss something. Although, in truth, I probably wouldn't miss much except for some dry humor. :) It's really hard to put into words what this film was about, but it really drew me in, in a weird way. I didn't want to read what was on the screen (just because I don't really like to read much) but once a word was flashed on the screen I involuntarily read it and knew what it said... I don't know, it's kind of hard to explain. It was also frustrating because he picked the pacing of the words, so when it was flashing by really slowly I just wanted to scream... okay not really scream, but it bugged me. He's super random, I guess I liked that much about him. I'm pretty random myself so I sort of understood his odd approach to his film. Timing is everything. Or is it just Time itself?

hmm, I guess that's all I have to say about that.