PXL-2000 · Washington Project for the Arts
The Box
Crumple Butt and Sweet Trees meet in a bar; a head in a box sends Crumple Butt speaking backwards for the rest of the film. Edited on a Macintosh with titles, a severed head, backwards audio and subtitles.
In his words
"the box" is the story of crumple butt and sweet trees -- their interactions, crumple butt's attempt to deal with his jealousy over sweet trees newfound admiration, and crumple butt's ultimate demise. it tells the tale of one man's attempt to change in order to be more like that which he is jealous of, rather than be himself, he goes on to alienate himself from the one he is trying to impress with his change.
"the box" was another one of matt's films shot using a pxl2000 camera. additionally, matt used video editing hardware and software in order to add titling and minimal special effects (severed head, backwards masking, sub-titling, and voice alterations).
i like to characterize "seize the day" and "the box" as conversations with myself. they weren't intended for others to see, but are rather an examination of my own condition. i suppose i was thinking a little of kafka and little of david lynch when i made "the box" and "seize the day"... they are my favorites, and highly personal. i don't expect everyone (maybe anyone) to understand fully what is being communicated with these films... they are diary entries to myself.
Credits
- Written, directed, edited, cameras, grips, audio, best boy
- Matt Sesow
- Sweet Trees
- Susan Bossi
- Crumple Butt / head in box
- Matt Sesow
- Title card
- "single-handed films 1994"
Festivals and screenings
- 4th place, 1994 Washington Psychotronic film competition (Matt's 1990s filmography).
- Shown in "Superbia," a group exhibition at the Washington Project for the Arts, Washington, DC, 1994.
- "Best Experimental Film Award," listed on sesow.com under 1996 — the festival is still being confirmed.
Notes
- Matt's 1996 résumé: "Film/Video, The Box, shown at Wash. Proj. for the Arts. Produced using Macintosh."
- Final edit file dated February 3, 1995.
On the timeline
- 1996 — Short film "The Box" wins Best Experimental Film Award
- 1994 — Short film screened at "Superbia," Washington Project for the Arts, Washington, DC
- 1994 — Short films selected for the DC Psychtronic Film Society exhibition
Cite this page: “The Box,” Matt Sesow Career Chronicle, history.sesow.com/films/1994-the-box.html (updated 2026-10-16). Films © Matt Sesow. Sources: Matt Sesow’s 1990s filmography notes and scripts, the films’ title and end cards, and Matt Sesow’s own answers (October 2026). Do you have a flyer, listing or photo from a screening? sesow@sesow.com