“The Flap Your Trap” is a parody art film that I wrote, directed, produced, and performed. It was brought to life as a collaborative project with more than 170 human beings from 55 countries around the world. Most importantly, all the artwork, animation, voices, and music were created by humans and their creative talents, not by generative AI systems. 

Here’s how this gigantic project came to be: I’m a filmmaker transitioning to being a writer, and at the start of the pandemic, I wrote a parody episode that takes place in the universe of Seinfeld. Right around that time, Jerry Stiller, who, of course, plays the iconic Frank Costanza on the show, passed away. The episodes with Frank were some of my absolute favorite moments in television history and I somehow wanted to see him in action one more time. I also kept wondering how Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer would navigate the pandemic, and I just knew that they would find humor and levity, even in these strange times.

After I wrote the script, I started reaching out to artists who could draw a moment in my story. The initial idea was to have just a few of my artist friends create original images to accompany my script and put it online. My hope was to give people – mostly Seinfeld fans like me – a laugh in these difficult times, and also demonstrate that I could write for television with what’s called a “spec script” in the industry. 

I quickly realized, however, that I wanted to use this as an opportunity to connect with people across the world (Seinfeld fans or not) to feel a human connection in a time of global isolation. What started out with just a few images, led me to work with 167 different artists in 55 countries across the world and individually direct them to paint or draw one unique moment in the story that I wrote. In total there are 265 paintings and drawings in a great variety of styles, including caricature, hyperrealism, and anime-inspired illustrations. The artworks are created using a range of media, such as watercolor, acrylic paint, digital media, paper, and even food.

At the start of the project, I primarily collaborated with hobby artists I connected with via social media. As it evolved, I took a chance and reached out to more established artists and because they liked my idea, they wanted to be a part of this project as well. The project now includes works by artists who contribute to The New Yorker, Disney, Warner Brothers, and DreamWorks, among others. Regardless of their background – whether they were full-time professionals or passionate hobby artists – every single one of them brought something unique and valuable to the project. Every artist was also compensated for their work, with the project being funded entirely out of my own pocket.

In addition to the illustrations, some of which are even animated by a talented illustrator I worked with in Peru to accentuate the artwork, I wanted to find a way to bring the project to life in film form. For that I narrated and acted out the whole story, and – after some character studies and rehearsals – I am proud to say that I even did all 21 characters' voices myself. The musical cues, which will sound familiar to fans of the show, were recorded by a talented high-school bandmate and long-time friend. The final result now is a short film which will be released online in 3 parts. 

I have worked more than 10,000 hours on this project and have made amazing connections with people all across the globe. I can’t tell you how excited I am to share it with the world!

“The Flap Your Trap” is a not-for-profit parody art project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the creators or rights holders of the television show Seinfeld. All characters, names, and related elements of Seinfeld are trademarks and copyrights of their respective owners.