LEGO building blocks have been a staple for the imagination of a child’s mind since 1949. Thomas Hubbel, a 17-year-old from Greece, takes this average building block to another level. He makes movies out of them.
Hubbel, also known by his YouTube name “Sumkid101,” has been making "brickfilms," using stop-motion animation to bring LEGO blocks to life, for many years now. The shorts on his page are mostly parodies of popular franchises like “Star Wars” and “Call of Duty,” and even big blockbuster films like "Inception," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the upcoming "The Dark Knight Rises."
Hubbel produces original content as well, including his last short film, "Defeating Defeat." The film is about a boxer struggling with his life, and includes suggestive adult themes. It has over 11,000 views.
He is ambitious about his goal to create a longer piece entitled "Sleeping Vengeance," a 10-15 minute “brickfilm” with high production quality and plans to do it with the help of fundraising site Indiegogo.com.
After setting a $5,000 goal, Max Sidorov recently raised over $600,000 for harassed bus monitor Karen Klein using the same website.
According to Hubbel's promotional video for the "Sleeping Vengeance" fundraiser, he aims to “create a more professional-feeling film, unlike my usual stop-motion satire shorts I usually make.”
His target for funding "Sleeping Vengeance" is $1,800, which will allow him to create the film in the most professional way possible.
“I am planning to film each scene/act each as separate entities, so I can make them well polished and work well together," he said. "Also, I plan to have much bigger film sets.”
As of Thursday, only $136 had been raised for the project. Anyone who contributes $1 will receive a credit in the film, with additional perks for those who donate more.
The fundraiser ends on July 14.
A History in LEGO
Hubbel has been making shorts since he was 8 years old.
“I made short videos with my siblings, and began doing many on my own in the consecutive years,” said Hubbel.
His passion for building came before he picked up the camera, when he built his first structure around the age of 4 or 5, according to Hubbel.
He says that stop-motion TV-shows and movies have been an inspiration to his process.
“As I get older the 'Robot Chicken' series has become a huge inspiration. I also watched the 'Wallace & Gromit' shows when I was a kid, and still enjoy them," Hubbel said.
LEGO building blocks have been a staple for the imagination of a child’s mind since 1949. Thomas Hubbel, a 17-year-old from Greece, takes this average building block to another level. He makes movies out of them.
Hubbel, also known by his YouTube name “Sumkid101,” has been making "brickfilms," using stop-motion animation to bring LEGO blocks to life, for many years now. The shorts on his page are mostly parodies of popular franchises like “Star Wars” and “Call of Duty,” and even big blockbuster films like "Inception," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the upcoming "The Dark Knight Rises."
Hubbel produces original content as well, including his last short film, "Defeating Defeat." The film is about a boxer struggling with his life, and includes suggestive adult themes. It has over 11,000 views.
He is ambitious about his goal to create a longer piece entitled "Sleeping Vengeance," a 10-15 minute “brickfilm” with high production quality and plans to do it with the help of fundraising site Indiegogo.com.
After setting a $5,000 goal, Max Sidorov recently raised over $600,000 for harassed bus monitor Karen Klein using the same website.
According to Hubbel's promotional video for the "Sleeping Vengeance" fundraiser, he aims to “create a more professional-feeling film, unlike my usual stop-motion satire shorts I usually make.”
His target for funding "Sleeping Vengeance" is $1,800, which will allow him to create the film in the most professional way possible.
“I am planning to film each scene/act each as separate entities, so I can make them well polished and work well together," he said. "Also, I plan to have much bigger film sets.”
As of Thursday, only $136 had been raised for the project. Anyone who contributes $1 will receive a credit in the film, with additional perks for those who donate more.
The fundraiser ends on July 14.
A History in LEGO
Hubbel has been making shorts since he was 8 years old.
“I made short videos with my siblings, and began doing many on my own in the consecutive years,” said Hubbel.
His passion for building came before he picked up the camera, when he built his first structure around the age of 4 or 5, according to Hubbel.
He says that stop-motion TV-shows and movies have been an inspiration to his process.
“As I get older the 'Robot Chicken' series has become a huge inspiration. I also watched the 'Wallace & Gromit' shows when I was a kid, and still enjoy them," Hubbel said.
One advantage Hubbel said that LEGO’s have over live-action pieces, is that he has control over every single aspect.
“Being able to control everything from the "acting" to the actual movements of the characters, their facial expressions (done in the editing/post production process), camera placement/movement, lighting,” said Hubbel.
Professional support
In 2010 Hubbel created the YouTube channel “Sumkid’s Brickfilms” under his username “Sumkid101.” It has since reached over 5.7 million views.
“What I love about the YouTube community is that I have complete freedom over what I create, but can still take the constructive criticism and advice from people who watch and enjoy my films to use and help make my next project even better,” said Hubbel.
His immense popularity on YouTube has led to a partnership with the company, which means he receives money from the ads that appear with his videos.
If that’s not enough, he is sponsored by LEGO Group, the corporation responsible for all LEGO products.
“They are a great product,” Hubbel said, “and obviously support all of the many stop-motion animators who choose them as a medium.”
Despite his success at a very young age, he still feels the same passion for building as he did when he was a child, and is glad that he has found an audience for his films.
“I'm extremely glad that people enjoy my films, and am very grateful for all their support," Hubbel said.
