On the second installment of In An Instant: Inside China, we explore the country’s sudden obsession with Polaroid. We meet China’s largest camera, a real-deal Polaroid 20×24 system in Shanghai, we break bread with the new Polaroid China office, and are introduced to a trailblazer who led Polaroid’s first arrival in China during the country’s reform and opening up period in the 80s and 90s.
Credits:
Writer/director/editor – Ben Fraternale
Cinematographer – Henry Thong (@henrythong)
Translation Support – Rengu Zhang
Production Support – Jesse & Sonja Lin
20×24 Studio Shanghai – @林蔚健
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Thanks everyone for your HUGE support as we release this special series. If you haven't seen episode 1, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/j8S4L40GQqE?si=4chS6PY_i8UQUvnR – and you can find the finale here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f15XdEA-I-U
"Sometimes I watch the photo again and I can remind the time and the light. It makes me feel very warm in my heart" – Yang made me cry 😢… Madam Wang was such a BOSS, RIP to the HBIC! The colors in her 80's polaroids were STUNNING… Also, if you have not done so already, and if he has not done so already, please encourage Super Tomato to get a cute chubby dog and name them Super Potato.
Can't someone figure out the chemistry and start making this film again?? I'd love to see this happen. With film, the format won't be dead.
i'm seriously digging this series. currently binge watching it, and i think i HAVE to go to china now
This video is awesome. Showing artists working like this is what the world needs. This video makes me happy.
awesome in every way. Thank you for all of this!!
Rest in peace Madam Wang.
5:50 Is 20×24 Polaroid packfilm still in stock anywhere?
This is amazing
Just came back from 2 weeks trip to China and stuble on this video. Thank you!😊
Very interesting. I am blown away at the places you've traveled to. Great job Ben.
Bennie these two videos of your trip are so incredible! What a trip that must have been! Thanks for bringing us along as always!!!
Love this. Hey, would any Chinese Polaroid lovers want to come over to the UK and go take some pictures? And then we could go there? A perfect way for a cultural exchange – and a good excuse to take some Polaroids 🙂
I wonder if a Chinese factory would result in cheaper Polaroid film?
this is really special ben. thank you to you and the crew for creating this
Fascinating and thrilling again ! Thank you !
Wonderful!
Great adventure man. I’m curious when you asked Jesse about the fear of 20×24 being obsolete sometime in the future. He said he’s not afraid at all, the format is reviving. What does he mean by that? Is he just optimistic or there are ways to reproduce the 20×24 peel apart film today?
Very nice cool project!
So good dude
i love learning things. this is peak learning things. thank you so much for this series.
Watching someone squeeze reagent out without gloves is some boss-level shit. I can feel the burning sensation through the screen. another A+ video, Ben!
Thank you for sharing your journey with the world!
Another fantastic video from Ben. Raising the bar on every level.