What is Skinnyfat? (General Information)

  • Skinnyfat Film Still: Dr. Delgado Examines Davy and Chaz with surgery markups on their stomachs

    DOCTOR, WHAT IS “SKINNYFAT”?

    Skinnyfat [skin-ee-fat]

    -adjective
    Skinnyfat describes a body typology comprised of a small frame and thin limbs with no muscle tone…just soft, shapeless flab, especially in the midsection.  Example: hipsters who have stick thin arms and legs but sport a beer gut.  Considered a first world phenomenon born of laziness and social privilege.

    Other Definitions:     Urban Dictionary . Online Slang Dictionary

    THE STORY OF SKINNYFAT (AKA THE PLOT THICKENS…)

    Chaz, a tattooed, pierced San Franciscan hipster, is convinced he’s overweight.  The latest evidence?  He caught his date feeling out his “fat waist.”  Yes, despite his lanky limbs and low body weight, Chaz is afflicted with the most difficult condition to treat:  he’s soft in the middle.  He’s Skinnyfat. The traumatic event sets him on a plan to lose weight until he has hipbones “sharp enough to trim hedges!”  Joined by his flighty friend Davy, self-absorbed Chaz stumbles through gym workouts, crash dieting, tweaker yoga, force vomiting, and even a distressing bear party!  Along the way, he learns that physical ideals can change with the next pop culture trend, and even the revered six pack may not be enough to secure the most important love of all—his own.

    With razor sharp humor, writer-director Andy Bydalek creates a hilarious portrait of image-obsessed gay culture and shows what can happen when body-consciousness becomes-body fixation.

    Skinnyfat is a satire about body image and dating. Although it focuses mostly on the gay community, it will appeal to anyone who has thought about losing or gaining weight. With a subversive comedic gaze, it explores:

    • Body dysmorphia, when a person is excessively concerned about an imagined or minor defect in their physical features
    • Media and industries targeting people’s weight
    • Social groups created around body image and the gulf between those groups
    • Key Words:  Gay, Hipsters, Dating, Body Image, Six Pack, Eating Disorders, Exercise Bulimia, Bears, Sassy!

    TECHNICAL STUFF

    • Genre:  Narrative comedy short available in two delicious varieties!
    • Running Time:  41 minutes (Binge Version) and 24 min (Purge Version)
    • 16:9 / Color / Sound / USA / English
    • Shot in glorious DVC ProHD