We Live in Public looks like utterly compelling viewing! This started filming before Big Brother ever existed, but pushes the boundaries so much more!
I saw the project “visionary” Josh Harris and director Ondi Timoner (she also directed DiG!) speak at the XML Conference last Friday. Ondi talked about how it was only in editing the doco (which took seven years) did she realise the full impact and message of the film. She says it “made her aware that we should be conscious of ourselves online” and discusses how her subject’s (Josh Harris) fascination of exposing the effects the media and technology have on human identity - by tempting our innate and perverse sense of voyeurism, plus illustrating what people will do for their 15 minutes of fame - ultimately destroyed him. While playing out this live experiment, Ondi revealed that the crazy breaking down of barriers paralleled the demise of Josh’s relationship, his money and sanity.
Ondi speaks further about how Josh unbelievably began the We Live in Public project as a multi-millionaire, and by the time it had finished he was completely paranoid and penniless on an apple farm in the developing world.
Powerful stuff!
Ondi says, “We Live in Public is a cautionary tale of how we’re raised on electronic calories.” She pushes the discussion further to highlight the fact that society’s fascination with connecting online comes from our deep seated urge since birth to not feel alone – and seeking out experiences to find a solution to this. She talked about how people can often feel more themselves in the digital space, particularly teens, but highlights that the problem isn’t technology, but rather how people engage with it. She believes it would be advantageous for schools in particular to move fast/er with the technological age but also expresses the huge push that’s needed across the board ”to change the way we engage with technology with our children… it can’t be used as a babysitter”
In the context of serious gaming, Ondi asks the question: How can we make interactive games which can also help people form their own identity?
Did you see this We Live in Public? What was it like? Looks intense!
