“PressPausePlay” is a fresh take on the future of art.“PressPausePlay” is a documentary film perfect for any student, aspiring creative type, or those who consume art on any level.
The film weaves a series of interviews from industry leaders and nouveau artists together to form a balanced view of how art is made today. The question at the heart of “PressPausePlay” is “What is the future of art?”
The strength of this documentary is its ability to tell a story. Through interviews and opinions, audiences are taken on a creative journey of discovery.
Viewers are taken to various locations including New York, Iceland, Los Angeles, Japan and England. Each locale is not only beautiful to view, but also offers a unique perspective on international art. When the cameras focus on Iceland’s lush scenery and then Tokyo’s city streets, you can’t help but notice the stark comparison.
Like the differences in scenery, there are two sides to the argument presented in this film. One side believes that everyone has an inner artist inside and modern technology is making it possible for everyone to be seen and heard.
This argument is illustrated by Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds, who first put his music out on the Internet in early 2006. Once his music was released, success came rather quickly for him. To form a relationship with his fans, he solicits images and videos from them to use in his shows and music videos. One fan from Argentina submitted a video that Arnalds attributes as a factor in the success of one of his first albums. It would seem that this new wave of artists is the future.
Recording artist Moby raises an interesting point in the film, “[With the proper technology] it’s now possible to do in five minutes what used to take six months or a year to do.” But how much of that is art and how much of it is knowing how to turn on a computer?
There are those who believe that art is to be made by an elite group who understand the mechanics of the craft and that without traditional training, mediocrity will ensue. Through a series of interviews involving published authors, musicians and traditional students, it is easy to understand the value of staying true to form.
As a University of Southern California film student put it, “There aren’t many like Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Of those who are nominated for Oscars, usually all of them were film students at one point.”
All of the interviews were edited together in a way where a fair, balanced perspective is offered around the central theme of the film. The film does a great job of providing viewers with opinions and insights that allow them to formulate their own opinions on this topic. Each “section” is divided with clever titles like “The Industry is Dead” that hone in on a central part of the argument.
New York Times best-selling author Seth Godin, who is featured in the film, is optimistic about the future of art. “It used to be, you didn’t become an artist just to become rich, you became an artist because you had an idea or emotion to share, and that’s where we’re heading again.”
For anyone pondering releasing their inner creative self, this film is a must-see. The interviews are educational and insightful. You are bound to recognize names and faces of important industry leaders. Not only does “PressPausePlay” give a very balanced viewpoint of the future of art, it also opens the door for deeper conversation.
“PressPausePlay” is showing again at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Trustees Theater.
Contact Jason Simpson.