Human Virality: Kevin MacDonald and Ridley Scott show us 'Life In a Day'

On July 24th 2010 Director Kevin MacDonald and Producer/Director Ridley Scott posted an international challenge on Youtube for anyone, with any camera, to film that exact day, morning to night, and show us, Life in a Day.

The objectives for those filming around the globe were prompted by questions like "what do you fear?", "What do you carry in your pockets?", "Where do you work?", and so on. This footage would be edited down into a 90 minute film to be screened at the Sundance film festival.

Vidcred- Christian A.V. Petrozza

Photocred- Christian A.V. Petrozza

I had personally partook in the venture and filmed a few tapes of footage upon the designated day. In total, the amount of footage that was collected from around the world consisted of over 4,500 hours. Although I was happy to find out one of my clips made it into the top 100 hours, it did not make it into the final cut, but their end product was impressive.

Last night, Life in a Day was screened at the festival and was also live streamed on their designated Youtube Channel for the whole world to see. The concept and ability to simultaneously show the world people, places, and opinions they had never seen or experienced before made the "eventness factor" of watching it on my simple laptop mind-blowing. The film was intended to be a way of developing human interaction and understanding of different people, classes, cultures, dreams, and beliefs. From the gardener of an oil prince in Dubai, to a living-large American speeding in a Lamborghini, the film as captured by countless people around the world, makes us laugh, cry, cheer, and fall in love.

The intention of using virality as a means of international unity and understanding was used to its full potential by the team of Life in a Day and much like the films made by Ridley Scott, convey a fair, engaging, and loving view of all people, places, and things. This new avenue of producing a mainstream production through a viral vein has given a whole new interaction with Hollywood and the world, rather than Hollywood versus the World.

Christian A.V. Petrozza

Robin Hood, Formatting Practical and Life

On May 14th my wonderful girlfriend and I went to see Robin Hood, Directed by Ridley Scott. As many of you know, I have been anticipating the Crowe-Scott dream team comeback for quite some time, watching the amazing trailer over and over up until the release date. I have to say I was quite surprised at the differences in style and narrative that Ridley Scott chose to use in the film since it was not the typical dark-palette, smokey-lighting and gory battle-esque style that I expected. But all the same I loved the way they retold the legend.

Big Warning here, NO SPOILERS!!! But I will set up the film so that if you are one of those people who enter a movie clueless but with expectations *cough*everycriticwebsite*cough* then you will not be dissappointed after reading this. THIS FILM IS A SETUP to the original legend, which means it is the events that lead up to the out-lawing of Robin and his band. The film takes very original liberties with the Robin Hood legend but also mixes them perfectly with the factual interpretations of figures such as King Richard, Friar Tuck, will Scarlett, and little John. Due to Ridley Scott's love for medieval history. He has added some great depth into the family structure of the plantagenets and their political toils between Eleanor of Aquitaine, a now aged and cynnical mother of a cowardly son and a warmongering king. The relationships and connections between them and the Robin Hood legend run very close together in the film as well as the legend which made this film great to watch as a history tid bits, with that creative touch of folklore.

Also if you are looking for a bloodfest like kingdom of heaven or gladiator you will not find it. The film has great battles and seiges, and as Scott's history films usually do, give a great look into the life of the soldier during wartime. Robin Hood is not a forgotten tale, it is known by the eldest of men and women to the youngest children and because of that the fights are kept at a 5/10 ranging from Narnia-Braveheart. I am a sucker for a good battle, and in saying that I can proudly say the film, despite the lack of blood, did not dissappoint in the slightest. Along with a great mix of comedy, romance, action, and glamitics (glamourous politics, kings queens, affairs, and gold chainmail). This film deserves an eight out of Ten, I felt the story pace was great but some of the editing in the first half to be a bit too abrupt. I will probably change my mind after watching it again. BUT GO WATCH IT IT IS AWESOME.

I was going to Write about how rendering videos on a mac is like life, (which is scarily accurate) but I got carried away with the greatness of the movie and what I wanted to say about it. Stay true and steadfast with your cameras and remember.....

Film and Film again, until PA's become Producers

Christian A.V. Petrozza