(no subject)
After yet another day of ridiculous mood swings, I went to Warick Arts Centre with my mum to see The Age of Stupid. At first I just wanted to see this film because, yes, because of the Snat, or rather, Kyle posting about it on twitter. I looked it up and thought it seemed interesting and I had sort of guessed the effect it might have on me, but I think I also underestimated it.
I won't talk too much about the actual events in the film because I'd rather not spoil it; instead I'll just talk about what I thought. I think I might be particularly affected by scenes of space in films, since I had a good old cry at the start of Wall-E and similarly had tears in my eyes for the opening of the Age of Stupid. In fact, I had a lot of tears at various points throughout the film - it was just incredible. On top of my knowledge of how the film was created, independently by just these two girls with ideas and little knowledge of how to go about things... overall, the whole thing was beautiful and terrifying and inspiring in huge amounts of each.
The issue of climate change and the like is something that, at least in my experience, young people don't care about. Of course, people talk about it when it's brought up in school, but whatever their stance on it, it never comes up in conversation and people never seem to actually do anything to support their beliefs. I'll admit to being one of them, I don't think I have ever had a conversation with my close friends on the subject. It's something I think is quite interesting and scary but, as stated in the film, it's like if you don't talk about it you can pretend it's not happening and it won't ever affect you. And maybe the future depicted in The Age of Stupid will never come true... but it's inspired me. There is no way I could sit there after struggling to hold back tears watching the stories of people in this very day and age and then just forget about everything and go back to my usual habits of not caring about the environment.
And not after listening to the producer of the film speak. Lizzie Gillet, one of the main people behind the film was there and talking and answering questions about the film afterwards. She was adorable (much more beautiful in real life than any pictures imply) and from New Zealand I wanted to take a photo but I didn't think I was allowed. It was so inspiring, it's always inspired to hear people answer questions and criticisms about their film, especially when a couple of the people there clearly didn't quite get the whole point of the film. One woman behind me said she didn't think the film was very good, effectively because it didn't shove the idea of taking care of the environment down people's throats. Of course, the whole campaign behind The Age of Stupid is very strong and it's clear what they want to people to do, take care of the world - but one of the best things about the film is the way it's presented, not trying to tell you want to do but showing you the evidence and making you think, making you wonder what you could do about it. Maybe some people will watch it and shrug the issue off as easily as my peers seem to, but I for one have been extremely affected by it and I really think that it should be shown to as many people as possible. I know a lot of people in my school wouldn't bother to go and see it if we had a screening. But I like to think that it might change people's minds. It didn't change my mind as such, as I already agreed with it, but it's made me wonder why I'm not doing anything.
Hearing her talk about the length of time they've spent on the film, how dedicated they are, how they never even expected it to come this far - it's all so inspiring. That's what makes me want to do something, not the singular issue of climate change. And it doesn't just make me want to help our race and planet either, it makes me want to do things that affect people. Lizzie said she hoped the film would affect people, make them want to do something, make them cry - it did all those things for me, and that's the kind of effect I'd want to have on other people. The fact that they began so clueless as to how to go about the film and had several different incarnations of it before this one, how hard they worked and how much it's made them realise - that's one makes it amazing.
Just that; they're trying so hard. Were it just another film about disasters with rather cardboard characters made for money instead of to convey a message, I don't think I would care. I've seen too many films, often based on climate change, that are exciting for their special effects but otherwise just have no effect. The Age of Stupid really isn't one of those. I don't think I can say much more, really, other than repeating parts of the film itself which I don't want to do - it would be so much better to see it for yourself. Go to a screening or buy the DVD or download or something, anything, I just really think everyone ought to watch it and I don't say this often. I don't want to come across as trying to force people to be "green" or anything because, well, I think that's defeating the point of the film in the first place. You might watch it and be unaffected, but I think a lot of people will be hugely affected by it and indeed they have, so I would recommend it to absolutely everyone, regardless of their stance on the matter. Really, one of the greatest films I have ever seen.
I won't talk too much about the actual events in the film because I'd rather not spoil it; instead I'll just talk about what I thought. I think I might be particularly affected by scenes of space in films, since I had a good old cry at the start of Wall-E and similarly had tears in my eyes for the opening of the Age of Stupid. In fact, I had a lot of tears at various points throughout the film - it was just incredible. On top of my knowledge of how the film was created, independently by just these two girls with ideas and little knowledge of how to go about things... overall, the whole thing was beautiful and terrifying and inspiring in huge amounts of each.
The issue of climate change and the like is something that, at least in my experience, young people don't care about. Of course, people talk about it when it's brought up in school, but whatever their stance on it, it never comes up in conversation and people never seem to actually do anything to support their beliefs. I'll admit to being one of them, I don't think I have ever had a conversation with my close friends on the subject. It's something I think is quite interesting and scary but, as stated in the film, it's like if you don't talk about it you can pretend it's not happening and it won't ever affect you. And maybe the future depicted in The Age of Stupid will never come true... but it's inspired me. There is no way I could sit there after struggling to hold back tears watching the stories of people in this very day and age and then just forget about everything and go back to my usual habits of not caring about the environment.
And not after listening to the producer of the film speak. Lizzie Gillet, one of the main people behind the film was there and talking and answering questions about the film afterwards. She was adorable (much more beautiful in real life than any pictures imply) and from New Zealand I wanted to take a photo but I didn't think I was allowed. It was so inspiring, it's always inspired to hear people answer questions and criticisms about their film, especially when a couple of the people there clearly didn't quite get the whole point of the film. One woman behind me said she didn't think the film was very good, effectively because it didn't shove the idea of taking care of the environment down people's throats. Of course, the whole campaign behind The Age of Stupid is very strong and it's clear what they want to people to do, take care of the world - but one of the best things about the film is the way it's presented, not trying to tell you want to do but showing you the evidence and making you think, making you wonder what you could do about it. Maybe some people will watch it and shrug the issue off as easily as my peers seem to, but I for one have been extremely affected by it and I really think that it should be shown to as many people as possible. I know a lot of people in my school wouldn't bother to go and see it if we had a screening. But I like to think that it might change people's minds. It didn't change my mind as such, as I already agreed with it, but it's made me wonder why I'm not doing anything.
Hearing her talk about the length of time they've spent on the film, how dedicated they are, how they never even expected it to come this far - it's all so inspiring. That's what makes me want to do something, not the singular issue of climate change. And it doesn't just make me want to help our race and planet either, it makes me want to do things that affect people. Lizzie said she hoped the film would affect people, make them want to do something, make them cry - it did all those things for me, and that's the kind of effect I'd want to have on other people. The fact that they began so clueless as to how to go about the film and had several different incarnations of it before this one, how hard they worked and how much it's made them realise - that's one makes it amazing.
Just that; they're trying so hard. Were it just another film about disasters with rather cardboard characters made for money instead of to convey a message, I don't think I would care. I've seen too many films, often based on climate change, that are exciting for their special effects but otherwise just have no effect. The Age of Stupid really isn't one of those. I don't think I can say much more, really, other than repeating parts of the film itself which I don't want to do - it would be so much better to see it for yourself. Go to a screening or buy the DVD or download or something, anything, I just really think everyone ought to watch it and I don't say this often. I don't want to come across as trying to force people to be "green" or anything because, well, I think that's defeating the point of the film in the first place. You might watch it and be unaffected, but I think a lot of people will be hugely affected by it and indeed they have, so I would recommend it to absolutely everyone, regardless of their stance on the matter. Really, one of the greatest films I have ever seen.