April 8, 2013

As the digital age places the tools once reserved for the few into the hands of the many what will become of our culture? Will true talent still rise to the top or will it be lost amongst the masses?

Some may say that this is a bleak look at our civilizations’ creative future and take the opposing stance that finally previously undiscovered talent is being found. Thank you Scooter Braun for Justin Beiber!

It is true that entrepreneurs, artists, designers, musicians, filmmakers and the like are finding it increasingly easier to afford the tools needed to create as well as find the digital venues to be heard. This debate can go on forever, as no one truly knows what the future holds except massive change. 

First cable channels took on prime time networks in the fight for hour long programming. Cable networks like FX redefined the industry with shows such as Madmen. Now online movie and TV streaming services like Netflix are producing their own content, circumventing the networks and cable channels all together. Our understanding of television programming is definitely shifting.

On the music side, the music industry that those of us born before 1990’s grew up with has been completely obliterated. In my humble opinion this death has had dire consequences to the overall quality of the music currently being produced. Gone are the days of musicians crafting bodies of work known as albums. Today’s world of digital downloads have forced artists to focus on creating one off hits. iTunes has completely changed consumer’s buying habits and Pandora makes sure you are constantly introduced to artist’s single hits.

In the documentary PressPausePlay interviews with musicians, filmmakers, writers and artists from around the globe offer interesting and varied points of view on the very question of our creative future. In this documentary you’ll hear from Moby, Lena Dunham and Seth Godin to name a few modern day creators. I’ll leave the ultimate conclusion up to you but it’s definitely worth watching this well crafted documentary on one of my new favorite sites. – TopDocumentaryFilms.com