UPDATE: here’s the audio!

This evening at 7:15pm I’m on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row arts review programme, proffering my opinion on Kevin Macdonald’s latest film, Life in a Day. It was executive produced by Ridley Scott, and tells the story of the events from one nondescript day in the human life of the planet.

The film was an epic exercise in editing, condensing 4,500 hours of video footage of 24 July 2010 from thousands of submissions to the open call for contributions into a 95 minute, compelling flick. It really does hold together.

It was co-produced with YouTube, and thus people maintain that it is “of the web”. Meh. Not convinced. Other films have used similar techniques (the Beastie Boys’ Awesome; I Fuckin’ Shot That), and other narratives have been knit together in this way (like Microcosmos or Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance) without the web. But nevertheless, it’s a very meditative and enjoyable film. I even learned something: eggs for breakfast are a universal. Indeed.

I’m super-pleased to say that there is some moving footage by my friend and the supremely talented Director of Photography on virtual revolution programme 4 (Homo Interneticus) (amongst many other films), Harvey Glen. Keep an eye out for the segment from Dubai. Shot on a Canon 5D Mk II.

Here’s the blurb about the film review from tonight’s radio programme:

Director Kevin Macdonald, best-known for Touching the Void, has created an ambitious new documentary, Life in a Day, edited from more than 4500 hours of footage shot by members of the public on 24 July 2010. Technology writer and researcher Aleks Krotoski reviews.