The dawn of a new year and everyone’s clamouring to predict the next big thing. I don’t claim to have a crystal ball, but one thing’s for certain: if innovation continues at anything like the pace it has over the past decade, we could be in for a crazy old time.
However, one notable trend which seems to have been a factor in the dying days of this decade, may set the tone for the new one. And that’s the return of the underdog.
If mass media and social control’s your thing, you could say that nothing blinds the public to the inadequacies of the ruling minority than a good old underdog success story (X-Factor or the Lottery anyone?) Or if you prefer the half-full outlook, there is a historical connection between times of economic uncertainty and great creativity.
To cite just a few current examples, we have:
- Paranormal Activity – the ‘homemade’ movie, created for just $15,000, that went on, via a certain Mr Speilberg, to make over $100 million at the box office
- Ataque de Panico (Panic Attack) – a 5 minute YouTube CGI fest, supposedly produced for just $300, that landed its creator a $30 million dollar deal to make a Hollywood blockbuster
- Rage versus Joe – a Facebook campaign topples Cowell’s evil plan to fill the airwaves with yet more festive dross
- Jack Bauer interrogating Santa – OK, this one is a little self congratulatory, but the festive Rebel Virals film, made for peanuts, went straight to the Christmas number one YouTube viral video slot with no ‘unnatural’ seeding
Now I know that movies billed as ‘underground sensations’ seldom actually are. I know that Sony Music wins either way. And I know that there’s no way a video with that many people in the credits could possibly be made for $300. But it does seem to signal a shift away from safe, designed-by-committee, vanilla media; and a move towards a braver, more creative approach – raging against the mundane if you will.
And that can only be a good thing.
Tom Hurrell is wondering if any movie shot in his house could make millions.
loving Ataque de Panico
The increasing affordability of super technology will make amazing creativity so much easier for the everyman. 2009 saw some spectacular creative achievements for a small budget. A great idea shines through and can be produced for very little. Bring on 2010!