Disconnect | Henry-Alex Rubin | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Filmmaker Henry Alex Rubin discusses his film and the themes of deception and identity, as well as the positive and negative impact of technology on human relationships.

Transcript

ELLEN WEST: I just wanted to ask you what drew you to this story? Was it a personal experience, or what was it about the underlying story here that made you want to make your first non-documentary? HENRY ALEX RUBIN: Well, all three of those stories seemed like they could be interesting documentaries. And all three of those things are based on thing... Read More

Key Insights

• 🛟 Rubin was drawn to the film's themes of deception and identity, based on real-life events.
• 🌍 The film reflects the challenges and excitement of navigating the digital world.
• 👻 Rubin's background in documentaries influenced his approach to directing, allowing the actors to be more involved in shaping their characters.
• ❎ Despite exploring the negative impact of technology, Rubin also acknowledges its potential for connection and therapy.
• 😃 Rubin finds joy in creating ads that cut through the contrivances of traditional advertising and evoke emotion.
• 🎦 His visual style in films and ads often resembles cinema verite, capturing real moments and emotions.
• 💪 Rubin prefers to focus on projects that evoke strong emotions rather than those driven solely by spectacle.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Rubin to make this film?

Rubin was attracted to the real-life stories of deception and identity theft, which he believed would make interesting documentaries.

Q: How did Rubin conduct research for the film?

Rubin interviewed people who had experienced various forms of online deception, such as identity theft and cyberbullying. He also spoke to FBI agents and a cyber crimes detective for insights into the world of cybercrime.

Q: How did Rubin approach casting for the film?

The financier of the film allowed Rubin and the producer to hire anyone they felt was good for the roles. They chose actors they admired, such as Michael Nyqvist and Jason Bateman, who wanted to explore new genres.

Q: How does Rubin view the impact of technology on human relationships?

Rubin believes that being on a digital device is not inherently bad. The challenge lies in finding a balance between the physical and digital worlds. He sees the internet as both a source of deception and a tool for connection and therapy.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Rubin was drawn to the story because it reflects real-life events and the everyday impact of technology.

• He conducted extensive research by interviewing people who had experienced identity theft, worked on pornographic chat sites, or were cyberbullies.

• The film explores the challenges and excitement of balancing the physical world with the digital world.