Whether we like it or not, technology has changed the world we live in. Our communication has gotten faster, but maybe less personal. And the ways we understand ourselves and the people around us have dramatically changed with the steadfast rise of social media. Technology and social media aren’t inherently good or evil — sometimes they’re just harmless or a bit annoying — but they are an undeniable part of our everyday lives nonetheless. Our latest VOD and web series picks illustrate the highs and lows of navigating an ever-changing world via tech.
In Olivia Wilde’s short, “Wake Up,” a young woman feels isolated by our culture’s collective reliance on social media. Meanwhile, in web series “The Right Swipe” and “Queer·ious,” from Kyra Jones and Juli Del Prete and Lex, respectively, technology has turned the culture of dating on its head.
Here are Women and Hollywood’s VOD and web series selections for February.
VOD
“Wake Up” (Short) – Directed by Olivia Wilde
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeQvFRYtmLw
In the era of “Black Mirror,” there have been plenty of shallow criticisms of technology and social media. Olivia Wilde’s Sundance short “Wake Up,” made in partnership with HP, manages to be a meaningful critique of the isolation in our digital age that doesn’t detract from the connections and sense of community that comes with being online.
“Wake Up” follows a young woman (Margaret Qualley) as she tries to find humanity in a world full of screens. It’s a largely experimental work with no dialogue and a mesmerizing physical performance from Qualley. It’s a departure from Wilde’s comedic feature directorial debut, “Booksmart,” but showcases the wide breadth of themes and styles in her artistic wheelhouse.
In an interview with KUTV, Wilde spoke about the creative process behind “Wake Up.” “In terms of writing, it’s like…writing a poem instead of a novel. You can think outside the box. You don’t have to be linear. It’s why I love directing music videos.”
“Wake Up” is available to watch on YouTube.
Web Series
“The Right Swipe” – Created by Kyra Jones and Juli Del Prete
If there’s one thing technology has changed the most, it’s probably dating. There are countless dating apps on the market — and with that comes a desire to craft the best version of yourself for an online audience. Open Television’s web series “The Right Swipe” tackles this modern frustration with refreshing humor.
Best friends India (Kyra Jones) and Margo (Juli Del Prete) start a business fixing men’s dating app profiles. They establish rules as to not get personally involved with their clients, but they quickly realize that is much easier said than done. Like most of OTV’s roster of programs, “The Right Swipe” incorporates a wide range of identities and issues — and successfully examines the intersections of marginalization and technology in modern dating.
In its artist’s statement, “The Right Swipe” poses important, intriguing questions: “What are the challenges of dating at various intersections of marginalized identity? Do we fall in love with people, or the versions of them that we create? Can we forgive someone we love who has hurt us while still advocating for ourselves?”
The first two episodes of “The Right Swipe” are available to watch on Vimeo.
While the vehicles of communication have changed in the modern era, much of the actual communication itself has remained oddly universal over time. There’s still fighting, vulnerability, and misunderstanding — it’s just packaged differently.
Following the lives of a lesbian group of friends in Los Angeles, Lex’s web series “Queer·ious” depicts the challenges of dating and friendships in person and online. The group explores anything and everything that comes with maintaining interpersonal relationships, stressing the importance — and difficulty — of honest communication. Needless to say, it’s also refreshing in the current age of queer media to see a culturally specific series about and made by Black lesbians.
The first three episodes of “Queer·ious” are available to watch on YouTube.
