the intersection explores a possible future where modern tech hits breaking point

from a violent present to a cooperative future

london-based studio superflux has teamed up with omidyar network for ‘the intersection’, a new short film that explores a daring and hopeful vision of the future. the film is set in a possible near future, where modern technology has taken over people’s lives, from pop-up ads on the street to fake news tailored to different audiences.  

the narrative begins several years after all this tech has brought growing racial, social and economic inequality to a critical mass. the 16-minute movie features four different protagonists who talk about their past experiences with modern technology and how they’re reimagining that tech in order to serve the community and support nature.

the film was influenced by ken burns’ 2012 documentary ‘the dust bowl’. it also draws inspiration from recent events, making the line between reality and fantasy a little blurred for viewers.

all images courtesy of superflux

THE CONCEPT OF ‘ambient technology’

the concept work for the movie investigated how to give narrative and visceral form to ideas of ‘ambient technology’ interwoven not just in social and civic life but also how it perpetuated racial injustice, and how extractive capitalism exacerbated its effects.

‘we wanted to show in an experiential way, the interconnected nature of the issues present in our world’,  say anab jain and jon adern of superflux. ‘whether environmental, social or technological, these domains don’t reside within neat categories, they overlap and intermingle, giving birth to new hybrid forms that are as tricky to define as they are to address.’

characters in VR headsets are constantly online

certain events and aspects of the larger world overlap across the protagonists’ stories, helping to build a rich, interconnected world and history. in the final act of the film, more is revealed about the isolated individuals, where they are now in the present, and how their journeys have changed — together.

‘we hope this film makes the future of ambient technology more tangible, prompts us to investigate our relationship with technology, and encourages us to build towards a more just, pluralistic world — one in which technology finally fulfills its ultimate purpose and is used to innovate rather than instigate, and to bridge rather than divide,’  says superflux. you can read the studio’s report capturing ambient tech trends, the product of several weeks of ethnographic research and expert interviews, here.

the short film explores the dangers of fake news

the end of the film shows a hopeful future with individuals using tech to support nature and the community

the intersection was created by superflux in collaboration with omidyar network

project info:

film name: the intersection
authors: superflux (anab jain, jon ardern, matthew edgson), omidyar network and tim maughan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom