Film Will Save the World

“We are languishing in a period without much direction and no shared body of ideas about what we and our society are all about. Now, as never before, we need people who have stories to tell that make sense and order out of the daily avalanche of sensation, news, events; the function of the artist in society is to reveal the order of the universe, to trace the grand design that others cannot see. That is what story is.”

I love this quote by Oscar-winning screenwriter Frank Pierson.  Filmmaking has become as essential as design in a world overwhelmed with everyday complexity.  Poor design wastes time and can even ruin lives.  It is what makes your insurance agreement and mortgage impossible to understand.  It is why people fall in love with objects made simple - evident in the technology manufactured by Braun and Apple.  The world isn’t going to become less complex.  Good design is our only hope.

Film is the same way.  The world isn’t going to suddenly become more religious.  Morality and fairness won’t soon reign supreme.  As our world becomes increasingly secular and the laws of nature don’t convey any clear sense of ethical direction, art is our only hope.  Altruism exists at the genetic level.  It is there to be cultivated.  But it isn’t going to be the scientist that leads the way - or the politician - or the lawyer - or the financial analyst.  It is going to be the filmmaker.

Reblogged.