Keanu Reeves Talks Digital Revolution and the Future of Filmmaking with Girls' Lena Dunham
Hollywood star Keanu Reeves sits down with acclaimed Girls writer and director Lena Dunham to discuss the subtly surreal sight of babies watching Nickelodeon on iPads in their strollers and how digital is changing film in this excerpt from Chris Kenneally’s documentary Side by Side. Deconstructing the game-changing impact digital storytelling has had on the film industry, Side by Side features Reeves conducting in-depth interviews with an awe-inspiring cast of industry heavyweights including David Lynch, George Lucas, James Cameron, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese and Steven Soderbergh. Meeting during post-production of their last film together Henry’s Crime, Kenneally and Reeves wanted to explore the transformation of traditional filmmaking methods and how digital technology had revolutionized their industry. “It’s a very exciting time for cinema,” says Kenneally. “You don’t have to live in a city, with a lab, or a have a big budget to make your movie.” Creator and star of HBO’s latest critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated comedy-drama Girls, Dunham first sprang to attention with her SXSW award-winning directorial debut Tiny Furniture. Having digital tools at their disposal has empowered a new generation of young directors such as Dunham, notes Kenneally: “Lena is a really talented young storyteller and a great example of what’s possible.”
Keanu Reeves and Hollywood Eccentric Greta Gerwig Talk Authenticity in the Digital Movie Age
Mumblecore leading lady and indie cinema starlet Greta Gerwig confronts the 21st-century dilemma of what to watch from an ever-growing Netflix queue in the second excerpt from Keanu Reeves’ documentary, Side by Side. Directed by Chris Kenneally and produced by Reeves, Side by Side explores the effects of digital technology on the production and consumption of film through a series of interviews with an all-star list of contributors including David Lynch, George Lucas, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese. “Now you can watch almost any movie ever made,” observes Kenneally of the new digital landscape. “You have access to movies you never would have been able to see before. It’s an amazing time to create and consume cinema.” Breaking through with performances in micro-budget indie hits such as Hannah Takes the Stairs and Nights and Weekends, Gerwig received critical acclaim after starring in Greenberg opposite Ben Stiller and recently appeared in Woody Allen’s latest, To Rome With Love. “Greta is an exciting young actress who has worked in both film and digital," Kenneally notes. "She has great, unique insights."
