In a wide-ranging talk about the Internet and government, Al Gore urged the techie crowd at South By Southwest to use digital tools to improve government.
The former vice president sat for a conversation with Napster co-founder and Web entrepreneur Sean Parker on Monday at SXSW in a flashy tete-a-tete that drew an audience of thousands at the Austin Convention Center and more viewers via a live stream.
“Our democracy has been hacked,” said Gore, framing Washington gridlock and the effects of special interest money in digital terms.
To fix what he called a no-longer functional U.S. government, Gore urged the audience to begin a new “Occupy Democracy” movement. He pushed for the creation and implementation of digital tools and social media to “change the democratic conversation.”
Gore talked of a “Wiki-democracy” of “digital flash mobs calling out the truth” and “a government square that holds people accountable.”
Parker, who was famously portrayed by Justin Timberlake in “The Social Network,” has gotten into politics by investing in Votizen, an online network of voters that leverages social networks to campaign for their issues. He also sits on the board of NationBuilder, which also seeks to organize political change.
Parker said he believes social media is only its infancy of what it can do to spur action. He cited the Internet rally against the Stop Online Piracy Act as a hint of the power of social networks. He called the protest “Nerd Spring,” alluding to the Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East.
Both Gore and Parker derided the dominant role of television in elections and political dialogue. Change, Parker said, won’t come from within the political system.
To applause, Gore added; “I can confirm that.”
Edward Lachman Wins American Society of Cinematographers Award For “Maria”
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) held its 39th annual ASC Awards on Sunday night (2/23) at the Beverly Hilton with Edward Lachman, ASC earning the marquee theatrical feature film honor for Maria. In his acceptance remarks, Lachman thanked, among others, director Pablo Larrain and actor Angelina Jolie who portrayed Maria Callas. Lachman noted that this was his second film with Larrain whom he described as โa cinematographer himselfโ in terms of how he thinks about images and camera movement. Lachman also hailed Jolieโs performance for capturing the spirit and heart of Callas. Lachman said he found Callasโ story inspiring, sharing that she suffered from an autoimmune disease the last 20 years of her life, but continually fought for perfection to become one of the greatest artists and opera singers of all time. He said her life is motivation for artists to rise above their circumstances to create and express themselves through their art. This marks Lachmanโs first ASC Award win in a theatrical or television category. He was previously nominated for Far From Heaven (2003), Mildred Pierce (2011), Carol (2016) and El Conde (2024, Lachman's first film with director Larrain). Lachman was honored with the ASCโs Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. The 39th ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards also honored Jomo Fray for Nickel Boys in the Spotlight Award category, which recognizes stellar cinematography in independent, foreign or art-house type/festival films. Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw topped the documentary category for Gaucho Gaucho. ASC Award winners in television were Robert Elswit, ASC for Ripley, Sam McCurdy, ASC, BSC for Shลgun, and Richard... Read More