Toronto-based agency Capital C created two short films for the TEDxColumbiaSIPA conference that took place in New York earlier this month. Both films provide a tongue-in-cheek but still sobering take on what the future holds with the “stupidification of society.”

“The Vine Effects” explores the perils of a public with a short attention span, and the prevalence of the six-second sound bite as an accepted form of becoming informed. A parody future newscast provides bare bone facts in a matter of seconds–sans any context, details or insight. We’re thrust into a world without engaging, immersive, longer-form content.

The films are conceptually aligned with the core mission of TED and TEDx: Ideas Worth Spreading and take a futuristic look at what would happen if current social media and technology trends usurped the desire for people to engage with the kind of thought-provoking content that TED and TEDx conferences deliver.

The films were produced pro-bono with the help of production company Someplace Nice, Jigsaw Casting, Married to Giants editorial, post production facilities Topix and Alter Ego and audio house Grayson Matthews.

Highlighted speakers for this year’s TEDxColumbiaSIPA event on May 8th included Grammy-nominated musician Matisyahu, New York Times bestselling author Sapphire whose book inspired the Academy Award-winning major motion film Precious, a Harlem chef, a Columbia University fencing coach, a bookstore owner in Harlem, a 95 year-old yoga instructor and a Maasai warrior.

Sean McBride of production house Someplace Nice directed both shorts.

Credits

Client TEDxColumbiaSIPA Agency Capital C Gary Watson, chief creative officer; Raul Garcia, creative director/art director; Alex Bird, Andrew Payne, Geoff Morgan, copywriters; Jess Toye, art director; Margaret Callaghan, producer. Production Someplace Nice Sean McBride, director; Estelle Weir, exec producer; Robbie McNamara, line producer. Editorial Married To Giants Monica Remba, editor; Denise Shearer, exec producer; Trevor Corrigan, online. VFX/Matte Painting TOPIX Sylvain Taillon, VFX exec producer; Christina Lord, VFX sr. producer; Andrew Nguyen, VFX & matte painting supervisor; Ronak Shah, modeler/CG artist. Music/Audio Grayson Matthews. Post Alter Ego. Conor Fisher, colorist. Casting Jigsaw Casting Shasta Lutz.

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