Amal

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

Globally, cases of diagnosed depression are increasing exponentially every year. Is it simply a matter of identifying sadness more in people, or that people really are becoming sadder as time goes by? The theme of how we communicate more with each other, but are somehow more isolated, relates to today's technological breakthroughs in cell phone and online technology. The film deals with the idea that as we become more connected, and take comfort in that connection, the nature of physical contact - speaking to someone, looking at them, and speaking with body language - is changing. People take comfort in communication through a filter of email or msn messenger or cell phones and, while on one hand it has brought the world together globally, on the other it has added another layer or barrier between humans physically connecting with each other.

"System of Units" takes place in a world where people avoid, at all costs, extreme emotions. They avoid the risk of extreme emotions, and fear what they can lead to - sadness and depression. In this fictional world, depression and loneliness began to spread like a virus. People all over the world began to feel lonely, and created this technology of integrating our brains with computers, and connecting everyone online, so they wouldn't feel alone. Everything in this world is geared towards that avoidance of isolation. Depression is seen as the Cancer of the age - if you're afflicted, you're finished. However, in order to avoid depression and loneliness, the other extreme emotion - love - is also avoided. Since one extreme emotion invariably leads to the other, people in this world simply live online, always connected, always bombarded with online stimuli in the vein of internet pop-up ads, and never feel the need to physically connect, to let their minds wander, and especially not to let their subconscious go.

At the head of this story, Messing is a man who wants to speak, who wants to connect with a woman he is fascinated with at work. This "girl" is merely a catalyst for Messing's change, and he obsesses over 'speaking' to her, and even 'touching' her. By analysing old bootleg 'talkie' movies, Messing aims to study the old use of language, and this leads to the heart of the story - Messing's dream. His conversation with the "Girl" brings in these very spiritual themes - that we are all connected as humans, and that there are fundamental truths to being human that we all know - such as being able to physically connect with each other, speak to each other, and hold each other - but we have forgotten through technology and fear.

PRODUCER'S NOTES

Language. The basis of evolution. It separates us from other animals, gives humans our distinction, our sense of being and our ability to define and control the world around us. Throughout human evolution, the capacity to verbally communicate has allowed us to advance. But the very human nature of language is now being challenged by the modern innovations of technology.

In little over five years, the Internet has opened up a whole new approach to the way we communicate. Methods which were implausible mere decades ago - the ability to "chat" to a person in real time on the other side of the Earth - means that the once unthinkable is now a reality. Communication has become faster, but the question is to what extent are we truly "connecting" with the person on the other side? This brand of technology, though highly convenient and productive, may threaten to compromise everything that is genuine and personable in human relationships.

System of Units is an exploration of this new phenomenon of online communication and its potential impact on our society.