Film Lens
Us Now is a 2009 documentary directed by Ivo Gormley that examines the influence of the internet and Web 2.0 on public governance. The film presents a vision where citizens can engage directly with the state, akin to using social media platforms like Facebook. It features insights from thinkers such as Don Tapscott and Clay Shirky, emphasizing the shift towards mass collaboration and the potential for citizens to actively participate in decision-making rather than relying solely on elected representatives.
The documentary presents various online collaborative projects, including Mumsnet and CouchSurfing, which illustrate how self-organizing structures can impact government. It confronts politicians like George Osborne and Ed Miliband with the possibilities of collaborative governance, suggesting that the principles of transparency and open participation are becoming integral to social and political life.
Why Watch
- •Meet thinkers like Don Tapscott and Clay Shirky
- •Find out how Mumsnet influences governance
- •See the first film on VODO platform
Did You Know
•Us Now was the first film distributed on VODO in late 2009.
•The film received 100,000 downloads in its first five days online.
•Us Now was screened on Channel 4's More4 on July 11, 2009.
•The film has been translated into 29 languages on the dotSUB platform.
Perfect For
Online collaborationE-democracyParticipatory culture