Look Up
Manan Dua
Artist Nam June Paik once said, "I use technology in order to hate it properly." In that spirit, Look Up is an interactive film that depicts a tale about our society’s digital dependency and the negative effects it has on our creativity and lives. This film also stems from my belief that true inspiration arises from lived moments and that there is so much more in those moments that otherwise might be considered mundane.
Look Up tells the story of Milo, an aspiring beat producer overwhelmed by the digital world, and his path toward finding creative inspiration. Set within the realms of stylized animation, the film features a unique style that blends and contrasts 3D characters against a stylized flat pseudo-2D environment, inviting viewers to peek into Milo's life as the film challenges the confines of traditional web experiences.
The film diverges from orthodox storytelling by crafting a narrative where the viewer is given the illusion of choice through the film's interactive nature. It encourages the audience to weigh the allure of digital dopamine against the vividness of the physical world. With the average worldwide screen time now approximately seven hours, it's more relevant than ever to prompt a reevaluation of our digital habits. Look Up seeks to do just this.