Here is a bizarre twist of two of my interests meeting each other - social media, at the Sundance Film Festival.  

From The Festival Awards Page about it:

“For the Documentary Competition top honor, the jury selected Ondi Timoner’s We Live in Public from the 16 films in the U.S. Documentary category. Timoner’s second Grand Jury Prize (she won in 2004 for Dig!) is the story of the Internet’s revolutionary impact on human interaction portrayed through the perspective of Josh Harris, the web maverick notorious for his experimental public art projects.”

I posted this on another site about it: 

“This week at the Sundance Film Festival, a film called “We Live in Public” won the Grand Prize Jury Award from the festival, the festival’s highest documentary prize. The film is about the future of the Internet and how it will develop, via use of social media.

It’s told through the story of the Internet pioneer Josh Harris, founder Jupiter Research/Media Metrix [now Forrester Research]; Pseudo.com , etc. There is no doubt that Harris (for those of you who are aware of his story) is questionable, as are his techniques. The film does not shy away from this, it actually tells the story of a very compromised man.

Variety writes this about him, in this excellent review about it:

An intensely immersive, even draining film, “We Live in Public,” which doubles as a short history of the Internet, is technically tops on every level — including its volume. Much of the film is set to an ear-splitting cacophony of moody pop-rock, as befits a character as loud and abrasive as Harris.

This said, he has actually has been able to forecast the Internet (and specifically, how users of the Internet will use it) with tremendous effectiveness, and at least 10 years ahead of the curve.

The story and conclusions and specific conclusions are about exactly the Internet we are starting to see via the increasing onset of social media: youtube, blogging, microblogging, facebook/myspace, etc.

The film just premiered so it will be some time before you can see it if you haven’t. I would say this movie is a mandatory see for anyone mildly interested in social media, particularly any developer. If you are a netflix subscriber, you can add the movie to your que and it will mail it to you when it’s released. Otherwise pay attention and when it comes out make sure you check it out.

Also, as crazy as it sounds it’s also very applicable to Burning Man. I’m currently making efforts to possibly screen it at Burning Man a few times if I can get a copy and they’ll allow me to.”

Relevant Links:
Cinematical Review of main character and director
Cinematical Podcast Recorded Interview