Production News South Africa

SA entry makes Life in a Day final cut

South African Kjell Bismeyer's entry into Youtube's Life in a Day initiative has made the final cut. The film, a cinematic experiment which aims to capture life around the world in a single day, was produced by Ridley Scott's Scott Free UK, in partnership with YouTube.

Kjell is the owner and manager of Naledi Bushcamp in the Balule Nature Reserve situated in the Greater Kruger National Park. His YouTube channel, nalediwildcam, has over 7000 upload views. His clip entitled "Elephants swimming by moonlight" will form part of the feature film.

Academy award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (State of Play, Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void) recently completed work on the movie, drawing on 4,500 hours of footage sent in from 192 countries. Contributors whose submissions were chosen are credited as co-directors, and 26 of them have been invited to attend the world premiere of the film on Thursday, 27 January, as part of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Live streaming on Youtube

Audiences worldwide can view the live stream on youtube.com/lifeinaday to see the film before it goes out on YouTube, on DVD, and in theatres in 2011 (in certain regions). Following the premiere, festival director John Cooper will moderate a global Q&A with Macdonald and the 26 filmmakers.

For viewers unable to tune in at 6pm MT, the film will be re-broadcast on youtube.com/lifeinaday on 28 January at 7pm in their local time zone, and subtitled in 25 languages.

The 26 contributors invited to attend the premiere span the globe from Egypt to the Ukraine. Their film clips capture an array of life experiences, including a Korean man who has been cycling the world for nine years, a young mother battling cancer and a Russian free-runner making Moscow his playground.

Inspiring people to pick up a camera

Says executive producer Ridley Scott: "I am delighted that we're bringing together contributors from all over the globe in such a unique way. I believe Life in a Day will inspire more people to pick up a camera and tell their stories."

"The process of making Life in a Day has been such an inspiring one for me and my team who helped view and log all 4,500 hours of footage we received. Everyday we felt like we were seeing 20 different possible films as we got insights into so many people's lives," says Macdonald.

"It is a testament to the skill, insight and generosity of so many contributors that we have ended up with such a powerful, cohesive and emotionally engaging film - which really gives you a flavour of what it was like to be alive on 24th July 2010."

The contributors (either filmmakers or subjects of the submitted clip) invited to the Sundance premiere of Life in a Day are:

ContributorShoot location
Massoud HossainiKabul, Afghanistan
Cristina Bocchialini and Ayman El Sayed HassanCairo, Egypt
Soma HelmiBali, Indonesia
Hiroaki Aikawa and Taiji AikawaTokyo, Japan
Marek Mackovic and Okhwan YoonKathmandu, Nepal
Alberto Rauizo Gonzalez, Cain Abel Tapia Chavez and Avelino Tapia LaymeArequipa, Peru
Renat Ardilanov and Alexander BayturinMoscow, Russia
Patricia Marinez del Hoyo, Toniu Xou, Virginia Salvado Segu and Araceli Segu MusteBarcelona, Spain
Boris GrishkevichZakarpatska, Ukraine
Harvey GlenDubai, United Arab Emirates
Caryn WaechterNew York, NY, United States
Christoper Brian HeerdtNaperville, IL, United States
David JacquesWoonsocket, RI, United States
Betsy DelValleyUrbana, IL, United States
Bob Liginski Jr., Bobby Liginski III and Catherine Anne LiginskyGrayslake, IL, United States

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