Side by Side: Lena Dunham

Hollywood star Keanu Reeves sits down with acclaimed Girls writer and director Lena Dunham to discuss the subtly surreal sight of babies watching Nickelodeon on iPads in their strollers and how digital is changing film in this excerpt from Chris Kenneally’s documentary Side by Side. Deconstructing the game-changing impact digital storytelling has had on the film industry, Side by Side features Reeves conducting in-depth interviews with an awe-inspiring cast of industry heavyweights including David Lynch, George Lucas, James Cameron, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese and Steven Soderbergh. Meeting during post-production of their last film together Henry’s Crime, Kenneally and Reeves wanted to explore the transformation of traditional filmmaking methods and how digital technology had revolutionized their industry. “It’s a very exciting time for cinema,” says Kenneally. “You don’t have to live in a city, with a lab, or a have a big budget to make your movie.” Creator and star of HBO’s latest critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated comedy-drama Girls, Dunham first sprang to attention with her SXSW award-winning directorial debut Tiny Furniture. Having digital tools at their disposal has empowered a new generation of young directors such as Dunham, notes Kenneally: “Lena is a really talented young storyteller and a great example of what’s possible.”
 
See Keanu Reeves chat with mumblecore star Greta Gerwig in Part Two of Side by Side, exclusively on NOWNESS tomorrow.