Life Rewired Shorts: The Children of Tomorrow
How could the potential of technology impact the way we perceive reproduction and ultimately human life?
Life Rewired Shorts / The Children of Tomorrow by The Doc Collective (2019/2019) by The Doc Collective and Barbican CentreBarbican Centre
Still from The Children of Tomorrow by The Doc Collective. Part of the Barbican's Life Rewired Shorts film series. (2019/2019) by The Doc Collective and Barbican CentreBarbican Centre
Since the first IVF baby was born in 1978, reproductive medicine has advanced vastly. But as much as these innovations are hugely beneficial to the field of human reproduction, the proper research must also be done so that they are applied safely and effectively.
In The Doc Collective's The Children of Tomorrow, experts in the field, Dr. Sebastiaan Mastenbroek, Clinical Embryologist & Researcher at the University of Amsterdam, and Eline Dancet, PhD Researcher of the Research Foundation Flanders, introduce us to some of these innovations such as artificial uteruses, artificial gametes and gene editing. Some of these are a long way off from becoming a reality while others are closer than we actually think...
' It’s a great time to be an embryologist these days, because we have so many exciting developments in our field going on with a lot of promise for the future of what we can offer our patients'
Dr. Sebastiaan Mastenbroek, Clinical Embryologist & Researcher at the University of Amsterdam
How does your film respond to the ideas behind Life Rewired?
'The Children of Tomorrow' reveals upcoming innovations in reproductive medicine exploring how the potential of these could impact the way we perceive reproduction and ultimately human life. Delving into the safety and effectiveness of these upcoming technologies, we consider the benefits these can afford humanity.
'The acceptance in the general public is quite high when it comes to these innovations but the majority do want a form of regulation to ensure safe and effective implementation'
Eline Dancet, PhD Researcher of the Research Foundation Flanders
What does the filmmaker of the future look like?
Nowadays, access to technology is easier than ever. That is why, at The Doc Collective, we think that the filmmaker of the future should have two main skills: a good eye for story and the ability to tell these stories in an appealing and creative way - both entertaining and didactic. Digital technology has made filming video easier and more accessible than ever, so we understand the challenge and importance of creative storytelling, in a world where audiences are more than ever inundated with quality content.There is a lot going on in terms of formats and new platforms that the filmmaker of the future should be aware of. The filmmaker of the future has to meet and adapt to these changes in technologies, and formats, using these technologies as creative constraints.
About the filmmaker
The Doc Collective focuses on creating short documentary formats for digital platforms - their in-house signature work are DOCCOs - short documentary series that explore a story from different angles.
Life Rewired Shorts are a series of short films produced in collaboration with The Smalls. Each month throughout 2019, we asked filmmakers to explore the ideas behind the Barbican's Life Rewired, a season exploring what it means to be human when technology is changing everything.
The series is supported by the British Council's Anyone / Anywhere, a global season on the 30th anniversary of the birth of the web, looking at the impact of this world-changing invention on every aspect of our lives.
