Digilante (2016) [N/A]
Featuring:
Kerby Belarbi, Daniel Bird, Mark Conway
Directed by:
Mike Nayna
Release Date:
December 21, 2016
Original Title:
Digilante
Genres:
Documentary
Production Companies:
Checkpoint Media
Mad Kids
Production Countries:
Australia
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 30
Disillusioned by a revival of public shaming via social media, a young Australian filmmaker confronts the real-world damage caused by a vicious online monster he created.
In 2012, filmmaker Mike Nayna witnessed an infamous racial attack that took place on a city-bound bus between Mordialloc and Caulfield stations in Melbourne. As Mike recorded the incident on his iPhone, he had no idea he was about to spark an international media circus, two jail terms, a surprise spate of copycat incidents and destroy the lives of the people he tracked through his lens. While a simple narrative of good conquering prejudice played out on computer screens around the world, a far more complex and morally ambiguous story was taking place. Exposing his own motivations and manipulations with brutal honesty, Mike reveals an insider's perspective of the events. The documentary explores the initial incident, the media explosion and the ripple effect it had on the lives of the people involved. Digilante is a quintessential case study of the often-destructive relationship between social and traditional media.
