CAN ONE MAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE? MATT BUTLER WANTS TO CHANGE THE WAY
WE LOOK AT GLOBAL COMMERCE, CREATIVE PARTICIPATION AND
SUSTAINABILITY. IS HE ON TO SOMETHING HERE?
Enticed by the idea that one person can make
a difference, furniture designer Matt Butler trades
chrome for plywood and designs a non-precious chair
which he hopes will become a catalyst for positive
social change.
Treated like a project rather than
a product, the "Zaishu" (a small stool/box
based on Japanese style) goes beyond the product–consumer
culture of design by creating a progressive spirit
of participation, creativity, sustainability and
evolution of ideas.
This collaborative vibe now involves a growing network
of designers, artists and community groups around
the world to create the artwork and host the assembly
and installation events.
Connected
By Design examines Matt Butler's
journey from the original conceptual days and prototypes,
through to following him on a personal and professional
expedition into India as he tries to get other cultures
to understand his vision and get them onboard. From
Tokyo to Berlin to Stockholm to Mumbai to Matt's
home town in Yamba, Australia, we see how Zaishu
attempts to inspire kids, artisits and communities
to join together in creative participation and positive
social interaction. Will Matt succeed in instilling
a change in our cynical and commerce-driven modern
world?
In 2006, Matt went to India for
one of his art installations exploring the Indian
culture, traditions and art and how they could be
captured on the Zaishu. India is as challenging
as it is rewarding when simply travelling there,
but factor in a complex arrangement doing business
there and leaving with a completed project and it
establishes a whole new set of demands.
A screening of this India portion
of the Zaishu documentary footage appeared as part
of d factory – a monthly design forum live
at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum on June
28th. Matt Butler made a visual presenation
regarding his Zaishu: India trip which also coincides
with the Powerhouse acquisition of some Zaishus.
The d factory forum was part
of the "Cinema India: The Art of Bollywood"
exhibit at the Powerhouse Museum. For more information
on this exhibit and to via a video podcast of the
event visit:
This documentary and many elements
in relation to it are all self-funded. If you are
able or willing to contribute to independant documentary
and film making in Australia, or to join our newsletter/mailing
list, please contact us
here at Red Earth.
VIEW THE TRAILER:
Click
here to view a teaser trailer to the film.
(Quicktime
7 format - Windows and Mac)
ABOUT
THE DIRECTOR:
I like a great deal of films but
am very specific about the ones that I love. I wouldn't
exactly call myself a film aficionado whereby I
devour any film that comes along; rather, I pick
and choose along fairly specific lines and these
are quite likely the films I will always shoot.
I also enjoy working along the blurred lines of
typical genres and aim to test those boundaries
with future works.
My background is in graphics and
web development and design, but I have been illustrating,
writing and visualising in some creative form or
another since I was quite young. I'm still tossed
up about which road to travel: directing, editing
or shooting as I love all three (and tend to do
all of them on each project I work on!). I was born
in Canada and have lived in Vancouver most of my
life before moving to Australia with my wife in
2004.
MOVIE
STILLS:
Coming soon.
PRODUCTION
PHOTOS:
Coming soon.
CREDITS:
CUNNING CROW PRODUCTIONS presents
ZAISHU::CONNECTED BY DESIGN
in association with RED EARTH FILM PRODUCTIONS PTY
LTD
music by TO BE ANNOUNCED edited by MIKE
CROWHURST
associate producer JASON BRAY
director of photography MIKE CROWHURST
executive producers MIKE & AISLING
CROWHURST producer TBA
written and directed by MIKE CROWHURST
featuring MATT BUTLER HELEN PUNTON SHALU
SOOD and more TBA
BUY CONNECTED BY DESIGN
ON DVD:
Coming soon. Please watch this space
in the months following the Premiere screening.
Red
Earth Film Productions is a growing film company
producing high-quality and unique films for the
Australian and international markets. Read
more about us on our website and see what we've
currently got going on...
This collaborative vibe now involves a growing network
of designers, artists and community groups around
the world to create the artwork and host the assembly
and installation events.
Red
Earth Film Productions is a growing film company
producing high-quality and unique films for the
Australian and international markets.