Beyond Entertainment: Creating Global Empathy Through Film and Music

Frank Fitzpatrick 01/03/2012

It is the afternoon of the last day before the great dawning of 2112 and I am riding the 300 kph bullet train between Shanghai and Beijing. I am here working on a new film with my friend Sherwood Hu and headed to meet some artists I would like to work with on the soundtrack. In addition to the global travel and holiday festivities, my past few weeks have been filled with inspiration and connections with many brilliant and talented people. I am very grateful for both the blessings and the challenges of the last year and looking forward to sharing that inspiration in the New Year by connecting with millions more around the world through the magic of music and film.

Yesterday, I had the honor of giving a presentation to the faculty and graduate students at the Shanghai Academy of Arts. My presentation was appropriately titled: “Film and Music: Beyond Entertainment.” I thought I would take a few minutes to share some of the concepts with you.

As I expressed to the attendees, my goal was two-fold. 1) That they would open up their thinking about the role of the filmmaker and their intention for putting their work out into the world, and 2) that they would feel inspired and empowered to do something really great in the world. Referring to films like Schindler’s List, Gandhi, Avatar and Confucius, I emphasized what is at the core of my work and my self- motivating belief system behind it: “The combination of emotionally moving music, engaging stories and compelling visual entertainment can subconsciously transform the feelings and perceptions of millions of people in a matter of minutes.”

I shared some video clips from projects and campaigns I had done with my organization, showing how I use film and music as a tool for social transformation and to try to create greater empathy and connectivity between people of different cultures around the world. With each film, record, music video or show, I showed how they can integrate a socially conscious campaign, even if just in the area of awareness, and how the alchemy and potential reach of music and film can be one of the most power vehicles we have for doing that. Like the great late Fela Kuti, I truly believe that as artists we have the responsibility to use our talents for the betterment of humankind.

I broke down the three critical components of film and to music/sound, image and story. About music, the core of my expertise, I shared: “Music has been an integral part of our social DNA for centuries. It is the emotional and connective thread for celebration, ritual, self-expression, movement, media and communication. Knowledge feeds our minds; nutrition feeds our bodies; but music, like the unconditional love of another human being, feeds our very souls. More than just a source of entertainment, music is an organic and essential ingredient for transforming information, exposition and interaction into emotionally engaging and deeply resonating human experiences.”

I described the power of story and addressed how we all are pioneers in the Fourth Evolution of Storytelling: Interactivity & the Internet (the previous three being Oral Tradition, the Printing Press and Moving Pictures (film). I, like many, am excited to see what the younger inspired pioneers of this new evolution will create, and I am further excited to create with them in ways that we can really touch peoples’ hearts and minds in positive and impacting ways.

I tried to share many of the concepts I wished had been shared with me when I was starting out in the business, and that I have taken more that two-dozen years to really solidify in my intention and convictions. These are not the standard teachings of today’s institutions and professional programs offering programs in arts and entertainment, especially not in China. That said, and despite some concern of censorship, I was pleasantly surprised at how open and interested the audience was at my somewhat radical ways of thinking. Imagine the exponential power if I had simply planted the a few seeds of consciousness for the next Steven Spielberg-like Chinese filmmakers of tomorrow.

I look forward to 2112 and the role that music and film will play in raising the vibration of the planet and keeping from falling off the edge.