New speaker update: Nina Paley

// July 21st, 2009 // news

SITA SINGS THE BLUES filmmaker joins DIY Days lineup

DIY Days is on the countdown to August 1! We have a dynamic speaker lineup for you, and excited to announce Nina Paley as the latest addition to our schedule.

Nina’s animated film Sita Sings the Blues — based on the epic Hindu story the Ramayana, and set to 1920’s jazz music — premiered at Tribeca last year to wide acclaim. Nina took an innovative approach to the film’s production and distribution, from its DIY origins (created and rendered on a laptop!) and Creative Commons licensing that allows the work to be copied and shared.

As Nina says on the film’s website: ” I hereby give Sita Sings the Blues to you. Like all culture, it belongs to you already, but I am making it explicit…. From the shared culture it came, and back into the shared culture it goes.”

Five questions for Nina

What excites you about the future?

It’s fun to watch all these sweeping dramatic social changes. Maybe culture will be free again, like it was before the 20th century. I’m excited by new ways audiences are connecting with and supporting artists. There’s a fabulous proliferation of new art right now, which makes me optimistic.

Looming decrepitude, senility and decay also excite me, but not in a good way. On the plus side, I’ll eventually learn what death is like! I’ve always wondered.

What’s something you wish you’d known before you found out the hard way?

Nothing. Finding out the hard way is what life’s all about.

What’s on your playlist, reading list, or movie queue?

Recently finished “Anathem” by Neal Stephenson (liked it) and “The Great Train Robbery” by Michael Crichton (written in the 70’s, before he became a total hack – it’s an entertaining read) and am about to start “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel.

What’s a site you couldn’t live without?

Earth.

What are you currently working on?

Research for my next project, whatever that turns out to be.

Catch Nina speak at the DIY Days conference in Philadelphia on August 1. To stay up to date with new events and information, follow diydays on Twitter.