And the Oscar Goes to…

In RiP: A Remix Manifesto, Montreal-based filmmaker Brett Gaylor analyzes the effects of digital media on intellectual property.

The film is ultimately concerned with the question of who precisely owns any given piece of art. When does the public domain distinguish itself from private ownership — particularly in this age of digital distribution and replication? RiP brings these issues to life in an invigorating, fascinating way. Each sequence raises questions about our collective notions of intellectual property, rights and residuals, forcing us to think about and rethink our positions on each issue. (In an appropriate and playful note at the end, the film invites viewers to sample and rework RiP in any way they see fit.)

Focusing on Girl Talk, the Rolling Stones, and Andy Warhol, Gaylor indicates the classic Canadian liberal position in favor of “copy left,” but also highlights what he calls the artistic historical necessity to lift, appropriate and steal. With the recent euphoria over Shepard Fairey’s infringement of the AP’s Obama photograph, this seems like a timely film. More from the CBC.