PRESS RELEASE
Directed by independent filmmaker Alex Lykos (Alex & Eve, Me & My Left Brain), Disconnect Me centres around Alex who disconnects from his smartphone, indeed all of his devices, for 30 days.
How will he and those around him react? What will be the effects on his life, both personal and professional? And what will become of his own mental health?
Along the way, Alex investigates the social impacts of the smartphone and social media, interviewing academia, adults, teenagers, and children.
“People ask me who the target audience is, I cheekily say, ‘anyone with a smartphone.’ Coming from a narrative background, I approached this film with an intent to make it relatable and a little cheeky. We certainly had some fun playing with the conventions of this form of storytelling,” said Lykos.
“It’s a vital examination of our current technologies; of ourselves; of our relationships – of our times. All told with an immediacy that brims with humour, humanity, and humility,” said Co-Producer Peter Maple.
Disconnect Me also investigates the impacts of technology on the next generation, what our future might look like in a climate where Artificial Intelligence is developing so rapidly.
“Whilst investigating the AI space, there was one particular revelation which shocked us, which we feel could do with some mainstream attention,” said Lykos.
Alex has reunited with editor Miriana Marusic and sound designer Anthony Marsh for Disconnect Me, both of whom worked on Me & My Left Brain, with music being composed by award-winning composer George Ellis who recently composed the music for Lykos’ award-winning one-man-show Jawbone. Visual graphics are being created by Jefferton James, the Director of Photography was Matt Ryan and sound was recorded by Martin Demian.
The film is currently in post-production. It is expected the film will be completed the first half of 2023 with the view to screen the film at festivals before releasing it domestically in cinemas in September this year.