 IRL (In Real Life) is a web series about the intersection of social media culture with contemporary life and was just released online after airing on Bell Fibe TV1. Creator Bobby Del Rio was kind enough to spare some time out of his busy schedule this past weekend to answer a few of my questions via Facebook Messenger (talk about things coming full circle - his words not mine). Check it out below:
What inspired IRL? I was inspired to make IRL because I noticed how social media had completely transformed my life and I made the series to find out why. Maybe it was a sense of alienation that I wanted to understand more fully. Is there one specific experience that triggered this idea/realization or a combination of all of your experiences on social media? Mostly I wanted to understand why I had so many Facebook confrontations. I'll get in really nasty Facebook debates/fights, then give the same people warm hugs IRL. The disconnect is startling. What do you want the viewers to take from this? I'd like them to start looking at social media objectively and really question how social interactions are forever changed via social media channels. The effects can be quite devastating. Positive developments too, but negativity seems more pervasive. _________________________________________________________________________________________ I can't wait to start watching the series this weekend! I learned a lot from my chat with Bobby - we even discussed online dating which was not included in this interview. Watch IRL for yourself, here. |