Robin Basselin and Bruce Gulland look at the film “Life in a Day”. It was created from videos recorded around the world – videos from people like you!

Voice 1

Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Robin Basselin.

Voice 2

And I’m Bruce Gulland. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 3

“We are all under the same moon.”

Voice 1

These are the words of film director, Kevin Macdonald. What do you think he meant when he said them?

Voice 2

Macdonald said these words to the Telegraph news organization. And he was talking about a film he recently directed. A film called “Life in a Day.” Macdonald worked on this film with the famous film producer Ridley Scott. Together, they created this film about life around the world. However, they did not record it themselves. Instead, they used short films or videos recorded by people all over the world.

Voice 1

Life in a Day is a film recorded by people like you. It shows the many differences between people and cultures. However, it also shows that there are things that connect all people – like the fact that we all live under the same moon. Today’s Spotlight is on the film Life in a Day.

Voice 2

On July 1st, 2010, Kevin Macdonald released a video on the Internet. He used the popular video sharing website YouTube. Macdonald asked YouTube users to create a video of their life. And he asked everyone to do this on one particular day – July 24th, 2010.

Voice 1

In his message, Macdonald asked YouTube users to film all parts of life. He wanted to see both normal and not normal life. He asked users to answer questions like “What do you love?” “What do you fear?” “What makes you laugh?” and “What do you carry with you?”

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
Voice 2

Macdonald asked users to put their finished videos on YouTube. From these shared videos, Macdonald wanted to make one long film about global life. However, this is an unusual way to make a film. It uses a method called “crowd-sourcing.” Crowd-sourcing is when a large group of people help complete a project usually done by a few paid workers. In crowd-sourcing, the group completes the project for less money or even for free. Usually, there is a public announcement for a crowd-sourced project. And often people use the Internet to send in their work.

Voice 1

Crowd-sourcing can be helpful in completing many kinds of projects. For example, companies have used crowd-sourcing to find just the right picture for a particular project. Other people have used crowd-sourcing to find the answer to difficult science problems. In recent years, crowd-sourcing has become more and more popular. Now, Kevin Macdonald has made the first ever crowd-sourced film produced in Hollywood.

Voice 2

At first, Macdonald did not believe the project would be very popular. However, people sent over 80,000 videos! And they sent them from over 190 countries. This made Macdonald and producer Ridley Scott believe that their idea could work.

Voice 1

Macdonald and Scott paid 25 people to sort all the videos. These people spent months watching all 4,500 hours of film. Then Macdonald and Scott chose the best pieces of video. From these, they created the 95 minute film Life in a Day.

Voice 2

Life in a Day began playing in theatres during the summer of 2011. The film includes great stories of birth and love. It also includes terrible stories of fear and death. One of the main stories from the film is about Okhwan Yoon. Yoon is a Korean man. He travels around the world on a bicycle. He rides this two-wheeled vehicle from country to country. His purpose is to teach peace, patience and discovery. He does this by meeting the local people. He talks with them about kindness. Yoon believes that understanding people is the first step of showing kindness. He has travelled to 191 countries to understand people everywhere.

Image by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay
Voice 1

Another emotional part of the film shows a Japanese father and his young son, Taiji. They are in their apartment. This living space is dirty and not organized. There are many clothes on the floor. The boy quietly watches television. His father performs the morning work. Then they walk over to a large picture of a woman. The father lights a candle. The father and son honour the woman in picture. It is the man’s wife and the boy’s mother. And they are showing respect to her because she has died.

Voice 2

The film’s producers wanted the film to show life from all parts of the world. So, they sent 400 cameras to people living in places with little or no Internet connection. And these cameras produced some of the most beautiful parts of the film.

Voice 1

One example is the story of a boy named Cain Able. Cain lives in Peru. And he is about 10 years old. Cain is friendly. And he works shining shoes. He does this because, like Taiji, his mother is dead. However, Cain is joyful. His smile makes everyone’s day better. It brings joy to the people he meets in the film. It also brings joy to the people watching the film.

Image by Jamie Norman from Pixabay
Voice 2

Life in a Day is interesting because of its method and its message. When people watch it, they will see their own lives. They will also see what life is like for people who are not like them. But most importantly, they will see what is common to all people. As Macdonald told the Telegraph news organization,

Voice 3

“This is what people chose to film. Those of us in the news and film industries think we know what films should be about. But most people are interested in a few, simple things – family, children, love, not being alone, not wanting to live through a war, feeling frightened of illness and death. That is it – that is what life is.”

Voice 1

What do you think about the idea of crowd-sourcing? Do you think it can make a great film? What would you put in a video about your life in a day? Tell us what you think. You can email us at radio@radioenglish.net. Or, you can leave a comment on our website. You can also learn more about the Life in a Day film at www.youtube.com/lifeinaday.

Voice 2

The writer of this program was Graham Bates. The producer was Robin Basselin. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the Internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, “Life in a Day.” We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!

Question:

What did you do today? What would you put in a video about your day? Write your answer below.

Join the discussion

52 comments
  • it makes me to challenge something new.
    even though i am old.
    i am studying english hard
    everyday about4hours
    i apreciate to spotlight teams a lot.

  • I try my best to learn english and be like native people.
    In my video I will show you how mum is a super and she can do alot of things in the same time.

  • I really enjoy the podcast! I watched the film “Life in a day” and I loved it.
    I felt a little emotional when I watched this, but I think it is an effect of this pandemic we are facing now.
    Thanks Spotlight for sharing these great subjects with us!

    • I believe the idea of crowd-sourcing is a great idea. “Different guys different minds”, everyone has their own view, so if we can experience life from another’s point of view, it’s very interesting and helps us to appreciate what we have. If I were to make a movie about life in a day, I would make a movie about the day people start realizing their dreams.

  • Exactly I liked this idea and I am sure that this be the interesting film with less cost in the world. And we appreciate this idea

  • when I decide to participate in filming the movie I want to send a message for all people about how the family is important to be close of you . in the recent years, I saw some of people hostile their families, why? , how you can do this? they as a peace for you. the relationship between them must be strong as a rock , the love, kind , Peace and , trust , must be around you. I want to say more about that but I am exciting to the next broadcast…..

  • yes children, love, family, death… are very important for most of people, but the relationship with God is above all, it must not be forgotten

  • alhamduLillah, we live in a safe place and eat everything we want and we can go anywhere, there is nothing that can stop us, In another place some people live is a terrible life they can’t eat they don’t have a place to sleep and sit because they live-out,

  • Today, weather is good. I’m still study hard and today i study English.
    If i make a video about my day. i want to talk about study and family meal.
    First, i feeling lucky when i can study everything i want, this was happier than many people who didn’t have the opportunity to go to school.
    Next, i have a happy family. In meals, my family sit together. Even if the meal is frugally, i still happy because of the love of family.
    I think happiness come from simple things, and in the world i know many people who don’t have them.
    finally, i want to spread love to people. I hope we will be happy!

  • I believe the idea of crowd-sourcing is a great idea. “Different guys different minds”, everyone has their own view, so if we can experience life from another’s point of view, it’s very interesting and helps us to appreciate what we have. If I were to make a movie about life in a day, I would make a movie about the day people start realizing their dreams.

  • I usually list some tasks for tomorrow via Google calendar and I will use App Pomodoro to manage time. These apps which I like and I usually for my work. It is very good and effective for me.

  • Every day is the same for me; there isn’t much to do at work that I have to do. The burden, however, is considerable: online learning, followed by English practice. Knowing that the things I can do now will have an impact on my future, I strive to learn something new every day, confident that I will be able to obtain whatever I desire if I work diligently and persistently.

  • I think it’s the most importantly for my to start my day with prayer after that to use from my time to study English because leant to develop my level and I think in the morning time it’s the bast time because
    all of my children and my worker is sleep and icant to study when thy weak up and to answers the question they asked to be honest I love the Quran more then any think in life and I fear to spend a many years without to speak English in Fluently & I’m a girl I like to be I’m ambitious to do what I want even if there is very difficult & the people can’t to do it also the taste the success is very nice &ihope every years
    I want to accomplish some thing it’s difficult and that’s success to me and anther question about what to carry I carry my phone to learn & q about what make you laugh my young sun Ahmad because he like dance and whenever he hear any sing he dance

  • Although this is not the perfect movie it’s very wonderful. It gives me more insight. Thanks, Spotlight team.

  • I’d like this idea, shows everything around the world normally live and not normally life , today I do workout and after hearing this broadcasting, also I try everyday practice English.

  • Really nice idea I’ll watch the movie It looks really worth it
    I wonder if anyone sent a video about life in Algeria hhhhhhhh

  • Taday i do a lot of things,study chemistry,listen to spotlight,pray 5 time,etc….
    I would put all things in my day

  • I think great and like this idea help another people in understand how their life day,I think no because I don’t have more ideas, thank

  • Today I wake up early then prepared breakfast, then lost some time at looked the phone. Then clean the house, my children usually makes the house dirty, Today I don’t prepare the lunch, my husband ordered the lunch in the restaurant. When become the house quite I trying learn the English I spent 2 hours. And I love to spend time with husband and watching movies or Drank cup coffee. This my live

  • Today I wake up early then prepared breakfast, then lost some time at looked the phone. Then clean the house, my children usually makes the house dirty, Today I don’t prepare the lunch, my husband ordered the lunch in the restaurant. When become the house quite I trying learn the English I spent 2 hours. And I love to spend time with husband and watching movies or Drank cup coffee. This my live.

  • I’ve waked up early and enjoyed sunlight before noon. And I went to university and returned that’s it.

  • This my first time to share my own comments …. I spent my day in cleaning my home just for study in clean environment , and help my mom in her daily work routine… that’s all I did today

  • In my day video I will put the system of it , it is from home to work and always I listen to spot light english through a day

  • Today I had a meeting with my associates to find out how to develop the work. I will show our fun and exciting moments in the meeting if I make a video.

  • crowd-sourcing I think that is great method to achieve things because when you see more information about something like achievement project to the company you will solve the thing very quickly. I believe that it is very helpful and solve many things.

  • Hi everyone! Hopefully, you are doing well. I like a sentence “we are all under same moon” of article. I’m feeling lucky when living a country peace. I can do everything or go some where . The first plan I do for new year 2023 is study English to improve listening and speaking skill, writing also. Because I’m not confident to communicate with foreigners . I believe I can do it if I try to hard cleaning every day. Thank you for support me!

  • Today i am studying in the coffee now .
    I want to put recorded to my day in the site because i am Civil Engineer.

  • I wake up mostly same every day time so I make my coffee and I watch some videos about IETS. I decided to give the exam after couple of the months. Wishing me good luck.

  • hi folks, I wish u have a wonderful day, my life is traditional like any student study in the university, I wake up late in the morning and have my breakfast quickly then run fast to not lose the first lecture, but now I’m in holiday so I trying to improve my English, so I spent most my days hours listen to english because I want to enhance my listening skills

  • Today I wake up early and I do workout and l went up and I take sunbathe and I go down to take shower and I eat my breakfast and I looked at my phone and I prayed and I cleaned the kitchen and I eat my lunch and now l see spotlight

  • Today I waked up at 5pm Soo it is so late I prepared lunch and ate with my sister then we went to rent a dress for my for graduation party in Thursday Soo the day is so amazing and I was so happy because I chose the amazing dress and then we went to home

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