On the concept for the documentary, Kucera said, “I worked with executive producer James Swift, and we did a film before this called Breath of Life, and we wanted to do another film. We were looking for a narrator, so my agent went around looking for one. Jeff [Bridges] saw Breath of Life and was considering working on a new project, and he loved the subject matter that we were going to delve into, and he became a producer for the film. We completely collaborated on this film together over the course of two years.”
This documentary was narrated and produced by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges. “Jeff is a great collaborator. In this world, there are a lot of egos, and he was really easy to work with. We were really trying to get the best for the film. We took our time, and he made three other movies in between. For this film, he was with me from start to finish. It was fun and we collaborated through FaceTime, which is great,” she said.
Kucera shared that she has been filming for a long time and she uses a RED EPIC‑W camera. “I have my camera on me all the time,” she said. “I am always filming, and that’s what I really love doing. Cinematography. I always use natural lighting.”
She defined the word success as motherhood. “I have this amazing relationship with my daughter, and I have already achieved success, regardless of what I am doing in my life,” she said.
Digital transformation of entertainment industry
On the impact of technology on the entertainment business, Kucera said, “When I first started, I would film on a 16mm camera, and I worked a lot with my dad, who did filming for Brittanica films. Obviously, it was a lot different. It is kind of cool since I can do everything myself, where I edited the whole film myself. Technology has made things more streamlined and accessible for people, and it has a very powerful effect.”
“I wouldn’t be able to be a filmmaker in my world of documentary-making as a single person filming all of this. It would be very difficult. Everything has gotten smaller. I wouldn’t be able to do this without technology,” she said. “We have to remind ourselves that a hammer is a piece of technology and how we use it in different ways, is how it can affect us.”
Kucera concluded, “It is certainly a breakthrough kind of film about how we talk to ourselves and each other about all of these things that are going on in the world.”
Living in the Future’s Past opens in select theaters on October 5, and nationwide on October 9, for a special one-night-only theatrical event, with additional special screenings. To learn more about Living in the Future’s Past, check out its official website.
