Reed Hastings

From the 1950s to the present day, from Los Angeles to San Francisco via Berkeley University or Silicon Valley, this three-part documentary series unfolds the recent history of California, which is revolutionizing the world by its way of life and its incredible capacity for innovation.

From the first camera to 45 billion cameras worldwide today, the visual sociologist filmmakers widen their lens to expose both humanity's unique obsession with the camera's image and the social consequences that lay ahead.

Set in the shadows of Costa Rica’s booming tech sector in 2010, Felipe, a reserved IT worker finds that his new job hides something far more sinister than it seems. As he’s pulled deeper into a web of deception and criminal exploitation, Felipe must decide how far he’s willing to go to do what’s right—before the system swallows him whole.

A short film about how economic interests have, throughout history, influenced how we use the camera — from the earliest photographs to today’s algorithms and AI. This visual essay expands on themes from the acclaimed documentary about the history of the camera and our relationship to it, “And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine.”