{{short description|2013 film by Gena Konstantinakos}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = The Internet Must Go | image = Internet-must-go-black.png | alt = | caption = Movie logo | director = Gena Konstantinakos<ref name="about"/> | producer = {{Plainlist | * Gena Konstantinakos * Brendan Colthurst * and 10 more<ref name="about"/> }} | writer = Billy Kimball and 3 more<ref name="about"/>{{Independent source inline|date=January 2014}} | screenplay = | story = | based_on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} --> | narrator = | starring = {{Plainlist | * Brian Shortall * John Hodgman * Al Franken * Alexis Ohanian * Larry Lessig * Susan Crawford * and others<ref name="about"/> }} | music = {{Plainlist | * Rebecca Gates (music supervisor)<ref name="about"/> * see featured songs }} | cinematography = {{Plainlist | * Gena Konstantinakos * and 5 others<ref name="about"/> }} | editing = {{Plainlist | * Greg Wright * Lauren Beck * Dave Marcus * Adam Barton<ref name="about"/> }} | studio = Konstant Films LLC<ref name="work"/> | distributor = {{Plainlist | * YouTube * vimeo }} | released = {{Film date|2013|09|08}} | runtime = 30 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''The Internet Must Go''''' is<ref name="huffington">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/09/net-neutrality-mockumentary_n_3882726.html |title=Net Neutrality Mockumentary Slams ISPs' Case For Playing Unfair |work=Huffington Post |first= |last= |date=9 September 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="twp"/><ref name="nw">{{cite web |url=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/090913-mockumentary-skewers-isps-as-verizon-fcc-273636.html |title=Mockumentary skewers ISPs as Verizon-FCC net neutrality case goes to court |publisher=Network World |first=Bob |last=Brown |date=9 September 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="community_broadband_network_2">{{cite web |url=http://www.muninetworks.org/content/well-worth-watching-internet-must-go |title=Well Worth Watching: The Internet Must Go |publisher=Community Broadband Networks |first=Christopher |last=Mitchell |date=9 September 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crackajack.de/2013/09/12/the-internet-must-go-mockumentary-about-anti-net-neutrality-wannabe/ |title=The Internet Must Go: Mockumentary about Anti-Net Neutrality-Wannabe |publisher=crackajack.de |first= |last= |date=9 September 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> a 2013 independent docufiction short web film about net neutrality (the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) should not favour either type of content over another<ref name="twp"/>), directed by Gena Konstantinakos.
The film chronicles the journey of (fictional) misguided market researcher John Wooley (played by Second City alum Brian Shortall) as he attempts to sell ISPs' vision for what they call a "faster, cleaner" Internet.<ref name="work">{{cite web|url=http://www.konstantpictures.com/work/|title=WORK – GENA KONSTANTINAKOS|publisher=Konstant Pictures|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="huffington"/><ref name="twp"/> However, learning about net neutrality from several (non-fictional) people in the process, he ultimately opts to re-consider his standpoint.<ref name="huffington"/><ref name="nw"/>
Designed specifically<ref name="work"/><ref name="twp"/> to reach an audience not versed in technology or policy, ''The Internet Must Go'' has reached nearly a quarter of a million viewers and about 5,000 Facebook fans in its first 2 months online.<ref name="work"/><ref name="fb">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheInternetMustGo|title=The Internet Must Go|via=Facebook|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="yt">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp1MAMkIa6A|title=The Internet Must Go|via=YouTube|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>
The release of the short was made to coincide with the opening arguments in ''Verizon v. F.C.C.''<ref name="fccvverizon">{{cite web |url=https://www.fcc.gov/document/verizon-v-fcc-no-11-1355-dc-cir-1 |title=Verizon v. FCC, No. 11-1355 (D.C. Cir.) |publisher=FCC |first= |last= |date=7 February 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> about Net Neutrality.<ref name="huffington"/><ref name="twp">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/09/09/can-this-mockumentary-make-the-public-care-about-net-neutrality/ |title=Can this mockumentary make the public care about Net Neutrality? |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Andrea |last=Peterson |date=9 September 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="nw" />
==Plot== The docufiction short centers on John Wooley, a (fictional) market researcher who "has been dispatched to help the big Internet service providers sell their vision of a faster, cleaner Internet".<ref name="twp"/> He embarks on the journey, believing he's doing something great and important. Over the course of his journey he interviews several people (notably non-fictional people whose business depends on net neutrality), who one by one help him to understand why his mission is misguided.
Then he ventures to North Carolina where he interacts with (non-fictional) people who, stifled by a lack of broadband altogether, have attempted to build community broadband.<ref name="cbn1">{{cite web |url=http://www.muninetworks.org/content/new-hope-north-carolina-broadband-struggle-continues |title=With New Hope, North Carolina Broadband Struggle Continues |publisher=Community Broadband Networks |first=Christopher |last=Mitchell |date=22 March 2011 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> However, he finds that North Carolina now has barriers to building community broadband. While he interacts with those people, he ultimately has a change of heart,<ref name="twp"/> and decides to "leak" his research publicly to the internet, in favour of net neutrality.
== Production ==
=== {{anchor|Cast}} Cast === The movie stars Brian Shortall as (fictional) market researcher John Wooley, who interviews several people who happen to be open-internet advocates. These interviewees are, however, ''non-fictional'' people, who appear in the movie as themselves.
====Fictional cast==== * Brian Shortall as (fictional) market researcher John Wooley
====Non-fictional cast==== * Tim Wu (professor at Columbia Law School who coined net neutrality) as himself * Al Franken (junior United States senator from Minnesota) as himself * Rashad Robinson (executive director of Color of Change) as himself * Alexis Ohanian (co-founder of the social news website reddit) as himself * Eli Pariser (co-founder of Avaaz.org and Upworthy) as himself * Farnum Brown (investment manager (at Trillium Invest Management,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trilliuminvest.com/?s=farnum+brown|title=Farnum Brown|publisher=trilliuminvest.com|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> unnoted) and AT&T shareholder<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-14/at-t-must-give-beastie-boy-a-vote-on-net-neutrality-sec-decides.html|title=AT&T Must Give Shareholders Net Neutrality Vote|publisher=Bloomberg|first=Jesse|last=Hamilton|date=15 February 2012|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>) as himself * Gigi Sohn (of Public Knowledge<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicknowledge.org/about/who/staff/sohn|title=Gigi B. Sohn|publisher=Public Knowledge|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>) as herself * Harold Feld (of Public Knowledge<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicknowledge.org/about/staff#Harold|title=Staff|publisher=Public Knowledge|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>) as himself * Robin Chase (founder and CEO of Buzzcar and former CEO of Zipcar) as herself * Ricken Patel (executive director of Avaaz) * Craig Aaron (President and CEO of Free Press (organization)), as himself * Susan Crawford (professor at the Cardozo School of Law and former ICANN Board Member), as herself * Larry Lessig (American academic best known as founding member of Creative Commons) as himself * Catharine Rice (broadband consultant with Action Audits, North Carolina<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.natoa.org/catharine-rice-biography.html |title=Catharine Rice Biography |publisher=National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors |first= |last= |date= |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>) as herself * John Hodgman (American author, actor and humorist) as himself
===Crew, Partners and Funding=== The movie was fiscally sponsored by the non-for-profit Women Make Movies. Funders include The Ford Foundation, The Open Society Foundation, Media Democracy Fund, and Wyncote Foundation.
As an independent short, the film's website lists contributors to the movie, in notable detail. This includes cast/the cameos, several kinds of producers, writers, funders, editors, consultants, advisors, production managers, animators, camera, legal counsel, post-production, voiceover, assistants, pod-editors, website, graphics design, campaign, press, associates, partners and others.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=http://www.theinternetmustgo.com/about/|title=About|publisher=Movie's own site|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> Links to the contributors' online identities are provided where applicable.
=== {{anchor|Soundtrack}} Soundtrack === The movie has no stand-alone soundtrack album, but it features music from the following artists. Rebecca Gates was credited as music supervisor for the film.
* R.E.M.: Orange Crush * Death Cab for Cutie: Amputations * Bon Iver: Michicant * SPOON: Don't You Evah * OK GO: This Too Shall Pass, In the Glass, and White Knuckles * MOBY: The Day * Sigur Ros: Valtari * Thao & The Get Down Stay Down: We the Common * Laura Veirs: July Flame * Chris Brokaw: My Idea * Keegan Dewitt: Amtrak (National Train Day) * Marco Trovatello: A Turn * Podington Bear: Solar Gain * Satan's Pilgrims: La Cazuela * Shakey Graves: Unlucky Skin
==Website== The movie was designed as a short (termed "clickable" by the director<ref name="twp"/>). Its website, ''theinternetmustgo.com'', then augments its functionality. Apart from featuring the movie, it provides information about the movie such as director's notice, creators, press, etc. This information also allows a watcher to verify<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theinternetmustgo.com/about/directorsnote.php |title=Director's Note |publisher=The movie's own website |first= |last= |date=16 September 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> the docufiction nature of the movie, which is not vocalized in the work itself.
The site also features a section called "Take Action" providing activism support for net neutrality. It links to some of the non-fictional organization and people presented.
==="Bonus leaks"=== In a section named "Bonus leaks", the site features 13 extra videos made with the interviewees, as well as a list of real-world articles featured in the film (called "Wooley's Research"), and a map of US states "that have erected barriers to community broadband".<ref name="bonus">{{cite web|url=http://www.theinternetmustgo.com/bonusleaks/|title=Bonus leaks|publisher=Movie's own site|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>
==Aftermath== {{Independent source inline|date=January 2014}} On January 6, 2014, about 4 months after the movie's release, American multinational telecommunications corporation AT&T announced<ref name="aftermath-via_wired">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2014/01/att-sponsored-data/|title=AT&T Thumbs Nose at Net Neutrality With 'Sponsored' Bandwidth Scheme|magazine=Wired|first=David|last=Kravets|date=6 January 2014|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="aftermath-via_publicknowledge">{{cite web|url=http://publicknowledge.org/att-charge-online-services-reach-viewers|title=AT&T to Charge Online Services to Reach Viewers|publisher=Public Knowledge|first=|last=|date=6 January 2014|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> that they will be pushing "sponsored data" to companies, who would be allowed to pay for the bandwidth their customers use. This arguably undermines net neutrality, as noted by several associations connected to the movie, e.g. Fight for the Future{{Independent source inline|date=January 2014}},<ref name="aftermath-fightforthefuture">{{cite web|url=http://cms.fightforthefuture.org/neutrality/|title=Net neutrality is under attack|publisher=Fight for the Future|first=|last=|date=|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> who also supports the prediction that other carriers will most likely try to follow<ref name="aftermath_digitaltrends">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/att-announces-sponsored-data-plan-allows-companies-assume-data-bill-apps/|title=AT&T's Sponsored Data plan allows companies to pay for your data bill|publisher=Digital Trends|first=Simon|last=Hill|date=6 January 2014|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> and details some implications on individuals and on the open internet.
In its article about the announcement, ''Wired'' noted that previously "By a 3–2 vote in 2010, the FCC adopted net neutrality rules, which became effective a year later."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/09/net-neutrality-rules/|title=Net Neutrality Rules Published, Lawsuits Soon to Follow|magazine=Wired|first=Ryan|last=Singel|date=23 September 2010|accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>
==See also== * Net neutrality * Data discrimination * Net bias * Wireless community network * Community informatics * Freedom of information * Free Culture movement * Brian Shortall * Women Make Movies
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.theinternetmustgo.com/ The Internet Must Go Website] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp1MAMkIa6A The movie on YouTube] * [http://www.theinternetmustgo.com/about/directorsnote.php Director's Note about the movie] * [http://www.konstantpictures.com/work/ Works by Gena Konstantinakos on her website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Internet Must Go, The}} Category:American docufiction films Category:2013 films Category:American independent films Category:Internet documentary films Category:2013 short documentary films Category:American short documentary films Category:2013 independent films Category:2013 English-language films Category:2013 American films Category:English-language short films Category:English-language independent films