July 24th, 2010. There’s no spectacular ring to it, nothing insanely out of the ordinary. But for directors Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise, among others) and Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland), July 24th, 2010 is the day that begins their collaborative cinematic experiment unlike any other: Life in a Day. Putting creative development in the hands of the masses, the Google project calls for digital submissions ranging anywhere from 15 seconds to two hours that capture a typical day in the life. A premiere date is set at the January 2011 Sundance Film Festival and distribution plans appear a sure sign of the times- free for all on YouTube.

What may ultimately seem like a lackadaisical attempt to stay afloat in the era of 3D, however, eventually transforms into a clever time capsule of sorts with the capability of capturing the world as we all see it: you, me, and just about everyone else. Kevin MacDonald poses three questions to be answered via submissions, not only to add a coherent flair but to seize an emotional and psychological image of the 2010 human. What do you fear most in your life today? What do you love? What makes you laugh? And, a final request asks for submitters to reach into their pocket and film what is there. Strange? Yes. But it has the potential to exhibit exactly how the world lives, thinks, breathes, and thrives.

Only time will tell how this project comes together. It sure does beat the altogether stomach churning mess I see as the current state of cinematic experience, but its overwhelming tinge of aggressive marketing is a huge turn off. What is to be a story of a day in the life of global mankind has been drenched with corporate and promotional excess. If Scott and MacDonald can overcome this bearing weight, infusing their own remarkable styles into the piece without filter, then Life in a Day has the opportunity to be a quirky glimpse of exactly what its title employs.

Meanwhile, Andy Warhol was right. And if you think a typical day in your life is worth watching, I say- why not? You’ve only got 15 minutes….