Bliss
From the Archives
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13-May-2021
The humble beginnings of the photograph used as the default background of Windows XP, one of the most seen images of all time, becomes a playful rumination on culture, aesthetics, and impermanence. “Bliss,” directed by Zachary Loren Jones, tells the story of a man named Charles, the photographer who snapped the famous picture while driving through California wine country. When the photo was licensed by Microsoft and used as the home screen for millions of personal computers, it become entwined with the story of the company, and seeped into the consciousness of America and beyond. Jones renders the story with a unique blend of animation, archived news broadcasts, and modern-day street interviews.
Director: Zachary Loren Jones. Cinematographer: Saxon Richardson.
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