“Mysteries of the Unseen World” Review & Director Interview

Have you ever wondered how much or how little we can see with our own eyes?  Well, there are countless phenomena in everyday life that we can’t perceive simply because they are too small, too fast, too slow, or simply invisible!  “Mysteries of the Unseen World” delves into the world of the unseen: invisible light, blooming flowers, and everything down to a single atom of carbon.  This movie is all about things that people don’t pay attention or can’t see.

One of the things I really enjoyed and appreciated about this movie was the incorporation of various technology in the film.  With tools like time-lapse and high-speed photography we can begin to see things that we never knew existed.  This film shows us that what we see is only a small piece of what is really out there. This is truly a film that will make you say “wow” when you see a side of the world that you never knew before with your very own eyes.  For example, you can see individual atoms with a special “scanning tunneling microscope.”  In the future, we can use nanotechnology to potentially repair our DNA and clogged arteries.  I give “Mysteries of the Unseen World” 4 starfish, it’s “Perrific!”

The west coast premiere of “Mysteries of the Unseen World” took place at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Heikoff Dome Theater.  There at the special event, there were cookies, crab cakes in cheese, slices of ham appetizers, and salmon with crispy fried bread.  I had the great opportunity to interview the director of this film: Louie Schwartzberg.  Louie is a photographer and filmmaker who has spent the last 30 years filming continuously around the clock and won numerous awards.  He has spent his career uncovering the mysteries of the nature, the Universe, and the human soul.  He is also renowned for his “slice of life” photography; depicting everyday life and experiences.  He was also a TEDx speaker in San Francisco, just like me!  Watch my interview with him by clicking HERE.

Louie believes that “beauty connects us emotionally.”  “The physics of the Universe is everywhere,” he explains,”so it’s easy to see how everything is connected.”  Louie told me that he becomes inspired whenever he sees the results of his film, and that he never gets tired of filming as long as he has inspiration.  Schwartzberg was primarily self-taught in his art, and only learned the most basic skills in class. “Once you learn the basic skills, you can branch out and develop your own skills, your own voice, and your own style.”

Perry Chen & Director Louie Schwartzberg at the premiere (photo by Zhu Shen)

When I asked Louie about how he got interested in filmmaking he replied, ” It was easier than turning in written reports because I am a more visual person.  I had a gift for it.”  “With films you can reach the broadest audience.” he added.  “When you shoot at different frame speeds, you realize that you can manipulate time, and when you can manipulate time you realize that the way we look at the world is only one narrow point of view.  When you can stretch time or compress time it inspires you to share this new reality.”  After I interviewed Louie, I realized that he truly has the gift to see beauty and wonder in everyday life: a skill few possessed in this day and age.  Seeing “Mysteries of the Unseen World” will inspire you to pay closer attention to the amazing natural world around you.  Louie’s next film is about mushrooms, called “Fantastic Fungi,” which I look forward to watching.

Watch Louie’s TEDx SF presentation “Gratitude,” which has been seen by over 2 million people:
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Perry Chen is the youngest award-winning film/ entertainment critic & animator, artist, speaker, and entertainment personality. He started writing movie reviews at 8 using a kid-friendly starfish rating system, under the guidance of his mom Dr. Zhu Shen and his 3rd grade teacher Ms. Harris. Perry’s debut on the CBS Evening News in 2009 made him a national sensation. He has been featured extensively on local, national, and international media, including NPR, Fox, CNN, NBC, The Guardian, The China Press, and many more. He has interviewed prominent filmmakers at film festivals, red carpet premieres, and press junkets. He won a prestigious “Excellence in Journalism Award” at the San Diego Press Club in 2010 as its youngest member. Perry currently writes movie reviews for the Animation World Network, San Diego Union Tribune, Amazing Kids! Magazine, and his own Perry’s Previews website with a combined readership of over 2 million worldwide.  Perry and his family live in the community of Carmel Valley San Diego.

Dr. Zhu Shen’s love for the movies started when she was a young girl, growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution where watching movies was the only entertainment available to the masses. Her journey to become a filmmaker took a convoluted path. She studied medicine at Peking Union Medical College before coming to the US and earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from University of Colorado, and then an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson School. She is a producer of the upcoming documentary feature “Average Joe on the Raw,” about journey into raw food and health. Dr. Shen is also an award-winning biotech executive, author, speaker, China business expert featured on national and trade media including CBS, Fox, Business Week, Pharmaceutical Executive, and more. She has worked at IBM, Bayer, Chiron, Immusol, and is the CEO of BioForesight, consulting on cross-Pacific life science business. *Photos of Perry Chen and Zhu Shen by Brian Bostrom.