The film Artifact
The film Artifact tells the tale of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars and their first steps toward learning about and filing a lawsuit against EMI, a record label. During the time of the film's setting, the band was in the process of recording new songs as a follow-up to their 2005 album, A Beautiful Lie. The activities of the band, which consists of Tomo Millicevic, Jared Leto, and Shannon Leto, take up the most of the film. The three top band members are working hand in hand with Steve and Flood Lilywhite who are their producers to come up with what later came to be known as, "This is War." In the course of their composing and recording activities, the band members have to meet from time to time with their lawyers so as to negotiate the future prospects of the band owing to the lawsuit.
The modern music industry and complex relationships
The film further looks into the situation of the modern music industry at large besides the specific legal issues surrounding the band. It also shifts its attention towards complex relationships that exists between the recording labels and music artists. In the course of the movie, people get to learn personal accounts of other musicians who are willing to give their experiences. Music industry insiders offer an in-depth analysis and explanation of the various economics and logistics surrounding the operations of record companies. The insiders include music producers, EMI employees and music journalists. The movie traces the role of the ever increasing economic recession in the United States on the music industry. Then Terra Firma Capital Partners comes out as a savior of EMI despite the fact that it has very little experience in the management of music industry. The band crew is also seen in the movie to be struggling with a much larger questions related to money, personal integrity and art.
Personal lessons
The movie is portrayal of the struggles that exists in the music industry that is less known to the members of the public. People are exposed to the movements and desperations that mark the industry besides the pomp, color and celebrity status that surround different music groups and artists. Musicians and bands are always in constant struggles with the label companies that tend to exploit them and take advantage of their talents and hard-work. Through the movie one is able to learn how musicians are always under pressure to please those around them so that they can maintain their celebrity status. The movie reminds viewers of the life and times of Michael Jackson who is not mentioned in the movie but had almost similar experiences with Sony which was his recording label. The popular musician who was adored by his enthusiastic fans had serious struggles with the recording label that his fans only new about after his death.
Tough decisions and resolving differences
However, an important lesson in the film is that everything has a limit and it reaches a point where tough decisions have to be made so that future dreams can be realized. The band had to make an about turn in regards to their treatment with the record label in order to realize meaningful progress. Exploitation by those in authority is a common trend in the world hence it needs to be addressed at different levels. How we chose to address them clearly defines our level of intelligence and commitment. The lawsuit threatened to through the band in a state of oblivion but they able to overcome and move on under one united front. The suit was resolved after a long period of court battles through a defense that was based on a contract case that had included Olivia De Havilland. After the resolution, the two sides were able to move ahead with some level of respect and understanding between them. This means that life challenges presents opportunities for stronger working relationships that may not be realized without them. The movie has inspired many music groups that have had issues with recording labels to move forward and resolve their differences. It further provides an in-depth understanding of the challenges that comes with fame and popularity as well as the means that can be used to overcome them. Many music groups have gone down the drains due to their inability handle the fame, money and popularity that come with the music industry. Therefore, the film offers a great opportunity for different groups involved in the music industry on how they can overcome the challenges facing them.
