What We Started

Last updated
What We Started
What We Started (2017) Film Poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by
  • Bert Marcus
  • Cyrus Saidi
Produced by
  • Bert Marcus
  • Cassandra Hamar
  • Cyrus Saidi
  • Pete Tong (executive)
Starring
CinematographyWill Dearborn
Edited by
  • Allan Duso
  • Greg Finton
Music by
  • Nima Fakhrara
  • Stuart Roslyn
  • Pete Tong
  • Leticia Argudo
  • Jorge Flor
  • Gregory King
  • Kyle Weber
  • Irma de Wind
  • Navid Hejazi
  • Earworm Music
Production
company
Bert Marcus Productions
Distributed by Netflix
Release dates
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

What We Started is an American documentary film about electronic dance music that premiered on June 15, 2017, at the Los Angeles Film Festival. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The film is directed by Bert Marcus and Cyrus Saidi and produced by Bert Marcus, Cassandra Hamar, Cyrus Saidi and Bert Marcus Productions. [6] [7] [8]

Contents

Background

The film chronicles three decades of electronic dance music by focusing on the careers of Carl Cox and Martin Garrix. [9] [10] [11] It also includes other individuals such as Erick Morillo,  Moby,  David Guetta,  Steve Angello,  Afrojack,  Tiesto, Usher and Ed Sheeran. [1] [12] The film consists of interviews with artists involved with EDM's pervasiveness in pop culture. [13] [14]

The documentary begins with Carl Cox who walked around the empty cavern of Space in Ibiza, the nightclub where he had served as resident DJ since 2001. [13] [15] [16]

Cast

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 85% based on 20 reviews, as of April 2020. [17] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100 (as of December 2019), indicating "mixed or average reviews", based five reviews. [18]

A review in The New York Times described the film's protagonists as "gush[ing] about the genre’s milestones and metaphorically high-fiv[ing] one another while trying not to bore the uninitiated into a drugless stupor". [19] While commending the film for "[trying] to present an accessible history of electronic music", it criticized it for its "subcultural cliquishness" and described it as promotional of the Ultra Music Festival. [19] A review on EDMtunes.com called it "the premier film on Electronic Music history" and "a film that speaks to all dance music enthusiasts." [20] The website Dancing Astronaut described it as a "dance music film that gets it right." [21] [22] The Nocturnal Times stated that "What We Started is the best electronic music film of our time, offering a precisely accurate adaptation of the rapidly growing electronic scene and its worldwide domination," and that the film "gets it all right." [23] One reviewer notes that "as one watches WHAT WE STARTED, one of the striking elements which rings forth is the idea of "resiliency", and that "thanks to detailed research and a self-imposed mantra to remain unbiased in the presentation of the documentary, the filmmakers peel back the glossy layers of bright lights and enthusiastic concerts and delve into the darker aspects of culture that all but wiped out EDM prior to its rebirth and resurgence." [24]

Variety criticized What We Started for a lack of focus and a short attention span ("what works in a nightclub set doesn't always work in a film"), and called it "an entertaining survey of how far the music has come" which however "rarely manages to dig below the surface to the art vs. commerce dilemmas that seem to lie at the heart of some of the genre’s biggest flashpoints." [25] Nerd Reactor gave the film 4/5 stars, stating that it "may have its flaws but it’s a fun dynamic ride through the history of EDM". [26] Your EDM called it "brilliant." [27]

A review from Quelle Movies rated the film 8 out of 10, “tell[s] a thorough and solid chronicle of EDM’s journey that entices both the fan and the non-initiated” [28] Film Frenzy rated them 3 out of 4 and stated it as “an illuminating and entertaining documentary.”. [29]

When the film was released on Netflix on July 1, 2018, it received several other positive blog reviews. [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] Film Inquiry opined that "films like What We Started, are a really big deal...It melds our generations through what we have in common, instead of what is different." [30] Uncle Barky stated that it is "a trip well worth taking, whether you’re a devotee of EDM or a neophyte..." [32] Radio Times called it "a decent, comprehensive account of dance music’s evolution." [35]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Cox</span> English DJ

Carl Cox is an English house and techno club DJ, as well as radio DJ and record producer. He is based in Hove, Sussex, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra Europe</span> Outdoor electronic music festival

Ultra Europe is a multi-venue outdoor electronic music festival that is a part of Ultra Music Festival's worldwide expansion, which has now spread to twenty countries. Ultra Europe made its debut as a two-day festival during 12–13 July 2013, and took place in Split, Croatia, with an additional Ultra Beach party in Hvar Island, Croatia on 14 July 2013. In 2015, the festival became a part of Destination Ultra which now lasts seven days in the heart of Dalmatia and includes an opening party, the three-day festival, yacht regatta, Ultra Beach, and a closing party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Garrix</span> Dutch DJ and producer (born 1996)

Martijn Gerard Garritsen, known professionally as Martin Garrix and also as Ytram and GRX, is a Dutch DJ and record producer who was ranked number one on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list for three consecutive years—2016, 2017, and 2018. He is best known for his singles "Animals", "In the Name of Love", and "Scared to Be Lonely".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Garrix discography</span>

The discography of Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Martin Garrix consists of a studio album, two compilation albums, four extended plays (EP), three DJ mixes, 84 singles, 47 music videos and ten remixes. Part of the Dutch emergence of electronic dance music DJs, Garrix became widely known after his single "Animals" became a worldwide hit. It went number one in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and it reached the top ten of several charts across Europe from late 2013 to early 2014. Garrix is the youngest Dutch artist to ever have a number one single in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matisse & Sadko</span> Russian DJ and production duo

Matisse & Sadko is a Russian DJ and production duo from Sosnovy Bor, 80 kilometres from city of St. Petersburg, consisting of brothers Aleksandr and Yury Parkhomenko. They are best known for their collaborations with Dutch DJ Martin Garrix in tracks "Dragon", "Forever", "Break Through the Silence", "Together", "Mistaken", "Hold On", "Won't Let You Go" and "Good Morning", which were received positively by critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stmpd Rcrds</span> Dutch record label

Stmpd Rcrds is a Dutch electronic dance music record label owned by record producer Martin Garrix, who founded the label on 4 March 2016.

Russell Faibisch is an American music festival producer and concert promoter. He is the co-founder of the Ultra Music Festival, an outdoor electronic music festival in Miami, and creator of the Ultra Worldwide brand. He is CEO, President, and Executive producer of the Ultra organization, and is also the chairman of the board, upon which and Adam Russakoff serve. Currently, Faibisch presides over an international chain of branded music festivals, concerts, and events, which include editions spanning across Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, South, and North America, plus globally syndicated radio broadcasts, an online YouTube channel, music films, and premieres. In April 2016, Ultra Music Festival won the DJ Mag award for “World’s Number 1 Festival,” which was voted on by over 500,000 fans worldwide. In 2008, Ultra was also given the DJ Award for “International Dance Music Festival"." In 2014, Faibisch was ranked #6 on Rolling Stone’s “Most Important People in EDM List." Later that year, Billboard named Faibisch and business partner Adam Russakoff on the “EDM Power Players - Executives List. In 2016 and 2017, both Faibisch and Russakoff were again named on Billboard’s annual “Power List of DJs and Executives." In 2017, Magnetic Magazine named Faibisch the "Industry Person of the Year."

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Third Party is a British progressive house DJ duo consisting of Jonnie Macaire and Harry Bass, based in Essex, London. They are best known for their single "Everyday Of My Life" and the collaboration "Lions in the Wild" with Dutch DJ Martin Garrix. They began their musical career as producers by releasing singles and remixes.

Dancing Astronaut is an American media platform founded in 2009 that primarily covers the electronic dance music industry. The website covers concerts and festivals, reports on entertainment news, reviews music, and publishes original content syndicated across on-demand audio platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scared to Be Lonely</span> 2017 single by Martin Garrix and Dua Lipa

"Scared to Be Lonely" is a song recorded by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and English-Albanian singer Dua Lipa. It was written by Giorgio Tuinfort, Nathaniel Campany, Kyle Shearer, and Georgia Ku, while the production was handled by Tuinfort, Valley Girl, and Lorna Blackwood. The song was released for digital download and streaming as a standalone single on 27 January 2017 by Stmpd Rcrds and Epic Records, after being premiered by Garrix at the 2017 AVA Festival a month earlier. It was later included on Dua Lipa: Complete Edition (2018), the super deluxe reissue of Lipa's eponymous debut studio album.

Area21 is a Dutch-American electronic dance music duo consisting of Martin Garrix and Maejor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Jordan</span> Dutch DJ and music producer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like I Do (David Guetta, Martin Garrix and Brooks song)</span> 2018 single by David Guetta, Martin Garrix and Brooks

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game Over (Martin Garrix and Loopers song)</span> 2018 single by Martin Garrix and Loopers

"Game Over" is a song by Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Loopers. It was released on 20 April 2018 via Garrix's Netherlands-based record label Stmpd Rcrds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean (Martin Garrix song)</span> 2018 single by Martin Garrix featuring Khalid

"Ocean" is a song by Dutch music producer and DJ Martin Garrix featuring American singer-songwriter Khalid, from the former's debut studio album The Martin Garrix Experience. The song was written by Khalid, Dewain Whitmore Jr., Ilsey Juber, and its producers Garrix and Giorgio Tuinfort. it was released by Stmpd Rcrds on 15 June 2018, alongside its music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waiting for Tomorrow (Martin Garrix and Pierce Fulton song)</span> 2018 single by Martin Garrix and Pierce Fulton featuring Mike Shinoda

"Waiting for Tomorrow" is a song by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and American DJ and musician Pierce Fulton. It features lead vocals from singer Mike Shinoda, and uncredited production by fellow Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson. It is released as the fifth and last track from Garrix's third EP, Bylaw, on October 19, 2018, via Stmpd, Epic Amsterdam and Sony Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreamer (Martin Garrix song)</span> 2018 single by Martin Garrix featuring Mike Yung

"Dreamer" is a song by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix. Released as a single on 1 November 2018 alongside its music video, it features American soul singer Mike Yung. The song is dedicated to his wife Lydia, who had died earlier in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Used to Love (Martin Garrix and Dean Lewis song)</span> 2019 single by Martin Garrix and Dean Lewis

"Used to Love" is a song by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and Australian singer Dean Lewis. It was released on 31 October 2019, through Garrix's Netherlands-based record label Stmpd Rcrds, and exclusively licensed to Epic Amsterdam, a division of Sony Music. The remixes pack was released on 20 December 2019 and an acoustic version on 14 February 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 Warren, Matt (May 9, 2017). "2017 LA Film Festival Competition Lineup Announced! What's Playing and How to See It". Film Independent. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Dance music documentary featuring Carl Cox 'What We Started' will premiere this summer". Mixmag . May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  3. ↑ Meadow, Matthew (May 11, 2017). "Martin Garrix & Carl Cox Join Forces For New Movie Releasing Soon". Your EDM. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  4. ↑ Stevo (May 11, 2017). "Martin Garrix and Carl Cox Star In The Film Seeking To Define Electronic Music". EDM Sauce. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  5. ↑ Haar, Kara (June 13, 2017). "'What We Started' Doc Tackles EDM Music (Exclusive Clip)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ "What We Started". Bert Marcus Productions. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  7. ↑ Ellis, Aman (June 15, 2017). "Carl Cox and Martin Garrix documentary, What We Started: First look". DJ Mag . Thrust Publishing. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ Dancing Astronaut. "Get a first look at the new Carl Cox and Martin Garrix documentary, 'What We Started'". Dancing Astronaut . Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ Baltin, Steve (October 27, 2016). "New Doc 'What We Started' Sees Dance Music Through the Eyes of Carl Cox & Martin Garrix". Billboard . Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  10. ↑ Meadow, Matthew (October 19, 2016). "Martin Garrix Is Officially The Youngest Ever #1 DJ In The World". Your EDM. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  11. ↑ Baltin, Steve (October 26, 2016). "Dance Music Doc 'What We Started' Chronicles the Rise of a Genre". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  12. ↑ Haar, Kara (June 14, 2017). "New Documentary 'What We Started' Tackles Dance Music". Billboard . Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Brown, August (June 16, 2017). "'What We Started' looks at dance music history and raises questions about a way forward". Los Angeles Times . ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  14. ↑ Diaz, Jordan (June 22, 2017). "Watch Carl Cox Talk Dance Documentary 'What We Started' & Martin Garrix's 'Instant' Rise". Billboard . Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  15. ↑ Cohen, Sari (June 17, 2017). "'What We Started' brings together EDM legends for a night in Los Angeles". AXS . Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  16. ↑ Cohen, Sari (June 28, 2017). "Interview: A look at DJ Carl Cox and the new film 'What We Started'". AXS . Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  17. ↑ "What We Started (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  18. ↑ "What We Started", Metacritic, retrieved 2019-12-10
  19. 1 2 Kenigsberg, Ben (2018-03-22). "Review: In 'What We Started,' the Back Story Behind the Backbeat". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  20. ↑ Wilde, Frankie (June 21, 2017). "'What We Started' Shines as the Premier Film on Electronic Music History [REVIEW]". EDM Tunes. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  21. ↑ Sundius, Michael (June 22, 2017). "'What We Started': a dance music film that gets it right". Dancing Astronaut . Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  22. ↑ Tibbits, Kimi (June 23, 2017). "'What We Started': a dance music film that gets it right – Dancing Astronaut". EDM Honey. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  23. ↑ Mancino, Mark (July 24, 2017). "Dance Music Documentary 'What We Started' Hits All the Right Notes". The Nocturnal Times. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  24. ↑ Elias, Debbie (June 19, 2017). "What We Started (LA Film Festival Review)". Behind the Lens Online. Elias Entertainment. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  25. ↑ Barker, Andrew (2018-03-24). "Film Review: 'What We Started'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  26. ↑ Pacis, Mark (June 25, 2017). "What We Started – LA Film Festival Review". Nerd Reactor. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  27. ↑ Meadow, Matthew (June 19, 2017). ""What We Started" Aims To Be The Definitive Film Of EDM History". Your EDM. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Quelle Movies: What We Started: Review by Ale Turdó". Quelle Movies. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  29. ↑ "What We Started Is Worth Finishing". Film Frenzy. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  30. 1 2 Bartley, Amyana (July 6, 2018). "WHAT WE STARTED: Bridging The Generations Through Music". Film Inquiry.
  31. ↑ "What We Started - Movie Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. July 2, 2018.
  32. 1 2 "Take a crash course in EDM with the takeoff of What We Started on Netflix | Uncle Barky's Bytes". unclebarky.com.
  33. ↑ "Movies Ate My Life: What We Started". July 14, 2018.
  34. ↑ "TV picks for July 5: 'What We Started,' a celebration of Steve McQueen, 'Mum'". Star Tribune.
  35. ↑ "What We Started review: "a decent, comprehensive account of dance music's evolution"". Radio Times.

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