About Screened Out
Screened Out is a documentary film exploring the life changing effects of screen addiction.
All over the world, as technology grows and advances, so does our addiction to our devices. Join filmmaker Jon Hyatt and his family on a journey through the life changing effects of screen addiction, how the tech industry hooked global consumers, and its greater impact on our lives. From smartphones, portable tablets and social media, the tech industry has designed fun immersive technologies that have changed the way we communicate and interact with each other -- but are these devices good for us? Are we too dependent? What keeps us hooked and how is it impacting our children and the world as a whole?
Director’s Statement
I embraced technology at an early age.
Growing up in a tech savvy family, my parents bought us some of the first personal computers. My brothers and I spent hours learning them and were always curious about the next step technology was taking.
In the 2000s, social media was born and our personal devices became an extension of ourselves. I had the best phone, was so excited to connect with people, share my personal experiences with others across the globe. A decade later and I was reliant on my device and platforms 24/7, and a world where kids are glued to screens at an early age. At home, school, work or on vacation, we were always glued to our screens. Parents on their devices and in turn their kids and teens as well completely changing the family dynamic, which was becoming exponentially more disconnected in real life. It forced me to finally dig deep and look at my own habits with my smartphone and realized that I was no better. I was fully enslaved to my phone, spending hours on platforms and my kids noticed everything. Unplugging seemed impossible.
When a few brave whistleblowers in the social media space confirmed that these massive tech companies were making products knowingly addictive, that they were social engineering us to become hooked to our devices. This wasn’t a millennial problem; we are all addicted to technology and it was by design.
In making this film, I traveled extensively and met with many concerned tech insiders from Silicon Valley, behavioral scientists, rehab clinicians, patients, pediatricians & child psychologists, parents and advocacy groups. In Screened Out we aim to inform and empower the public at large and families everywhere to make healthy choices for our communities.
- Jon Hyatt, Director
Meet the Filmmakers
Jon Hyatt | Director, Writer, Producer
Jon Hyatt is an award-winning director, writer and producer, specializing in film and branded content. Born in the UK then moving to Toronto Canada, Jon spent his early career studying theatre and working as an actor in film and television.
In 2005, in the nascent digital content era, Hyatt pivoted to directing short form videos and created one of the first viral internet commercials. Jon’s unique and sharp understanding of creating engaging stories for a digital audience led to forming his own production company, producing branded content for major clients domestically as well as internationally.
His notable independent short film work, including Woods & Return have earned numerous awards at esteemed international film festivals around the globe.
In January 2018, Jon Hyatt and his brothers Michael and Richard launched Hyatt Bros Films, a Toronto-based production company focused on producing topical and engaging narrative films and documentary features. Jon’s documentary feature debut, Screened Out, presents an unflinching documentary focused on screen addiction.
Karina Rotenstein | Producer
Karina Rotenstein is a Toronto-based film producer and festival programmer. Her producing titles include: EDITH + EDDIE by Laura Checkoway, executive produced by Cher and Steve James, nominated for the 2018 Academy Award® and Emmy® awards, and recipient of the IDA Award; 10% - WHAT MAKES A HERO? By Yoav Shamir (2013) and SCREENED OUT by Jon Hyatt (2020). Over the past decade, Ms. Rotenstein has served as a programmer and advisor for many top-tier film festivals including Hot Docs, Tribeca, and the Miami International Film Festival. Since 2016 has produced and curated the Industry Conference at TIFF [Toronto International Film Festival].
Steve Otvos | Animator
Steve Otvos is a Toronto-based motion designer with over 15 years experience. He has worked on commercial and digital campaigns with notable clients including: Spotify, Canada Goose & VICE. Steve has also worked on a multitude of television series and documentaries, including The Mercer Report, After Munich, Screened Out and Gord Downie’s eminent animated film The Secret Path.
Naresh Bangia | Executive Producer
Naresh is the CEO & founder of AJB Software Design Inc., which was sold to Verifone (NYSE: PAY). Prior to establishing AJB, he co-founded Connecting Solutions, a software solutions company specializing in the retail market. AJB was a Toronto based provider of payment gateway and switching solutions with over 150 large retailer customers including half a million connected payment devices. Naresh has been a lifelong entrepreneur and is currently active in providing value adding capital to early stage companies and their entrepreneurs.
Michael Hyatt - Executive Producer
He has built two highly successful tech firms valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, and is a recipient of the Top 40 Under 40™ award. Michael Hyatt is a mentor and investor in many start-ups, including the Rotman School of Business Creative Destruction Lab and The Founders Institute. He is the executive chair of BlueCat, one of Canada’s leading growth companies. Michael is a weekly business commentator on CBC News.
Richard Hyatt - Executive Producer
Richard Hyatt was the Co-founder and a Director at BlueCat, which was sold to Madison Dearborn Partners based in Chicago, IL. He ranks as one of Canada’s top entrepreneurs, is a technology visionary, and has expertise in security, networks and cloud infrastructure. Richard is also a Founding Partner and Fellow at the Rotman School of Management’s prestigious Creative Destruction Lab, and on the CEO Board of Advisors at Georgian Partners, one of Canada’s leading venture capital firms. Richard also co-founded Dyadem, a highly successful software company that was acquired by IHS (NYSE: IHS) in 2011. He was a finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Steven Toepell - Sound Design
Steven Toepell is an award winning sound designer and editor who has been working in sound for film and television for over 25 years, contributing to TV series and movies as well as feature, IMAX and documentary films. Advertising and online content are also a part of his repertoire. He is a Gemini Award winner as well as a multiple nominee for the MPSE Golden Reel Awards.
Lindsay Tsuji - Researcher
Lindsay has been a Producer with the CBC in Toronto since 2012. She’s responsible for chasing a story’s latest developments and determining a breaking news segment’s components. She closely monitors and scripts news developments for the CBC around the world.