It’s easy to take the Internet for granted—we use it every day in practically every aspect of our lives. From our personal calendars to our creative projects to our everyday communications, the Internet is how we conduct our business and engage with the world. For artists, the Internet is the crucial means to connect with potential audiences, as well as a powerful platform for creative expression. 

But imagine what it would be like if just a couple of companies where able to determine how—or even whether—a great song, film, movement or idea finds its audience. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T would prefer the Internet to look more like your cable TV package, where they decide where you go and what you see and hear. This would be devastating to creative entrepreneurs and others who depend on a level online playing field in their lives and careers. This issue—also known as “net neutrality”—is incredibly revelvant right now, due to a court challenge by Verizon that aims to eliminate the basic rules of the road that preserve an open and accessible internet.

The Internet Must Go is a short “mockumentary” film by director Gena Konstantinakos that takes a humorous look at the ISP’s plan to remake the ’net.

The movie concerns misguided market researcher John Wooley, who is hired to help the big ISPs sell their vision for a “faster, cleaner” Internet—where the ISPs pick winners and losers online. After a surprising series of hilarious encounters with some of the Internet’s smartest people as well as with regular folks unable to get online at all, John Wooley is ultimately forced to re-evaluate his mission.

Watch this hilarious and important movie right here.

Then, on Wednesday, October 23 at 8PM, join a live discussion and Q&A with filmmaker Gena Konstantinakos, Bernard J. Cook of Georgetown University’s Film and Media Studies department and Future of Music Coalition Board President Michael Bracy for an interactive conversation about the open internet and its importance to everyone who connects online.

The conversation, hosted by Future of Music Coalition, kicks off at 8:00 PM EST on Wednesday, Oct. 23. You should definitely watch The Internet Must Go first: it’s short and did we mention, hilarious? Do it right now!

You can tune in to the special conversation on Wednesday at 8PM right here; on our YouTube page, or the FMC Google+ page. If you want to ask a few questions of Gena and the crew, we encourage you to do so at the G+ page or via Twitter at @future_of_music. Hashtag: #TIMG (extra credit: #FMC13)

UPDATE: Our hangout has ended.