The Next Big Thing (film)

The Next Big Thing is a 2001 mockumentary film directed by P.J. Posner and starring Jamie Harris, Paula Devicq, and Chris Eigeman. The film satirizes the world of modern art and the hype surrounding emerging artists.

The plot centers around Gus Shepherd (Harris), a struggling artist who, through a series of increasingly absurd events and the manipulative efforts of his art dealer, Dave (Eigeman), becomes the art world's latest sensation. Gus's artwork initially consists of plain white canvases. However, through clever marketing and exploitation of trendy art concepts, his work gains notoriety and generates significant buzz.

The film uses a documentary style, featuring interviews with art critics, gallery owners, and other figures within the art scene, adding to the satirical tone and highlighting the often-superficial nature of the art world's perception of value and talent. The Next Big Thing explores themes of authenticity, commercialism, and the subjective nature of art appreciation, questioning what it takes to be considered "important" or "significant" in the contemporary art landscape.