The Typewriter (In the 21st Century)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- The Typewriter (In The 21st Century) is a film about a machine and the people who use, love, and repair it.
It features 30+ interviews in 10 U.S. states with authors, collectors, repairmen (and women), bloggers from The Typosphere - an online gathering place for typewriter enthusiasts worldwide - artists, musicians and inventors.
The film features typewriters once owned by Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck, Jack London, Sylvia Plath, Ernie Pyle, Ray Bradbury, George Bernard Shaw, Helen Keller, John Lennon, and Tennessee Williams, all beautifully photographed in high definition.
Produced on a shoestring budget and funded almost entirely through crowd- sourcing website Kickstarter.com, the film shows that typewriters are not merely beautiful collectible objects; they offer a rare place to unplug in today's constantly wired world. And in a world of planned obsolescence, typewriters are durable.
For soldiers Peter Meijer and Alan Beck, typewritten letters from the front in Afghanistan and Iraq meant a lot more to the people who received them than a text or an email. For Arizona high school teacher Ryan Adney, typewriters are a perfect way to teach his students the value of revising, an important step in any author's process, one Adney feels is missing from the computer experience.
For authors Robert Caro and David McCullough -- four Pulitzer Prizes, three National Book Awards, and a Presidential Medal Of Freedom between them, the typewriter offers something that's missing from the literary world today -- the chance to slow down. "In writing," Caro says, "Working faster isn't better, in fact it isn't even necessarily good." McCullough concurs: "If anything, I want to slow down." They have a lot to say about the writing process in the film.
Xavier University professor Richard Polt likens working on a typewriter to riding a bicycle. "It's an alternative to the most efficient way of doing things. It's a way to enjoy the ride."
The idea for the film began when director Christopher Lockett and producer Gary Nicholson read an article in the May, 2010 Wired magazine about "the last generation of typewriter repairmen." The two agreed that the venerable old machine deserved a proper send off if it was going gentle into that good night. But a funny thing happened on the way to the funeral. The first few interviews with local Los Angeles repairmen confirmed that the typewriter was, despite headlines to the contrary, very far from dead.
Repairmen on both coasts of the U.S. report being busier in the last five years than they have been in 20 years. Perhaps it's a fad. Perhaps it's the novelty of a mechanical device some children have never known... or perhaps it really is a place of refuge, a place to unplug.
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I love my typewriters. They are amazing. I hope they make a comeback. I don't want to loose them.
Yesterday I found an old typewriter me and my sister used when we were kids (well I was a kid, my sister is six years older then me) - now I'm looking for a way to fix it so I can write on it again. My dad sais it's pointless, but for me it's part nostalgia part inspiration that the old typewriter gives me.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned how much better a typewriter would be for your eyes.
I remember growing up using my grandmothers old typewriter, while pretending I was working at an office. It was great! The video makes me want to go and buy one really bad, since I am now an aspiring writer.
My father & his father & his father before him sold, repaired,walked,talked and lived typewriters.My great grandfather owned "Standard Typewriter" in Down town Pittsburgh Pennsylvania,I was maybe five years old and now at fifty I can still remember the smell of the oil used to lube the keys and the chemical bathes to wash & clean these wonderful machines,when I was older my dad had kept the family business but our basement was his office,many hours he spent repairing & occasionally I got to help
I used a typewriter at school in 1990-91. The school had Mac II's in the classrooms as well but if it was busy we used the typewriters.
I'm amazed with the buyers of the typewriters nowadays....Teacher of Film from St.Benilde...a rich teen ager who wants the sound of the typewriter...its sound therapeutic and anti stress..... a U.P. student.....and the likes....Typewriters has an appeal somehow......on this generation of kids.....
I remember as a kid, my parents owned a type writer. It was also in early 2000s and i just played with it every single day. Up until i didn't know what happened to it.
The typewriter provides a tactile and auditory confirmation that what you're creating is real. Happy I rediscovered this machine.
If type writers had a backspace eraser button... i would still be using it O.o
Some electronic ones do.
"But they did? That was the whole idea, still the correction tapes cost too much!"
well most later electric models do! and many other features you wouldn't believe. but looks like most people go for the vintage mechanical ones
The IBM Selectric models had the ability to 'lift-off' the ink, not just white out, but to actually remove the ink from the page, essentially a backspace.
T3chVoid You've never used one that had that? I think most of them (at least the better ones) had that feature since the 1990s. The Brother SX-4000 which you can still get on Amazon Prime has whole line erasing.
I've used typewrites before and I have to say, they are quite fun.
There was a time in my life where my family couldn't afford to buy me a computer and my papers had to be typed, and the only thing I could use was my moms old typewriter. I used that typewriter for almost all of my middle school and some of my high school days. Mind you I was in MS in the 2000's.
i have a friend who's a published author who exclusively uses a typewriter. he just recently (and begrudgingly) bought a computer because so many publishing houses no longer accept type-written works, but always does the first draft on his typewriter.
i used to use a manual typewriter and totally agree that it's something different than typing on a computer. sadly, i had to leave it in my cousin's care when i moved out of the country. now i'm really missing it.
I actually had a typewriter back when I was still a kid. And I'm 19. :D It was made of plastic and worked perfectly, and I loved it. I wish I still had it.
Many people feel this way and there is a pushing back against technology in some circles if users. Did you know that the guy who holds the patent on the iPhone touchscreen is a huge typewriter lover and user? Many tech people and even programmers love typewriters, so while many people on here cheer for the PC, just remember that those wonderful programmers who created the software and devices that you love probably have a typewriter on their desk.
I love typewriters. I own 3 of them.
Though I love the old Royal manuals(like Herb Caen used for thousands of daily columns in the SF Chronicle), my favorite is the IBM Selectric II. It's such a great feeling to have something print as I type, like I am being published instantly. Folding the paper and mailing it means I have distribution too!
Thanks for the video, looking forward to seeing the documentary!
H.M. docworker
i am glad to see people still using an old tech that still works today even with the push of going all digital and ditching paper.
As a kid i used to play with my mom's typewriter (it was corporate, but she typed at home).
And i loved that soft, almost piano - like keypress.
All my life now i was searching for a keyboard that would somewhat resemble that, but alas there's no such keyboard in existence. All of them feel so shallow...
many typewriter enthusiasts started using PC's when they became commonplace, but many still hung on to the typewriter. Many tech types and young kids have discovered them. Writers like Woody Allen, Robert Caro and David McCullough swear by them. This film is not about typewriters being cool again or about hipsters with typewriters. Its about a 20th century portable printing press that has been eclipsed by the personal computer and why people still use them in the 21st century.
Got to see some of this documentary the other day - it's going to be awesome! Go typosphere!
I don't care if there's a revival or not! I still want one, maybe in orange or something. I could use less distractions while working on stories and the internet and youtube are two of many reasons to get one.
It's funny, the reason the typewriter faded away is the computer, yet the computer is most likely the reason for it's increase in it's new found popularity. Meanings parts are easier to find.
Hello all. Thank you for watching our trailer. All comments are moderated. Any negative or derogatory comments will not not be posted.
I'm 17 and I use a typewriter at work all the time
Proud owner of a Smith-Corona Skyriter, and a much newer Traveller C by Olympia. I use the Olympia as my out of the house typewriter, and the S-M at home.
Journalist, artist, and blogger.
-Alexander Kramer
Now I want to get a typewriter. I think it would be much more relaxing and enjoyable to type on one than on a computer.
I am already part of the vinyl revival - I want to be part of the typewriter revolution! People sound so much busier on type writers and it will stop me getting side tracked by the internet a.k.a now
OH DEAR THE PLATENS at 0:42 This makes me drool
Well the replacement I guess is the mechanical keyboard. Mechanical keyboards are awesome in my opinion and there are so many variations. I've never tried a typewriter, but I imagine that the actuation force is very high. Also, if you are interested in typewriters maybe invest in a mechanical keyboard and help the community grow.
Same here. I can't imagine not having experienced those things.
Because its a simple technology and it does one thing and one thing only! Many writers today, even famous ones, still use them. J.J. Abrams, creator of Lost and other popular TV shows and even films uses typewriters to this day. He even named the building that houses his production company after a typewriter factory. So while they may be antiquated, they are not without a strong (non hipster) user base
...And it doesn't require any power but the power of your thought and the electricity in your nerves and muscles.
"I know about IBM's even the electronics as I used to repair and refurbish them, along with dozens of other makes/models! "
The typewriter is a lot more efficient than a computer because it's a device you can use to type and print at the same time!! Try doing THAT with your iMac!!! ;^)
T3chVoid, Some typewriters have a "backspace eraser button" depending on what make, model, and year of typewriter. While not exactly like the keyboard on a computer, some models have a duel ribbon. One black and one white that you can switch between. If one makes a mistake you simply press the backspace button turn the switch that indicates you are changing from black ribbon to white...well basically, long story short, its the equivalent of writing with ink pen and using white out to correct any mistakes. Obviously, it's a little bit different, but you get the jist of it.
The doc is currently available on Amazon as a DVD purchase. Streaming will be available on Amazon, Hulu Itunes and hopefully Netflix, sometime this summer.
Your so lucky. I was born in 1997, so I never got to experience anything but the internet (which sucks).
"Even before white-out and only an eraser was used, the spacebar allowed a typist to backspace within words and still make a correction without destroying their work."
Oh, BTW, I saw Bill Wahl yesterday. I went into the Mesa Typewriter Exchange, inquiring into the Sundries, because I have a Royal Quiet Deluxe 1941 on the way.
The thing I miss about typewriters is the noise it makes while typing and the bell..kinda miss them..:)
"Noiseless machines developed by Underwood and Remington, I can say were the hardest to align characters!"
Such a beautiful machine.
Are people who like antique cars afraid of change? Or vinyl recordings? Typewriters were/are cool. They use the same keyboard, and you don't have to hit "print" when you're done.
i now want to buy a typewriter
That poet has some true typing talent. Being able to type up a poem without backspacing.
You wont get to be an Admiral, but you could be an Admiral's Secretary! priceless
You can correct on a typewriter too. Some of them have built-in correction ribbons; or you can use white-out or correct-type sheets.
i want a typewriter now
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I've always wanted a typewriter!
beautiful machines
You could make the same point about spellcheck. Why learn to spell when a computer can do it for you? Or about music: why learn to play in time or sing in tune when you can correct this in the edit suite? So with the typewriter: why learn to compose your thoughts before you express them if you can make infinite corrections? That is not to say word processing is worse, just that there is a place for the art of writing without the ability to make repeated, major revisions.
I'm a kid and I use a typewriter
+ForzaHotRodder me too me too! I have 7
"You won't get to be the admiral, but maybe you can be the admiral's secretary." lol
"You won't get to be an admiral, but you may get to be the admiral's secretary" haha
My grandma still has a functional typewriter, though she worked a programmer so she knows her way around a computer. And as her if I want to feel connected to another generation... I use a nib pen.
Despite the advance of technology, people still use manual typewriters. I hope that I will get one in the future.
i used to love typewriters.... learned to type on them now i have a macbookpro lol
Hello! Hipsters are but a very small part of the overall users of typewriters. Actually the hipsters as of late have deemed typewriters as too mainstream.
I used the typewriter in save rooms when I was a kid.
after seeing this, i really want a typewriter
i've always wanted a typewriter!
I really want a typewriter now. I think I'll go get one soon.
I live in Latin America, and not so long ago, in the 90s when I went to school we had a "typewriting class"
My dad was a typewriter repairman. He was very good at is, but when its popularity fell away, there was no money in it.
Typewriter for filling out forms legibly. For stuff you don't want digital or in the cloud. Russian intelligence service recently purchased them. For writing off the grid in some cabin in the middle of nowhere.
How cool! Maybe I will start looking for one at thriftstores.
I would love to have a small one in my room. Good way to make printed works.
I'm writing on my typewriter now!
Thanks for sharing.
Some typewriters had that function, but mostly people used white out correction fluid.
hmm i think im going to buy a typewriter now, always wanted one!
Thanks for sharing
Thank you.
my dad still uses a typewriter lol
THese are so cool, but I'm not sure what I'm typing that I don't need to save. But I'm sure the typing experience is great with one.
Love the song. The single best clarinet part i've ever played!
Love this!
The song in the beginning is Allegro vivace.
Thats what we are hoping the movie will do!
Thats even before the typewriter! Uber retro dude!
I still don't understand what happens when you make a typo... Is there like some whiteout button?
That, WAS FUCKING AWESOME! Thankyou so much!
That's awesome!
"I still have my IBM syringe for the special grease they used, but I'm afraid that's all I have left now from the dozens of tools I used to have!"
This is lovely, I specially like the music-typewriter combination
Wait... there's a typewriter trend? Sorry, but I love writing on my PC, though I do recreate (somewhat) the experience of using a typewriter by using a mechanical keyboard (Razer Blackwidow Ultimate). The feel, and sound of every click is great :)
There's a problem. i can't find the ctrl+z on the typewriter.
This video is missing the famous video of Bob Dylan typing while someone else is playing music.
Only until the power goes out. LOL
Thats a good point! Thank you.
no distractions!
on their list of famous people who use them, the only one i recognize is hanks
I was really interested in buying a typewriter. I'm in Australia, and I can't find anywhere online or in brick-and-mortar stores where I can buy one where I can get easy ink refills.
quite enjoyed thank you instant sub
my grandfather gave me one
"Da~d, I need to use the computer to type something"
*pulls out typewriter*-"Who says you need a computer to type?"
"I hate you!"
"I love you, too."
So kind of those strapping lads to throw us ladies a bone every once in a while. Yay!
My typewriter is a Royal Quiet De Luxe Portable- Late 40s model. It's my baby.