Tim Wu book and Terry Gilliam

As mentioned previously, I'm going to see Tim Wu discuss his new book The Masters Switch. I'm presently reading the book (and highly recommended). Whilst reading the book on one chapter it discusses the invention of the Hush -a-phone sold by Harry Tuttle. Harry was stopped by AT&T in the 1930's from selling this product (which kept phone calls private). AT&T monopoly meant that Harry Tuttle was stopped from selling this product, even though in court he had a young engineer called John Licklider pointing out that it worked and caused AT&T no problems (for those who don't know Licklider you should read this.
But in the book Harry is a guy fighting 'the man' (or AT&T), just like the character Harry Tuttle in Terry Gilliam's great film Brazil.

Reading for pleasure......

In the last few months I've been reading way too many social media books. These include The Dumbest Generation, The Shallows: How the Internet is Changing the Way We Think, Read and Remember, Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age and Born Digital. All very, very interesting. But all a bit dry.
Therefore, i'm reading books on one other love. Cinema. Just finished Pretty in Pink, awaiting the arrival of You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation. I'm also reading Best of British: Cinema and Society from 1930 to the Present. Its actually quite nice to read something a bit different from the usual stuff. Expecially seeing I've started re-watching some old classic movies like The Sure Thing, Say Anything... and Whisky Galore. ohhhh, to reminesce.......

Talk on library and films at Senate House tonight (well actually 21.10.10)

I'm going to a talk tonight* at Senate House entitled Something Stirring in the Stack? Why filmmakers enter the library. The event is hosted by Professor Ian Christie.
The blurb saysa of the evening:-

Libraries have often provided an incongruous setting for unacademic pursuits on screen, from manhunts to hauntings, and of course seductions. But they also represent knowledge, which is often dangerous as well as enlightening. And in a select group of films, culminating in Amenabar's recent Agora, the defence of the library becomes a powerful symbol of civilisation itself. Little wonder that filmmakers are heavy borrowers.

The twitter hashtag is #EV2010c1021. I'm going as per usual.

* #epicfail the date of the event is actually 21.10.10. Apologies for the error.

Can you sell your library? If not, why not?

Today and yesterday I helped out with the University Of London. I wasn't timetabled on, but as only one person was doing it, and for iover four hours I thought they may need a break. Anyhow, I love open days. How often can you be at work and tell people what a great facility Senate House, what a great building it is, that it has been used for a multiple of films.
So, my question is. How do you sell your library to clients? Because if you can't, no one else will.

Facebook film

As many of you may know, on 15 of October, 2010 the film The social network is released. Based on the excellent The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal, the film looks at the early life of facebook and Mark Zuckberg's company and falling out with friends in Harvard over the company. I'm really looking forward to it. I might even put it on my facebook page.

Hollywood Librarian 2 at Stuart Hall, Part II

The day started in Hoxton at the Stuart Hall library. Assistant librarian Holly Callaghan introduced the event and discussed the vent and how it was the second in the series of events held here. She discussed Maura Seale's treatise on the portrayal of librarians entitled 'Old maids, and social rejects : Mass media representations and public perceptions of Librarians'. This describes how 5 types of librarians are identified within modern culture. These being:

1.The Old Maid Librarian.
2.The Policeman Librarian.
3.The Policeman Librarian.
4.The Inept Librarian.
5.The Hero/ine Librarian.

Then we watched Desk Set. Then a break for lunch.

Hollywood Librarian 2 at Stuart Hall

The Hollywood Librarian 2 is actually not Hollywood Librarian, but the presentations of us. Therefore we will be watching Desk Set and The Gun of Betty Lou's handbag and a discussion.

Free film on Piracy

I discovered a free documentary called Steal this film. The film deals with Bit torrent technology. The film talks to such people as the piratebay founders, mininova founders, the electronic frontier foundation. They talk to Howard Rheingold, Siva Vaidhyanathan and Yochai Benkler.
The film looks at how the MPAA tried to bring down Piratebay in 2006 and failed. That trying to stop torrent technology is like one person said 'trying to stop someone pissing out the swimming pool.'
he film looks at the power of the network and history of the network. One thing, the sound is not brilliant and a few years old (2006).

A lovely film about firing 2.0

Just watched the new George Clooney movie Up in the Air. If you wanna see a film that will make you smile at how to sack a person and how someone tries to iniate an almost web 2.0 to the industry, it'll make you smile.

Pixar Book and there early films

I started reading The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company which is a real good read. Whilst reading I was interested to see some of the early short films. The first one was Andre & Wally B. The second was Luxo Jr. The third and final one was Red's Dream, Pixar's first Oscar. The films were really interesting in how far Pixar has gone and where they began. The books a good read to.

"US NOW" available free online

Wikinomics informed us via their blog, that US NOW is free available online. I have seen it previously, and if you get chance, check it out.

US NOW film review

I recently wrote a film I was going to see called US NOW. I went to see this last week. The film dealt with the web 2.0 economy. They interviewed people like Clay Shirky and Don Tapscott and other organisations that are part of the web 2.0 economy. The film was ok, nicely shot and everything, but yup the wisdom of crowds being the saviour of the world is slightly irksome and cliqued. Obviously other writers have criticised this view. I really despise this idea that the web is making people able to join groups and create new communities. The mumsnet look liked a middle class mothers union
. Only people with internet access can join and this is what this documentary skirted over.
There have been other review of the film. There is also a video report including an introduction to the film. I am found on the video report 97 seconds in.

London screening of Hollywood librarian

Having spoken previously of the Hollywood Librarian, its nice to see on the 17th of April there will be a screening at Wood Green. I'll be there with my popcorn.

Hollywood librarian screening in UK

Well, after a long sabattical from blogging of 2 months (moving house, no time or net work), some news from me. Seems that the Hollywood librarian is playing in Brighton 7pm, the 25th february for its only screening. More information here on Tom Roper's blog. Unfortunately I can make it. Oh well, i'll have to wait for the dvd release.

Librarian movie

Via Lisnews about the documentary Hollywood Librarian. There is a review of the film of it in the Journal Times. I have talked about this film before, but it only seems to have a USA release. Any idea when it will be released here guys?

Streamburst release of In search of the valley

Streamburst has just released In Search of the Valley on there website I hear.. Streamburst describes themselves as:-
Streamburst is an innovative and forward thinking company supplying services and infrastructure for the delivery of Television and Film Productions over the Internet.
Streamburst has sole focus on Download to Own content, no VOD (Video On Demand) or near-VOD services are planned at this time.
International Distributors, Production Companies and Website Operators can benefit hugely from the unique features that Streamburst offer:
New highly effective piracy deterrent methods that do not alienate or drive customers to piracy Content Delivery in Multiple Formats Servicing Multiple Devices
Brand / Market Specific Content Delivery,High Quality, Fully Managed and Professional Service.

Obviously i've discussed the film previously (here and here. Previously the film had been on DVD sales at $18 (with coupon, $20 without). So the new format sysatem, is a great breakthrough.
The release of the film has hit both Digg and techcrunch. Its also been entered onto the internet movie database. Good publicity if you can get it I say.
I really must recommend the film as I both worked on it in a minor degree and its what I consider I write about. Meeting such web 2.0 and open source luminaries as Tim O'reilly, Brian Behlendorf and Marc Canter (who has a wonderful voice. I mean he loves the sound of it). This film is well worth a look. And hell, there's extra's with it to, and at $8.