Out of Print (2013) User Reviews

An important message for changing times

[darcieechan · 10/10 · 3 June 2013]

"Out of Print" is an important, insightful, and timely examination of reading. From the very beginning of books as we know them to today's fast-paced, technology-driven world of e-books and Internet search engines, the film covers the history of the written word. More importantly, it raises the question of whether the way many people, especially children, read today (in short snippets instead of traditional book-length texts) is detrimental to society or merely an inevitable, not-so-bad step in the evolution of reading. The film is beautifully edited and thought-provoking. It would be an excellent educational tool for schools and libraries, and I believe its message would also resonate with the general public.

Provocative, insightful and respectful of the viewer's intelligence -- a look at a problem, the dimension and importance of which is only just beginning to be understood.

[rprp2 · 10/10 · 11 May 2013]

Roumani brilliantly uses cinematic techniques to illuminate a decidedly non-cinematic issue. The future of our culture and of democracy are bound up in the future of the word -- written, in this case. Whether and how technology will either continue to spread knowledge and enlightenment, or drown them both in trivia, garbage and manipualtive distraction, is at the heart of this challenge. Out of Print does not give us answers because the answers have not emerged, but it raises the questions and leaves us profoundly shaken at some of the possible outcomes. A variety of perspectives are presented with no overt editorializing by the film. Non needed. The editing and cinematography make them speak starkly for themselves. And viewers should keep in mind cui bono -- who profits -- when they listen, for example, to some who see no reason to be concerned about what is happening to books and reading and learning and education. Do no evil, indeed.

This movie can leave you as unsettled as the most frightening vampire movie. The difference is that this problem is real.

"Out of Print" is a evocative documentary about the future of libraries, writers, books, and the publishing industry

[prairiedances · 10/10 · 28 May 2013]

"Out of Print" is a evocative documentary about the future of libraries, writers, books, and the publishing industry. After the film on Sunday, April 28th, "The New Yorker's" Ken Auletta moderated a panel consisting of "Out of Print's" director Vivienne Roumani, Open Road Integrated Media CEO Jane Friedman, New York Public Library President and CEO Tony Marx, and others discussing the issues brought to light in the film. Both the film and the panel were worth a trip to Tribeca, yet some important questions were left unanswered by the film and Ms. Roumani, such as the views of traditional publishing companies on the future of the industry. "Out of Print" however is still a great documentary worth seeing.

Brilliantly thought provoking

[ajm8 · 10/10 · 29 March 2013]

This documentary is a timely and thought provoking discussion of one of the major conundrums brought about by 21st century technology - namely, how to balance the unprecedented role of electronic media as an informational resource with that of the printed page as a medium for propagating our cultural heritage. The latter is nobly represented by the hard copy book and of course, by extension, the treasury of these - the library. To paraphrase Marshall McLuhan, the printed word is THE medium with THE message. The written/printed text is the source to be cherished and worked with - the dog-eared/underlined text is to me the sine qua non of the learning process. Vivienne Roumani's film brings us face to face with the reality that our technology has taken us to in this regard. This film is a must for every thinking and most of all every "reading" person to learn from and contemplate. Kudos to the director!

Spotlights the wonders & worries of eReading

[anthroview · 9/10 · 12 May 2013]

The chain of events, products and services from author to reader and comment/critic's response is perused in this documentary to compare printing on paper with communicating on the e-Ink or portable eBook reading devices. The shaping roles of form factor, physicality, readers' contexts, and the archival durability of resulting written content are addressed and illustrated. But after exploring this intersection of several issues, there is no firm conclusion or set of suggested next steps that an author or a reader might wish to take to better grapple with the hybrid world of print AND digital transmission. What can one; what should one do about this process: resist it, promote it, observe the changes and participate in both media --paper and bytes? It is not a surprise that final answers are absent: the matter is emergent and full consequences are still playing out. So if not presenting the subject and giving the final word, the documentary does take the first steps in that direction by beginning with an acknowledgment of the magnitude of the changes being set in motion, and by engaging with several authorities who are most deeply and articulately part of the process that is making the written word more fluid and revisable, and thus, too, the thinking that goes hand in hand with writing.

An excellent documentary that challenges the viewer to consider the virtues of classical and modern forms of written communication.

[tarbell-686-492884 · 10/10 · 15 May 2013]

Vivienne Roumani has created a thought - provoking documentary touching on themes we all encounter as parents, educators and citizens. In the film we experience modes of communication from traditional print to modern electronic media from the diverse perspectives of an elementary school child to the director of one of the world's largest public libraries, with strong advocates for both forms of communication along the way. In the process, we are not prodded to favor either print or electronic media, but are challenged to imagine the future, which may not be that far off, and how we and our children will be able to embrace the best of the past while accepting the inevitability of change.

The film is enhanced greatly by a dazzling visual impact that draws the viewer into the world of media and communication. Overall, a very exciting experience.

A Must See for all concerned with the rights of writers and artists

[cambridge-gordon · 10/10 · 10 May 2013]

Nobody should be surprised that the best stories told in this thought provoking documentary were those from great authors. Scott Turow made the case for the rights of all authors, all creatives, in a clear, concise, and compelling fashion. Darcy Chan was charming and gave hope to the "every person" who thinks they can write a novel and sell it. I enjoyed listening to her Cinderella story. The filmmaker made the right choice in excluding the commercial publisher's views from this work. Publisher's stories have been told and whether they survive in this digital age is immaterial to the more important survival of the artists. I was not sold by the librarian making his case for the right of all people to enjoy the author's works free and in perpetuity. But then again I was glad of the argument. This is a "must see" for all those concerned with intellectual property rights and the future of the professional writer and artist!

"Out of Print" is an exceptional documentary.

[raytutu · 10/10 · 12 May 2013]

"Out of Print" is an exceptional documentary. The film effectively communicates the changing landscape of the publishing industry, and it does so in a thought/conversation provoking manner. The narrative takes a topic that many media purveyors engage in daily and makes it simultaneously exciting and foreboding.

The pace of the film is absolutely engrossing as the director shifted between creators, publishers, and users. The documentary cleverly illustrates how different generations consume digital and print media. I particularly enjoyed the judgement-free juxtaposition of perspectives from the media-capitalists and Author's Guild. Also, It was thoroughly fascinating how students under twenty consume information (mostly short form), and, despite the sudden changes in the nature of consumption, I was left with the hopeful sense that the expression of creativity will still flourish in every form.

Compelling story on the move from print to digital

[pasquali · 10/10 · 8 April 2013]

Vivienne Roumani weaves a very engaging story on the ongoing changes to how information is stored and transmitted. The documentary proceeds by interviewing key figures in the print and digital publishing industry, as well as scholars who have been studying the transition from book to digital. The line-up of interviews is fantastic, including Ray Bradbury, John Barlow from the Electronics Frontiers Foundation and Jeff Bezos from Amazon. Starting from the question "Is the book dead?", the documentary explores questions such as learning in a situation where access to information is essentially unlimited, on pedagogy, on copyright, piracy, and their effects (or non-effects) on author's willingness to contribute content. The various interview pieces are cut together in an engaging fashion, joined together by the narration by Meryl Streep.