Throwaway Society, American Collectors Film

Throwaway Society

If you haven't read the book, "Cheap, the High Cost of Discount Culture", http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106431468
you really should check it out. It brings to mind so many of the clothes I've purchased lately that have fallen apart
within months of bringing home. Things are made to be replaced rather than repaired.

Contrast that with the clothes that you can find in a vintage shop. They have already been around for
over 40 years, with zippers still intact and functional. back then, it would be unthinkable to have to replace a winter
coat after one season, because the plastic snaps and zippers have disintegrated.

That's why I love to look at collections of things we use and see something made 75 years ago still
in good shape and ready to be resurected. In the documentary film, American Collectors, many of the collectors interviewed also
expressed the admiration of the quality and fact the items they collect have a long history and can still be used.

I know for myself that's why I'm attacted to older things, more care was taken in the construction and they were made to be handed down,
not thrown in the landfill. We have to thank collectors for saving these objects, they preserve our history and the planet too!

For more information about American Collectors please go to www.AmericanCollectorsMovie.com

Our Collectors, Keepers of Culture, American Collectors film

Our Collectors, Keepers of Culture

Caught the American Pickers NASCAR Challenge episode yesterday.
The boys went out to find artifacts for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. They called on people who where there in the beginning and uncovered some early artifacts. Nearly all people would have identified them as pieces of junk metal and car parts, but the items very exciting to the people at the Hall of Fame and they were delighted to get them.

The guys that saved these items, retained important artifacts and evidence of history. No matter what you may think about NASCAR, it is classic Americana and owes its start to Prohibition and the 18th Amendment.

We owe a lot to collectors who find value in things like this. The radio collector in the documentary film, American Collectors, has the history of our early communication and media on display in the Museum of Radio and Electricity in Bellingham WA

I think its important to know where we started and how we got here.

In the age of instant communication, its incredible to see where 100 years of technological advancement has gotten us.
As people rushed to get the latest upgrade, it's amazing to see what they cast aside. Looking at the elements of design and shapes of the early pieces we get an insight to what people valued.

If you ever find yourself in Bellingham WA, make the time and check out The Museum of Radio and Electricity. Its a world class museum. You can see a fraction of the vast collection in the film, American Collectors, available for download and video on demand on many digitable cable networks and IndieFlix.com

For more information please go to www.AmericanCollectorsMovie.com

American Collectors Film a forerunner to a Reality TV Phenomenon

American Collectors Film a forerunner to a Reality TV Phenomenon

Bellingham, WA. The documentary film, American Collectors is a comprehensive examination of the motivations of collectors in their pursuit to acquire and how they view their role as keepers of culture. Released in 2009, it hit the independent film festival circuit before the advent of the current wave of reality shows about storage auctions, collectors and hoarders. The subject matter struck the cultural zeitgeist, by the time American Collectors had completed its first run, Hoarders was an emerging hit and American Pickers was making its debut. American Collectors was in front of the wave of interest and received national media attention with a write up in Paste magazine, interviews on NPR and a slot on the PBS independent film series, Reel Northwest, followed by additional PBS showings. Most recently, American Collectors was selected for Video On Demand showings throughout North America on digital cable networks and consortiums covering well over 6 million subscibers. What the Sell! Another Reality Show about Stuff. Every time you turn on the television there's yet another show about antique and collectors items. A blue-ribbon example is, What the Sell? on the Discovery Network. Three generations of women run a fine antique and consignment shop outside of Chicago. Lots of Midwestern charm and terrific interaction between the three women. Grandma Gloria is a real hoot. Pawn Stars meets Antique Road Show, its addicting to watch! Now the question is, at what point do we hit saturation? There is a dedicated group of people who will always watch shows like these, but its definitely a "hot' topic right now. Click on this image to see Seattle Film critic Rubert Huttons' interview with American Collectors co-directors Bob Ridgely and Terri Krantz There is certainly a voyeuristic urge to see what other people have behind closed doors. And due to the success of these these shows and our film, American Collectors, the viewer can see the surprisingly wide variety of weird and wonderful stuff people collect. Back in 2007 when co-director and producer Bob Ridgley and I began mapping out our idea for a documentary film about collectors there were only one or two shows on television covering this topic. Whenever we talked about our idea people were genuinely positive and encouraging. Did the collective consciousness suddenly decide collecting and shows about the stuff in our houses and garages would be interesting? Maybe the economic downturn forced people to reflect upon their habits of consuming and at the same time, when needing some extra money started looking at the stuff thats filling up our houses and storage units. American Collectors is available for Video On Demand from many North American digital cable networks and also from IndieFlix.com. For more information go to the American Collectors Web Site