The Hollywood Librarian World Premiere
The world premiere screening of The Hollywood Librarian: A look at librarians through film, left me with very mixed feelings. The film does an excellent job of using clips from movies like Desk Set, The Music Man, Love Story, Party Girl, and others, to juxtapose the image of librarians in film against the realities of librarianship, including clips from an awesome black-and-white vocational film, as well as interviews with myriad librarians from all corners of librarianship, many of whom were brought on stage after the screening to be recognized. The movie obviously moved the audience and instilled a sense of vindication, with good reason, and I believe that the film does have the potential to give new and different perspective to “civilians” who don’t really understand the library world.
After the screening, writer and director Ann Seidl explained her interesting distribution method for the film. The film has been moved into the finals for an independent film festival (if you know the name of the festival, please comment here and let me know, I can’t find it), so it will get some exposure. But, rather than sell the film to a distributor, Ann would like to grant rides to show the distribution DVD, as well as a package of comprehensive marketing and discussion materials, so that interested public libraries can show screenings themselves.
What she asks in return is that libraries charge money for the screenings, with 1/3 of the fee going to her production company, 1/3 of the fee covering distribution costs, and 1/3 of the fee going to the library showing the movie. Her idea is to use the library, which, according to the movie, provides more points of service than McDonald’s, to get the word out about the movie and its message. Sign ups for this distribution program begin tomorrow at Booth #4207 in the Exhibit Hall, where you can ask questions and give your feedback about the film.
For those who missed the film, you can watch the recently-released trailer:
![Pitty Patt[rn] - March 16, 2010](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4445757693_961c1edd8d_s.jpg)
![Pitty Patt[rn] - March 16, 2010](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4446531682_fa6129c766_s.jpg)
There are 6 Comments to "The Hollywood Librarian World Premiere"
Andrea, please talk a little more about your mixed feelings about the film. If you’re like me, what troubles you is Ann’s request that we charge our patrons to see the film at our libraries. Her recommended price was $8 per person.
Inasmuch as I want to encourage as many people as possible to see this inspiring movie, I won’t do it if I have to sign something that says I’ll charge admission. That just goes against everything my public library stands for. Ann told us we could call the fee whatever we want – a donation, a compensation for our expenses, etc. – but it’s still a fee, and therefore will automatically discriminate against certain folks in my community.
An alternative would be to ask a local organization, business, or friends group to underwrite the film’s presentation in our communities. I could live with that. But asking individuals just to pay to see it? No way.
First, there were parts of the movie that left me wanting. While the movie strives to set media image vs. reality comparison, it does that to a point, and with a distinct focus on what could be perceived as more “traditional” roles in libraries (reference, directorship, teaching); I wanted to see more of a focus on outreach, networking, collaborative and association-based work of libraries and librarians, to show that libraries aren’t just islands, and that librarians are working together. The movie then moves away from the media comparisons and becomes about the stark realities of librarianship, using the closing and reopening of the Salinas library as it’s focus.
Second, while the librarians featured in the film are definitely exemplary and deserving of highlight, most were from a generation of librarians who have been in the profession anywhere from 15-50 years, and the younger generation is exemplified by a library school student. As a young librarian myself, I could see the relevance and power of it, but it didn’t really speak to me, and I’m wondering if other librarians in the profession less than 10 years will be able to identify with the librarians depicted. In spite of the film’s shortcomings, it truly is a film worth watching, with potential to truly educate the public and help change the accepted librarian stereotype.
As for charging for the movie, I feel like Ann is asking libraries to help themselves by making patrons pay for *her* movie. Many libraries have a hard enough time convincing patrons to attend a free movie program, so making patrons pay for a movie that’s meant to change their perspective about a misunderstood profession just seems counterproductive.
I was disappointed by the film, because of its lack of focus and its political message.
I enjoyed the beginning of the film, alternating early vocational film clips with images of libraries in major motion pictures (why were “Ghostbusters” and “The Breakfast Club” excluded?), but I lost interest when Salinas became the focus. What does this have to do with Hollywood Librarian? Too much time was spent on funding issues.
I agree that the inclusion of young, new librarians, and innovative library technologies and partnerships, in the film, would have done wonders in changing the stereotypical images of librarians that still exists today.
I did not stay to hear Seidl’s speech, and from what I’ve read, I am glad I didn’t. I could not imagine charging patrons to see this movie in our public library, and frankly, I’m angered by the suggestion.
[...] would recommend reading posts written by Karen Schneider, Andrea Mercado, and Rochelle Harman on the premier and the proposed marketing plan. I did enjoy the film, but [...]
[...] – Read more about the Hollywood Librarian at the PLA blog. [...]
There were very few librarians of color and represented in the film.