The Light Bulb Conspiracy (2010)

This is the story of companies who engineered their products to fail.

Director:

Cosima Dannoritzer

Writer:

Cosima Dannoritzer

Stars:

Mike Anane, Michael Braungart, Steve Bunn

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mike Anane	...	Himself
Michael Braungart	...	Himself
Steve Bunn	...	Himself
Nicols Fox	...	Herself
Mike Gurman	...	Himself
Helmut Höge	...	Himself
Richard Jones	...	Himself
Vitaliy Kiselev	...	Himself
Boris Knuf	...	Himself
Marcus Krajewski	...	Himself
Serge Latouche	...	Himself
Marcos López	...	Himself
Casey Neistat	...	Himself
Lynn Owens	...	Himself
Warner Philips	...	Himself

Storyline

Once upon a time..... products were made to last. Then, at the beginning of the 1920s, a group of businessmen were struck by the following insight: 'A product that refuses to wear out is a tragedy of business' (1928). Thus Planned Obsolescence was born. Shortly after, the first worldwide cartel was set up expressly to reduce the life span of the incandescent light bulb, a symbol for innovation and bright new ideas, and the first official victim of Planned Obsolescence. During the 1950s, with the birth of the consumer society, the concept took on a whole new meaning, as explained by flamboyant designer Brooks Stevens: 'Planned Obsolescence, the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary...'. The growth society flourished, everybody had everything, the waste was piling up (preferably far away in illegal dumps in the Third World) - until consumers started rebelling... Can the modern growth society survive without Planned Obsolescence? Did ...

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Plot Keywords:

planned obsolescence | light bulb | business | cradle to cradle | greed | 

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Taglines:

The untold story of planned obsolescence.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

Spain France

Language:

English French Catalan German Spanish

Release Date:

16 December 2010 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Pyramids of Waste

Filming Locations:

France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte France, Article Z, Media 3.14

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Death of a Salesman (1951)

User Reviews

Interesting - but Short Lifespan products may have advantages too

This film criticises the way manufacturers deliberately make short lasting products that continually have to be re-bought, increasing their profit.

A main focus is on how light bulbs were deliberately limited to 1000 hr lifespans in the Phoebus cartel arrangement between GE, Philips, Osram/Sylvania and others. A favorable comparison is made with long lasting Socialist Narva bulbs, during the cold war era.

This is a little too facile, kicking in open doors: The easy conclusion is that "Hey it's good to have Minimum lifespan standards"

Not true! Brightness and lifespan tend to be trade-offs. Ironically, USA minimum 1000 hr standard - from the Phoebus Cartel in the film - therefore still denies the use of short lasting bright bulbs. It is not Socialist Government standards that makes good life bulbs. Nor is it Capitalist Light Bulb Manufacturer cartels. It is Competition on the market - by helping new manufacturers and inventors (like mentioned Billinger, behind a long lasting bulb) launch their products, for people to choose.

All light bulb types have advantages, and energy saving and lifespan mandates compromise other advantages that light bulbs - or indeed other products mentioned in the film - may have.