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BBS: The Documentary (2005)

Not Rated | | Documentary | Video 21 May 2005
BBS: The Documentary Poster
Through eight episodes, director Jason Scott covers the 25 year history of the Dial-Up Bulletin Board System, a modem-connected computer system that let others connect to a computer over a ... See full synopsis »

Director:

Jason Scott Sadofsky

Writer:

Jason Scott Sadofsky

Stars:

Kerri Adams, Christopher Allen, Jay Andrews | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Credited cast:
Kerri Adams Kerri Adams ... Herself
Christopher Allen Christopher Allen ... Himself
Jay Andrews Jay Andrews ... Himself
Alan Aspuru-Guzik Alan Aspuru-Guzik ... Himself
Ben Baker Ben Baker ... Himself
Cliff Barber Cliff Barber ... Himself
Ted Beatie Ted Beatie ... Himself
Phil Becker Phil Becker ... Himself
B.W. Behling B.W. Behling ... Himself
Wayne Bell Wayne Bell ... Himself
Brian J. Bernstein Brian J. Bernstein ... Himself
Loyd Blankenship Loyd Blankenship ... The Mentor
Leif Bloomquist Leif Bloomquist ... Himself
Bootleg Bootleg ... Himself
John Brandt John Brandt ... Himself
See full cast »
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Storyline

Through eight episodes, director Jason Scott covers the 25 year history of the Dial-Up Bulletin Board System, a modem-connected computer system that let others connect to a computer over a phone line and leave messages and trade files. Containing 200 interviews, episodes mostly consist of elaborate montages of dozens of people composing a narrative.

BAUD is an introduction to the start of the BBS. SYSOPS AND USERS is a montage of stories and thoughts on running BBSes. FIDONET covers the amateur network of computers called Fidonet. MAKE IT PAY covers the BBS Industry. ARTSCENE covers the ANSI art scene of the 1990s. HPAC covers Hacking and Phreaking BBSes. COMPRESSION discusses the ARC-ZIP battle of 1988. NO CARRIER discusses the "end" of the dial-up BBS.

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Genres:

Documentary

Certificate:

Not Rated

Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 2005 (USA) See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$20,000 (estimated)
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bovine Ignition Systems See more »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot using a one-man crew (Jason Scott running camera, sound, conducting interview and composing questions). See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does the documentary focus so much on North American BBSes?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Pre-Internet nostalgic ride!
18 June 2008 | by selvamanik – See all my reviews

This is a very comprehensive, and almost complete history said by the guys who did it in the BBS Era.

If you have been in at least one BBS and know what that culture is, please purchase this documentary and save it in you personal locker to cherish forever.

This documentary is simply awesome in understanding the importance and sweetness of good old Pre-Internet personal communications of humans.

For other Nineties+ kids you should still see this to learn how simple, personal, and non-chaotic, Adventures and fun BBS communities where before the Internet.

A Must have for BBS era nerds.

ATH +++
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