BBS: The Documentary (2005)

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

Cast

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

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

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edited on three terabytes of USB 2.0 disk drives and Sony Video Vegas across 8 months.

User Reviews

Pre-Internet nostalgic ride!

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 +++

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 2005 (USA)

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bovine Ignition Systems

Technical Specs

Runtime:

296 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1