Typewriter Doc Nearing Its Final Keystrokes

It began when two LA filmmakers, Gary Nicholson and Christopher Lockett, read the May 31st, 2010 Wired.com article "Meet the Last Generation of Typewriter Repairmen.” Two years later, the pair have interviewed three such practitioners of the nearly lost art and are close to wrapping their documentary The Typewriter (In the 21st Century).

In a case of great journalist minds thinking alike, the CBS program Sunday Morning caught up with the topic a few weekends ago, airing their own, briefer take on the current renaissance in typewriter repair and personal use. Several of the people featured in the February 5th TV report will appear in the upcoming film:

 

Nicholson and Lockett shot at two “type-in” enthusiast gatherings, including one held last May at the Red Lion tavern in Silver Lake. They range far and wide into current typewriter culture, profiling for example how the LA County Sheriff's Department still chooses in some cases to rely on typewriters rather than computers.

Lockett has an MFA in cinematography from AFI; Nicholson earned a BFA in motion picture and television producing from San Francisco's Academy of Art. Perhaps their film will explain whether there's any rhyme or reason behind the fact that every single letter required to spell out t-y-p-e-w-r-i-t-e-r can be found on the top row of a standard QWERTY keyboard. The filmmakers may also want to consider, if they are not already, making mention of hybrid models like this iPad-enhanced Royal Underwood.

[The Typewriter (In the 21st Century)]