Woody Allen & his Typewriter

woody

[@dan9337]

imagine buying a used macbook that would last you the next 57 years of your life? Unbelievable.

[@DriveupLife22]

Just to be clear Woody's Olympia SM3 wasn't used. He purchased it new.

[@pahwraith]

Apple ii computers will still work, If you find one.

[@kimokeokeahi8526]

Being thrifty? Being cheap? Nope. Being loyal. And wise. Most artists use the tools that they know, trust and love. I think it's great that he writes in longhand and then types it all out on his little metal friend. Woody comes across as considerably more organic than the host of modern writers. A true auteur.

[@mf91007]

Can you imagine how much that typewriter would sell for in an auction?

[@widb8evd8wg38dhsu]

best i can do is $3 and im taking big risk here

[@Welther47]

Did you know that Cormac McCarthy's Typewriter sold for $254,500 at an auction?

[@Prousto]

Ten years ago, it would have been slated for the Smithsonian. But given that Woody’s since been canceled...

[@my_negative_world]

@tinwoods Oh there we go with this bullshit again.

[@fellowcitizen]

"Yeah, but who's gonna fly it, kid. You?"

[@kelzangtshering442]

A Man of such creative force, still at the peak of his fictional and cinematic genius. Hardly an individual ever appreciates the mechanics of typewriter in this rapidly paced 21st century. Woody Allen's scripts, stories, comic pieces and sketches have formed by the strength of his fingers and the sharpness of his creative imagination.

[@blue387]

$40 in 1951 would be worth $377.97 in 2017 dollars.

[@helloimdank23]

Blue387 what about in 2018? How much is it worth now?

[@stephenbruce4052]

i love the sound i used to jave an africa parrot so i try to smoke brak well hes dead but wheb i moved ill be 89 years okd and never get rid of that cage im just gjad i didnt do the rebounder no replac

[@ianscottosborne9630]

Just bought a used SM3 for around $300.00. I guess they maintain their value.

[@justgivemethetruth]

@@ianscottosborne9630 You should send Woody the top.

[@space_1073]

They're about the same amount these days on ebay! that's crazy

[@linnykikat2768]

A true hero of our times

[@rustyalcorta3643]

I love my typewriters.

[@SayonDragon15]

Freaking legend. xx

[@frankpriegue997]

I like how he never replaced the cover on his SM3. It's a solid typerwriter

[@lopamudhramishra7797]

I still use my Dell Inspiron laptop from 10 years ago. Runs windows 7 and weighs 3.5 kgs. Has a DVD writer as well. That’s my typewriter.

[@GoodFriendsForever]

Probably Any script he does nowadays like midnight in Paris is probably digitized after he writes it by some secretary.

[@littleripper312]

At first I thought if he simply got a basic word processor he would be more efficient but then I realized how much more efficient he probably is without access to the internet or any distractions while working. Like right now I'm supposed to be working but here I am on KZbin...

[@bryandawkins]

Mr Allen never change

[@ytcdi]

He has no use for productivity apps. He just works!. His method is cheap, classy, and works wonders.

[@tonycharbel12]

i love this video...its so motivational...such a simple process to create masterpieces

[@grandegracia]

I have an Olympia too, got for like 5 dollars 10 years ago (probably, I don’t really remember), I mostly use it to type my handwritten notes or write letters to my friends and penpals. The best typewriter I’ve ever used.

[@DaveTheIceman]

"How can I believe in God when just last week I caught my tongue in an electric typewriter?" - Woody Allen

[@The1973Drummer]

Why do people think that typewriters are hard to use? I have two SM4s and they still work great even though they are more than 60 years old.

[@melquizedec]

Seems we have to buy computers every 5-6 years. Woody Allen still uses the typewriter he bought in the 60s to work.

[@roccoz2231]

1952 **

[@Omnicient.]

Writing on a typewriter teaches us to accept what we're written and quickly move on; a man in a race. Use of computers means we gain much more.

[@whataboutrob442]

Always loved his movies.

[@vmigop]

He’s a genius.

[@carlalfaroh]

I love how simple WA is ❤️

[@justgivemethetruth]

I wish I had a top from another typewriter to send him. That is amazing ... Woody is low-key, low-tech ... his mind must be very, very organized.

[@starryeyes2067]

The brilliant John le Carre, same devotion to what is now considered old fashioned writing, longhand and tons of cut and staple editing. Now who really believes that AI will replace these brilliant minds and deeply spiritual (go ahead, trash it) and human intellectual refinements to produce the timeless works of these men Obviously there are more examples including women (before anyone jumps on my comment to trash it.)

[@VHSRetroTV]

wow! awesome!

[@RabbiSteve]

I have a whole bunch of mechanical typewriters and a couple of electric ones that I just recently got into. I fell in love with using the typewriter as a creative tool just about three years ago. And now I have a little collection. I just got one of these that Woody has, for pretty cheap (cost me about $50). It needed some repairs, which cost me another $75. But I was willing because it’s the same model, an Olympia SM-3, but a rare italics typeface model. I like it for letters and poems. It’s not my favorite typewriter (so far, that’s my Hermes 2000) for touch or for big output (either the Smith Corona Electra 120, an electric manual hybrid, that still has the carriage return lever, and still uses standard ribbon for ink, and has a very fast touch, with no pressure needed, or a full-size standard desktop manual machine. My Underwood TouchMaster 5 was awesome, but it doesn’t work so well, and the typewriter repair guy who sold it to me for $50, doesn’t think he can fix it anymore. He’s willing to buy it back, because I have some older Underwood standards, which I might be able to clean and repair, and good full-size Remington arriving today) , but I still love it for its good German build, and for the italic font/typeface. I could flip it for somewhere from about $150 - $300 on Mercala, FB Marketplace or eBay. But I won’t. It’s too sweet for the specific uses I wanted it for.

[@mcd3379]

It works for him........and that's all that counts.

[@gaganb6181]

I like this. A piece of art, makes mind peaceful in modern age of 2019, where no place of satisfaction. I request all also myself to change in human mode from auto mode, as purpose of life is happiness and peace, the only key.

[@JB-uv4hm]

Olympia SM3.

[@radicalfern9686]

You’ll see he moves the ink ribbon before typing. Without the metal cover, the exposed length dries up and won’t type, so he needs to reveal still inked parts that were just rolled up.

[@vincentaurelius2390]

Looked like he was just taking up slack in the ribbon because the left spool never moved.

[@devinreese1397]

Yeah I dont think it dries out. The typewriter is already open to air, just the bigger opening does not have a significant more drying effect, I think. I think he was deslacking it? Or im not sure why. Which should not be unecessary, in fact. the typewriter moves the ribbon tight automatically, if functionign correctly. It would perhaps only be dry if it werent used for like many years perhaps? Which is not the case for a used often machine. Might just be a meaningless habit. But typewriters move and tighten the ribbon automatically. It begs the question to me though: One for mr. Spock: Why does not, if typewriter ink is not air fast drying, smudge like crazy when on the paper, because it doesn't really need significant drying time to not smudge, usually.

[@space_1073]

That's just to remove the slack in the ribbon. Ribbons dry regardless of if there's a cover for the typewriter.

[@puzzlebox420]

powerful joe rogan

[@NajaCrudah]

I wonder if he has his last draft re-typed to perfection by a professional typist? Since he directs his own work it may not be necessary unless numbered scenes are needed for production break-downs, etc. Published screenplay books are usually transcriptions of the released version of the film.

[@m3andros]

You have two options for digitizing typed documents: First, utilize OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to scan the document and convert it into editable text. Alternatively, employ an application that captures an image of the page and transforms it into digital text. This text can then be saved as a basic text file or a Word document. This method is efficient and practical, eliminating the need for manual retyping of typewritten pages. OCR is a reliable solution for such tasks. Best part is you get to keep a hard copy of your original work. ;)

[@pheminismisshit4571]

many oldsters do typing still

[@felicity4711]

Neat! :-) What was this from?

[@thomhjanks6506]

*Dear Mia, I know it looks bad* Hmmm not quite *Dear Mia, To the untrained eye* Ive still got it

[@meedily]

Olympia is the best. Followed by Olivetti.

[@parlamedia]

Olivetti is very hit and miss in my experience. Hermes is more consistent in addition to Olympia.

[@octoman511]

what documentary is this from?

[@Schmidthorst69]

It's from "Woody Allen - A documentary" from 2012. You can get it on DVD and it's really worth its money! :)

[@kylej.whitehead9773]

Why is it that most typewriters I see are so much more quite than mine?

[@sillapooh9]

Agreed. Just got an Olympia SM3 and I feel like it's roaring.

[@theryaner]

+sillapooh9 A mat underneath the typewriter helps a lot with noise.

[@Maxi23543]

I noticed that he has a mat underneath his.

[@r.h.3084]

@tinwoods Do you know what else is important? Reading comprehension and context clues. The person that can figure out a simple typo as opposed to the person being an obnoxious prick about a comment that is four years old is much more intelligent. Fuck off.

[@gamingchinchilla7323]

I know this is seven years too late but if you're still having trouble with a loud typewriter, try using backing sheets or a rubber mat. Or you can spend a hundred dollars and have a professional rework the roller with new rubber. One reason your typewriter is so loud is because the old rubber that covers your roller has aged and has hardened. Most typists today use some backing material behind their pages like rubber sheets, plastic, construction paper, or just doubling up on pages to help stifle the loud clacking sounds and it also improves the quality of the typeface. And also yeah, use a typewriter mat :P

[@justgivemethetruth]

What happens if it breaks down? Has it ever broken down before? Does he have a spare?

[@DriveupLife22]

It's an Olympia SM3. Woody said it himself, the machine has never needed any maintainance in his 50 years of ownership. All you have to do is change the ink ribbon.

[@gamingchinchilla7323]

Believe it or not there are still businesses that specialize in typewriter repair. Albeit they are very rare and you'd most likely have to ship your unit off to the business with a fat stack of franklins for the parts and labor but such a thing does exist. Like @DriveupLife22 said usually all you mostly need to do is replace the ribbon which is really simple and you can do at home. But some people pay to get the rollers reworked with new rubber (the old rubber on these typewriter rollers have aged and have hardened, making the clackity-clack all the more loud and the type-face slightly faint) A rule of thumb for these old machines... if you take good care of your equipment, then said equipment can last you a lifetime! Something that cant be said about our technology today unfortunately since everything is made with cheaper stuff. :P

[@TheStewieOne]

What kind of paper is he using?

[@77777aol]

Legal A4 paper;as far as I can tell.

[@valerarodkin]

77777aol i believe its bigger than A4, at least seems so.

[@gmar7836]

Where is this clip from?

[@markdaniels7174]

A long documentary done about him, for PBS’s “American Masters” series. I’ve watched the whole thing at least five times.

[@Crimson28]

What kind of Olympia typewriter is that?

[@space_1073]

an sm3

[@waxworse]

His relationship with his stepdaughter was always parental

[@Prousto]

“Little stapling machines.” Just appalling.

[@Penguinplaysmc-sc1lo]

How old are you I don't need to be mean but I just want to know.

[@noirblanque5324]

Ya know Ecosia exists right? Haha, no disrespect meant at all, but simply look it up on your own.

[@elliemenzel7939]

That was cool!

[@richiekew3664]

Someone should really tell Woody about laptops.

[@littleripper312]

Yea but one will probably be less efficient on a laptop due to distractions being so accessible. Also the time you spend just to keep it working would be difficult for someone not born in the technology generations. You have to think, he probably gets more done at his desk with nothing but the typewriter, zero distractions so only focused work.

[@richiekew3664]

None! You’re absolutely right! Fuck laptops! I’m getting a typewriter!

[@markdaniels7174]

He was born in 1935. It’s a case of not being able to teach an old dog new tricks. He’ll be stubborn and impatient during the process of learning how to use it. He probably thinks “Why go through that headache? What I’ve always done has served me well; don’t fix it if it ain’t broken.”

[@andymarin6725]

How does he center-justify the characters' names?

[@PointingMonkey1]

+Andy May The clasp that holds the paper in position on the roller has a ruler on it. A characters name is indented to left: 2.0". So all he has to do is move the carriage along until it is set to 2.0". If you look at the black cylinders on the ruler, it looks as if he has them setup for the spacing of dialogue.

[@johnf4659]

Like pointingmonkey says, but you can set up a tab at 2" to make this quicker/easier

[@markdaniels7174]

These typewriters may be old, but they still have a TAB key and you can set the tabs wherever you want.

[@felicity4711]

Inconsistentyl! :-)

[@Blublod]

A very strange fellow indeed.

[@roccoz2231]

Great video with lots of great details, except his parents paid for the typewriter. $40 in 1952 is almost $450 today. It's doubtful that 16-year-old Woody had that kind of money laying around back then.

[@pzk12]

Wild horses wouldn't drag me back to a typewriter.

[@kimokeokeahi8526]

They wouldn't or couldn't?