Print the Legend

Print the Legend is a deeply fascinating documentary film that was released in 2014. The movie revolves around the astounding technology of 3D printing and the industry's rapidly accelerating race to mainstream popularity. It offers a captivating look into the maelstrom of entrepreneurial innovation and high-stakes competition that surrounds this game-changing technology.

The film has the distinction of featuring significant figures in the 3D printing industry, including Chris Anderson, Bruce Bradshaw, and Craig Broady amongst others. Directed by Luis Lopez and J. Clay Tweel, Print the Legend projects an intriguing light on the cutting-edge technological world while highlighting the tumultuous ups and downs of startup culture.

The story begins by introducing the audience to the mesmerizing world of 3D printing, a technology that, while not entirely new, is beginning to see substantial momentum in commercial and personal application. With the unique capability to craft complex objects out of digital blueprints, 3D printing is seen as a potentially transformative force in various industries ranging from manufacturing to medicine. It draws upon the reality that this technology is pushing us closer to a world where anything we need can be printed right in our homes.

The film focuses primarily on two American companies, MakerBot and Formlabs, each striving not only to lead an industrial revolution but also to shape a cultural shift. These companies, while united in their quest to bring 3D printing to the forefront of consumer consciousness, have very divergent approaches and ideologies. MakerBot leans more towards a consumer-oriented model, with the ambition of bringing affordable 3D printers to households worldwide. On the other hand, Formlabs aims to create high-quality, user-friendly printer models for professional consumers.

The narrative is driven by intimate interviews and unprecedented access to the key players in the 3D printing industry. The characters of Anderson, Bradshaw, and Broady, bring their unique perspectives and insights into the challenging and often tumultuous world of tech startups. They also share their personal dreams and aspirations, entwined deeply with the future of 3D printing.

Chris Anderson, the former editor of Wired magazine and the co-founder of 3D Robotics, shares his vision about the limitless potential of 3D printing technology. Bruce Bradshaw, a marketing executive at Stratasys (the company that eventually acquires MakerBot), provides an insightful view into the business aspects of this burgeoning industry. Craig Broady, an engineer at Formlabs, gives an informed perspective on the technical facets of the 3D printing technology.

While the film captures the thrill of innovation and the excitement of new possibilities, it also does not shy away from depicting the conflicts, dilemmas, and ethical questions that emerge amid rapid growth and competition. We see the legal challenges faced by companies as patent lawsuits loom and the ethical implications when Cody Wilson, a self-described crypto-anarchist, builds a gun using a 3D printer.

Print the Legend also skilfully exposes the harsh realities of the startup ecosystem, the cut-throat competition, and the human costs of running a fast-growing business. It delves into the intense pressure and moral compromises individuals and companies often have to undertake in order to survive. Startling juxtapositions are drawn between the early open-source, community-focused ethos of the companies and the closed, corporate realities that inevitably set in.

Moreover, the film carefully navigates through the heartening excitement and heartbreaking struggles that come when a revolutionary technology steps out from the confines of the lab and into the consumer market. It offers a thought-provoking look at the unforeseen consequences of technology on society, economy, and individual lives.

Print the Legend is at its core a contemporary business saga that teaches sobering lessons about ambition and growth. It’s not just about a technological revolution, but it also illuminates the human element involved in innovation and discovery. This makes the film of interest not only to technology enthusiasts but also to individuals who are intrigued by the socio-cultural dimensions of innovation.

Overall, Print the Legend is an engaging, eye-opening, and tense chronicle of the future of technology, the onset of a new industry, and the human drama encapsulated within. It offers an exciting exploration of what’s at stake when you try to ‘print the legend’.