Maaike Holvast is a documentary filmmaker from our 404 network in New York and for Out Of Office she made a documentary on ‘Collaborative Consumption.’ This is a documentary on the rise and emergence of co-ops as a result of three developments.

First, governments are loosening control over public spaces. Second, the financial crisis has dramatically reduced confidence in classicfinancing methods (such as mortgages) and pricing methods while increasing difficulty to access products, goods and services. Third, the Internet has brought new energy to collaborative efforts.

The co-op is idea is resonating with people today who have a strong anti-corporate feeling, as a result of the “Wal-Mart effect,” and the realization that something as essential as food can’t be left to big, profit-driven corporations.

credits: Maaike Holvast