I was trained as a Media Librarian, so I knew what was on the shelf, but I also produced a film review show, so I watched an enormous number of movies. I would love to reactivate that show and perhaps reinvigorate those feelings of the local video store.
Do you have any people you think would be interested in being reviewers or interviewers? On the other side of the coin, people who would be great to interview or films that would be great to review.
This is where our public libraries can fill the void somewhat. If yours is anything like mine, there are a lot of titles available there for rental of all kinds. But it's not the same as renting from a store where the staff know their flicks.
Indeed! My local one is not as robust as the ones in some of the other cities I’ve lived in, but I may need to volunteer to help build out their catalog!
We had a pretty good one too, but I will admit, I used to go to the Rose Video nearby for a better foreign film selection…. Especially Akira Kurosawa films 🎥
Another argument is that films aren’t “safe” if they are only available in streaming catalogs. Streamers can permanently remove a title from their platform at any time, for any reason. Having physical media collections helps ensure these little works of art don’t disappear. Just look at what’s happened to online journalism in recent years!
Amen, partner. This inspired me to have a party where me and my gang of pals ride our bikes over to Movie Madness here in Portland, peruse the shelves, decide on a movie, bike back home, and watch on a big projector, just like Martin Scorsese wants us to.
I was in prison when the streaming era bloomed. I just assumed that these services would provide EVERYTHING that company had ever made. Like, Paramount Plus would have the ENTIRETY of the history of UPN, or everything Disney would be found at Disney Plus. How much more cynical the truth has seemed.
Tangentially, I'm really happy to see a resurgence of arcades--albeit in an "arcade bar" capacity, which I frequent. In San Francisco where I live, there are at lease three. As far as video, I know of one small video rental place (built into a coffee shop). I think there's a beauty in the simplicity of a physical medium.
Yeah! It's cool to see these hybrids pop up. The video store is called Fayes coffee. There's another I just discovered called Video Wave. Maybe Gen Z nostalgia will prompt more interest in video.
💯 agree and great write up. I feel the same way when I decided to go back to physical media for music a cpl years ago. I traded convenience for a purposeful experience and human act and Ive been enjoying it way more.
Thank you! And YES! This is the way. There’s nothing like putting a CD or a record on and listening from start to finish. And it’s a better way of supporting the artists 👍
It's so true that needing to leave your house to do or see something commits you to giving it a real chance. I've always wondered whether this lack of sunk costs has been contributing to increasing societal apathy towards all of movies and music and books.
I used to have a small independent video store in my hometown and I loved that place. Surely it was horrendous compared to one with any money behind it, but that didn't matter. All we had to do was walk uptown to go and rent a movie. Streaming can't replace that. In fact it works against it by making the choice to switch up midstream so easy. I'm not sure that's been a positive change.
Can’t blame you. RIP Rose Video.
I was trained as a Media Librarian, so I knew what was on the shelf, but I also produced a film review show, so I watched an enormous number of movies. I would love to reactivate that show and perhaps reinvigorate those feelings of the local video store.
That’s a great idea!
Do you have any people you think would be interested in being reviewers or interviewers? On the other side of the coin, people who would be great to interview or films that would be great to review.
You should reach out to @dustonthevcr
Do it!
We have recorded a couple test shows. We don't yet have the magic, the electricity of the show we did in the 80's and 90's.
There's been a major void in my life without access to these stores. I built a lot of my knowledge of film through them.
I feel we’ve lost something critical to our culture!
This is where our public libraries can fill the void somewhat. If yours is anything like mine, there are a lot of titles available there for rental of all kinds. But it's not the same as renting from a store where the staff know their flicks.
Indeed! My local one is not as robust as the ones in some of the other cities I’ve lived in, but I may need to volunteer to help build out their catalog!
We know ours!
I worked a glorious 5-6 months at a Movie Gallery myself one college summer/fall! I made $5.15 an hour and life was good.
Someone should schedule a reunion for former MG employees.
And the reunion will be titled "Play On."
There are still many libraries with interesting selections to browse and staff who know movies as they do books. Most are free.
For sure. Libraries are a great alternative- especially in larger cities!
We had a pretty good one too, but I will admit, I used to go to the Rose Video nearby for a better foreign film selection…. Especially Akira Kurosawa films 🎥
I used to work at Hollywood Video to pay my college tuition. It’s incredible just how much fun I had, and how many screeners I got to keep!
We definitely need video stores more than ever!! 📼
I loved Hollywood Video! Ours had a great foreign film section.
Another argument is that films aren’t “safe” if they are only available in streaming catalogs. Streamers can permanently remove a title from their platform at any time, for any reason. Having physical media collections helps ensure these little works of art don’t disappear. Just look at what’s happened to online journalism in recent years!
Totally! As Guillermo Del Toro aptly put it: we are “custodians of those films for generations to come.”
Amen, partner. This inspired me to have a party where me and my gang of pals ride our bikes over to Movie Madness here in Portland, peruse the shelves, decide on a movie, bike back home, and watch on a big projector, just like Martin Scorsese wants us to.
That sounds like a helluva time! Marty would be proud.
I was in prison when the streaming era bloomed. I just assumed that these services would provide EVERYTHING that company had ever made. Like, Paramount Plus would have the ENTIRETY of the history of UPN, or everything Disney would be found at Disney Plus. How much more cynical the truth has seemed.
Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com
Great point! It was an illusion of abundance.
Tangentially, I'm really happy to see a resurgence of arcades--albeit in an "arcade bar" capacity, which I frequent. In San Francisco where I live, there are at lease three. As far as video, I know of one small video rental place (built into a coffee shop). I think there's a beauty in the simplicity of a physical medium.
Arcade bars are great! I think dual-purpose businesses are a solid way forward. Coffee and video rentals sounds cool!
Yeah! It's cool to see these hybrids pop up. The video store is called Fayes coffee. There's another I just discovered called Video Wave. Maybe Gen Z nostalgia will prompt more interest in video.
I’ve got a running list on one of my notes so I’ll add those. Thanks for the recs!
Awesome, thanks!
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
💯 agree and great write up. I feel the same way when I decided to go back to physical media for music a cpl years ago. I traded convenience for a purposeful experience and human act and Ive been enjoying it way more.
Thank you! And YES! This is the way. There’s nothing like putting a CD or a record on and listening from start to finish. And it’s a better way of supporting the artists 👍
Minor quibble… Vidiots is in Eagle Rock, not Burbank! Source: I go there multiple times a week 😎
And thank you for being such a loyal patron!
It’s my favorite place in LA! Very lucky to live so close to it.
🤦🏻♂️Thank you for pointing that out! Updating now 😁
It's so true that needing to leave your house to do or see something commits you to giving it a real chance. I've always wondered whether this lack of sunk costs has been contributing to increasing societal apathy towards all of movies and music and books.
I used to have a small independent video store in my hometown and I loved that place. Surely it was horrendous compared to one with any money behind it, but that didn't matter. All we had to do was walk uptown to go and rent a movie. Streaming can't replace that. In fact it works against it by making the choice to switch up midstream so easy. I'm not sure that's been a positive change.
Completely agree! When you came home with those movies, damned if you weren’t going to watch them!