POPULARITY
Categories
Writer-director Sam Hayes and actor-filmmaker Michael Vlamis break down the making and unconventional release of Pools, a coming-of-age film built around an overnight pool-hopping adventure. They discuss the logistical challenges of shooting underwater on an indie schedule, building an ensemble cast around specific actors, and why traditional distribution offers pushed the team toward a hands-on grassroots strategy. Sam explains how pool-party premieres, years of networking, and a wine-fueled cold email helped Pools find a new audience through the Letterboxd Video Store, while Michael compares the scrappy production of Pools with working on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. They also share lessons on preserving release momentum, budgeting for marketing, navigating film festivals, and finding an audience when streamers are not an option. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Sam Hayes, and Michael Vlamis discuss... How the image of a glowing pool at night became the foundation for Pools Writing characters with specific actors like Michael Vlamis, Odessa A'zion, and Tyler Alvarez in mind Building chemistry within an ensemble cast on a limited indie prep schedule The complications of filming overnight pool scenes and shooting underwater How a breath coach helped Odessa A'zion increase her underwater breath hold from roughly 15 seconds to a minute and a half Why Sam turned down disappointing traditional distribution offers and pursued a more hands-on service deal Creating pool-party premieres that made screenings feel like events rather than another movie release How Sam became a top 0.01% Partiful user while organizing approximately 25 promotional events Why filmmakers need to actively build relationships with festival programmers, distributors, critics, and other members of the indie film community The mistake of delaying Pools' TVOD release in hopes of benefiting from the attention around Odessa A'zion's other projects Why maintaining momentum and giving audiences an immediate way to watch a film matters after theatrical release How the crowded TVOD marketplace makes discoverability especially difficult for independent movies The wine-fueled cold email Sam wrote to Letterboxd after feeling like the film was running out of distribution options Why Letterboxd's curated Video Store offered Pools a way to stand apart from algorithm-driven platforms How the film's Letterboxd rating improved as more viewers discovered it Michael's experience moving between Pools, his indie feature Crossword, and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Why a giant production can still feel surprisingly scrappy and responsive on set The difference between a film's production budget and the marketing budget needed to actually break through Why indie filmmakers cannot build their entire distribution strategy around getting acquired by a major streamer How real-world relationships can turn previous distribution passes into new opportunities Why Sam recommends budgeting for marketing before production begins The danger of submitting a rough cut to major film festivals before the movie is truly ready Michael's approach to finding grounded comedy without forcing jokes or overthinking a performance Memorable Quotes: “You need something fun, especially for an indie movie, to, like, build community around the film and with each other and make it about more than just the movie itself.” “As soon as the people start watching the movie, you want people to be able to see the movie.” “You can't rely on it. You have to find ways to, like, find your own audience with an indie film.” “Build in a marketing budget before you shoot. Like, have that be a part of the money that you raise.” Guests: Sam Hayes Michael Vlamis Resources: Pools on Letterboxd Rent Pools on the Letterboxd Video Store Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram
Find Heather: https://mondoheather.substack.com Find Stephen: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenscarlata.bsky.social https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-movies-never-made/id1450737048 Find Dirk: patreon.com/vhus vh-us.com
Jim finishes up in Wales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sorg and Dave Podnar are back for another AwesomeCast packed with Pittsburgh tech, gaming, streaming, photography, AI, retro media, and a surprisingly practical app for finding a bathroom when you really need one. The episode starts locally with Dave highlighting Stormfreak, a Pittsburgh-area weather enthusiast who has built a following on Reddit by offering practical, level-headed forecasts without the sensationalism that often accompanies severe weather coverage. That leads into a bigger conversation about how Reddit, YouTube, and independent creators increasingly fill information gaps once occupied by traditional specialty television. Sorg then takes a trip back to the video-store era with Binge Buster, a web experience that lets users browse movies available on their existing streaming subscriptions in an interface inspired by wandering through the shelves of a physical rental store. Gaming takes over a large part of the conversation, including EA going private in a massive Saudi-backed deal, Netflix getting an extended GTA 6 preview, Atari showing signs of financial improvement, the possibility of accessing Xbox and PC Game Pass titles on Linux and Mac through the XODUS project, new content for the original Quake, and Sorg's experience comparing Xbox cloud gaming with NVIDIA GeForce NOW. Then things get weird in the best possible way: Diablo is heading to amusement-park Halloween events, while a permanent Freddy Fazbear's Pizza experience complete with animatronics is planned for American Dream. Dave also shares his latest experience with Adobe Project Indigo, including computational photography, AI photo critiques, and the increasingly blurry line between traditional editing and generative AI. The episode wraps with two ideas that bring physical experiences back into a digital world: Pittsburgh's Lost Lizard renting VHS, DVD, and even Betamax tapes, and Nature Calls Run, an upcoming crowdsourced app designed to help runners, cyclists, travelers, and people with medical needs locate bathrooms, water, and other resources. Stories, Gadgets & Topics Discussed 300–600mm iPhone zoom lens — Dave points listeners toward iPhonography Podcast co-host Greg McMillan's detailed look at an enormous telephoto solution for iPhone photography. Stormfreak and Pittsburgh weather on Reddit — Dave highlights the local forecaster's calm, practical approach to Pittsburgh weather and the community that has formed around his posts. They discuss how independent online weather coverage can sometimes be more useful than national television coverage when people need highly local information. The changing role of specialty media — Sorg and Dave compare today's creator-driven information sources with the original promise of channels like The Weather Channel, Discovery, TLC, and Food Network. Binge Buster — Sorg tries a streaming discovery site that recreates some of the experience of browsing a video store. Users select the streaming services they already subscribe to and browse movies through virtual box art, descriptions, genres, trailers, staff picks, and more. https://bingebuster.net/ Awesome Person of the Week: Lewis Latimer — Dave profiles the inventor, draftsman, engineer, and patent expert whose work intersected with both Alexander Graham Bell's telephone patent and the development of more durable electric-light filaments. Slice on Broadway pizza sauce — Dave discovers jars of Slice on Broadway's original pizza sauce while shopping at Labriola's Italian Market. EA goes private — Chachi's Video Game Minute covers EA completing its reported $55 billion sale to a Saudi-backed buyer and what private ownership might mean for the future of EA's games and monetization. Netflix and GTA 6 — Netflix is set to feature an extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI on August 27, prompting discussion about whether GTA really needs any additional publicity. Atari's financial comeback — Atari reports its strongest annual revenue in roughly a decade, giving Sorg and Dave an opportunity to talk about the strange history of the Atari name, its changing ownership, and the collection of gaming properties associated with it over the years. Xbox games potentially coming to Linux and Mac through XODUS — Sorg discusses an open-source reverse-engineering project designed to make compatible Xbox and PC titles accessible beyond Windows, including the possibility of accessing portions of a user's existing Microsoft gaming library. Xbox backward compatibility — The conversation touches on original Xbox and Xbox 360 games potentially becoming increasingly accessible through Microsoft's PC ecosystem. New Quake content decades later — Quake continues receiving new content around its 30th anniversary, giving players another reason to revisit the classic first-person shooter. NVIDIA GeForce NOW vs. Xbox cloud gaming — Sorg compares his experience streaming games like Doom: The Dark Ages and Forza Horizon, finding GeForce NOW's higher-end hardware particularly impressive for demanding, fast-moving games. Do you still need a gaming PC? — Cloud gaming raises a bigger question: if a service already supports hundreds of games in your library and provides continuously upgraded hardware, does spending thousands on a dedicated gaming PC still make sense? Diablo invades Cedar Point and Six Flags — Blizzard's Diablo becomes part of the Halloween amusement-park experience, leading to a conversation about licensed haunted attractions and the changing amusement-park industry. Cedar Fair/Six Flags consolidation and disappearing amusement parks — Dave looks back at the history of older amusement parks, including Pittsburgh-area memories of White Swan Park and the larger trend of parks disappearing as land was redeveloped. Freddy Fazbear's Pizza becomes real — A permanent Freddy Fazbear's Pizza experience featuring animatronic stage shows is planned for American Dream in 2027. Naturally, Sorg and Dave wonder whether anybody involved has actually learned the lesson of Five Nights at Freddy's. American Dream as the modern destination mall — The conversation expands into how malls are evolving from shopping centers into entertainment destinations with theme parks, water parks, skiing, restaurants, attractions, wrestling events, and other experiences. Adobe Project Indigo — Dave continues experimenting with Adobe's computational photography app, particularly challenging lighting situations and shooting directly toward a sunset. AI-powered photography reviews — Project Indigo can analyze a photo and provide feedback, giving photographers another way to evaluate composition and possible improvements. When an AI edit becomes a different photograph — Dave demonstrates an AI edit that substantially changes clouds and the sky, prompting an important conversation about the difference between enhancing a photograph and generating new visual information. AI quietly becoming another editing tool — Sorg shares his experience using AI to quickly create client graphics and discusses how generative tools increasingly feel less like a separate novelty and more like another part of a production workflow. Lost Lizard brings video rentals back to Pittsburgh — A Lawrenceville business is renting VHS tapes, DVDs, Betamax tapes, and even retro video games. The concept triggers plenty of nostalgia for independent video stores and their wonderfully strange horror collections. Physical media versus digital ownership — Reports of purchased digital movies disappearing from user libraries lead to a larger discussion about what consumers actually own when they "buy" a digital movie. Movies Anywhere and fragmented digital libraries — Sorg discusses the usefulness of synchronizing eligible purchases across services while acknowledging that licensing can still make digital ownership complicated. Maybe it's time to buy DVDs again — The uncertainty of digital licenses gives physical media another unexpected advantage: nobody can remotely remove a disc from your shelf. Nature Calls Run — An upcoming Pittsburgh-created app will crowdsource public restrooms, water sources, and other useful resources for runners, cyclists, travelers, parents, and anyone suddenly asking the most important question of the day: "Where can I go?" https://naturecallsapp.com/ Restroom access as an accessibility and medical issue — The app also plans to educate users about restroom-access laws affecting people with conditions including Crohn's disease and IBS. GCXC running events — Dave also discusses upcoming Pittsburgh-area races and the community surrounding GCXC events. https://gcxc.com/events-pa Support AwesomeCast: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast
Sorg and Dave Podnar are back for another AwesomeCast packed with Pittsburgh tech, gaming, streaming, photography, AI, retro media, and a surprisingly practical app for finding a bathroom when you really need one. The episode starts locally with Dave highlighting Stormfreak, a Pittsburgh-area weather enthusiast who has built a following on Reddit by offering practical, level-headed forecasts without the sensationalism that often accompanies severe weather coverage. That leads into a bigger conversation about how Reddit, YouTube, and independent creators increasingly fill information gaps once occupied by traditional specialty television. Sorg then takes a trip back to the video-store era with Binge Buster, a web experience that lets users browse movies available on their existing streaming subscriptions in an interface inspired by wandering through the shelves of a physical rental store. Gaming takes over a large part of the conversation, including EA going private in a massive Saudi-backed deal, Netflix getting an extended GTA 6 preview, Atari showing signs of financial improvement, the possibility of accessing Xbox and PC Game Pass titles on Linux and Mac through the XODUS project, new content for the original Quake, and Sorg's experience comparing Xbox cloud gaming with NVIDIA GeForce NOW. Then things get weird in the best possible way: Diablo is heading to amusement-park Halloween events, while a permanent Freddy Fazbear's Pizza experience complete with animatronics is planned for American Dream. Dave also shares his latest experience with Adobe Project Indigo, including computational photography, AI photo critiques, and the increasingly blurry line between traditional editing and generative AI. The episode wraps with two ideas that bring physical experiences back into a digital world: Pittsburgh's Lost Lizard renting VHS, DVD, and even Betamax tapes, and Nature Calls Run, an upcoming crowdsourced app designed to help runners, cyclists, travelers, and people with medical needs locate bathrooms, water, and other resources. Stories, Gadgets & Topics Discussed 300–600mm iPhone zoom lens — Dave points listeners toward iPhonography Podcast co-host Greg McMillan's detailed look at an enormous telephoto solution for iPhone photography. Stormfreak and Pittsburgh weather on Reddit — Dave highlights the local forecaster's calm, practical approach to Pittsburgh weather and the community that has formed around his posts. They discuss how independent online weather coverage can sometimes be more useful than national television coverage when people need highly local information. The changing role of specialty media — Sorg and Dave compare today's creator-driven information sources with the original promise of channels like The Weather Channel, Discovery, TLC, and Food Network. Binge Buster — Sorg tries a streaming discovery site that recreates some of the experience of browsing a video store. Users select the streaming services they already subscribe to and browse movies through virtual box art, descriptions, genres, trailers, staff picks, and more. https://bingebuster.net/ Awesome Person of the Week: Lewis Latimer — Dave profiles the inventor, draftsman, engineer, and patent expert whose work intersected with both Alexander Graham Bell's telephone patent and the development of more durable electric-light filaments. Slice on Broadway pizza sauce — Dave discovers jars of Slice on Broadway's original pizza sauce while shopping at Labriola's Italian Market. EA goes private — Chachi's Video Game Minute covers EA completing its reported $55 billion sale to a Saudi-backed buyer and what private ownership might mean for the future of EA's games and monetization. Netflix and GTA 6 — Netflix is set to feature an extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI on August 27, prompting discussion about whether GTA really needs any additional publicity. Atari's financial comeback — Atari reports its strongest annual revenue in roughly a decade, giving Sorg and Dave an opportunity to talk about the strange history of the Atari name, its changing ownership, and the collection of gaming properties associated with it over the years. Xbox games potentially coming to Linux and Mac through XODUS — Sorg discusses an open-source reverse-engineering project designed to make compatible Xbox and PC titles accessible beyond Windows, including the possibility of accessing portions of a user's existing Microsoft gaming library. Xbox backward compatibility — The conversation touches on original Xbox and Xbox 360 games potentially becoming increasingly accessible through Microsoft's PC ecosystem. New Quake content decades later — Quake continues receiving new content around its 30th anniversary, giving players another reason to revisit the classic first-person shooter. NVIDIA GeForce NOW vs. Xbox cloud gaming — Sorg compares his experience streaming games like Doom: The Dark Ages and Forza Horizon, finding GeForce NOW's higher-end hardware particularly impressive for demanding, fast-moving games. Do you still need a gaming PC? — Cloud gaming raises a bigger question: if a service already supports hundreds of games in your library and provides continuously upgraded hardware, does spending thousands on a dedicated gaming PC still make sense? Diablo invades Cedar Point and Six Flags — Blizzard's Diablo becomes part of the Halloween amusement-park experience, leading to a conversation about licensed haunted attractions and the changing amusement-park industry. Cedar Fair/Six Flags consolidation and disappearing amusement parks — Dave looks back at the history of older amusement parks, including Pittsburgh-area memories of White Swan Park and the larger trend of parks disappearing as land was redeveloped. Freddy Fazbear's Pizza becomes real — A permanent Freddy Fazbear's Pizza experience featuring animatronic stage shows is planned for American Dream in 2027. Naturally, Sorg and Dave wonder whether anybody involved has actually learned the lesson of Five Nights at Freddy's. American Dream as the modern destination mall — The conversation expands into how malls are evolving from shopping centers into entertainment destinations with theme parks, water parks, skiing, restaurants, attractions, wrestling events, and other experiences. Adobe Project Indigo — Dave continues experimenting with Adobe's computational photography app, particularly challenging lighting situations and shooting directly toward a sunset. AI-powered photography reviews — Project Indigo can analyze a photo and provide feedback, giving photographers another way to evaluate composition and possible improvements. When an AI edit becomes a different photograph — Dave demonstrates an AI edit that substantially changes clouds and the sky, prompting an important conversation about the difference between enhancing a photograph and generating new visual information. AI quietly becoming another editing tool — Sorg shares his experience using AI to quickly create client graphics and discusses how generative tools increasingly feel less like a separate novelty and more like another part of a production workflow. Lost Lizard brings video rentals back to Pittsburgh — A Lawrenceville business is renting VHS tapes, DVDs, Betamax tapes, and even retro video games. The concept triggers plenty of nostalgia for independent video stores and their wonderfully strange horror collections. Physical media versus digital ownership — Reports of purchased digital movies disappearing from user libraries lead to a larger discussion about what consumers actually own when they "buy" a digital movie. Movies Anywhere and fragmented digital libraries — Sorg discusses the usefulness of synchronizing eligible purchases across services while acknowledging that licensing can still make digital ownership complicated. Maybe it's time to buy DVDs again — The uncertainty of digital licenses gives physical media another unexpected advantage: nobody can remotely remove a disc from your shelf. Nature Calls Run — An upcoming Pittsburgh-created app will crowdsource public restrooms, water sources, and other useful resources for runners, cyclists, travelers, parents, and anyone suddenly asking the most important question of the day: "Where can I go?" https://naturecallsapp.com/ Restroom access as an accessibility and medical issue — The app also plans to educate users about restroom-access laws affecting people with conditions including Crohn's disease and IBS. GCXC running events — Dave also discusses upcoming Pittsburgh-area races and the community surrounding GCXC events. https://gcxc.com/events-pa Support AwesomeCast: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast
Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: holmbergpodcast.com, 98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: holmbergpodcast.com, 98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Weather, Kingston event, smoke damage, old video stores, magazines and upcoming eventsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hey gang, We're hiring here at the Video Store! If you've got a passion for film, some podcasting experience, and a good quality microphone, the Video Store might just be the place for you. If you're interested, please drop us a line in our direct chat box. We're looking forward to hearing from you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com
What better way to celebrate America's birthday than by taking the week off? But fear not, we've recorded a Video Store of us watching an episode of “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura” where they discuss the Kennedy assassination. Eventually we lose patience with this low IQ dummy and tap out, but before then, we're having a great time. Have a listen. (Recorded June 4 for broadcast July 3.)
Welcome to the Video Store Podcast.Celebrating America's 250th Birthday at the Video StoreThe red, white, and blue decorations are up at the Video Store as America celebrates its 250th birthday. Across the country, families are gathering for fireworks, cookouts, and long holiday weekends, and there's no better way to mark the occasion than with a great movie.For this special Fourth of July episode, I pulled four movies from the shelves that capture different chapters in American history. From the battlefields of the Revolution to the launch pads of the Space Race, from the cockpits of Navy fighter pilots to the occupied Rocky Mountains, these movies explore the values that have long defined the America: freedom, courage, sacrifice, and resilience.The Patriot (2000)To celebrate America's birthday we should start at the beginning. Roland Emmerich's The Patriot tells the story of Benjamin Martin, a widowed veteran of the French and Indian War who reluctantly joins the American Revolution after British forces bring the war to his home. Starring Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, and Jason Isaacs, the film transforms the struggle for independence from a distant historical event into a deeply personal story of sacrifice and revenge.The Patriot released on VHS and DVD in October 2000 and is one of the final blockbuster releases of the VHS era.The Right Stuff (1983)Before America reached the Moon, there were the test pilots and astronauts who risked everything to get us there. The Right Stuff chronicles the early days of the Space Race, beginning with legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager and continuing through the Mercury Seven astronauts as America races to catch up with the Soviet Union.Featuring an outstanding cast the film is about much more than rockets and space capsules. It's about ambition, competition, courage, and the uniquely American belief that impossible challenges can be overcome through determination and ingenuity. Top Gun (1986)Few films capture American confidence and optimism quite like Top Gun. Tony Scott's blockbuster follows hotshot Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, as he attends the elite Naval Fighter Weapons School and learns that true greatness requires more than talent, it requires sacrifice, teamwork, and humility.Top Gun also changed the home video industry forever. When Paramount released the film on VHS in 1987 at the low price of $26.95, it sold nearly three million copies and helped establish the modern home video market.Red Dawn (1984)If the previous films celebrate America's founding, ambition, and confidence, Red Dawn asks what Americans are willing to sacrifice to defend them. John Milius's Cold War classic follows a group of Colorado teenagers who flee to the mountains after a Soviet and Cuban invasion and gradually transform themselves into resistance fighters.Like the citizen-soldiers of the American Revolution, the teenagers didn't fight for glory, but because they believe some things are worth defending. Red Dawn also made history as the first film released with the new PG-13 rating.Wolverines!
This week's short horror story, The Uses of Analog, inspired by the prompt "Video Store", is written by Aaron Swartz and read by Ryan Hopevere-Anderson.Content Notes:memory lossmanipulationDirected and Produced by April SumnerWritten by Aaron SwartzExecutive Producers Alexander J Newall & April SumnerFeaturingRyan Hopevere-Anderson as NarratorEdited by Nico VetteseMusic by Nico Vettese and Sam JonesMastering by Catherine RinellaArt by April SumnerSupport Rusty Quill directly by joining our new membership platform at members.rustyquill.com or on Patreon at patreon.com/rustyquillCheck out our merchandise available at https://www.redbubble.com/people/RustyQuill/shop and https://www.teepublic.com/stores/rusty-quillPre-order links for From the Library of Jurgen Leitner: https://rustyquill.com/novelSupport Rusty Quill by purchasing from our Affiliates; DriveThruRPG – DriveThruRPG.comJoin our community:WEBSITE: rustyquill.comFACEBOOK: facebook.com/therustyquillX: @therustyquillEMAIL: mail@rustyquill.comThe Magnus Protocol is a derivative product of the Magnus Archives, created by Rusty Quill Ltd. and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share alike 4.0 International Licence. For ad-free episodes, bonus content and more, join members.rustyquill.com or our Patreon.Pre-order FROM THE LIBRARY OF JURGEN LEITNER, a Magnus novel releasing October 27th: rustyquill.com/novelBuy tickets to a Magnus Archives Live Show in Sheffield in July: crossedwires.live Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wazzup, everyone and their olds. This week, everything's razor as we talk about made-up slang, bad evil plans, and studio interference while we review Disturbing Behavior from 1998.
In this episode of JJ Meets World, JJ and Tucker dive into underrated movies, cult classics, video store nostalgia, Fargo pop culture, local mascots, and the strange ways entertainment has changed in the streaming era. JJ kicks things off with a passionate defense of Clifford, the 1994 Martin Short and Charles Grodin comedy that deserves far more love than it gets. From there, the conversation turns into a celebration of underappreciated movies, including The Hand That Rocks the Cradle with Rebecca De Mornay and Ernie Hudson, and Mouse Hunt, the Nathan Lane and Lee Evans comedy directed by Gore Verbinski. The conversation also explores why old video rental stores made it easier to discover strange, wonderful movies, how streaming algorithms shape what people watch now, and why DVD collections, Blu-ray releases, and physical media still matter. JJ shares memories of Stephen Tobolowsky, signed memorabilia, celebrity photos, and the documentary Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party. Later, JJ and Tucker talk about Fargo nostalgia and local change, including the bankruptcy of Jade Presents, memories of Steve Hanson, the demolition of familiar places, downtown Fargo's raccoon mascot, and Country Hearth's bread mascot Loafy. The episode wraps with video rental store simulator games, job-based cozy games, Valheim, a one-to-one Titanic build, and Tucker's imaginary documentary about JJ chopping down a tree. It's a wide-ranging JJ Meets World conversation about movies, nostalgia, Fargo, mascots, physical media, gaming, and the little pop culture discoveries that stick with you forever. Chapters 00:00 - Intro: Movies, Mascots, and Episode 501 01:07 - Mic Checks and Verbal Warmups 01:43 - Welcome to Episode 501 02:43 - Movies That Deserve More Attention 03:02 - JJ Defends Clifford 04:37 - Martin Short as a Ten-Year-Old Boy 05:38 - Why Clifford Became a Cult Favorite 06:16 - Video Stores, Streaming Algorithms, and Discovery 07:32 - Physical Media and Cheap Blu-ray Releases 08:35 - Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party 09:34 - DVDs, Blu-rays, and a Changing Media World 10:13 - JJ's Celebrity Photo Collection 11:22 - The Hand That Rocks the Cradle 12:57 - Ernie Hudson and Fargo Theater Memories 14:19 - Mouse Hunt Deserves More Adult Attention 15:29 - Christopher Walken and Mouse Hunt's Weird Brilliance 16:39 - Missing Video Rental Stores 17:16 - Jade Presents, Steve Hanson, and Local Music Memories 18:52 - Video Land, Bootlegs, and Pre-YouTube Discovery 19:32 - Fargo Fixtures Are Disappearing 20:15 - Downtown Fargo's Raccoon Mascot 21:36 - What Should Downtown Fargo's Mascot Be? 23:04 - Country Hearth Bread and Loafy 24:48 - Naming the Downtown Fargo Mascot 25:37 - Video Rental Store Simulator Games 26:18 - Job Simulator Games and Crime Scene Cleanup 26:33 - Valheim, Sandbox Games, and the Titanic 27:49 - Farming, Building, and Not Thinking for a While 28:23 - Tucker's Tree-Chopping Documentary Idea 28:43 - Outro 29:21 - Final Tag
In this episode, Elric and Brian return to the hallowed aisles of the Pure Cinema virtual video store and each grab five movies from different sections off the shelves to recommend to you! Listen to the previous Video Store Sampler episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/video-store-sampler-the-return/id1204885502?i=1000721008792 Consider supporting Pure Cinema (and getting monthly bonus content) via our Patreon (5$/ month gets you everything): https://www.patreon.com/purecinemapod This month's episode of Pure Cinema is brought to you by - DIABOLIKDVD: https://diabolikdvd.com/ This episode is sponsored by MUBI! Get 30 days of great cinema free at https://mubi.com/purecinema (and we'd love it if you would give them a try!) Brian's Directed By shirts can be found here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/filmmakershirts The show is now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/purecinemapod.bsky.social As are Brian: https://bsky.app/profile/bobfreelander.bsky.social Elric: https://bsky.app/profile/elrickane.bsky.social and the New Beverly: https://bsky.app/profile/newbeverly.bsky.social
Tales From The Video Store pays tribute to one of the greats, Chuck Norris! That 80s Dude (John Toma) joins Zak to celebrate the life and career of Chuck Norris! Was Invasion USA Chuck's greatest movie? Does Zak still own the complete collection of Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos action figures? Will John or Zak drop a “Chuck Norris” fact in this episode? All these questions and more will be answered in this (typically) Patreon exclusive show! Enjoy! And consider joining $2 Late Fee's Patreon today! (Links are below) You can order “That 80s Dude” John Toma's book Nostalgia Nation: The Definitive Chronicle of Growing Up Gen X here! Check out That 80s Dude's website here! Dig the show? Please consider supporting $2 Late Fee on Patreon for tons of bonus content (like Tales From The Video Store)! Links are below: Two Dollar Late Fee: www.patreon.com/twodollarlatefee Please follow/subscribe and rate us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-dollar-late-fee Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/ Instagram: @twodollarlatefee Subscribe to our YouTube Check out Jim Walker's intro/outro music on Bandcamp: jvamusic1.bandcamp.com Facebook: facebook.com/Two-Dollar-Late-Fee-Podcast Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/two-dollar-late-fee IMDB: https://www.imdb.com Two Dollar Late Fee is a part of the nutritious Geekscape Network Every episode is produced, edited, and coddled by Zak Shaffer (@zakshaffer) & Dustin Rubin (@dustinrubinvo) You can watch the entire interview on our YouTube channel here. Don't forget to like & subscribe!You can listen & NOW watch on Spotify here. Don't forget to like & subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What's better than reviewing one movie? REVIEWING THREE MOVIES.The Last Video Store (2023) (Not to be confused with The Last Picture Show)Bodycam (2025)Hokum (2026)Let no one say that we aren't reviewing three movies this week.
Planet Terror (2007) Directed by Robert Rodriguez Starring: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Jeff FaheyIf you haven't seen Planet Terror yet, Sean has a message for you: turn this podcast off right now and go watch it. We'll wait.This week on Dewey Pod Monster, we're diving deep into Robert Rodriguez's gloriously unhinged 2007 grindhouse masterpiece — a movie about zombie mutants, a go-go dancer with a machine gun for a leg, and somehow the best barbecue scene ever committed to film. John has seen this thing approximately 15 times in a theater (yes, really), and Sean just watched it for the first time and immediately felt like an idiot for waiting this long. The result is one of the most enthusiastic, borderline unhinged episode we've recorded.In this episode, we discuss:Go-Go, Not Stripper — The level of detail Rodriguez packed into this movie is insane, and John will correct you on the terminology. We break down why Planet Terror works as both a loving grindhouse homage AND as a legitimately great horror-comedy, and why so many modern movies fail to pull off what this one does effortlessly.Jeff Fahey Tastes His Own Blood and Gives Zero F*s — We make the case that Jeff Fahey is the unsung MVP of this film and the entire Rodriguez universe. The man is covered in wounds, tasting his own blood dripping into his barbecue sauce, and somehow STILL delivering the performance of a lifetime. He deserved an award. He got nothing. We're still mad.The Kid Shoots Himself and We Laughed. Sorry. — Rodriguez had the absolute audacity to telegraph exactly what was going to happen and then do it anyway, and somehow it's one of the funniest moments in the movie. We discuss why it works, why we're both going to hell, and why the movie is smart enough not to dwell on it.The Missing Reel is Cinema — The sex scene that cuts to everything being on fire is a stroke of genius, and we get into why Rodriguez's use of fake film damage and missing reels is more than just a gimmick — it's the best scene transition in the whole damn movie.We Also Talked About:At the Video Store (2019) (Amazon) — A nostalgic documentary about the death of video store culture featuring John Waters, Bill Hader, Gus Van Sant, and Todd Haynes. Sean's watched a suspicious number of these.The Last Ride (1991) (Tubi) — An AIP gem where a crazed truck driver terrorizes a recently released ex-con. Everyone is dubbed. The best line involves a shit pot. It's incredible.Massacre in Dinosaur Valley (1985) (Tubi) — An Italian jungle adventure featuring an alligator that genuinely does not want to be in this movie. The quicksand looks like oatmeal. John watched it before a Tigers game.Against the Dark (2009) (Tubi) — Steven Seagal in a trench coat "fighting" vampire zombies. Keith David shows up to collect a check. John stayed awake for all 90 minutes and regrets nothing and everything.Untold: The Jail Blazers (Netflix) — The chaotic story of the early 2000s Portland Trail Blazers. John doesn't really follow basketball but watched the whole thing. It's an easy hour.Some of the above links are affiliate links — if you purchase through them we get a small kickback, and it's the best way to support the show.New episodes of the Dewey Pod Monster podcast drop every week. We're proud members of the YouRun Podcast Network at https://yourunpodcast.com.
Your video rental store is in dire help and the only people that can help are the cast and crew of the Half Baked film from 1998! Your free popcorn isn’t bringing in the peeps anymore! Hollywood Blockbusters are bustin’ out big time! Only the smooth talk of a screener tape promising you a good… Read more S10X:E10 – Half Baked Video Store Screener
We're popping into your feed with a special episode this week; if you haven't heard horror movie podcast Spooko you're in for a treat. Each week Peach and Shag discuss a new horror film, and we're bringing you the episode that Alexei and Emmeline guested on to discuss the bonkers 1995 Tobe Hooper film The Mangler. Check out Spooko here: https://www.instagram.com/_spooko_/ Pick up tickets to Alexei's comedy festival tour of his new show VHS in 2026 (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alexei-toliopoulos/) Join Alexei & Cameron James presenting David Byrne's TRUE STORIES at the Sydney Opera House Saturday Film Club (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/saturday-film-club-true-stories) Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/thisisalexei/) for all the rental combo lists. Hit up the Last Video Store on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lastvideostorebetoota/) for all of our guests picks
90s anthems playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jXDZ7xpjISR2v97BRr43I?si=dYb8WxUsRCSTdyUDW8Y3bA
In this episode, Dave discusses The Last Video Store, Bone Tomahawk, Videodrome, Men, and Sick.
Welcome back to the Video Store Podcast. It is a complete coincidence that today, on 4/20, I am taking a look at some of the best “stoner comedies” of all time. While I personally “just say no,” I like celebrating 4/20 my own way — by revisiting films that are “high”ly recommended. In Up in Smoke (1978), Cheech and Chong's first film, Pedro (Cheech Marin) picks up a hitchhiking “Man” (Tommy Chong) and the two of them spend the next 90 minutes criss-crossing both southern California and Mexico searching for increasingly strong strains of dope. Pulling material from their multiple gold and platinum comedy albums, Up in Smoke is considered to be the godfather of all stoner comedies. Half Baked (1998), co-written by and starring Dave Chappelle, is considered to be the hand-off between two generations of stoners. In the film, lifelong stoners and best friends Thurgood Jenkins (Chappelle), Scarface, and Brian devise a plan to bail their bestie Kenny out of jail after he is arrested for accidentally murdering a police officer's horse. Despite being considered a classic of the genre, Chappelle promptly and publicly disowned the film after its release due to changes Universal forcded him to make to the script. Featuring over a dozen comedians and musicians from Steven Wright and Jim Breuer to Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson, Half Baked remains a full classic. Dazed and Confused (1993) takes place in 1976 on the last day of school in a small Texas town. This Richard Linkletter film follows dozens of students as they prepare to escape the confines of high school and enter adulthood, whether they have a plan in place or not. Similar to movies like American Graffiti and The Breakfast Club, Dazed and Confused is a coming of age story that reminds us regardless of a story's setting, some high school experiences remain timeless. Dazed and Confused is better than okay; it's “All right, all right, all right.” In The Big Lebowski (1998) we learn what happens when thugs break into a man's apartment, dunk his head into the toilet, demand money for unknown reasons, and relieve themselves on his rug — not just any run, but one that “really tied the room together, man.” The recipient of this injustice is “The Dude,” a laid-bac stoner who, with help from his bowling partners and friends Walter and Donny, discover the he — Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski — share a name with another, much richer business man. Convinced the “Big” Lebowski was the intended target of this break-in, the Dude is coaxed into confronting the Big Lebowski and demanding compensation for his damaged rug. Written and directed by the Coen Brothers (Raising Arizona, Fargo), before long The Dude (Jeff Bridges), Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi) have stumbled into a kidnapping for ransom plot that will leave one person missing a toe, one person dead, and a lot of people confused. A cult-classic where every scene is memorable and every line is quotable. Best watched with a White Russian in hand.The Video Store would like to apologize for the snack bar being completely depleted this week. Someone must have had the munchies. If you're like me and don't, uh, “partake,” feel free to celebrate 4/20 with me by revisiting some of the best stoner movies of all time.Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com
My first job was at Blockbuster Video, so I had to try Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator. The Metaverse is no longer in VR - according to Meta - they are moving Horizon Worlds off of VR and onto mobile. Nvidia announced DLSS 5 and a vocal part of the internet rallied against it...but what about the majority that aren't terminally online? Bethesda reacted to the reactions and said they would be looking at the tech more before implementing it. Then we talk to DarkSakura about generative AI and where it might be able to be used ethically.
Stuart's Burning Down the House on this episode... What did we lose when video stores disappeared, and can streaming ever replace it? Arnie, Stuart, and Justin dive into that, along with immersive theater, playoff hockey, and a round of listener trivia that puts their movie knowledge to the test. And this is still a new podcast format for us, so let us know if you enjoy the show. We welcome your feedback to help shape this new type of Now Playing Podcast! If you like this looser vibe, let us know. We'll be back next month!
Find Heather: https://www.mondoheather.com Find Rodney: https://rodneyanonymous.com Find John: https://www.instagram.com/quasarsniffer/ : https://letterboxd.com/quasarsniffer/ Find Dirk: https://www.patreon.com/vhus
Christian reminisces about the old days of video stores and announces the launch of the "Last Video Store on Earth". Listeners can browse a collection of donated DVDs and choose a movie to receive in the mail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joe Begos, director of Bliss, Christmas Bloody Christmas, Jimmy and Stiggs, and more, joins us in the Crypt for a conversation about independent filmmaking, shooting on film, and carving your own path without the system behind you.Joe discusses his films, the chaos that inspires his work, his polarizing writing and visual style, and maintaining full control over his films. We get into moving to Los Angeles with nothing, skipping film school, self-funding projects, and the reality of surviving as an independent horror filmmaker.We also talk film vs digital, world-building and taking wild ideas seriously, practical effects, working with Eli Roth, and the current state of the industry. We give our thoughts on Scream 7, remakes, horror conventions, and the mindset it takes to keep making movies your way no matter what it costs.—Subscribe: youtube.com/@TalksFromTheCryptFollow On Social Media –Talks From The Crypt: https://instagram.com/talksfromthecrypthttps://talksfromthecrypt.com Joe Begos:https://instagram.com/joebegos—00:00:00 - Intro00:00:48 - Moving to LA, Starting Out In Filmmaking, Writing Out of Necessity00:07:35 - Joe's Polarizing Writing and Visual Style, Maintaining Control of His Films00:19:53 - Starting Out In Short Films and Getting Into Film Festivals, School of Begos00:28:29 - Joe's World Building, Christmas Bloody Christmas, Taking Crazy Plots Seriously00:35:54 - Jimmy and Stiggs Sequel Idea, The Film Performing Under Expectations, Making Small Budgets Work00:43:43 - Film vs. Digital, Not Making The Vampire Element of Bliss Too Obvious00:57:30 - Joe Brings Gifts, Abel Ferrara Inspiration, Easter Eggs01:08:48 - Arthouse Theaters and Video Stores, AI in the Film Industry, The Industry Is Moving Backwards01:26:08 - Working with Eli Roth on Jimmy and Stiggs, Getting No Noise Complaints While Making the Film, Connection to Infamous Murderers01:36:56 - Ryan Murphy's Monster Series, Joe's Next Projects, Shooting in LA 01:44:06 - People Take LA for Granted, Theme Parks, Conventions, and Haunted Attractions01:54:27 - Haunted Attractions, Horror In the Mainstream, How Horror Conventions Changed02:09:26 - Scream 7 Review (Spoilers)02:17:31 - Joe's Texas Chainsaw Massacre Idea, Problems With Remaking Classics, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer02:26:58 - Joe's Socials and Outro—Copyright Disclaimer (Fair Use Notice):Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright law that might otherwise be infringing. All media used in this video are for the purpose of commentary, analysis, and education under fair use.
In March, the Criterion Channel is featuring the film series "VHS Forever," a collection of films that involve VHS tapes or video stores, from "Videodrome" to "The Ring." It was curated by Clyde Folley, who discusses the series. Plus, listeners share their favorite experiences with video stores. Image by José Araújo via Getty Creative
This holiday were goin for gold and lucky charms. We talk bad paint jobs, killer pogo sticks and Jennifer Aniston's old nose when we review Leprachaun from 1993
It's an all new episode of the Terrible Terror Podcast and I'm looking at the Canadian Videostoreplotation with The Last Video Store. What exactly does Viper do with his snake partner? Can you really say bad words in Canada? How exactly do you defeat an evil video tape from a paralell dimension? Find out the answer to all of this and more on an all new episode!Terrible Terror:Facebook: https://facebook.com/terriblet...Instagram: https://instagram.com/terrible...Twitter: https://twitter.com/T_T_Podcas...YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terribleterrorpodcastTwitch: https://twitch.tv/terribleterr...Suno: https://suno.com/@terribleterrorsDiscord: https://discord.gg/vvKuCVNYCheck out the Terrible Terror Store On TeePublic! The new Corn Tree design is now available:http://tee.pub/lic/e7et5lQSSbwCheck out Dubby and use TerribeTerrors for 10% off your next order: https://www.dubby.gg/
Throwbacks are where I re-release old episodes from the archives. So don't worry if you have heard it already, as 'New episodes' will continue to come out on Sundays. To get some of the old episodes heard.~~~Today's first guest is Joshua from Ontario, Canada, sharing some paranormal experiences from when he worked in a video store DVDs would fall off the shelves TV's would turn off and on and switch channels, and a scary encounter with a 7ft tall apparition. Do ghosts watch movies, it would appear so. Then we leave Canada for New Mexico in the US to have Poncho join us and share his paranormal experiences that started as a kid, when it would seem that he was watched over and protected by a spirit he named Caspar, and a strange encounter while night fishing on Santa Cruz Lake.More information on this episode on the podcast website:https://ufochroniclespodcast.com/ep-223-video-store-night-fishing/Want to share your encounter on the show?Email: UFOChronicles@gmail.comOr Fill out Guest Form:https://forms.gle/uGQ8PTVRkcjy4nxS7Podcast Merchandise:https://www.teepublic.com/user/ufo-chronicles-podcastHelp Support UFO CHRONICLES by becoming a Patron:https://patreon.com/UFOChroniclespodcastX: https://x.com/UFOchronpodcastThank you for listening!Like share and subscribe it really helps me when people share the show on social media, it means we can reach more people and more witnesses and without your amazing support, it wouldn't be possible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.
Throwbacks are where I re-release old episodes from the archives. So don't worry if you have heard it already, as 'New episodes' will continue to come out on Sundays. To get some of the old episodes heard.~~~Today's first guest is Joshua from Ontario, Canada, sharing some paranormal experiences from when he worked in a video store DVDs would fall off the shelves TV's would turn off and on and switch channels, and a scary encounter with a 7ft tall apparition. Do ghosts watch movies, it would appear so. Then we leave Canada for New Mexico in the US to have Poncho join us and share his paranormal experiences that started as a kid, when it would seem that he was watched over and protected by a spirit he named Caspar, and a strange encounter while night fishing on Santa Cruz Lake.More information on this episode on the podcast website:https://ufochroniclespodcast.com/ep-223-video-store-night-fishing/Want to share your encounter on the show?Email: UFOChronicles@gmail.comOr Fill out Guest Form:https://forms.gle/uGQ8PTVRkcjy4nxS7Podcast Merchandise:https://www.teepublic.com/user/ufo-chronicles-podcastHelp Support UFO CHRONICLES by becoming a Patron:https://patreon.com/UFOChroniclespodcastX: https://x.com/UFOchronpodcastThank you for listening!Like share and subscribe it really helps me when people share the show on social media, it means we can reach more people and more witnesses and without your amazing support, it wouldn't be possible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.
Boom shakalaka this week we go deeper and deeper into Bacon as we talk useless plot points, unnecessary digging and make 7 Up Yours! When we cover Stir of Echos from 1999.
This charming "Canuxploitation" film pays tribute to B-movies and the video stores they called home throughout the 1980s and 90s. But the real story is the more than decade-long journey to make the movie! Travis and Rob explain why physical media still matters, and why our movie is proof in Episode 28: The Last Video Store!
New York City is the only place in the state that assigns 24 hour shifts for home health workers, but that could change. WFUV's Xenia Gonikberg and Mia Barth report from a rally held in support of the No More 24 bill heading to city council. A major infrastructure project for the tri-state area's rail system is moving forward again after a legal battle with the federal government. WFUV's Andrew McDonald has more. With the ease of digital streaming platforms, owning DVDs and VHS tapes has gone out of fashion. WFUV's Joseph Vizza visits NightOwl Video, a Brooklyn shop keeping physical media traditions alive. Host/Producer: Xenia Gonikberg Editor: Tess Novotny/Ben Oppenheimer Reporter: Andrew McDonald Reporter: Mia Barth Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker
Across the age of cinema, the way a movie lover has been able to consume movies has changed. The movie repertory theater, the video store, and now the streaming channel all have pros and cons on how they expose cinemagoers to great cinema and the cinema experience. Secret Movie Club programmer Craig Hammill takes a look at each, gets the Secret Movie Club community in on the conversation to share their thoughts, and suggests a hybrid of all three may be the wave of the future.
If you've been snowed in thanks to last week's winter storm, you're not alone. The entire parking lot of our Video Store is covered with three feet of snow. I've been stuck here for three days, living off of popcorn, Hot Tamales candy, and Red Bull. You and I are not the only ones completely snowed in — so were the characters in these films. I say “were” because not everyone makes it to the end of their respective films. In fact, almost no one does. Warm up the cocoa, turn on the fireplace, and enjoy these four films in which people got snowed in.Snowbeast (1977)The Colorado ski resort in this film has everything guests could ever want, and one thing they don't want: a murderous Yeti. With a plot that closely mirrors Jaws, guests and locals do their best to warn others of the two-legged beast while the owners of the resort do their best to downplay the danger. Once the bodies start piling up there's nothing left to do but to track down the Snowbeast… before it tracks them down! Sure, this is basically Jaws with a killer Yeti instead of a killer shark, which is exactly why I love it.Screams of a Winter Night (1979)If you're a sucker for horror anthology films, this one's a slow 70s burn with more atmosphere than blood. When a group of young adults become snowed in while staying in a winter cabin, they exchange stories — three, to be exact — in an attempt to entertain (and more importantly, scare) their friends. It's all fun and games until the Native American spirit known as Shataba arrives at the cabin. This deep cut is worth a watch for fans of anthology films and brooding 70s horror.Terror Train (1980)It's New Year's Eve and a group of college graduates are throwing a costume party on a train. Everyone's there — the graduates, David Copperfield (no, really), and Kenny, a former classmate whom the group pranked years ago, leaving him in an apparently bad state of mind. Fresh out of Halloween, it's up to Jamie Lee Curtis, her friends, the train's conductor and yes, David Copperfield, to put an end to Kenny's rage-filled rampage. But which costume is Kenny wearing? Only his victims know for sure. Come for the magic show, stay to see the audience disappear one by one.Iced (1989)If we've learned anything from 1980s slasher films it's to politely decline anonymous invitations to stay at a cabin or resort for free. The characters of Iced learn that lesson the hard way. Four years after the group's friend Jeff skied over the side of a cliff after being humiliated by his friends, the group find receive anonymous invitations to stay at the Snow Peak ski resort. Once they arrive it seems Jeff may be there too, based on the number of bodies that begin piling up. Featuring all the classic misdirection and creative deaths we came to expect from an 80s slasher film.The snow is starting to melt in the parking lot. Soon, all this white stuff will be a memory but these films will stick with you for years to come. You may actually need therapy to forget them. Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com
Kevin Martin — star of the indie horror love letter The Last Video Store and owner of Edmonton's real-life video store The Lobby — joins Rottin' Roger on The Deep Cut Podcast for a killer conversation about indie filmmaking, horror fandom, and the fight to keep physical media alive.Roger and Kevin dig into their favorite horror movies, the magic of mom-and-pop video stores, and what it was like bringing The Last Video Store to life — a film that celebrates late-night rentals, dusty VHS tapes, and the community that once lived between the shelves.To close things out, Roger puts Kevin on the spot with Hot Takes — ten rapid-fire A-or-B questions where Kevin has to choose his favorites, no fence-sitting allowed.If you love indie horror, VHS nostalgia, and conversations with people who truly live the culture, this episode is for you.
We're back from the holidays with some uncomfortable coffee, poison oatmeal and one cool killer chill with us as we thaw out Jack Frost from 1997.
"the shop itself was tucked between a now vacant donut shop and a bank..." CREEPYPASTA► "The Video Store in My Town has a Terrible Secret, and I'm Going to Expose It" series written by Everblack_Deathmask, narrated by ClancyPastaThe Author's Links:► https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/1og49ml/something_is_off_about_the_video_rental_store_in/► u/Everblack_Deathmask on Reddit► @sts_guitarist on tiktokHere are ways to support the channel if you wish ~MERCH ► http://teespring.com/stores/clancypastastorePATREON ► https://patreon.com/clancypastaMEMBERSHIP ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnfg9w5hrnPT7oA1H3uRZEQ/joinHere's where you can find me, and also links to the audio version of the show ~X / TWITTER ► http://x.com/clancypastaINSTA ► https://instagram.com/clancypastaSPOTIFY ► https://open.spotify.com/show/51DHHPsFnEvDAGfRiZPMF7ANCHOR.FM ► https://anchor.fm/clancypastaMUSIC► Background music is original and done in house by my best friend and house audio designer SKEEVY WEEVIL#Creepypasta #scarystories #horrorstories
Welcome back to the Video Store! We're kicking off the New Year with a look at some of the films that inspired the hit television series Stranger Things. Get your Eggos, Reese's Pieces, and settle in for some classic films that helped to give Stranger Things its strange, yet familiar aesthetic and themes. For this episode, we're only focusing on season one, so don't worry if you've not gotten to watch the final season just yet! However, if you've not watched Stranger Things season one, be advised that there are spoilers ahead for that season!E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)One of the biggest films of the 1980s and an inspiration for Stranger Things is Steven Spielberg and Melissa Mathison's iconic film, E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Capturing wonder, fear, and warmth so well, this is a film whose influence was felt well into the 90s. Stranger Things draws aesthetic inspiration from E. T. while also pulling from its fish-out-of-water story. Scanners (1981)David Cronenberg's cult sci-fi horror film, Scanners, is another point of inspiration for The Duffer Brothers. This film about psychics, scientific intrigue, and political power serves as an inspirational palette of ideas for Stranger Things that the Duffers have inverted, mashed up, and made their own. This is a film that also has a great influence on the later seasons of Stranger Things, but we'll cover those when we get there. Halloween (1978)This is the film that really caused the slasher genre to take off, but John Carpenter's first massive success also gives Stranger Things a good bit of its aesthetics. From monster-in-shadow cinematography to several meta uses of John Carpenter's work, Halloween has its fingerprints on Stranger Things. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)Perhaps the greatest influence on Stranger Things' aesthetic and storytelling is Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street. With two Nancys, two jocks with a baseball bat, and more things that won't even show up until later seasons of the series, A Nightmare on Elm Street has invaded the minds of the Duffer Brothers. Honorable MentionsStranger Things draws inspiration from so many films that we love here at the Video Store that we've already covered them on previous episodes! Check out my coverage of both versions of It in my Summer of Stephen King and Not Quite Retro episodes. Flack talked about John Carpenter's The Thing in his Halloween Spirit episode. I discussed Stand By Me in my Film Friendships show, Alien in my Wonder Women episode, and Jaws in my Summer Spookies show. Thanks for joining us here at the Video Store Podcast for these strange, but familiar films. We hope you enjoy our selections this week. Oh, and that flashing lightbulb? Must just be a short. We'll change it out later. Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com
Welcome to the Video Store Podcast.It's Christmas movie season but not everyone wants peppermint sweetness and cozy small-town charm. Some of us want our holiday movies filled with explosions, heists and a whole lot of chaos.This week on the Video Store Podcast, I'm spotlighting four Christmas movies that trade twinkling lights for trouble. Reindeer Games (2000)Reindeer Games is a crime thriller set days before Christmas. When Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) is released from prison his only goal is to get home for Christmas. But when his cell-mate dies, Rudy steps into the man's shoes to meet his mysterious and beautiful pen pal, Ashley (Charlize Theron).One bad decision later and Rudy is trapped in a violent casino-robbery plot run by Ashley's unstable “brother,” Gabriel (Gary Sinise). With no options, Rudy is forced deeper into the operation and nothing is what it seems as alliances shift and lies are uncovered. Reindeer Games brings crime, plot twists and holiday mayhem together in one memorable movie.Batman Returns (1992)Tim Burton's Batman Returns is set against a dark, gothic backdrop of Gotham City during the Christmas season. Batman Returns introduces two iconic villains who become the city's newest threats. The first is Oswald Cobblepot, The Penguin, a physically deformed man who was abandoned by his wealthy parents and raised in the city's sewers by penguins. The second is Selina Kyle, Catwoman, pushed to her limit by evil businessman Max Shreck.Michelle Pfeiffer is the definitive Catwoman, seductive, broken and electric in every frame. Danny DeVito's Penguin is a grotesque and disfigured man, a departure from the comics. Christopher Walken adds a sinister element as the businessman Max Shreck.Tim Burton's vision partnered with Danny Elfman's haunting score creates a mesmerizing Christmas classic set in Gotham City.The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) lives a quiet life as a schoolteacher until a car crash triggers memories of her past life as a deadly government assassin.Samantha hires private detective Mitch Hennessey (Samuel L. Jackson) to help her uncover her past and together they set out to find the truth. Their adventure is full of gunfights, treachery, and some of the best buddy-dynamic chemistry of the '90s. Davis transforms from warm suburban mom to hard-boiled operative with shocking believability and Jackson delivers one of his funniest, most charismatic roles.Written by Shane Black and directed by Renny Harlin, The Long Kiss Goodnight mixes holiday atmosphere with espionage to create one of the 90's most underrated action movies.Lethal Weapon (1987)Lethal Weapon redefined the buddy-cop genre and set the standard for all future buddy-cop movies. Set at Christmastime in Los Angeles, the movie pairs veteran detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) with newcomer Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Their investigation into a young woman's suspicious death spirals into a violent clash with drug traffickers and the psychotic Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey).Lethal Weapon is full of heart, which is what you want in a Christmas movie. Riggs who is spiraling out of control from grief and Murtaugh, a grounded family man, form a bond that is convincing from start to finish. Also written by Shane Black, Hollywood's king of Christmas action movies and directed by Richard Donner, Lethal Weapon blends holiday themes with explosive action, dark humor, and iconic one-liners. Lethal Weapon is on of my favorite Christmas action movies.If you're looking for Christmas movies that are filled with action, these four belong at the top of your December movie list.Thanks for visiting the Video Store. Have a great New Year!Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com
Find Heather: https://www.mondoheather.comFind Stephanie: https://bloody-disgusting.com/author/stephanie-crawford/Find Ryan: https://www.newworldpicturespodcast.comFind Dirk: vh-us.com
In this episode of JJ Meets World, JJ and Tucker break down the massive news shaking the entertainment industry: Netflix has announced a planned $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. — bringing HBO, DC, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and decades of iconic film and television history under one company. The conversation takes listeners on a nostalgic but deeply analytical journey through the evolution of streaming, starting with Netflix's early days as a DVD-by-mail service, through the death of video stores, the rise of binge-watching, and the explosion of subscription media. JJ and Tucker unpack how Netflix used viewer data and analytics to rewrite Hollywood business models, the dangers of corporate consolidation, and what happens when creators, audiences, and entire libraries become disposable for tax write-offs. They dive deep into: The cancellation and tax write-off of films like Batgirl and Coyote vs. Acme What this merger means for HBO Max, DC films, and Warner franchises Why Netflix owning the Warner Bros studio lot itself is a huge power shift How subscription pricing, data ownership, and media monopolies affect consumers Whether Netflix will enter theme parks, merch, and in-platform commerce next Why Disney, Apple, and Netflix may be on an eventual collision course This episode isn't just about the merger — it's about the future of entertainment, the death of ownership, and the new digital empires replacing Hollywood studios as we once knew them. 00:00 – Netflix Buys Warner Bros: The $72 Billion Shockwave 01:10 – Netflix's DVD-by-Mail Origins & the Death of Video Stores 05:45 – The Birth of Streaming & the Rise of Binge-Watching 09:20 – Netflix's Data Empire & Original Content Strategy 13:30 – The Subscription Economy & Media as a Service 17:00 – HBO, Paramount+, and the Streaming Land Grab 19:00 – Netflix Enters Full-Scale Content Production 22:00 – Theatrical Releases vs Streaming Wars 26:30 – Warner Bros Tax Write-Off Controversies (Batgirl & Coyote vs. Acme) 30:10 – The True Power of Netflix's Subscriber Base 32:30 – Disney, Fox & the MCU Power Expansion 33:00 – Netflix's Official Statement on the Warner Bros Deal 35:00 – Why the Warner Bros Studio Lot Is a Huge Power Move 37:30 – What Happens to HBO Max & Warner Streaming? 39:20 – Netflix Inheriting HBO Television Networks 42:10 – Theme Parks, Licensing & Netflix's Next Frontier 45:15 – In-Platform Shopping, Ads & Media Monetization 46:45 – Could Netflix Merge With Disney or Apple Next? 48:00 – Final Thoughts & The Pillsbury Cinematic Universe For more episodes of JJ Meets World, or to find out how you can support this podcast, visit http://www.jjmeetsworld.com/ Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/jjmeetsworld Merch Shop - https://shop.spreadshirt.com/jj-meets-world Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jj-meets-world/id1367045742 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0L9IGvJuUjFK0UOR9AIF5u YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh1WZrpC-XE57mRzi1bzPow Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iwnpufw6f5qromxbbw6pq32rsya Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jjmeetsworldpodcast/
This week on PREVIOUSLY ON…, Rosie and Carmen break down the teaser trailer for the new Hunger Games spin-off Sunrise on the Reaping and Rian Johnson’s latest Knives Out mystery, Wake Up Dead Man! They then cover reports that Sadie Sink is set to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, which has fueled even more speculation about her mysterious role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Next, they look at the $30.8M box office previews for Wicked: For Good. Finally, they talk about the newly announced Letterboxd video store, the unusual marketing campaign for Timothée Chalamet’s upcoming film Marty Supreme, and several other major industry headlines. Follow Jason: IG & Bluesky Follow Rosie: IG & Letterboxd Follow X-Ray Vision on Instagram Join the X-Ray Vision DiscordSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joke Of The Week | Hockey Player Bitten By Dog | Anxiety Board Games | OttaWHAT? | Parking Hacks & Scented Train Stations | Instant Answer Question Time | We Announce The Winning Slogan | Why Do XXX Video Stores Still Exist?
"Write the book you want to read. That's when everything changed for me." — Miranda Smith In this episode of Uncorking Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with bestselling author Miranda Smith, whose psychological thrillers and domestic suspense novels have captivated readers since her debut in 2020. From growing up in a video rental store to publishing 13 books in just five years, Miranda shares her journey, creative process, and the inspiration behind her latest horror-leaning novel, Smile for the Cameras. Whether you're an aspiring writer or a fan of chilling fiction, this conversation is packed with insight and nostalgia. Key Takeaways: Miranda's writing career began with a love of reading and evolved through trial, error, and genre exploration. Her breakthrough came when she embraced her passion for crime fiction and psychological thrillers. Smile for the Cameras marks a shift toward horror, inspired by her childhood in a video rental store and love of slasher films. Miranda's productivity stems from working on multiple manuscripts simultaneously and treating writing as a full-time job. She emphasizes persistence, collaboration, and learning from rejection as keys to success in publishing. Writing starts as a solitary act but becomes a collaborative process involving agents, editors, and readers. Buy Smile for the Cameras Amazon: https://amzn.to/4h0wWVr Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593983164 Connect with Miranda Website: https://mirandasmithwriter.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandasmithwriter/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mirandasmithwriter Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. #MirandaSmith #SmileForTheCameras #PsychologicalThriller #DomesticSuspense #HorrorBooks #AuthorInterview #UncorkingStory #WritersLife #BookTok #IndieAuthors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Elric and Brian return to the aisle of the Pure Cinema Virtual Video store to recommend some films from various sections (including Comedy, Horror, War, Romance and more). If you enjoy this episode, go back and check out previous Video Store sampler episodes! Consider supporting Pure Cinema (and getting monthly bonus content) via our Patreon (5$/ month gets you everyhting): https://www.patreon.com/purecinemapod This episode is sponsored by MUBI! Get 30 days of great cinema free at https://mubi.com/purecinema (and we'd love it if you would give them a try!) This month we also have another new sponsor - DIABOLIKDVD: https://diabolikdvd.com/ Brian's Directed By shirts can be found here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/filmmakershirts The show is now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/purecinemapod.bsky.social As are Brian: https://bsky.app/profile/bobfreelander.bsky.social Elric: https://bsky.app/profile/elrickane.bsky.social and the New Beverly: https://bsky.app/profile/newbeverly.bsky.social