Scarecrow Video - a plea to film fans

[D_Davis]

Most of you probable know that I'm not a fan of Kickstarter.

But I've finally found one that I think is a great idea, and probably one of the single most important things a film fan can contribute to.

Scarecrow Video in Seattle has, perhaps, the largest selection of films anywhere in the world. They have thousands of titles on VHS, LD and DVD that are only available at Scarecrow, because they have the only know copy of the film. It is a treasure trove of weird, strange, and rare films that any film fan should want to support.

And, they've run into troubled times in this day of Netflix and Redbox.

Please take a moment to read the article below, and support the Kickstarter if you can. This is, no hyperbole, one of the most important things a film fan can support. If you've never been there, you just don't know, and if you have, you do. It's that simple.

Also, starting September 25th, I'll be performing live soundtracks to weird movies in the screening room, free of charge. I'm hoping this becomes a monthly thing. That first night, a Thursday, will feature live synth music to Mamoru Oshii's Angel Egg.


http://www.fangoria.com/new/revered-scarecrow-video-to-preserve-library-with-non-profit-scarecrow-project/


Alamo Drafthouse CEO/Founder Tim League said, “Scarecrow Video is one of if not THE most important archive of our movie heritage. It is also the most vulnerable. It is our duty and obligation as movie fans to support their mission and help them evolve, strengthen and grow. A future without Scarecrow Video is an apocalyptic wasteland. Do your part.”


The Scarecrow Project will go beyond the continued operation of the video store to save the thousands of films that will never make the transition to digital and streaming media. With the explosion of home video in the 1980s came the birth of the direct-to-video industry. Countless direct-to-video films have never been released as 16mm or 35mm prints. Thousands of these films never made the jump to DVD, and continue to be overlooked during the digital migration. Furthermore, the collection includes films that have never been released in any format in the US. Scarecrow keeps these nearly lost classics alive and available to viewers. Funds from this Kickstarter will allow the continued preservation of these titles, while actively expanding the collection by seeking out other titles available in physical media that have been deemed to have a historical or cultural value. A donation on Kickstarter is not life support for a dying dream, but rather an investment in the future of physical media in film history. Read more about The Scarecrow Project’s mission goals here (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/644154729/the-scarecrow-project).

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/644154729/the-scarecrow-project

[Irish]

Two conflicting thoughts and one sour beat:

The VHS preservation aspect of this is cool.

Not a fan of "donating" cash to private businesses. Even if they're going "non-profit."

What happens next year when the 100g runs out?

[D_Davis]

I don't know, but it's a start in the right direction.

I can see them turning into a public film library in the future.

Really hoping Tarantino and Paul Allan step forward with a huge sum of money.

Imagine if you had the chance to help save something like the Library of Alexandria. This is like that, for films.

I don't rent videos or watch movies much at all any more, but I'm giving them a large donation just because their collection needs to be preserved for as long as possible.

Like I said, if you've never been there you just can't comprehend how important it is to the history of the medium. It's mind boggling.

[Irish]

I can imagine it. There was an article awhile back (in the NY Times?) about how mid-century media was disappearing. Books, film, music, goes out of print but copyright is still in effect. Nobody can do anything with it and the market isn't big enough to keep it alive. So it just disappears from view.

There was a horror film released on Blu-Ray this week. It was released in 1980, but never made it to VHS or DVD. Thirty-four years later it re-appears, like something out of a time capsule. I find that extraordinary in this day and age.

I think Scarecrow's urge to preserve rare video is vital and important. I hope they get an angel investor or a grant.

Maybe with the other stuff I'm knee jerking to Kickstarter-- I hate that the first option for anybody now is to shake a digital cup at strangers.

[D_Davis]

Maybe with the other stuff I'm knee jerking to Kickstarter-- I hate that the first option for anybody now is to shake a digital cup at strangers.

So do I, so trust me, I know your feels. :)

[D_Davis]

I struggled with even posting this here, because I've been so vocally anti-KS in the past.

But like I said - this is actually important. It's not just some Geekdom Resurrection, vanity project.

This is about the preservation of strange, weird, rare and wonderful films.

They have an entire section dedicated to Turkish rip-off movies. Their Hong King section is as big as most old video rental stores' entire New Release section. Their directors sections are so complete that some of the directors they feature don't even have copies of the films that SV does. The Psychotronic room contains enough strange genre films to last a life time. The documentary section has as many titles as some small video stores.

Everyone here, instead of going to see one movie, should donate.

Skip one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and help the future history of the medium. :)

[number8]

When I saw this, I actually thought that this was an example of a bad Kickstarter, no matter how much I stand by the goal. The backer rewards are completely disproportionate. Also, they're talking about the transition as an inevitable development, but with KS, if they don't meet the project goal the pledges are refunded. This really may as well be a Paypal donation button.