👓 Coming Soon: Reclaim Video | bavatuesdays

Read Coming Soon: Reclaim Video by Jim Groom (bavatuesdays)
The idea of running a video rental store has been bouncing around at Reclaim Hosting for over a year now. When we started renovating the CoWork space/Reclaim Headquarters over a year ago we realized we would soon have a vacant strip mall storefront at our disposal. I started floating the idea of a video rental store to Tim, but given he was knee-deep in actually designing and building CoWork with Lauren, those discussions were postponed. At this point it was not clear how it related to anything else we already do, namely run Reclaim Hosting and CoWork—it was just a fun idea.
This is an awesome sounding idea. I’d love to hear more about it. I know that folks like Kevin Smokler and David Dylan Thomas are going to flip over it.

Despite the fact that it seems like a lot of fun, I’m curious how they’re going to make sure it doesn’t bring down the bottom line and put anything else in jeopardy. I certainly get the fun part, but the minimal break even portion doesn’t sound like it’s quite there to me.

The tough part of the physical media game is that these are magnetic tapes. While many of my 90’s VHS tapes are relatively fine, my VHS from the early 80’s are in worse shape. Tougher is having machines to play these successfully on. This post reminds me a lot of the difficulties I’ve heard from UCLA Film & Television archivists doing work on tapes themselves.

Kevin Smokler author event for Brat Pack America in Los Angeles Tonight & Tomorrow

My friend (and brilliant writer) Kevin Smokler will be appearing tonight and tomorrow here in Los Angeles as part of the tour for his new book Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies published by Rare Bird Books, based right here, downtown, around the corner from the Last Book Store.

Event Echo Park, Wednesday November 16th, 8pm

Special guest Daniel Waters, screenwriter of Heathers
Kevin will be appearing at Stories Books & Cafe with special guest Daniel Waters. 80s trivia, games and fruit roll ups included.
(1716 W. Sunset just east of Glendale Blvd in Echo Park)

Event  Culver City, Thursday, November 17th, 7:30-9:30 pm

Kevin will be part of an event called “Romantic Comedy” at The Ripped Bodice Bookstore at 3806 Main Street (Corner of Main and Venice Blvd) in downtown Culver City. “Romantic Comedy” is great comedians riffing on romance novels. He’s on the bill with Laurie Kilmartin, who is a writer for Conan O’Brien.

Here’s how they lay it out…

Funny people. Sexy books. Free wine.
This month we’re grateful for 80s movies, instagram superstars, and the return of one of our all-time faves, Laurie Kilmartin!

All at the best venue imaginable: the Ripped Bodice, America’s first romance-only bookstore, in Culver City.

Festivities begin when seating opens at 7:30. Come early, drink up, and get 10% off everything in the store. Comedy starts at 8pm, but come early to reserve your spot!!!

This month’s guests:
Laurie Kilmartin
Gaby Dunn
Toby Muresianu
Alison Lieby
+ Kevin Smokler, author of Brat Pack America

Hosted by Erin Judge and Jenny Chalikian.

The Facebook event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1852329114986550/

I hope to see you at one (or both) of these.