Latest news with #Vidiots
New York Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
How Hollywood's Favorite Video Store Outlived Blockbuster
A companion to T's 212 series about New York institutions, the 213 column highlights beloved landmarks in and around Los Angeles. In 1985, when Patty Polinger and Cathy Tauber opened their video store, Vidiots, in a former bail bonds storefront a few blocks from Santa Monica beach, the movie rental industry was just gaining momentum. Blockbuster, the mega-chain, opened that same year in Dallas, while smaller rental franchises like Captain Video and Video Station were springing up all over California. Polinger and Tauber, childhood friends who grew up in West Los Angeles, had been working in international film distribution and business management, respectively, when they decided to change course. 'We were tired of working in corporate environments that were dominated by men. We wanted to be in business for ourselves,' says Tauber when we met on a recent video call with Polinger. The two friends came across a magazine article detailing the rise of video stores across the country — by the mid-1980s, there were some 15,000 movie rental outlets in the United States — and decided to take a leap. 'Neither of us had ever worked retail before. We were in our early 30s and thought we were over the hill,' says Tauber with a laugh. 'This was our chance.' When banks wouldn't give them a loan, they cobbled together money from family. They knew they wanted a neon sign for the storefront but could only afford seven letters. A brainstorming session led to the name Vidiots. Polinger and Tauber set out to distinguish their shop as an alternative video store, and one more welcoming than other niche retailers. They didn't want customers to think that they 'had to know every director,' says Polinger. 'We were against that snobbery in other stores.' Initially they offered just 800 VHS cassettes for rental ($2.50 per day for members), including the Beatles documentary 'Let It Be' (1970) and Jean Cocteau's 'Beauty and the Beast' (1946). The founders were also determined to make Vidiots — just 1,000 square feet — a community hub of sorts by hosting events. The year after it opened, customers were invited to a late-night gathering with the experimental filmmaker Kenneth Anger. Another early event had Polinger and Tauber baking a breast-shaped cake for the director Russ Meyer, known for campy sexploitation films like 'Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!' (1965). 'Many women wore bras for tops and Russ was happy to autograph them,' recalls Tauber. The store held puppet shows and limbo contests and threw a polka party for the documentarian Les Blank. An Elvis impersonator performed after the screening of the documentary 'Mondo Elvis' (1984), and musicians from the nearby Venice Beach boardwalk would drop by to play drums on paint cans inside the store. 'The vibe at night, especially on the weekends, was a party,' says Tauber. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Los Angeles Times
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
A ‘Tombstone' tribute to Val Kilmer, plus the week's best movies in L.A.
Hello! I'm Mark Olsen. Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies. Opening this weekend and winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, 'Sorry, Baby' is the feature film debut for writer, director and actor Eva Victor. Personally, it's among my favorite films of the year for its complex mix of comedy and drama, offbeat whimsy and deep vulnerability. (I'd previously called it 'fresh, inventive and invigorating' and that still feels right to me.) The story tells some five years in the life of Agnes (Victor), a teacher at a small East Coast college attempting to move forward following a traumatic event. In her review for the paper, Katie Walsh called the film 'a movie that lingers,' attributing that to 'the profound and nuanced honesty Victor extracts from each moment.' I spoke to Victor about the process of making the film. The story is rooted in Victor's own experiences, so every stage, from writing to production to bringing it to audiences, has had its own nuances and contours. 'It's a very personal film for a lot of people and there's a sadness to that because it's a community of people who have experienced things that they shouldn't have had to,' says Victor. 'It's life-affirming for me to know that I wrote the film in a leap-of-faith way to be like: 'Is anyone else feeling like this?' And it's nice to know that there are people who are understanding what that is.' On Saturday, the Academy Museum will screen the world premiere of a 4K restoration of 1993's 'Tombstone' as a tribute to actor Val Kilmer. Directed by George P. Cosmatos, the film tells the legendary story of the shootout at the O.K. Corral, which has become one of the foundational myths of the American western. Kilmer stars as Doc Holliday, who comes to the aid of his friend, retired lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell). The cast also includes Bill Paxton, Sam Elliott, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley and Dana Delany. The role was a special one for Kilmer, who titled his memoir 'I'm Your Huckleberry' after a line in the movie. In his original review of the film, Peter Rainer declared the film the latest of the then-in-vogue 'designer Westerns' and highlighted Kilmer's turn, writing, 'Val Kilmer's Holliday is classic camp performance, although it may not have started out that way. His Southern drawl sounds like a languorous cross between early Brando and Mr. Blackwell. Stricken with tuberculosis, his eyes red-rimmed, Doc coughs delicately and matches Ringo line for line in Latin. He also shoots straighter than anyone else in the movie — his powers of recuperation make Rasputin seem like a pushover.' The film will also be playing on July 26 at Vidiots. Winner of three prizes at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, 'Familiar Touch' is the narrative feature debut of writer-director Sarah Friedland. The sensitive and compassionate story follows Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), an 80-something retired cook, as she settles into an assisted-living facility while grappling with memory loss. Friedland and Chalfant will be at select showings throughout the weekend for Q&As. In his review of the movie, Robert Abele wrote, 'The mystery of Ruth's mindfulness — which ebbs and flows — is at the core of Chalfant's brilliant, award-worthy performance. Hers is a virtuosity that doesn't ask for pity or applause or even link arms with the stricken-but-defiant disease-playing headliners who have gone before her. Chalfant's Ruth is merely, momentously human: an older woman in need, but no less expressive of life's fullness because of it.' Esther Zuckerman spoke to Friedland about shooting the film at Pasadena's Villa Gardens retirement community in collaboration with staff and residents. The production held a five-week filmmaking workshop, involving the residents as background actors and production assistants. 'It came a lot from the anti-ageist ideas of the project,' Friedland says. 'If we're going to make this film the character study of an older woman that sees older adults as valuable and talented and capacious, let's engage their capaciousness and their creativity on all sides of production.' Tsui Hark's 'Shanghai Blues' in 4K Though he is best known to American audiences for his action movies, Hong Kong director Tsui Hark has been versatile in many other genres. Now getting a new 4K restoration from the original negative for its 40th anniversary is Tsui's 1984 screwball romantic comedy 'Shanghai Blues.' Opening in 1937 Shanghai, the story concerns an aspiring musician, Do-Re-Mi (Kenny Bee), and a woman, Shu-Shu (Sylvia Chang), who, after a chance encounter, vow to meet again in the same spot after the war. Leaping forward to peacetime a decade later, the two find themselves living in the same building without realizing it, as he becomes involved with her roommate (Sally Yeh). The film will be playing at the American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3 on Fri., Tues. and Sat., July 5. It will also play multiple Laemmle locations on Weds. And expect more on Hong Kong cinema later this summer when Beyond Fest launches a series of new restorations of such classics as 'Hard Boiled,' 'The Killer' and Hark's 1986 'Peking Opera Blues.' 'Much Ado About Nothing' On Monday, Vidiots will screen Kenneth Branagh's 1993 adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing.' About a bunch of incredibly good-looking people having a great time in the Italian countryside, the film stars Branagh, Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves and Denzel Washington. Branagh and Thompson were married in real life at the time, and in his original review of the film, Kenneth Turan wrote, 'Actors as well as athletes have a prime of life, a time when everything they touch seems a miracle. And the crowning pleasure of watching Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh in this rollicking version of 'Much Ado About Nothing' is the way it allows us to share in that state of special grace, to watch the English-speaking world's reigning acting couple perform at the top of their game. … Seeing them beautifully play off each other is an enormous pleasure for lovers of the romance of language as well as fanciers of romantic love.' 'The Spirit of '76' live commentary On Thursday, July 3, as part of the 7th House screening series at the Philosophical Research Society, there will be a screening of 1990's 'The Spirit of '76' featuring a live commentary by stars Jeff and Steven McDonald of the band Redd Kross. The film is something of a singular object: a loving satire of the 1970s made from the perspective of the burgeoning '90s, written and directed by Lucas Reiner, with a co-story credit to Roman Coppola, costumes designed by Sofia Coppola and a cast that includes David Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Olivia d'Abo, Don Novello, Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner and Devo. From the extremely drab future of 2176, three adventurers are sent back in time to July 4, 1776 but mistakenly land in the year 1976. They meet two teenagers (the McDonald brothers) who help them navigate the present and find their way back to their own time. In his original review of the film, Kevin Thomas did not catch the vibes, as he wrote, 'Movies do not get more inane than 'The Spirit of '76' … You have to wonder how this film ever got made, let alone released.' Jerry Bruckheimer is still revved up Among the big releases this weekend is Joseph Kosinski's racing drama 'F1,' starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. The film reunited Kosinski with screenwriter Ehren Kruger and producer Jerry Bruckheimer following their huge success with 'Top Gun: Maverick.' Josh Rottenberg spoke to the 81-year-old Bruckheimer about his legendary career working on movies such as 'Beverly Hills Cop,' 'Bad Boys,' 'Armageddon' and countless more, making sleek commercial pictures that have been defining the Hollywood blockbuster for decades. 'It's changed a lot,' Bruckheimer says of the movie business. 'Streaming hit a lot of places hard. They spent too much money and now they've got problems with that. Some of the studios aren't healthy. But the business, if you do it right, is healthy.' Bruckheimer is not one of the doomsayers foretelling the end of movies. 'I've been doing this over 50 years and that doom has been there every time a new technology shows up,' he says. 'And yet, look at what's happened. Look at 'Minecraft.' Look at 'Sinners.' Look at 'Lilo & Stitch.' If you do it right, people show up.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Good Burger,' ‘Hairspray' and ‘Rear Window' Among Vidiots Summer Matinee Series – Film News in Brief
Movie Den, a teen-centric matinee repertory series held in the MUBI microcinema, will run June 16 through August 27 at Vidiots. With programming focused on 'Engaging, delighting, and inspiring the next generation of film lovers,' screenings offered as part of the series include 'Rear Window,' 'Good Burger,' 'The Half of It' and 'Hairspray' (1988). 'As a Mom to teens, and a member of a community that has been through so much this year, it was important to me and our team, that we try to make what we know will be a hard Summer for so many a little easier by expanding programming with an intention to get us out of the house, off devices, and reconnected,' said Vidiots programming director Amanda Salazar. 'When I was a teenager, the movies were my sanctuary, and our kids (and their grown-ups) need that now more than ever. We can't wait to welcome you all to Movie Den.' More from Variety Criterion Collection's Mobile Closet Comes to Los Angeles Vidiots Sets Official Opening for New Theater, Bar and Video Store in June Vidiots Still Planning Eagle Rock Theater Opening as City Hearing Looms Movie Den screenings will be offered Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons at 1PM, with tickets priced at $2 and free popcorn. Parallel programming offering teens 'Expanded opportunities to learn about Vidiots' will be offered before and after screenings. Movie Den is supported by Vidiots Founding Members MUBI and Golden Globe Foundation. A full schedule and ticketing information can be found at Gianna Toboni's film 'Just Kids' has been selected to receive a $25,000 grant from Subject Matter at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. Subject Matter has provided funds and resources for documentary films that highlight social issues and support nonprofits tackling featured projects since its launch in 2022. The nonprofit has awarded $484,000 in grants to twelve social issue documentaries, with 'Just Kids' being its latest project added to its roster. 'Just Kids' is a film that examines the nationwide bans on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender individuals. The film follows three families navigating the bans and illustrates how the laws and rhetoric surrounding the social issue have become politicized by targeting marginalized communities. Subject Matter will also award a corresponding $25,000 grant to the Campaign for Southern Equality's Trans Youth Emergency Project. The Campaign for Southern Equality provides logistical and financial support, as well as individual patient navigation services to identify unimpacted healthcare providers and emergency grants for travel expenses through their Trans Youth Emergency Project. Additionally, Subject Matter will further support their initiatives by collaborating with the Tribeca Film Festival to raise additional funding for the LGBTQ+ organization. Subject Matter will be onsite at the Tribeca Film Festival screenings for 'Just Kids,' rallying audiences to join them in donating to the Campaign for Southern Equality's Trans Youth Emergency Project. The non-profit organization will match donations up to $5,000. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
An L.A. video store with a theater has become a retro-cool attraction
LOS ANGELES — If you ask Vidiots executive director Maggie Mackay why the video rental store and theater is a buzzy hive of activity in the age of streaming and megaplexes, she'll respond with a story. This being Los Angeles, it obviously stars celebrities. The setting is Santa Monica, 2016. Vidiots, a cultural cornerstone for more than 30 years, was on the brink of closing because of changing tastes in entertainment. One June day, a note scrawled on a scrap of paper appeared in the store like a critical plot point in a Hallmark movie.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Utopia Launches ‘Pavements' On '90s Indie Band As Hybrid Music Doc/Satire Hits The Road
Utopia, which knows its way around a music documentary (Meet Me In The Bathroom, Crestone) opened Alex Ross Perry's at the Film Forum in NYC to $13.2k with sold-out Q&As and plans to roll the Venice-premiering satirical hybrid doc/mockumentary across key markets in May ahead of a national release June 6. It's sitting at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes (31 reviews). Each stop of the road show from LA (sold out preview at Vidiots on the 8th) and Brooklyn next weekend (also holding at the Film Forum) to San Francisco, Nashville, Knoxville, Portland and Chicago — feature sold and selling-out sessions with directors and band members whose film is as much a satire of a music doc as the real thing. Actual archival footage and interviews alternate with a movie-within-a-movie that has actors playing band members (Joe Keery as Stephen Malkmus; Fred Hechinger as Bob Nastanovich; Natt Wolff as Scott Kannenberg) and Jason Schwartzman as Chris Lombardi, founder of the group's label Matador Records. There's a reimagining of an actual theatrical production called Slanted! Enchanted! and a museum memorabilia show. More from Deadline 'Rust', Western With A Tragic Past, Honors Work Of Slain Cinematographer, Proceeds Will Go To Her Family - Specialty Preview 'Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII' Remastered Concert Film Rocks Indie Weekend Faith-Based 'The King Of Kings', 'The Chosen' With Hatsune Miku Anime, 'Pride & Prejudice' Re-Release Indie Standouts Easter Weekend - Specialty Box Office The venerable slacker indie rock band came together in 1989 in Stockton, California. Utopia's head of marketing and distribution Kyle Greenberg says the Film Forum audience is multigenerational from Gen Z to boomers checking out the film with long lines and strong walk-up traffic. 'As we find on many releases, bands that might be a bit older, because of discoverability these days, there is a chance … for these bigger acts' to find new audiences. The indie film scene is a tough one and the overall marketplace crowded with new studio fare barreling into theaters at its fastest pace in months. Pavements' marketing, Greenberg says, will be 'hyper-localized' to the road show and mostly driven by social with paid picking up as word-of-mouth builds. The film will play a single screen in each market this month, leaning into its arthouse partners and activations around each theater, some of which will play bonus music videos before and after screenings. Others are creating Pavement museums and artifacts, 'having fun with the meta aspects of the film.' Before the real trailer hit (watch it here), Utopia released a fake teaser for the fake movie-within-the-movie. Other indie openings: Greenwich Entertainment's , a new adaptation of Françoise Sagan's coming-of-age novel, had a terrific debut with $102.6k on 228 screens. , a difficult movie to release, grossed $25k at 115 theaters, presented by Falling Forward Films. from Big World Pictures opened to $8.1k at the Film Forum. Oscilloscope's debuted at $5.2k. Joel Potrykus's fifth feature is a NYT Critics Pick and 98% with critics on RT. expands to additional screenings in NY and Los Angeles next weekend. Wide/moderate release indies include no. 7, Angel Studios' animated , which is sticking around in week 4 with $1.8 million on 2,035 screens. Closing on a $57.7 million cume. A24 is no. 8 with Warfare in week 4 on 1,315 screens for a $1.27 milion weekend and a $24 million cume. Sailesh Kolanu's Telugu breakout from Prathyangira debuted at no. 9 with $870k weekend on 590 screens, for a $2.1 million cume, as per Comscore. And from Roadside Attractions starring Nicolas Cage rounded out the top ten at $675k on 884 screens. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Brad Pitt's Apple 'F1' Movie: Everything We Know So Far Everything We Know About 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 So Far
