Video on demand and direct downloading have claimed another casualty in Vancouvers independent film community.
After 28 years in business Videomatica, one of Vancouvers best-known independent video stores and a champion of the local film community, is set to close its doors.
Owners Graham Peat and Brian Bosworth announced Thursday they have not renewed the stores lease at its longstanding location on West Fourth Avenue and will close the store for good sometime in the next few months, likely this summer.
Its been a long time coming, Peat told WE in a phone interview yesterday. It wasnt an easy choice.
The decision to close came in part due to the increasing rent for retail space combined with the steady decline in business for rental and sales of DVDs pressures that have given rise to somewhat of an epidemic among independent video stores in the city. Earlier this year Commercial Drives Alpha Video closed and was followed shortly by Main Streets Happy Bats Cinema and Gastowns Reel Bulldog video. Others, such as Limelight Video in West Point Grey, report hanging on by a thread.
People have many other choices now, and many of them free, and its a little hard to compete with that, explains Peat.
While the dwindling supply of video stores is a blow to many film lovers, Videomaticas closure will be felt deeply. The store has gained an international reputation for its extensive collection of rare foreign, independent and classic films that have made it a go-to resource for film students, professors and cinephiles throughout the city, as well as nationally through its mail order sales and rental program.
Peat said he and Bosworth hope to find a permanent home for the collection, which includes virtually every film the store has acquired in its nearly three-decade run, but the cost may prove prohibitive.
It takes a lot of space and space is very, very expensive now and thats one of the problems, says Peat.
However he and Bosworth are in talks with a benefactor who may be able to house the collection and ensure it remains accessible to the public. If an agreement cannot be reached, they plan to hold an individual title sale of the collection.
News of Videomaticas demise devastated Paul Armstrong, an independent filmmaker and co-founder of the Celluloid Social Club, which screens independently produced short films. No, I cant believe that, Armstrong exclaimed when informed of the impending closure. Im in shock.
As an independent filmmaker and promoter of the local film scene, Armstrong said he relies on independent video stores to not only carry his work, but to partner with him in promoting events. They dont just rent movies, theyre also a presence at indie film events around town as well.
While Hollywood blockbusters may be readily available online, Armstrong says many smaller films dont have the resources to distribute online and depend on knowledgeable staff at independent video stores to help expose their work. Theres going to be a gap now for a couple of years where itll be difficult to track down films. Itll be like in the 70s before video came into use, people could only watch films at theatres.
But Rob Jamieson, former manager of Happy Bats Cinema wonders if independent movie houses arent next in line to go the way of the dodo. I know all the smaller places in town are all hurting, he said. If people wont leave their house to rent a movie, what chance does that give someone beyond having a social network online to get the word out their and get their work seen.
Jamieson found himself suddenly out of a job after Main Streets Happy Bats closed in March. The owners had been trying to find a smaller, more affordable space when Jamieson says they were blindsided when their landlord changed the locks. Ive never been out of a job before, Im on EI for the first time in my life and I sort of have an unmarketable skill. I dont know what else to do at this point, he said.
Videomaticas Peat says the stores six remaining employees have all been given notice, but he hopes to hang on for another few months to say a proper good-bye to the customers, staff and filmmakers that have rallied around the store over the years.
Were not about disappearing in the night, wed like to go out with a party, he says. We thought it was a good time to let people know you no longer have to buy an annual membership.
reporter@westender.com
