Why are video stores gone?

Why did the video store go the way of the dodo? The answer might surprise you. Who remembers the old Blockbuster and Movie Gallery stores that dotted the streets? Who remembers going out on a Friday night perusing the aisles for a movie then picking up a pizza and bringing it home?

If you were a child in the 90's or earlier you probably went to the video store to pick out a movie to watch on the weekend or for your families movie night. I distinctly remember going to the video store almost every week I was at my mom's to pick something up for Saturday night viewing pleasure.

The video store became a safe haven for my childhood and it has been a place i look back on often. It had it's own unique atmosphere and it's own smell especially back when they were filled with VHS tapes instead of DVDs and Blu-rays. An important institution of the weekend and of the family.

Sadly it has all but disappeared.

At Blockbuster's peak in 2004 it had over 9,000 stores across the United States. At Movie Gallery's peak it operated around 4,700 stores. Both, along with smaller chain stores, made up the video store landscape.

Where did it all go wrong?

Three things: Netflix, Redbox, and Lease agreements.

Being more convenient for customers putting the movies directly into their mailbox then right onto their screens with streaming service in the case of Netflix and getting rid of the need to interact with a associate or actually walk the aisles in the case of Redbox, made it hard for Blockbuster to compete.

But what do Lease agreements have to do with it?

There is a third video store that I visited as a child called Family Video. It has existed since 1974 and is eleven years older than Movie Gallery and Blockbuster both opening in 1985.

Family Video however did not disappear like the other two power houses. They still exist in the Midwest from Michigan to Kentucky and there is one not five minutes from my old house.

How did it survive while the others went under? The big reason is like I've stated above, Lease agreements.

Unlike Blockbuster, Family Video owns all of it's buildings, they don't lease them. When Netflix started to steal the market share from Blockbuster the lease holders started to pull the leases from the company forcing them to close some of their stores. That coupled with not being able to sustain their many stores and compete with Netflix, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

They were then bought out by Dish Network who then closed all remaining stores, save a handful.

Family Video, being family owned and operated and franchised since 1974 is not subjected to such strife. They don't have leases and they now they don't really have any competition for that, what some would say, antiquated market.

Their business model also has them teaming up with Pizza restaurants such as Marco's Pizza, giving the restaurant part of the building, effectively turning it into a Video/Pizza Hybrid store. (Which by the way was an idea I had ten years ago but thought it'd be stupid now a days)

So coupled with the convenience of Netflix, not being able to compete with online services, and having the rug pulled out from under them, Blockbuster and other's like them fell to the way side.

I can only hope that Video Stores become enough of a retro novelty that they come back like Vinyls have in music or how fashion trends shift back to the past.

As always.

Keep reading. Keep learning.

Why doesn't money-made equal quality? (Movies)

What does "the #1 movie in America" mean and why does every movie seem to get that title?

We've all heard the movie commercials spouting out how this movie or that movie is the "#1 movie in america!" But what does that even mean?

The short and sweet of it is, that movie is the highest box office draw for that week or weeks. For example the new Ride Along 2 was the #1 movie in America its first week in the theater but it wasn't as well received with critics and viewers. It only ranked 15% with critics and 50% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

The #1 movie in America should surely be better than this right?
Not when your metric is money made.

A good example of the dichotomy between what is good and what is perceived as being good is the Oscars.

Did you see the movie that won Best Picture? Need a recap of what was up for Best Picture? Here you go - Oscar Nominees 2016

Personally I  hadn't heard of Spotlight before that night. Why is that?

The winner Spotlight was not hailed on TV as the #1 movie in America for possibly two big reasons. It was released the same weekend as Spectre (007) and it was also a limited release. And yet it was given the award for the Best Picture at the most prestigious movie awards ceremony. I don't recall any awards for Spectre.

So while these commercials can be annoying they really hold no water beyond a monetary value. The title of #1 movie in America doesn't hold any weight for Oscar contending. And isn't that what we want for our movies? Big shiny awards?

As always.

Keep reading. Keep learning.

Have you heard of ASMR? What is it?

Why do certain sounds make us feel tingly? Why do certain sights fill us with sudden emotion?

Have you ever been watching a movie, witnessed a moving scene and were immediately filled with a rush of tingles or vibrations through your body? Have you ever felt this while being whispered to by a lover? Not a sexual feeling mind you, but a feeling of calm wash over your body. Or maybe even an urge of some strong emotion or euphoria?

What I speak of is called ASMR or Autonomous sensory meridian response. This is when certain stimuli trigger a feeling of euphoria in your body. It can feel like a tingling sensation that travels down your neck, or a shudder or chill that goes through your core. 

For me ASMR is triggered by strong scenes of emotion in film, such as King Theoden's speech in Return of the King, the Battle of Cowpens in The Patriot, or the scene in the television show Dragon Ball Z when a character becomes stronger with a burst of energy. 

Each instance showered me with a strong emotional response. But what causes it? 

Frankly, not much is known about this phenomenon that has only really been a talking point in the public eye for about six years. 

Most people describe having felt this sensation since childhood from varying stimuli but had no name for it. 

Some stimuli include, listening to soft spoken speech, hand movements, certain sounds (crinkling, crunching or scratching) and being in close proximity to other people in conjunction with these. For example many ASMR Roleplayers on sites such as YouTube describe getting haircuts, doctor and dental visits, as well as personal attention from a significant other as being stimulating experiences.

ASMR Videos have grown in number substantially over the past four years as new content creators seek to help viewers with stress, anxiety, and depression. By creating soothing, softspoken ASMR tingle inducing videos, that calm and relax the listener. 

I've been listening to these types of videos for years and they always help me in reducing my stress and unwinding.

If you're interested in viewing some ASMR videos here are some of my recomendations - 
GentleWhispering
MassageASMR
HeatherFeatherASMR

As Always 

Keep reading. Keep learning.