5Q's w/Arthur Cauty "The Last Video Store" Director
#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it in less than 140 characters?
It’s a love letter to a bygone way of watching movies. If you miss browsing the shelves in Blockbuster, this film is for you.
#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?
20th Century Flicks is also the oldest video store in the World. The majority of their income comes from renting out two tiny cinema rooms they’ve fitted within the store. Oh and Simon Pegg still owes them £4.50.
#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself.
I used to make films with my brothers as a kid, which funnily enough we’d do using an old VHS camcorder. These were mostly blood-soaked slasher movies or Monty Python-esque comedy sketches. We had no edit facilities, so we’d record each shot in order and simply rewind and record over anything that didn’t work.
Fast forward and I now direct and shoot documentaries tackling social issues as well as lighter topics like video stores, pro wrestling and aliens. I’ve picked up numerous Vimeo Staff Picks, and official selections for the likes of Raindance, Encounters & Aesthetica film festivals.
#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?
I learned a lot about promoting and marketing a short film. I think it’s a really easy mistake to make that your film will find an audience if you stick it online somewhere. I can safely say that I put more time into promotion than I did all of production and post. The hard work paid off and I was rewarded with my first Vimeo Staff Pick. And all this on a paltry budget of $50. A little resourcefulness and can a long way.
#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?
The Last Video Store seems to be going from strength to strength. It’s just screened at Raindance 2020 and picked up first prize in the documentary category in the World’s biggest short film competition, My Rode Reel. I have some more official selections on the horizon, as well as a Vimeo Best of the Year nomination for another film, Night Light, which is exciting. I’ve got a number of shorts and features in development. Covid is making things tricky but I think it’s just a case of seeing which is able to take off first in the bizarre World we currently live in.
