The Last Blockbuster: Filmmaker Interview - Home Theater Special
Greetings, fellow movie fans, and welcome to a very special episode of the Renegade Home Theater! Today Mike, Jacob, and Keona welcome a very special pair of filmmakers to RPC’s Remote Headquarters: Taylor Morden and Zeke Kamm, director and writer (respectively) of The Last Blockbuster documentary, which is currently streaming on Netflix! Yes, we know, it’s ironic. Alanis Morisette wrote a song about it once. Enjoy the episode!
Full disclosure: I (Keona) did actually donate to the Kickstarter campaign for this documentary, so I won’t actually be reviewing it here. However, it was important to showcase this film, both for its importance as a cultural touchstone, and to promote both the filmmakers and the last remaining Blockbuster store itself, which can always use the attention and your support as film fans! Please watch the documentary on Netflix (you won’t regret it because it’s AWESOME) and take some time to peruse the website linked above and support the Last Blockbuster in Bend, OR! Buy some merch, like an adorable tote bag, or a face mask, or a sweet long-sleeve shirt! Or hey, how about this cool new documentary that just came out? Grab a Blu-ray Combo Pack!!
The best thing I can say about my time as a Customer Service Representative at Blockbuster in Honolulu, Hawaii was that I made some wonderful lifelong friendships there, both with the people I worked with, and those who shopped at our store. My time there served as inspiration for this website, and as a catalyst for my continued love of popular culture, movies, and games. And seeing the way that (Bend, OR store manager) Sandi Harding runs her store in the documentary just makes me want to send all of the kudos and well wishes in the world to her. She’s such a force of nature and a trooper, and I’m glad to see that the Last Blockbuster is in good hands. For some reason, that knowledge comforts me.
One more thing before we close out these notes: please, please support this documentary by watching it on Netflix and buying the combo-pack through the store’s website! We need films like this to keep these cultural touchstones alive in our memories and to commemorate those who worked long hours in various stores, serving the public to the best of their ability. It may seem cheesy or rote to say, but employees at retail outlets put up with a lot, and I know it’s not easy to deal with at times. So just take a moment and be nice to that cashier at Target, or the stock clerk at the local supermarket, or Sandi and her team at the Last Blockbuster. Don’t take them for granted. And tweet out something nice to Taylor and Zeke! Their movie rocks! And check out the commentary track they recorded with Chris Gore and the fine folks at Film Threat!
Thank you all for joining us and checking out the Last Blockbuster filmmaker interview! This was a lot of fun to record and present to you, and we hope you have fond memories of the ol’ corporate video store giant, just like we do! Be sure to follow the Last Blockbuster team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! We’ll see you all next time, Renegades!
-Neoplasmic
Hello, and welcome to another special installment of the Renegade Arcade! Today, we hear from Andrew Smith, founder of gaming website Guidefall, and the creative force behind From Gamers Magazine, a new print publication currently being crowdfunded through Kickstarter! He’s almost reached his goal, so let’s help him get there! Enjoy the interview!