Scarecrow Video is a video store with probably one of the biggest film collections in the world. They have over 120,000 titles across pretty much every type of physical media ever conceived. Now, we all know physical media is becoming more and more something just for collectors, and video stores are on their way out, with very few left in most places. Like it or not, there's not much we can do about that.
And yet, I don't think anyone could argue against the importance of preserving those pieces of film (and technology) history, as well as making the thousands of titles that haven't been brought into the streaming age available to the public. That's where the Scarecrow Project comes in. Scarecrow have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to turn the video store into a not-for profit video library. How cool is that?
Very cool, I'd say, since such places not only promote unknown films and education, they also bring people who love film together, which strengthens the creative community more than just about anything else could. Film is a collective medium, and in most cases even the most motivated filmmaker could not work, or even develop their ideas, alone. Without the Cinémathèque there wouldn't have been the nouvelle vague, for instance. It's very important that places like this exist.
I have never lived anywhere near Seattle, but it's a city I have visited twice and of which I'm very fond. Even if that weren't the case, though, I would consider backing this project. I would like to know a place like this can still exist in this world, where I could turn to to find some elusive, obscure film, and where people can discover and fall in love with little-known works of art, as I did at my own neighborhood video store, years ago.
Below you can watch their video pitch, and you can go here to donate, if you choose to do so. The project seems to be in good shape to reach their goal, but with these things any extra money helps. Save Scarecrow!
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