WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:05.120 You are now listening to the Someone's Favorite Productions podcast network. 2 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:20.760 Hello there, and welcome back to the Disconnected. I am 3 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:22.280 here with a label I've been trying to get for 4 00:00:22.399 --> 00:00:25.399 quite a long time. Solloscope Labs. Thank you for coming 5 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:27.960 on with me today. Of course, thanks for having us 6 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:30.800 since we got two of you. Can you introduce yourselves 7 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:32.280 and your role at the company. 8 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:36.640 Yeah, I'm Rachel Zern. I deal with all the DVD 9 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:39.840 and Blu Ray aspects, and I work with Tom over here. 10 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:43.799 I'm Tom Slanek. I work with Rachel for the shiny 11 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:48.759 discs stuff. I also do the other aspects of home entertainment, 12 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:56.280 which is digital download rental, licensing for streaming services, licensing 13 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:01.039 for linear TV, a little bit international. Everybody wears multiple 14 00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:04.280 hats around here, so that's kind of kind of what 15 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:04.560 we do. 16 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:07.599 And one thing I was going to bring up later, 17 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:09.560 but you kind of segued perfectly into its whole jump 18 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:11.760 into it. Our Solloscope seems to do with a lot 19 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.959 of educational opportunities. Is that a big part of what 20 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:15.439 you guys do? 21 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:21.480 Still, Yeah, that's it's not really our department, but yeah, 22 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:26.079 we work with a lot of universities to have screenings there. 23 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:30.400 Yeah, I mean, the easiest way for a college or 24 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:34.959 university to access our films is via one of the 25 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:39.799 major services like Canopy is a big one, Alexander Street, 26 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.359 you know, info Base, We most of our catalog is 27 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:48.719 available across multiple educational streaming services. And even in the 28 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:52.040 public library space is people like Hoopla. Sorry, they're they're 29 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:55.560 great resources too. And again, if your local public library 30 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:59.400 has access to Hoopla, people should take full advantage of that. 31 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:01.840 And again you'll see not only our stuff with a 32 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:03.079 bunch of other great stuff too. 33 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:05.519 That's a good shout out. Not a lot of people 34 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:08.039 take advantage of the library system right now, and not 35 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:11.719 only is it robust, but it also makes them get 36 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:14.800 more funding when their stuff is actually used. So I 37 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.039 would say check that out. 38 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:19.039 Yeah, I mean, again getting back to the library question, 39 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:23.599 I mean, people like Midwest Tape, Baker and Taylor. They've 40 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:26.240 been great partners for us on the physical media side 41 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:29.479 because they actually have dedicated staffs that actually talk to 42 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:34.199 buyers and curators at the local library level and even 43 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:37.879 like the larger library systems, So people forget that even 44 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:41.240 though Blockbuster's gone away and Hollywood Video has gone away, 45 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:44.479 and family video has gone away. Any regional business is 46 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:47.560 basically all done. You have a great video store, probably 47 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.000 in your own hometown, and that's your public library and 48 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:52.719 you can get it for free with your library card. 49 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:56.560 And again I'm happy to work with those distributors, as 50 00:02:56.599 --> 00:03:00.840 I know Rachel is too, because they do job making 51 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:03.719 people aware of more stuff and it's great for the 52 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.599 consumer because they get it at a you know, low 53 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:09.080 to no cost basically. 54 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:12.599 And since we're bringing it up, this has very little 55 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:14.280 to do with a philloscope. So pardon me for just 56 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:16.240 a second, but if you are in the middle of nowhere, 57 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:19.039 don't have access to something great like this. Reminder two 58 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:22.439 in the US, especially that Scarecrow Video has every single 59 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:26.039 Soilloscope title and they rent nationwide as well for fairly cheap. 60 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:27.080 That's true. 61 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:32.479 Mark's a longtime friend of Oscope and again happy to 62 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:34.919 support them as they've been super supportive of us since 63 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:35.719 basically day one. 64 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:38.719 Yeah, well, speaking of day one, can you tell us 65 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:42.439 about the history behind Oscope because it has been an 66 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.520 interesting ride that includes the Beastie Boys. 67 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:48.400 Yes, started with MCA of the Beastie Boys Adam the 68 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:51.919 Auk back in two thousand and seven. Two thousand and eight. 69 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:56.000 He was really passionate about film, so he wanted to 70 00:03:57.479 --> 00:04:02.719 start a production slash distribution. Personally, I was at south 71 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:05.439 By Southwest. I was working the film portion of it. 72 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:10.000 And this was two thousand and eight, I guess, and 73 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:12.400 I saw him come up, and I'm a huge Bucy 74 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:14.879 Boys fan. That's how I got into how I got 75 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.560 into this. And I saw him come up and he 76 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:18.839 was about to watch one of the films which we 77 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:22.720 which a Soloscope ended up buying. It was a Bigfoot, 78 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:27.560 not your typical big foot, not your typical big but 79 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:31.439 but I chatted with him afterwards, not knowing that two 80 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:33.600 years later I would start working for them. 81 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:38.920 Wow, that's awesome. So you've been there, Gosh, it's almost 82 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.680 fourteen years, Tom. How long have you been there? 83 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:44.800 Rachel and I started basically around the same time. I 84 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:49.160 started as a like DVD sales guy and January twenty ten, 85 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:50.879 and I think, did you come. 86 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.079 On board that I was an intern in twenty ten? 87 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:55.120 Okay, so yeah, and I know that we hired you 88 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.720 shortly after your internship, but I assumed that we came. 89 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:01.120 Here officially to the eleven right. 90 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:05.959 Yes, I have a friend that lives in Brooklyn, and 91 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:09.519 probably once every couple of months, he's sends me a 92 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:13.879 picture of the front little doorstop of us Pelloscope. It says, 93 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:15.639 you got to come try to get him on the show, 94 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:17.839 and now you're finally here, so I get to fulfill 95 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:18.519 this Finally. 96 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.480 I'm glad that we finally responded to an email. 97 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:25.199 It's funny because we're usually really good at that. Unlike 98 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:28.160 a lot of people in this business, we respond to emails. 99 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.360 I'm not going to point fingers or name names. 100 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:34.199 There's only about ten of us that work here, so 101 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.800 it's a very small company, so communication should be should 102 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:38.279 be strong. 103 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:42.040 But internally well, yes, yes. 104 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:46.160 I didn't feel ignored. I will say that I've had 105 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:51.879 worse with the company being around for almost sixteen years 106 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:55.199 now and everything that's happened with physical media during that time. 107 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.639 I would love to hear how do you describe the 108 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:02.079 catalog of ours solloscopes somebody else, because it's such an 109 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.839 interesting and varied slate of films. 110 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:08.720 Yes, I mean in the broadest sense, I tell people 111 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:17.319 that a soloscope curates the best in American and international independent. 112 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:18.680 Films. 113 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:23.399 And whether that you like documentaries or you like narrative features. 114 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:27.600 We've got something pretty much for everybody, whether they know 115 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:30.240 it or not. There's a lot of discovery left meant 116 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:30.800 to be had here. 117 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:34.000 So i will say one of the things that I've 118 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:36.600 enjoyed most about our solloscope you just brought up, and 119 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:40.759 that is the documentaries. There are few boutiques that would 120 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:43.199 be willing to invest in documentaries as much as a 121 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:47.920 Solloscope has over the years, and there is never a 122 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:53.000 shortage of interesting subject matter or good filmmakers or something 123 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:55.759 that has come out, honestly, within just like the last 124 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:57.839 six months, usually there's at least one or two that's 125 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:01.439 always impressive, and that seems to be a hurdle that 126 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.600 other boutiques have not taken on. Do you think there's 127 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.639 a reason why or why Soloscope seems to find it important. 128 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:14.240 I'm not sure why other people don't take as much 129 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.040 advantage as they can. I think there's a lot of 130 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:21.240 business reasons why they don't. When the streaming world kind 131 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:24.480 of kicked in and Netflix realized that was a relatively 132 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:31.759 inexpensive way to grab rights and have exclusivity, they did 133 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:37.199 a lot to make a more traditional distributor, the full 134 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:42.000 service distributor like we are that includes theatrical and Homemanner 135 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.959 came in and libraries and educational and everything else. Makes 136 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.560 a lot more challenging for us to have access to 137 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.319 that material song for a while of air a good 138 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:54.319 seven eight years, the big streamers are eating up all 139 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:58.839 the high profile titles that maybe would see the light 140 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:02.560 of day if they were in a But since the 141 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:05.800 business kind of cratered a little bit and some there 142 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.040 were some changes, you know, outside of their company and 143 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:13.079 how things worked in the way that they approached original 144 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.240 material things that pendulum has kind of swung back a 145 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:20.040 little bit to people like us, where we'll actually treat 146 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:24.480 a film and the subject matter or the subject being 147 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:27.279 discussed as you know, being you know, is meaningful and 148 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:31.199 important and deserving of a platform that's not just something 149 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.600 that you're going to scroll past. 150 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:36.639 On a on a TV screen. That makes a lot 151 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:39.840 of sense to me. We probably should get into the 152 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.320 thing that has been most compelling to me over the years, 153 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:45.360 and that is the fact that I'm holding the four 154 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.120 most recent titles that I've received in the mail from Ocilloscope, 155 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:52.440 including one really interesting one. But the reason I have 156 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:54.519 them is because I've been a member of the circle 157 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:58.039 of trust for years. Now, can you give some of 158 00:08:58.039 --> 00:08:59.919 the details behind what the circle of trust is? 159 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:03.440 Yes, So the circle of Trust is it's a year 160 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:08.559 long subscription and I believe you get whatever release, whatever 161 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:14.919 we release and the that year, and usually it's about 162 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:18.120 twelve I think it's usually twelve to fifteen DVDs or 163 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:18.679 Blue rays. 164 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:21.399 It's usually ten titles. It's not based on the year, 165 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:23.039 it's the next ten gotcha. 166 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:30.039 Yeah, as fourteen years, but still a really great deal 167 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:34.000 for ten titles at one hundred and forty dollars and 168 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.120 it's either DVD or Blu Ray. So the fact that 169 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:40.639 Blu Ray is the same price, it's great, Such a 170 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:41.039 good deal. 171 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:43.919 Yeah, And again it speaks to the culture of the company. 172 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.399 When Adam founded the company, he wanted the Solloscope to 173 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:52.200 kind of be seen as an indie label, not just 174 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.360 an indie film distribut but also like a boutique brand 175 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:58.120 because he was obviously a music guy, a record guy. 176 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:01.559 He collected stuff and he wants people to have that 177 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:06.759 kind of you know, tangible piece of whatever art that 178 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:10.559 they're consuming. And the idea of Circle of Trust is 179 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.480 that he wanted to kind of number one, kind of 180 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:14.120 smooth out the billing when the company is just getting 181 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:16.200 started and you have X amount of subscribers paying x 182 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.519 amount of dollars will up front. That's how people like 183 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:22.120 subpop and you know, touch and go and merge, you know, 184 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.279 kind of smooth out their billing a little bit. But 185 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:25.879 it also it's good for the consumer because they get 186 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:28.240 a little bit cheaper and they know that it's they're 187 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:32.840 going to have it before a store has it. 188 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:33.879 So be on that. You also get fifty percent off 189 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:36.000 of everything in the catalog for the entire time that 190 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:40.919 you remember. Yes, and that's something I took advantage of 191 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:42.440 when I first came on to get the big ones 192 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:45.480 that I wanted that had already been released. But I've 193 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:49.159 seen a couple of people always laugh because our Soloscope 194 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:53.200 has a couple really trusty sales every year Black Friday 195 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.919 for twenty or probably the most well known ones. But 196 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:59.679 we're only twenty four hour sales, and so after that 197 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:02.039 your s ol unless you're. 198 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.200 A member exactly. Yes. 199 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.600 One big thing too, though, is being a member you 200 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:12.000 get access to things like this documentary God in Country 201 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.840 that just came, not something that any of us had 202 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:17.559 to pay for, It just came. We got an email saying, hey, 203 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:20.600 we're just doing this to be nice. In the past 204 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:24.519 two years, I got a shirt, really nice long sleeve 205 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.639 shirt for free I got for the very first time 206 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:30.240 from any boutique label. For anybody listening, we would love 207 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:34.519 to get this lube from a from a company. Yes, 208 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.799 all of these wonderful you know things have come. We've 209 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.840 gotten stickers, We've got all kinds of stuff. Where where 210 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:45.279 is that headspace come from? What? What do you what 211 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:47.320 are you doing? Because that that's expensive. 212 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:54.440 Well, since we again, like I said, we are a 213 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:58.600 full service distributor. Part of the marketing of a film, 214 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.399 you don't have to kind of reach out out to 215 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:06.200 the exhibitors the arthouses that are showing these films. And 216 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:09.039 we learned a lesson relatively early on. Not that early, 217 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:11.600 I guess, but it was like when did Hell come out? 218 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:12.159 Oh? 219 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:15.000 Yeah, when we did the Yeah, we. 220 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:20.080 Acquired a film called hal about the director Hal Ashby, 221 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:25.799 who was a famous stoner and one of the choch 222 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.799 key that we would make that record labels used to 223 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:31.360 make to spiff out to record stores or whatever. We 224 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:38.440 actually made some branded hal Ashby gummies to give to 225 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:41.120 some of the exhibitors as a kind of like, hey, 226 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:43.679 you know, would you play our movie and here's some 227 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:47.600 gummies for you, like some CBB gummies, And there were 228 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:49.720 so much demand for those. We actually sold more of 229 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:53.759 those than we did at the disc and they thought was, well, 230 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:56.039 you know this is great. Maybe what other things that 231 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:59.720 are can we multipurpose? Obviously it's a promotional item, but 232 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:03.360 people like it is utilitarian enough, you know, someone would 233 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:06.759 actually want to buy it. So yeah, again, it's nothing 234 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:08.519 serves only one purpose around here. 235 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.759 I think I think if I remember right, I got 236 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:14.279 rolling papers one time, lots of rolling papers. 237 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:20.480 Yeah. We have a Soila soap, so yeah we have 238 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:24.879 I think we have candles. Oh maybe not maybe not yet. 239 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:28.279 Maybe. 240 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:30.240 Yeah. 241 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:32.799 One thing that I should bring up celluloid. The game 242 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:35.799 seems to be a big thing that Acilloscope is pushing. 243 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.120 Oh look at that. I didn't even know you had 244 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:37.559 it in your hand. 245 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.240 Amazing. 246 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:41.879 It's really great if you want to open that up. 247 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:46.480 But yeah, it's like a film trivia game and you 248 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:48.320 kind of you can kind of create your own rules. 249 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.000 There's like suggested rules of how to play, but a 250 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:54.519 lot of it is just like Movie Association or Film 251 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:59.559 Association there's also TV nice do you want to just 252 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:06.120 take you do that? But like the artwork on it 253 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:12.440 is really nice. It's oh yeah, but just yeah, so 254 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:16.320 like great artwork and just a lot of I don't know, 255 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.919 a lot of different ways that you can decide how 256 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:20.279 to play it. But it's a it's a fun film game. 257 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:23.519 Film trivia games. 258 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:25.360 You know, being part of the culture is something that 259 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.399 Adam always wanted us to be and you know, for 260 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:30.960 the longest time, you know, things kind of hit a 261 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:35.639 bump with covid a Soloscope would host trivia nights for 262 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:39.919 the local New York film community and the turnout was 263 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.559 always great. Everybody would have a lot of fun, got 264 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:45.840 real competitive with teams and stuff. It was always fun 265 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:47.600 to try to come up with questions to stump the 266 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.600 other panelists. 267 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.919 It was known as one of the hardest trivia film 268 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:55.240 trivia games in the city. 269 00:14:55.639 --> 00:15:01.000 And that's how we ended up here, yes with cellularly 270 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:03.720 with an idea of just trying to make something for home. 271 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:06.480 Yep, and anybody that has been deep in film trivia. No, 272 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:09.159 that's that's a true bragging point to be able to 273 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:11.519 be the most difficult one. 274 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:14.240 The questions were very specific. 275 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:18.240 Well, to answer those, you got to be rooted in cinema. So, Rachel, 276 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:20.279 what's your history of film? I mean, you were at 277 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:22.039 south By Southwest. What got you there? 278 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:26.759 Yeah? Well, actually, so I went to college in Austin, 279 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:30.600 and so I was studying advertising, but then working at 280 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.120 south By Southwest, I was working the film part. I 281 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:36.440 was a theater manager. So I saw all these awesome 282 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:40.200 small films and I met all a bunch of directors 283 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:42.639 and filmmakers, and it was really cool just to be 284 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.919 a part of that scene. And so I became part 285 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:49.679 of the film community in Austin. And then when Adam 286 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:52.200 made a soloscope, I was like, oh, this is perfect. 287 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.679 Let me just see if I get an internship. And 288 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.639 that's how I got here. 289 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:59.600 Very nice. I mean, that's a I'm sure a very 290 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.639 related journey for me, most people as well that have 291 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.320 gotten into this. 292 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:03.720 Yeah. 293 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:05.639 And then my brother also introduced me to a lot 294 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:09.919 of obscure films when I was younger, just forced me 295 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:14.000 to watch stuff which I think really shaped who I am. 296 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.840 Now, what about you, Tom, how'd you get here? 297 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:25.440 A long strange trip? Really? It is quite long, to 298 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:29.879 be expected, Like Rachel, I studied film a little bit 299 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:33.440 in college. My approach was less on the production side, 300 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:37.240 more about criticism, using film as a way to kind 301 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:42.360 of analyze the life experience. And you know how a 302 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:46.000 film is almost analogous to a novel at times. So 303 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:49.399 I would write about films and you know, took different 304 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:55.159 film courses, ended up working straight jobs for a couple 305 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:57.480 of years out of college, ended up working in the 306 00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:00.919 music business for quite some time, and ended up at 307 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:04.839 a Soloscope you know, pretty much by happenstance. The company 308 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:08.920 was co founded by David Fenkel, who went to his 309 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.359 wife went to summer camp with one of the artist 310 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.720 manager's wives that I was working with. So again this 311 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.680 is just getting. 312 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.920 I didn't even know. 313 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:21.680 Yeah, looking for a DVD sales guy, and they needed 314 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:25.079 somebody who was, you know, knowledgeable and aggressive and kind 315 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:28.200 of understood the culture and what they were doing. 316 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.799 And somehow they managed to pick me. Fenkel you know, 317 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.559 brought me in and we had a good conversation. We 318 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.519 kind of hit it off, and called me the next 319 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.079 day he said, you want to come in and meet Adam. 320 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:39.480 I'm like, sure, why not? So I came in the city, 321 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.039 talked to Adam, and you know, he and I kind 322 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.480 of hit it off. We had some common people. You know, 323 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.640 are some people in common because obviously, you know, he 324 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:50.599 had a long history in the recording business. You know, 325 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:53.559 I had a long history record labels, so there was 326 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:57.079 some crossover at times, but I never actually worked directly 327 00:17:57.119 --> 00:18:00.240 with him on the music side. But we also we 328 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:03.640 know people both on the artist management side and the 329 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:06.880 label side that know each other. So again it's all 330 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:09.319 very it's all very incestuous. 331 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.160 Seems like the industry. 332 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.480 Yeah, as you may know, David Finkel went off to 333 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.720 start a twenty four. 334 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:20.359 What Yeah, that's uh. That was one of the things 335 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:22.160 that I was going to bring up is some of 336 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:26.480 the some of the titles could could easily fit under 337 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:30.039 that brand as well. But I'm really excited about a 338 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:33.559 Soloscope's catalog because there's still some titles that you know, 339 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:35.839 nowadays you would kind of just assume would be a 340 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.759 twenty four films, but something like Wendy and Lucy, which 341 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.559 you happen to have the poster above your head there. 342 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:43.039 I actually have the DVD right here that. 343 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:48.720 Was not blanned by the way, that was perfect. There. 344 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.680 There's stuff like that, or we need to talk about 345 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:56.319 Kevin that are these massive titles and somehow a Soloscope 346 00:18:56.319 --> 00:19:00.160 which doesn't get like a lot of mainstream attention. How 347 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.799 have you guys been able to get some of these films? 348 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:04.799 Like just bluntly, I guess that's the question. I'm sure 349 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:07.039 the answer is knowing the right person at the festival. 350 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:10.480 But there's some great pedigree in the catalog. Is the 351 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.839 best way I want to say that. 352 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:15.279 Well, the fact that we've been around for as long 353 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:18.200 as we have and we've released the films that we've 354 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:22.079 been able to release and either monetize them or make 355 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:24.880 the public aware of them, to the point where the 356 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:29.000 filmmakers and the producers realized that, you know, we're a 357 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:32.400 real company and we really put our best forward and 358 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:36.599 do the right thing for the films kind of has 359 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:38.880 been speaking for itself, you know, in the early days 360 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.519 with something like Wendy and Lucy. I mean, obviously, you 361 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:44.319 know it's Kelly's I think her third film that she 362 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:48.400 ever made, Kelly Records third film. And the fact that 363 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:53.039 you know Adam was who he was is who he 364 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:58.680 is as a spectral being made a big difference. You know, 365 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.720 in the early days for a lot of access for 366 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:04.200 some of the titles that a brand new company might 367 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:07.480 not have the ability to get kind of grow from there. 368 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:10.599 Really, Yeah, I want to make a couple of pointed 369 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:13.160 questions and if they're too specific, let me know. But 370 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:18.200 some of the titles have gotten very prolific, Like a 371 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:20.880 lot of people know these so well. What do you 372 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:24.279 think is the most distributed title from our solo scope? 373 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.319 Is that something that is just known around the company 374 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.319 like this has been the most popular title. 375 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:32.640 Yeah, I think we would say Ketty, which the posters 376 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:38.240 up here as well, right there. I don't know if 377 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:42.160 you're familiar with it, but it's a documentary about Turkish 378 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:47.559 street cats. It's surprisingly interesting and there's so much emotion 379 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.359 in it that you would you wouldn't expect. But that's 380 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:53.319 definitely our one of our number one sellars. 381 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:56.880 It's probably the most successful film that we've released. 382 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:57.839 Yeah, it is. 383 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:02.440 Actually shortly after release, it was the third highest grossing 384 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:08.480 foreign language documentary of all time. I mean number one 385 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:12.359 was you know, Babies, because you know it's about babies 386 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:17.680 and people like babies and numbers. Number two at the 387 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:24.200 time was Kina. The Erner Herzec film was then vendors 388 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.799 I forget, but it was like it was one of 389 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.920 those ones that it grossed well because it was shot 390 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.599 in three D and exhibited in three D, so the 391 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:35.039 tickets were higher. I feel like we've probably sold more tickets. Uh, 392 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.480 and more people have seen Kenny than have seen. 393 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:39.960 Film especially now. Yeah. 394 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:44.680 Yeah, but Kendy had a really really long life, many 395 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.400 many lives in that movie. 396 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:49.440 I think love Which as well has also love which. 397 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:50.920 Yeah. 398 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.319 I think that one just keeps going. People ask people, 399 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:56.680 see memes about it, or just like see references to it, 400 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.160 they watch it, and yeah. 401 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:04.400