Burn Hollywood...BURN!!!

By: Marcial Robiou

         The summer has finally passed, but it didn't take with it the brain-dead over-inflated summer movies. In fact, it's hard to get away from the big-budget horrors: They're everywhere! Finding a film that actually makes you think is like cramming for the SAT's, requiring research on what critics said, seeing if any of your friends saw it, finding out what it's about, and figuring out the cost analysis: Is it worth your $8?

         Occasionally an indie pic gets its due recognition and manages to be released in major theaters, but for every Lost in Translation there's a slew of just-as-worthy films that either don't get to grace the silver screen and go straight to video or play in an art house theatre that's just too far a drive for a movie and only hardcore film fans see. Of course, there is always the option of going to the local video store and renting an indie film, but since the stores usually have 45 copies of the latest Hollywood crap-fest and only one copy of anything decent, odds are you're gonna walk away with an Ashton Kutcher film.

         Well, not anymore. Recently South Florida's small video shops like Lion Video in Coral Gables and New Concept in Miami Beach, which cater to the indie film crowd, have been successful. Even though the city is not a haven for independents, a loyal and enthusiastic audience out there wants nothing to do with Hollywood's latest Jerry O' Connell opus. However, these stores don't just carry American indies. On the same shelf where you would find say a John Sayles film, you could also discover some unique gems from Iran or Cuba and definitely India.

         Lion Video and New Concept are very much alike. They both started roughly ten years ago and both are enjoying enormous success. The late Isaac Santos created 'Lion' some ten years ago with the thought that film was not just a commodity, but also a way of life. After he died this past January of a heart attack, the store had a mountain of unpaid bills and the inventory was shipped back and it seemed that the store would have to close. But his long time friend Damian Hurtado took over and tracked down all the movies the store lost.

         "There's a big market for people who are movie freaks, who love movies like we do," said Hurtado after pointing out that his loyal customers are a testament to the desire for independent films in South Florida. He seems to be on to something; business is so good Hurtado just opened a second store on Biscayne Blvd.

         New Haven has a different story behind it but is reaping in the same success. After the original owner moved, Daniel Fehres bought the store ten years ago with the hope he could make a thriving business out of foreign, blockbuster, adult and independent movies. Much like Lion, his gamble paid off and allowed him to open a second store.

         When asked about his good fortune, he said: "Would the same store work in Ohio? Probably not. But a city that has so many different cultures lends itself to that
market." Both Lion and New Concept have proved what Nat Chediak, founder of the Miami Film Festival learned from his 18 years of directing the festival. "There's film
culture in South Florida. If there were not an audience, these people wouldn't be thriving, would they?"