Scarecrow
Uniting People With Film
Support Scarecrow 2.1 – The Campaign for Scarecrow’s Future
Become a Physical Media Defender… Join us in the Scarecrow 2.1 Campaign!
If you are reading this, then we know that you, like us, have a great love for physical media, and understand the need to ensure its survival. Scarecrow 2.1 is our most ambitious effort ever to move Scarecrow forward to make this a reality – but it will take everyone’s help to make it happen.
This past year’s challenges have taught us two things: 1) we have the most amazing supporters in the world; and 2) in order for Scarecrow to survive all that the future has in store, we must bring our infrastructure into the 21st century. By joining us on this journey with your support, you will help us:
- Build new systems to seamlessly integrate with our public web portal which will:
- Allow for real-time inventory updates
- Create a rent-by-mail experience that is easier for users and more efficient and cost-effective for us.
- Completely overhaul our website which will offer:
- A better user interface for searching the collection,
- Higher functionality in reserving titles,
- Recommendations for what to watch next, and
- A centralized place to enjoy our original video and audio content.
- Continue serving the community with free programming like Silver Screeners, Children’s Hour, Movies in the Park/Carpool Cinema, a full-slate of activities in our Screening Room, as well as more online accessible content and experiences like our Scarecrow Radio podcast and Youtube content like our Viva Physical Media episodes, our twice-monthly Twitch screenings, and our virtual Film Club.
As you join us in being a part of the Future of Physical Media, we have a new crop of amazing rewards including limited-edition merch and fun ways to interact with the collection. Check them out here and grab them before they’re gone.
Halfway there! Help bring it home with your gift today!
What’s behind the Scarecrow 2.1 Campaign…
In our 30+ year history stewarding the world’s largest library of film, we’ve overcome a lot of challenges and bounced back from threats to our continued operation, all so we could continue fulfilling founder George Latsios’s mission to connect people with film.
We never foresaw a global pandemic, though.
Shortly before the world went into lockdown, we were offering a pilot rent-by-mail program. As more and more people sheltered in place, interest in the program exploded, and we’re now shipping films to movie lovers in 25 states.
But we’re doing it with severely outdated systems. It’s probably not news that our website has needed an upgrade for far too long. Behind-the-scenes, the tools we’re using to manage the collection and the search utilities you use to explore it are reaching a breaking point. We are grateful to have survived the pandemic, but the experience has made it clear that we need vital infrastructure upgrades to continue beyond it.
Further, recent events have also highlighted the severe limitations of streaming content and, at this point, physical media remains the best way to guarantee that the fullest spectrum of works remains available for us to enjoy while connecting with it as a representation of our collective history. Scarecrow remains the best place on Earth to experience it. Please make your gift in support of Scarecrow 2.1 to assure that remains the case for years to come.
MAKE YOUR GIFT NOW… and don’t forget to check out the awesome rewards!
Scarecrow 2.1 Donor Rewards
As an added thanks for supporting Scarecrow during our SCARECROW 2.1 campaign, we’re offering some neat, limited-edition merch and fun ways to interact with the Scarecrow Collection.
Make your gift today and be sure to note which reward(s) you’d like when you submit your donation form. Thank you for your role in keeping the Scarecrow Collection available to all for years to come!
The Seasoned Ticket #139
Robert Horton is a Scarecrow board member and a longtime film critic. He will be contributing a series of “critic’s notes” to the Scarecrow blog—a chance to highlight worthy films playing locally and connecting them to the riches of Scarecrow’s collection.
Scarecrow Radio Episode 21
On this episode of Scarecrow Radio we have Virginia Bogert, Kris Keppler, and Susan LaSalle from Women in Film Seattle, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting respect for women on and off set and screen. They’re here to tell us all about their work in the Seattle film community, including events like the Post Alley Film Festival. Plus, Ben and Darcy discuss the upcoming release of one of their favorite films.
William Kennedy: Gentleman, Scholar, and Cinephile of Cinephiles
Bill in his natural habitat (a movie theater lobby). Photo by Cris Munson.
by Tony Kay
The passing of William Kennedy—gentleman, scholar, longtime Scarecrow patron, and one of Seattle’s most dedicated cineastes—represents an irreplaceable loss to Seattle’s film scene.
Bill’s presence during indie theater screenings was as ubiquitous as it was welcome. With his bright eyes, genial smile, professorial wardrobe, and a different book seemingly surgically attached to his hand every time I saw him, he felt (in his own humbly low-key way) damn near iconic to me. He was also my friend, and I miss him sorely.
New Releases for June 15!
It’s New Release Tuesday! This week we’ve got Kaiju, pro-wrestling, Salvador Dali, multiple Seattle documentaries, and tons more, but most importantly, WE’RE OPEN. So come visit and rent some New Releases!
The Seasoned Ticket #138
Robert Horton is a Scarecrow board member and a longtime film critic. He will be contributing a series of “critic’s notes” to the Scarecrow blog—a chance to highlight worthy films playing locally and connecting them to the riches of Scarecrow’s collection.
New Releases for June 8!
It’s New Release Tuesday! This week we have a three-part Japanese epic from Criterion, a handful of vintage Belmondo action comedies, Spanish exploitation, Hungarian animation, a remastered camp classic, and more.
The Seasoned Ticket #137
Robert Horton is a Scarecrow board member and a longtime film critic. He will be contributing a series of “critic’s notes” to the Scarecrow blog—a chance to highlight worthy films playing locally and connecting them to the riches of Scarecrow’s collection.
Scarecrow Radio Episode 20
THIS WEEK ON SCARECROW RADIO: We are very excited to have filmmaker Jeff Krulik talk about his recent film, TALES OF BELAIR AT BOWIE, and the 35th anniversary of the infamous underground cult classic HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT. Darcy and Ben also give recommendations of their favorite Jeff Krulik films and shorts.
New Releases for June 1!
It’s New Release Tuesday! This week we’ve got new animation from Genndy Tartakovsky, a bunch of vintage titles from Kino, a classic Aussie biker movie, a new box set of films from a legendary DIY low-budget Wisconsin genre filmmaker, and lots more.
June REPRESENT! LGBTQ+ Filmmakers
REPRESENT! is a monthly spotlight of filmmakers and storytellers from different cultures, countries, identities, and underrepresented groups in order to expose and educate our community to unique voices and visions in cinema. Scarecrow will join forces with a spectrum of community partners to collaboratively curate lists of films as well as provide resources about the experiences they represent.
June 2021: LGBTQ+ Filmmakers
View Archive
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