Why these two friends are leading the charge to keep physical media alive

If you’re not ready to fully give in to streaming your movies and TV shows, or maybe you favor personal recommendations over the algorithm, there’s a whole community of likeminded people in Los Angeles.

That includes a couple of friends who are leading the charge to keep physical media alive.

Filmmaker and movie rental store employee Edwin Gomez, 26, remembers when he first realized physical media was a thing. His dad took him to a local video store in Azusa.

“As soon as I saw the store, I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing!’ I still remember the first physical media tape I ever rented and then later bought. It was a movie called Deep Star Six... I rented it soooo many times,” Gomez told LAist.

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Years later he bonded with musician Marina Sakimoto, 32, over their shared love of VHS tapes, DVDs and everything tangible media.

“I think it is just sort of a reaction to the bombarding nature of technology and how kind of intrusive it’s starting to feel... this is a way for people to reclaim a bit of power. Reclaim a bit of choice,” Sakimoto said.

A society is born

About a year ago, she and Gomez founded the Physical Media Society. They host VHS screenings, tape swap markets and more.

“I’ve just really found a lot of camaraderie, a lot of understanding amongst folks who, a lot of the time, feel like misfits or they like strange stuff, weird stuff,” Sakimoto said.

Stuff like obscure horror flicks, B movies... and long forgotten films. Gomez said he feels like it’s their duty to make sure people don’t forget about those rarities.

“A movie like Race with the Devil,” Gomez said.

But it’s not just esoteric gems that catch his eye. Gomez has a desire to screen a certain shark sequel.

“I’m a big fan of Jaws 2 and I feel like it deserves its day,” he said.

For Sakimoto, the Physical Media Society is about more than nerding out on weird movies and collecting tapes. It’s also about getting people out of the house and finding community.

“The communal experience is really special too when you’re watching a movie together. I think people are just looking for that and it’s really exciting to see,” Sakimoto said.

On Sunday at Gardena Cinema, the Physical Media Society will co-host a double feature of El Mariachi and Desperado on... VHS, of course. And there will be a pre-show VHS swap, too.

The El Mariachi and Desperado double feature will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Gardena Cinema on Crenshaw Boulevard.

More info and tickets can be found here.