Last September when we announced the debut of the trailer for Brick and Mortar Love, “the story of John Timmons, owner of the legendary record store ear X-tacy, as he struggles to find a way to keep his store open and his dream alive after twenty-five years in the rocky, music retail industry,” we had every reason to believe—as did the makers of the doc—that the Louisville, Kentucky mainstay would have found a pathway toward survival. We were both wrong.
“It REALLY sucks and it will continue to suck and I think most people don’t realize what we have lost,” director Scott Shuffitt told me in an email.
“I was pretty much finished editing the film when John finally announced that the store was going to close. There was a gathering outside the store a day or so after he announced, so I took the cam and ended up adding about two or three minutes to the end of the film.”
I asked Scott what the takeaway of the doc is now that ear X-tacy is no longer.
“Initially the film was going to be a call to arms for people in Louisville and beyond who care about record stores to get back to them and this is why you should. What we are left with is a story about the decaying American Dream and hopefully it will open some folks’ eyes to the importance of the mom and pop shop and the local independent retailer.
We give away so much when an indie shop closes, and once they are gone it’s nearly impossible for that void to be filled. Yes, you can still find CDs or detergent or paint or doughnuts but you will not get the culture with them.”
Brick and Mortar Love screens throughout April at these locations:
Louisville
Saturday April 7th starting at 7 pm
The Louisville Science Center
727 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
$5 admission
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Lexington
Friday, April 13th
Doors/dinner at 6, film starts at 6:30
Natasha’s
112 Esplanade Alley, Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 259-2754
$5 admission
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Nashville Film Festival
April 19th – 26th
Screening info still pending
Atlanta
Sunday April, 29th starting around 6 pm
The Masquerade
695 North Ave Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 577-8178
$5 admission
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Bloomington
Monday April 30th starting at 8 pm
The Bishop
123 South Walnut Street Bloomington, IN 47404
(812) 333-4700
$5 admission
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