Your Video Store Shelf

"The whole reason genres exist is because people want to see certain cinematic forms over and over again, with new wrinkles, surprises, developments, bigger, better, etc. The western, the war movie, the spy thriller, the monster movie. They are the meat and potatoes of the broad cinema audience’s diet." Brian Trenchard-Smith has been around the block in this industry. Getting his start in the business cutting trailers in the 1960s, Smith soon found his way into directing. His first feature, the Australian kung fu flic The Man From Hong Kong, was made in the mid-70s. Since then Smith has never stopped chasing his love. Now in Hawaii prepping his 37th film, the Valley of Gwangi-inspired Tyrannosaurus Azteca, Smith has no qualms about his position in the industry as a director of genre films. With many of his films he strives to both satirize and celebrate particular genres, and this is exactly what I love to see filmmakers do. He has an admirably upbeat attitude about his career, and this show is a testament t