Videos for rent
Selection is paramount when stocking the movie store

Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 24/00) - Movie selection for the masses could be a daunting task.

But not so for the acting manager at Arctic Venture's Video Shack. He says it's a combination of using box office lists and knowing what's popular.

"The Thomas Crown Affair is popular right now, and the younger kids like the Pokemon series," said Jordan Bens.

"The age range of our movie renters is probably from about 12-years-old right up to the elders."

Bens says that being a movie-goer himself helps in doing his job, which involves ordering new movies from the store's southern supplier, sending older movies north to Pangnirtung and selecting a movie to play in the store while customers shop.

"As long as the movie's rating isn't over 14A we can play it in the store."

And as far as popular movies and waiting lists go, not only was Titanic three hours long, it also had a three- week waiting list at the Shack -- even with 10 copies available.

"Titanic had the longest waiting list here, the wait to rent it was about three weeks. Usually we order between six and 10 copies of movies we know will be popular," said Bens.

"The Matrix was also very popular because it uses new computer technology, excellent graphics and has a good story line."

Similarly, excellent graphics, sound and special effects are all qualities of DVD rentals, which are becoming increasingly popular and are expected to make VCRs obsolete.

"More and more people are getting DVD players now. This week I'm ordering mainly DVD movies, like Big Daddy, American Pie and Matrix," said Bens.

"The DVD has a better picture and better sound, it's like having a theatre in your living room."

Bens guesses several people probably received DVD players for Christmas -- one of the store's busiest seasons.

People on holidays and Christmas shopping makes picking up a movie that much easier.

"Movie rentals and sales are at their highest during the Christmas season."

And aside from the busy rushes, the job is relatively hassle-free, says Bens, except for the occasional over-due rental or movies being returned to the wrong movie rental store altogether.