Our Bar Trash: VHS USA season has been going down an absolute storm… Responding to your love of this legacy format, Token Homo and Genesis Cinema are proud to invite you to our first VHS Collecting Day featuring a VHS Collecting Workshop and a Vintage VHS Double-Bill, co-hosted by the fabulous Gemma Gore!

• VHS Collecting Workshop: 15:00 to 17:30
• Vintage VHS Double-Bill: 18:30 to 23:00 (+ intros & intermission)
• Venue: Bar Paragon at Genesis Cinema.
• Tickets: DAY PASS (£13) = workshop + films // DOUBLE-BILL (£8) = films only
• Please note: the films are not bookable individually. Strictly 18+ only.
• Food and drink ticketing options are available.

VHS COLLECTING WORKSHOP

In this introductory workshop, passionate tapehead Gemma Gore will demystify all things VHS!

What exactly are VHS “pre certificate”, “sell thru” or “ex rental” tapes, and why is this valuable information if you want to buy or sell them? Why are some tapes selling for ££££ and others being sent to the tip? What are the benefits/pitfalls of buying “imports” and how do you play them? And, is VHS really making a comeback??

Gemma will share tips on everything from buying, selling, and getting help with valuations, to tape preservation, storage and maintenance (including mould removal!). Of course, you’ll also need something to play your tapes on, so Gemma will explain sourcing VCRs – where to buy reliable machines, what to avoid, and what you might expect to pay. Gemma will end the workshop by giving a quick guide to the VHS collecting community, so you’re never far away from more help.

Whether you’re starting out, or already have a tape collection, this friendly workshop is for you!

VINTAGE VHS DOUBLE-BILL: THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE (1982) + SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE 2 (1987)

We are thrilled to be presenting a double-bill of two 1980s slashers, both written and directed by women, and shown from vintage VHS*. The films have been chosen by Gemma Gore and will play from tapes in her own collection.

Directed by Amy Holden Jones, THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE (1982, aka ‘Slumber Party Murders’ in the UK) was originally written as a parody by lesbian novelist Rita Mae Brown under the title ‘Sleepless Nights’. This is one of Gemma’s favourite slashers of all time! Right after it, we’re also screening the lesser-seen sequel – the hilarious, chaotic nightmare that is SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE 2 (1987), written and directed by Deborah Brock.

“A drop-dead masterpiece of subversive trash-horror” + “the ultimate horror-rock blasterpiece!” (American Genre Film Archive)

ABOUT GEMMA GORE (@thegemmagore)

My love of film and VHS are inextricably linked – as a child of the 80s my whole introduction to film was predominantly via VHS. I am still completely besotted with tapes and have a very eclectic collection which features everything from THE BREAKFAST CLUB to CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST.

*Polite notice: Our Bar Trash VHS titles do not have subtitles or captions and may encounter technical problems during playback (we have backup discs if needed).

Bar Trash is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, created and hosted by queer film fanatic, Token Homo. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for news and updates.