Fact or Fiction?
You Be the Judge
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard There once was a time when hunting down a Hollywood classic movie or watching the latest summer blockbuster in December meant going to the local video store. For those lucky enough to bear witness, Ardmore’s Viva Video made that trip down memory lane a reality up until just a few months ago. And if you stopped in out of sheer curiosity or to rent a movie, you probably saw Newtown Square resident Bryan Way behind the counter. He said he had been asked more than a few times, “Why hang onto a job that won’t be there for much longer?” Bryan’s response: “When I find something I’m passionate about, I stick with it.” Originally from Upper Darby, Bryan moved to our area in grade school. He went to Marple Newtown Senior High School and graduated from Temple University. He spent a brief time working in Los Angeles before returning home and taking a job at TLA Video in Bryn Mawr. When the video rental industry
began to slump, TLA folded, and Bryan was out of a job. His long-time manager Miguel Gomez asked Bryan to join him at Viva Video, where he grew into a management role. “No reasonable person believes a dying industry like that could afford many opportunities,” Bryan said. “But the shared passion of the Viva staff made an impression on the right people, and we made it work.” As it turns out, not giving up on the DVD rental industry had its advantages. In 2019, Viva Video was the subject of a television pilot on the SYFY Channel. Aired as Midnight Rewind, the program featured Bryan and his coworkers cut into John Carpenter’s cult classic They Live. “If nothing else, the pilot taught me a lesson about perseverance,” Bryan said. “All we can do with the time we have is find something we love and dedicate ourselves to it passionately. That’s what I did with Viva.”
Expecting Guests for The Holidays? Don’t Panic… Call DriGanic! Exceptional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning You have to see the difference to believe it! • No wet carpets or downtime • No harsh chemicals • No detergent residue • Safe for all types of carpets • Safe for your family and pets
FREE In-Home Estimates!
610-888- 4539 • Visit www.DriGanic.com TODAY!
Come visit our Christmas Garden Shop! We’ll help you gather the special items you need this holiday season.
Exceptional plants for your home and garden 4033 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square • 610-356-8035 • www.Mostardi.com 32
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
November 2021
