By Jim Lichacz / LA Film Fest Guest Blogger

During the introduction to Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton (This is Stones Throw Records), a Festival programmer said they make an extra effort to have a good amount of music at the festival. They schedule live bands, screen films about music, and many of the films have great soundtracks. In addition, by being in Los Angeles, they inevitably feature a lot of films in and about LA. So when a film like Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton is presented, they’re especially thrilled since the film is about an independent music label here in LA.

Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton tells the story of the founding and culture of Stones Throw Records, an avant-garde music label founded in 1996 to showcase and distribute music that is left of the mainstream center. Stones Throw has also been a force in keeping the medium of vinyl alive by distributing their product on vinyl records.

In the film, we’re reminded of that period in the music industry where many record stores and chains closed their doors for good, thanks to the introduction of digital music distribution. A majority of the independent record labels were also forced to close up shop. In an era of instant downloads and $20.00 MP3 players, you would have to be crazy to build a business selling vinyl with alternative artists at its core.

But as described by numerous artists in the film, Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf is passionate about the music he chooses to promote, and how it’s distributed—vinyl and all. He shares in the film how he could have sold his company to a major label a number of times, but has chosen to retain full ownership. Music consumers are the beneficiary of this selfless decision on his part, more so considering the resurgence of vinyl records among young people today.

A recent PBS American Masters documentary on music impresario David Geffen showed how important it was that Geffen provided a creative environment for leading singer/songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor in the early 70’s. In the same way, Peanut Butter Wolf’s ability to connect with artists has proved instrumental in providing a nurturing environment for his musicians to develop their art. By covering his origins in the music arena, the film sheds light on how Peanut Butter Wolf was able to develop this skill.

The screening was followed by a Q&A with director Jeff Broadway, who discussed how the art department of Stones Throw Records was made available to him to provide material and stylistic guidance. The visual aesthetic of Stones Throw is a force in and of itself, and its graphic sensibility is nicely transferred into the film.

Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton screens at the LA Film Fest again today, June 22 at 4:30pm. More information available here »