Tuesday, September 25, 2012

And So it Begins… On its 5th Blogiversary

I’ve been hand writing movie reviews since Jan. 1, 2000. I have hundreds of notebooks filled with reviews, lists, director profiles – anything to keep my movie-freaked mind entertained while I was a teenager. When I got to college, more and more people began asking me what I thought of this movie, or that actor, and so on. So, five years ago today I decided to jump on the blog bandwagon and start And So it Begins.

Now, I wanted to do something cool for the five year benchmark, so for the remainder of this week, I’m going to be posting (what I think are) a series of bitchin’ Top 10 Lists that define who I am as a cinephile. The first one will be up later today. But for now, a story.

Movies have always been there for me. No matter what heavy shit life decided to throw, I’ve always found solace in the art of film. Writing is the same way. In high school, I discovered that writing was something I could escape into. So, in the beginning, this blog was merely a way to mesh two of my favorite things together.

For the first three and a half years, hardly anyone read this blog. I got a comment here or there, page hits broke a dozen (maybe), but it didn’t matter. I was writing about movies because it’s what I love to do. Once I became part of the LAMB community and started hitting Twitter aggressively, readership skyrocketed.

Which leads me to my main point. I started this blog because I find calm in writing, especially when I’m writing about films. The films motivate me, but you, the readers, encourage me. The support you’ve shown me, this blog, and, my short flick, Earrings, is something I continually hold in my heart and will never lose sight of. So thank you. Really, truly, thank you.

Last year on this date, I listed the movie blogs I read, and the reasons why I thought other people should read them too. But, quite frankly, there are just too many to list here now. But I do want to draw particular attention to one site, more as a plea than a recommendation.

Southern Vision. Tyler Atkinson’s ingenious Southern Vision has and will always remain one of the best film blogs I have ever read. Once I joined Twitter, Tyler and I became fast friends, finding a common ground in our love of indie/foreign/obscure/art house films, and a penchant for writing sardonic, honest posts.
Lately, Southern Vision has gone more or less dormant. And I get it, I really do. Blogging (and blogging well) isn’t easy. It’s a big goddamn commitment, and sometimes some of us need to take a step back and chill out. In the year and a half I’ve been following Southern Vision, Tyler has cranked out marvelous post after marvelous post, and the dude deserves a break. I just hope it isn’t a permanent one. Take as much time as you need, my friend, but I want to know what you think of The Master. I want to know if you’re as taken with Amour as you are with Haneke’s other films. I want to know if you think Cloud Atlas is a modern masterpiece, or wannabe pulp garbage.

I miss your film voice, and I want it back, if for no other reason than because I selfishly get a great deal of inspiration from it.

To Tyler and Diana and Sati and Stevee and Sam and Dave and Dan and Nikhat and Stephanie and Shantanu and Anna and Ruth and Stephen and Josh and Sam and Joe and Ethan and Matt and Gregory and Alex and Eric and Chris and Robert and all of you. Thank you.

(And, of course, to my mom and dad and Miguel and Evan and Taylor and my lovely Julie, thank you.)

Keep writing.

-Alex

55 comments:

  1. HAPPY BLOG BIRTHDAY! WOO HOO!
    Here's to many more years :)

    Also thanks for the mention!

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    1. Thanks!

      And thank YOU for reading and being so goddamn funny all of the time.

      *head desk*

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    2. Congratulations on your blogiversary. I love what you wrote about finding lifelong solace in films and writing. That's exactly how I've always felt about books and writing, starting from a very tender age. I never thought of myself as an evolving serious film buff until relatively recently. Thanks for being one of my tour guides on that journey.

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    3. Aw that's so kind of you to say, Stephanie! It has been great getting to know you and talk films over these past months.

      I will happily be one of your guides as long as you'll allow!

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  2. Congratulations, Alex! Your love AND dedication to writing, blogging and film-making is an inspiration to me. My bloggy turns 3 next month. How does your blog feel about being 2 years older than mine? ;-)

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    1. Thanks, that comment means the world to me.

      So, how do I feel about my blog being two years older than yours? Probably close to how you feel about being two years older than me. Sho'nuff :)

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  3. Congrats, five years is a serious achievement! I hope I can eventually make it that far, and I hope Tyler comes back too.

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    1. Thanks! You'll definitely make it to 5... your site rocks!

      (sigh)... how I miss Tyler's film voice.

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  4. Happy blog anniversary! (By the way, keep an eye on my blog. There'll be something you might like.)

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  5. Happy Blogo-Anniversa-Birthday! Thanks for the shout-out (I hope I'm the Robert you mentioned, if not...awkward).

    I feel like work has kept me from reading your blog and commenting as much as I'd like and that just sucks. You epitomize movie blogging - truly.

    Here's to five (and many) more years!

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    1. Ha, of course you're the Robert in question!

      Hey man, I understand fully what you mean about life and work taking away from blogging/blog commenting. It's all good man! Thanks so much for saying that though, you've been a long supporter of this site and I truly appreciate it!

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  6. Happy 5th birthday. Here's to five more years.

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  7. I have said it before and I will say it again - You ARE a legend, Alex !
    Here is to many more to come. Hopefully, we will be there too.

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    1. Thanks so much man. Your support has really meant a lot, I am genuinely happy to call you my friend!

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  8. Wow, I had no idea you've been doing this for five years! Congrats, man, and keep up the AWESOME work!

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    1. Thanks Eric! You keep rockin' and rollin' too, brother man!

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  9. Happy 5th Blog Birthday, and I wish you many more years of successful blogging! You're one of the best film sites on the Net, period.

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    1. Damn Alex, thanks so much for that. Really glad to have e-met you recently! Thanks so much for being a fan of the site!

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  10. Happy 5 year blogiversary, Alex! You do run an excellent site, and I value your opinions, even if we don't always see eye to eye on everything. Keep it up buddy!
    Is there a follow-up short film in the pipeline by any chance? Hope so :)

    Tyler does run an informative site with lots of arthouse recommendations, I also suggest subscribing to his youtube channel, awesome stuff he locates there.

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    1. Thanks Chris! I know we don't always agree, but that definitely doesn't mean I don't value your opinion. Keep rockin' out man!

      (Funny story: as I'm writing this comment, a St. Lucia song began to play. Love them.)

      A new short is definitely in the pipeline, just have to get funds secure and actors and a shooting schedule and blah blah blah haha.

      Gonna check out Tyler's YouTube channel now.

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  11. Again, happy blog birthday man! Thanks for the mention. I'm looking forward to your lists. Keep up the good work! :)

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    1. Thanks buddy! LOVE your site to death. You keep up the good work too!

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    2. Thanks so much! I'll do my best. :)

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  12. Way to go Alex!! Yes, keep on writing. I'm so delighted that you didn't take the advice of that silly high school guidance counselor so many years ago.

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  13. 5 years! That is really impressive!
    I love every single post you publish on your blog, so keep on going!

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    1. Wow, thanks Sati! Cinematic Corner is one of my absolute favorite movie blogs. Ever. Keep on keepin' on!

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  14. Congrats first,Alex! Your story really inspires me,I can't believe you stayed after 3 years' poor visiting status,you make me believe all the hard work on blogging will be paid some day,so thanks.

    Tyler's blog is also one of my favorite blogs,because I'm just a huge arthouse film fan as he is,I hope he will come back to us soon.

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    1. Thanks David! And yeah man, if sites hits are down, who cares?! I blog about movies because I looove writing about movies.

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  15. Happy Blogiversary, man! I can't believe you've been doing this for five years. I'm pretty sure that makes you a veteran of this entire blogging scene. I just have to thank you for managing to deliver consistent and quality content, to the point where any time I watch a movie I go check and see if you've written a review on it so I know what I'm getting into. Your content is diverse, always interesting, and has led me to a cornucopia of great films.

    Keep up the great work and I hope to be reading your content for the next five years as well.

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    1. Wow Ethan, thanks so much for this comment. It's been great getting to know you over these past few months. The support you've shown me and my work, specifically as it relates to Earrings, is something I will truly never forget. So thanks man!

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  16. Wow, five years! Big high-five to that! (haha, get it?) Okay, that's seriously impressive. I had no idea that you've been going for so long, so well done for keeping at it, and getting more amazing by the day.

    Also, I hope that Tyler comes back, too. I know where he's coming from with not blogging for so long, as I've been struggling too, but he's such a great blogger.

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    1. Haha nice! Looking back... yeah, it's crazy that this thing has been live for five. Who knew haha.

      I saw a Tweet from you last week that I thought alluded to the notion of you quitting blogging. (sigh), I really, truly hope that doesn't happen. I know it's a lot of work, but I love your site! Keep on goin'!

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  17. Holy fuck man. The fuck can I say? THANK YOU. My blogging break wasn't really planned and I couldn't write a post explaining why I was doing it because I wasn't sure myself. Honestly, I don't know when I'll return. But I promise you, on my life, that I will. I am insanely flattered that you value my writing so much, I promise you my break is not permanent.

    More importantly, congrats on your five years blogging, that's an achievement I can only dream of, hopefully some day I will get there. You are one of my biggest writing inspirations my friend, and I admire everything you put onto your brilliant site.

    As Lars Rudolph said as the unforgettable character Janos Valuska in my favourite film ever made: "It's still not over."

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    1. Hey man, thanks so much for taking my comments the "right way." I was hoping I didn't come off as pushy or something, I just genuinely miss you putting out fresh content. But like I said, I completely understand. I'm so happy that you promise to come back someday. That'll be a fine day indeed.

      Thanks for the five year thanks and all of your kind words.

      It's still not over. Indeed.

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  18. Congratulations Fellow Alex!!! I'm sure you already know but your motivation in my first month or so of the blog really encouraged me to simply keep going with my blog, I appreciate it so much!

    Keep up the good work, I don't know how you do it sometimes!

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    1. Any encouragement I did (and can) give you is really my pleasure. I think it takes a lot of guts for a relatively new film fan to start a blog from scratch just as he's seriously starting to discover films.

      Keep it going!

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  19. Happy fifth anniversary dude! Keep up the good work and I hope to see many more years of it. Thanks for the shout out too. Gives me confidence about my own blog as I recently passed the one year marker. There's few things better than writing about movies, I just wish I realized it earlier. And I got to say, I read your blog more than any other out there. Keep going strong and I (like everyone else) hope to see a new short film sometime in the future.

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    1. Wow man, thank you so much for such a kind comment. I don't mean to sound flip when I say this, but I honestly had no idea so many people dug my site as much as they do. It means the world to me. Sincerely.

      So thanks man. I love your site, DEFINITELY keep at it!

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  20. Congratulations Kid! I am impressed and awed by your commitment and passion daily.

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    1. Thank you so much for that comment, boss man. Now who's the Joker to My Left?

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  21. 5 years, that's an excellent triumph! Congratulations, and I hope you'll still write the next 5 years. When I saw your blog, it just hit me that I know nothing about movies. Keep up the good work, and thanks, your Earrings movie inspired me too.

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    1. Aww thanks for that! But I wouldn't say you know NOTHING about movies... you run a really good movie blog site! But thank you. And thanks for your kind words about Earrings. It's words like yours that inspire ME!

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  22. I love your blog so much I wish I could adopt it as a pet. Just kidding. But, fantastic blog you have here, wonderful writing. Happy 5th Blogiversery!

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    1. Ha, thanks man! I've really valued your support over this past year or so. YOU keep rockin' and rollin' too!

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  23. "I started this blog because I find calm in writing, especially when I’m writing about films." That's just a great line, man, and once with which I can totally identify.

    Cheers on your anniversary. Now I'm off to read your Top 10's.

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    1. Thanks dude! That's so cool that you understand where I'm coming from in terms of my writing process. It's just the strangest, most unique feeling in the world.

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  24. 5 years? that is a true accomplishment, congratulations mister Alex! Keep up the good work, you are one of my favorites, a constant inspiration and source of information, not to mention Twitter friend :) Thanks for the mention!

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    1. Thanks D! This comment was so kind of you. I love your blog and your writing and our Twittering. YOU keep up the good work too!

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  25. Belated congrats on your 5th blogaversary, Alex!! We may not have the same taste in films but I think you are a massively talented writer and filmmaker. Keep up the great work man, and Godspeed!

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    1. Aw thanks so much, Ruth! I'm glad that despite our different tastes we can still appreciate each other's work! Cheers!

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  26. Sorry it took so long to reply to this, but I'm having issues commenting via iPhone lately. Anyway, I've been meaning to say this, friend. Happy Blogiversary, man! I always love reading your stuff, and I'm also amused and enlightened by your fanbase's comments. You've got yourself a nice little community here. So thanks for that, and thanks for letting me tag along.

    *raises glass*

    Cheers!

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    1. Hey man, it's all good, you can comment on anything, anytime. I love all of your comments, so I'm not worried when they come through, just happy that you're leaving them!

      I am continually amused and humbled by all of the comments I get here, I am forever indebted to this blogging community.

      Thank YOU so much for reading and supporting Earrings!

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