The Magic of Cinema

Aw, films. More commonly referred to as “movies”. Whatever you want to call them. I have simply enjoyed them my whole life. They go hand in hand with my upbringing and childhood. My family and especially my parents hold T.V. and film up to such a high standard that growing up we would always go to the movies every weekend. Sometimes watching 4-5 movies because we would sneak into them. And on Christmas we would all as a family spend all day long watching movies. As a child I owned a VHS cassette player and would always be fast forwarding and rewinding VHS tapes back and forth. I’m guessing that’s where my VTR and editing skills come from. Ja. Ja. As an adolescent, for hours, I would sit in front of the T.V. and watch movie after movie. Putting one VHS cassette tape after another. And when a tape would break it would be like the end of the world to me. But I digress. What I really wanted to blog about today are the reasons why I enjoy watching films so much. And if I were to pin it down to one thing, one reason why I enjoy films so much. It would be this. When I choose a specific movie to watch I typically choose something that interests me and often lets me escape from reality. I like films that speak to me and often lead me into certain situations and realities I am unfamiliar with. To be able to instantly be transported to another time, another place, a life I am unfamiliar with or will never live, something that I can learn and grow from, seeing places I’ve never been, witnessing humanity or it’s flaws in it. For 1-3 hours I want to escape and be taken to a place that I never could have dreamed of in a million years. And, yes. I need a good story, twists and turns, high stakes, consequences (or not) to pair with the experience. To be able to experience new things and different cultures, sub-cultures, races and ethnicities. One good film that gives a great example of this would have to be, “An Autumn Afternoon,” (1962). It not only shows Japanese culture but also the city of Tokyo, nearly 20 years after American Democracy had been instilled in Japan and how it affected the Japanese during that time. You are also taken to other time periods such as 1970s New York in, “Taxi Driver,” (1976), 19^th Century London as in, “Sherlock Holmes,” (2009), early 20^th Century Ireland as in, “Angela’s Ashes,” (1999), experiencing the Roman Empire specifically the Roman Coliseum in ,“Gladiator,” (2000) or somewhere in the not too distant future as in, 1997’s “Gattaca.” It’s like being in a time machine and witnessing, “convincingly,” the history of it’s time. And in some instances you feel a hero’s journey as they grow up during those times and to see what life was like first hand. Feeling like you’re living and experiencing those times for yourself. You also get to travel not only the world but the entire universe when watching a film (thanks to the sci-fi genre). I’ve never been to Thailand but, “The Hangover Part II” (2011) took me there. I’ve never been to the edges of deep space but “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983) showed it to me. I’ve never been to Mars but “Escape From Mars” (1999) gives me a good depiction of it. And before I visited Kauai, Hawaii, “The Descendants” (2011) gave me a broad understanding of it. And as you’re watching a movie you also experience what a hero goes through. You get to feel what they feel. Their frustrations, their pain, their sorrows, their flaws, the ups and downs, slips and falls and ultimately how they grow and learn, “The Wrestler” (2008) or maybe not, “The Godfather: Part II” (1974). You get to experience this especially if the acting is good, “There Will Be Blood” (2007). But for the most part you learn from it. You get to live through the lives of others. And I experience things I could never do in a million years. And if you were to ask me, “Is film a legitimate art form?” I would legitimately say that, “Yes. Film is a form of art.” It’s the most visual way to convey a message and ultimately tell a story. It’s a play, it can be composed just like a painting would, it can be aesthetically appealing (or not) like a painting would, the screenplays can be written just as cleverly and sophisticated (or not) as a novel or poetry would be, it can be preserved and displayed like any painting or sculpture for many, many years to come. It can express and present itself as any part of art history you can think of from romanticism, to dadaism, even cubism all the way to modern and post-modern expression. And ultimately when it comes down to it, it is just photography in motion. But most importantly it tells a story. And last I heard stories have been told since the dawn of mankind. Haven’t they? And what a way to tell a story! It is visual and moves. It shows. It’s ALIVE!!! I’m sorry for that tangent but, movies simply bring out the best in me. They make me laugh. They cheer me up or they keep me in suspense in complete utter angst. Sometimes it’s like a roller coaster ride full of emotions. But for the most part I simply love it. Movies have been apart of my life since…well…forever. Life would be dull without them. I just simply love movies! My filmmaking stems from this. I don’t aspire to be like the greats. I just want to be myself and make projects that are different and outside of the box. And no, I am not looking for an Oscar. I do it because I love it. I do it because I respect the craft and love to do it. I just want to tell a story and make something just as great as I’ve seen before. I just love to see movies it’s not even funny. The macabre of it all. The illusion, the magic. The brilliance and grandeur of Cinema. Oh. How I love you so.