Hello, there!

 

 

Hello, my name is Richard but I prefer to go by Rich. This is my blog about the 125+ history of film from every movement and continent.

I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, blocks away from where Frederick Wiseman filmed High School.

I was always a fan of TV and movies growing-up. I was a very, shy child and felt that the best way to get out of my shell was acting. When I started acting in high school, people would tell me to see such and such movie, so, I could see the different types of acting. My obsession with film began at this time. Any free time I’ve had has been, mostly, watching film. I was lucky after I finished my BA and became a SAG member but left it because I hated the way people treated each other (especially how people treated women). I am, now, a teacher.

This will take me years to do. Since I’m from the US, I haven’t seen a lot of TV and mini-series from around the world. I try to see movies from around the world but I am held-up by movies that only have English subtitles. Plus, I am only one man. I’m sorry if I don’t get to a movie that is beloved in your city but I’ll try.

I’m not going to write future blogs with my opinion in mind. I want to leave my opinions out of the history of film. Do I dislike some movies that are considered ‘classics’? Sure, but you and I are different. Your opinion is perfectly as good as mine. Like what you want.

Why I wanted to do this? There are reference sites (IMDB, iCheckMovies, LetterBoxd) to look for movies but you still need to go digging. I wanted to talk about everything so you don’t have to go digging. If a movement sounds like something you’d like than you can use those sites to guide you.

Here are some of my thoughts on film:

• Film is a medium!
• It is subjective!
• I hate the word ‘boring’. It is such a crutch that people fall back on to not say what they like or dislike about art. Tell me what you thought about the movie. Let’s have a conversation.
• Any piece of art is a reaction to the time it is made. I do hate the criticism of a piece of art being ‘dated’ since most likely the themes and effects were brand new when it came out.
• Watching a movie is rather weird. You sit down for a long time in the dark watching moving pictures. You are a voyeur.
• Many consider film and TV to be an “empathy box”, which for many movies they are. We connect to characters on the screen even when they are from a completely different culture. Just because something is old or from a different culture doesn’t mean a person shouldn’t see it. Film is a universal language. We are all human and we all are moved by pictures.
• Don’t be swayed by someone’s opinion. You can like what you like.
• A movie is as long as it needs to be.
• Don’t let anyone tell you that a movie should be a certain way.
• Don’t get caught in a bubble. Expand your understanding of the medium.
• Don’t be a snub, elitist, or pretentious. A blockbuster is just as much of art as a Stan Brakhage short.
• For me, I don’t need to connect with the main character. There are awful people in real life and that should be explored in cinema.
  
• Movies aren’t real. They may reflect our lives but they tend to revolve around themes or ideas.

 

If you want to know what I think about a movement, actor, director, movie, etc., then ask in the comments. You can, also, recommend future blog posts.

 

Here is, also, the way to write a movie title:

The Wizard of Oz (Fleming, 1939)

Salesman (Maysles Bros. & Zwerin, 1969)