I love pretty much all of these ideas! There’s a theater nearish to me that does a lot of these things you’ve mentioned, it shows local documentaries, hosts showings for our local film festival, and even showed a series recently that got people who don’t (can’t) usually go to the movie theater by showing old silent horror films with a modern rock score underneath (the one my friend went to go see recently was Nosferatu with REM playing I think? Wild) I really think if the success is there, people will come.
Ooh I’m just discovering the filmy people on ss. I’ve been writing short essays on films— not necessarily my favourite films but of specific scenes that have stayed with me for whatever reason (usually terror)…But I’ve written on a few Satyajit Ray’s which would be a great introduction to those who don’t know how work (not the Apu trilogy which everyone knows)
Since I'm an animation guy, here's my 5-film animation workout to open your mind to different kinds of animated films not made by Disney or DreamWorks.
I feel like Toronto has a number of these in place already, through the TIFF Lightbox and other theatres. Not to mention the festivals, from TIFF to Hot Docs.
If there were a way to replicate the vibe I get from TIFF year-round, at more places than just the Lightbox, I'd be all for it. Instead, I'm stuck in the megaplex with folks checking their phones and having loud conversations like they're at a bar rather than a theatre.
Spider-Verse was staggering. It was one of those films that I did not expect to be that when I went in. It's one of a very small number of 2010s films that get 5 stars.
I would have something like Star Wars, Apocalypse Now, Run Lola Run, Moana and Annie Hall.
You had me at “transitional spaces” I hate when the credits start to roll and people just get up and leave, not long after the bright lights come on and they shoo you out with a little broom and dustpan, only to be in a strangely decorated lobby with nowhere to sit and have a cup of tea… or worse… finishing a film at home and then my husband grabs the remote to find something else to watch. THANK YOU for this essay! Gonna share with my whole community at wonderwell. This is what I mean when I say “the future is creative”
I just became a paid subscriber! And I can’t wait to watch your series of recommended films!
Spending a few days at the Leiden Shorts International short film festival in the Netherlands, where my son is volunteering. Just saw a film last night by Kontantina Kotzamani in the wonderful Kijkhuis theater, proceeded by a reception in the square. I love seeing film and movie theaters alive and well around the world!
will knock out a quick (but proper) post to answer the FilmStack challenge for the week. quick thoughts are a 5 movie action sport docs ladder of films 5. Dogtown and Z-boys 4. The Crash Reel (slight personal plug) 3. Touching the void 2. Minding the gap 1. Meru. Ease you in with the eye candy and then get deeper. A music doc 5 could be 5. Buena Vista Social Club 4. Air Guitar Nation 3. Amy 2. Stop making sense 1. Soundtrack to a coup d'etat. this group is such a ladder up that the final film is almost not a music doc but it is to me. I have a Wong Kar Wai 5 as well. Maybe doing these could get me to man up and do a list of 5 for ALL film...but i don't think I can.
Municipal ownership is brilliant.
Love it!
Love all of this!
Are we supposed to comment our filmstack challenge here? If so here's mine:
https://amandasweikow.substack.com/p/filmstack-challenge-3
Yesss thank you, Amanda!
I love pretty much all of these ideas! There’s a theater nearish to me that does a lot of these things you’ve mentioned, it shows local documentaries, hosts showings for our local film festival, and even showed a series recently that got people who don’t (can’t) usually go to the movie theater by showing old silent horror films with a modern rock score underneath (the one my friend went to go see recently was Nosferatu with REM playing I think? Wild) I really think if the success is there, people will come.
Ooh I’m just discovering the filmy people on ss. I’ve been writing short essays on films— not necessarily my favourite films but of specific scenes that have stayed with me for whatever reason (usually terror)…But I’ve written on a few Satyajit Ray’s which would be a great introduction to those who don’t know how work (not the Apu trilogy which everyone knows)
My contribution to the Filmstack Challenge.
https://filmoutloud.substack.com/p/5-movies-that-transcend-the-cinema
You sent me to some dark places in choosing just the right films to help someone fall in love...
https://tomasleach.substack.com/p/5-films-to-fall-in-love-with-cinema
I am just a 16 year old kid who loves movies and wants to write about movies. I just started this substack and would love to grow and find new people. My first essay is a deep dive into the themes of the 1976 film “Network”:https://substack.com/@benjaminhegedus/note/p-164947175?r=5sie20&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Since I'm an animation guy, here's my 5-film animation workout to open your mind to different kinds of animated films not made by Disney or DreamWorks.
Flow (2024)
Porco Rosso (1992)
Summit of the Gods (2021)
Persepolis (2007)
I Lost my Body (2019)
So many good ideas here.
I feel like Toronto has a number of these in place already, through the TIFF Lightbox and other theatres. Not to mention the festivals, from TIFF to Hot Docs.
If there were a way to replicate the vibe I get from TIFF year-round, at more places than just the Lightbox, I'd be all for it. Instead, I'm stuck in the megaplex with folks checking their phones and having loud conversations like they're at a bar rather than a theatre.
here's a nonfiction cinema workout:
Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory - Lumiere Brothers, 1895 (45 seconds long)
Nanook of the North - Robert Flaherty 1922
High School - Frederick Wiseman 1968
Sherman’s March - Ross McElwee, 1986
The Thin Blue Line - Errol Morris, 1988
The Act of Killing - Joshua Oppenheimer, 2012
This is brilliant.
Spider-Verse was staggering. It was one of those films that I did not expect to be that when I went in. It's one of a very small number of 2010s films that get 5 stars.
I would have something like Star Wars, Apocalypse Now, Run Lola Run, Moana and Annie Hall.
You had me at “transitional spaces” I hate when the credits start to roll and people just get up and leave, not long after the bright lights come on and they shoo you out with a little broom and dustpan, only to be in a strangely decorated lobby with nowhere to sit and have a cup of tea… or worse… finishing a film at home and then my husband grabs the remote to find something else to watch. THANK YOU for this essay! Gonna share with my whole community at wonderwell. This is what I mean when I say “the future is creative”
I just became a paid subscriber! And I can’t wait to watch your series of recommended films!
Xx
K
I hope this series of posts exceeds the original plan by 10x...
And here's my answer to your Monthly FilmStack Challenge #3: https://tedhope.substack.com/p/monthly-filmstack-challenge-how-to
Spending a few days at the Leiden Shorts International short film festival in the Netherlands, where my son is volunteering. Just saw a film last night by Kontantina Kotzamani in the wonderful Kijkhuis theater, proceeded by a reception in the square. I love seeing film and movie theaters alive and well around the world!
will knock out a quick (but proper) post to answer the FilmStack challenge for the week. quick thoughts are a 5 movie action sport docs ladder of films 5. Dogtown and Z-boys 4. The Crash Reel (slight personal plug) 3. Touching the void 2. Minding the gap 1. Meru. Ease you in with the eye candy and then get deeper. A music doc 5 could be 5. Buena Vista Social Club 4. Air Guitar Nation 3. Amy 2. Stop making sense 1. Soundtrack to a coup d'etat. this group is such a ladder up that the final film is almost not a music doc but it is to me. I have a Wong Kar Wai 5 as well. Maybe doing these could get me to man up and do a list of 5 for ALL film...but i don't think I can.