As I am now well past the 1625 watched threshold, I am sitting here quite inspired as always, but wanted to show a sincere form of gratitude to what I believe is the richest forms of art over the past century, and quite frankly anyone reading this’ life. I love considering myself a cinephile. I love documentaries. I love being able to recommend movies to people. This passion I felt has led be to this one exact thought; movies are my religion because it is the most rewarding, rich, culturally important, never ending and beautiful, form of art in my lifetime. 

I can confidently say film has naturally given me a greater eye opening education that any form of schooling I have ever part taken in. It’s absolutely broadened my horizon to so much, that I would have not otherwise, gotten exposure to. Movies have provided me significant growth and evolution in my taste and ultimately molded a strong part of who I am. It’s led me to ask so many questions; such a wide, yet deep range of questions I never would’ve asked before. At this point in time, I have still have not travelled outside of North America, such a modest part of this huge and amazing world, but through film, my eyes have been opened to so many different unique and important places on this planet. Ive seen every continent, traveled throughout the past, present and even have seen a glimpse into the future. Being such a global and timeless medium, movies and documentaries have brought me upfront and personal into worlds I had no clue even existed. This hasn’t halted my ambition to travel what so ever, but the fact of the matter is I have been able to experience so much more exposure than the average 24 year old when it comes to; cultures, war, religion, race, history, politics, countries, states, languages, decades, fashion, music and art. All because I am in proper cinephile pursuit of constantly watching something new.

Film has blessed me in so many ways. I think I get to experience it in a different way than everyone else because watching a certain type of movie is a productive task for me. As a cinephile, it is my responsibility to watch everything that’s ever been great and boy what a burden to carry. Because of that, it’s been about 7 odd years now where I have yet to be bored and wonder what to watch. It’s crazy to think how I approached movies growing up to where I am now. Honestly its be impossible for me to be idle/bored because there simply is not enough time in the day to do all of the things I want to do, all the while watching the movies that I want to. This drive has lead me to so much success, organization and enjoyment in all facets of my life. Doing everything I can, to be able to watch what I am genuinely so excited to watch. There’s never a wasted minute. Its completely prevented me from wasting time on social media. The thought of others doing so, “doom scrolling” instead of enjoying the absolute magic of so many movies they have not and will never see, makes me quite frustrated. But that’s life. More productive movie time for me, more precious time on this planet scrolling away for the rest. 

I am still a God fearing man, but the simplest way of putting it, is that movies are essentially my religion. Its more a figure of speech then me trying to say anything spiritually so I hope that comes across in the most conservative way possible, but movies are the modern day pop language. The fact of the matter is; people used to care so much more about their religion, the only stories out there being told were religious, and the conversations at the dinner table were about religion. Over the past 100 odd years with pop culture and in my opinion most importantly, movies, that modern day discourse has now changed. People talk about what there watching, what they’ve seen, go to movie theatres regularly (don’t get me started how that experience correlates to a church’s mass), look up to movie stars in very larger than life ways and whatever, you get the parallels I am making here. Its clear that movies are a major spoke in the wheel that makes a lot of our modern day world spin. What people watch growing up can shape personalities, being exposed to what’s out there, or even personally, just knowing what someone’s favourite movies are is one of the best ways to spark conversation in getting to know someone. I just find all of it so beautiful.

I feel very greatful to be apart of the generation that has never had movie going any easier. The amount of movies I have at my finger tips at any given time of day or place has made this whole journey so much more accessible, as well as cost and time efficient. I can find a stream for just about any movie I want, for free, in a few seconds tops. Talk about an edge that I am so lucky to have versus any other generation out there. I have no clue how prior generations amassed there knowledge. Spend days at movie theatres? What if you live somewhere with one small theatre only playing new movies? Spend thousands renting and purchasing physical copies? If you lived in Windsor, Ontario, in the 1990s, how the fuck could you have possibly watched a Roberto Rossellini movie? Seriously, pre internet, what if it’s Friday night and you wanted to watch a John Cassevettes movie? Your telling me that was just impossible? Crazy. 

It’s crazy because all of this really stemmed from my passion for rankings and list makings. I think it sort of comes from my history with sports, where stats and awards can get you a pretty solid list of your best athletes of all time. I remember seeing lists like “100 best movies of all time” or being intrigued by rotten tomatoes scores and just thinking, well how do they know, have they seen every movie? There isn’t necessarily championships to hand out, and films are created all over the world, have spanned over 100 years and come from all different sorts of budgets, how could you ever truly know what is the greatest? There’s not even any sort of level playing field? I love the idea of that. The greatest movies ever. That really was the spark that lit the flame to now what is a much bigger fire I am concerned with. I am now at a very strong point where I can be in some serious high level conversations talking film, and that’s something I am really proud of. I personally don’t know many people who can say the same.

Now, it’s defiantly been a few times now where Ive actually felt it, and even said it aloud, “I did it, I have watched all the important films that a cinephile needs to watch” or whatever the criteria needs be. I can vividly picture two distant moments feeling that way. Then days or weeks pass and I find so many gems or important pieces of cinema history, I actually can’t believe I have never watched before and feel so embarrassed. I have learned from that feeling, and I now know better to not let that accomplishment come over me. This journey will never end. This is a road that will never end. Ever. It’s a rabbit hole that keeps getting deeper. I will be constantly chasing. Film is so unbelievably rich, and I am genuinely so lucky to be entranced by such a deep history of art that I get to explore for the rest of my life. It’s such a beautiful thing to share with someone as well, and I am so lucky to have a partner who is just as aware of the power of film as I am. It’s going to be such an amazing journey throughout our lives.

I wish I could say I cared this much, or was interested in the field that I am currently working/studying in, but that is unfortunately not the case. The dream and what I am working towards is someway to be able to get paid for this passion? I know it’s only a matter of time until that becomes true but why couldn’t I be so in love with something I can clearly and easily be a successful young professional in? Something I ask myself quite often. Sometimes I regret not being able to kindle this fire earlier in my life, and go down a more narrow path into the industry. In the end, I know its going to work out, but regardless I am happy when I think that jobs and even careers come and go, but this is passion is something that will hopefully last a life time, whether I am in the industry or not. I can’t wait for what the future holds from this beautiful, beautiful medium. I am so lucky to be driven and moved, by movies.