HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY TO SAVAGE CINEMA!!!!

 

Savage Cinema is now 15 years old!!!

One year ago, regardless of my intent, I have to admit that I was not feeling as hopeful. That being said, I am proud of myself that I did indeed follow my intent  to remain gentle with myself, to remain patient and forgiving with myself. And it truly has only been through that gentleness and patience that Savage Cinema has continued and to that end, I have ultimately produced more content here, and upon my sister site Synesthesia, this year than last. 

And I would never omit the essential presence of YOU for without YOU, Savage Cinema would never have reached this longevity.

Today, December 30th officially marks the 15th anniversary of Savage Cinema, which was birthed on a computer while sitting in my parents basement while visiting them for the holidays. Many times I have recounted to you about how terrified I was to begin this venture and to hit "PUBLISH" for the first time because as I felt then (and now), the world does not need one more person to write about movies...especially as the internet have exploded further into daily commentaries from seemingly anyone and everyone. And what a darker place this digital world has become as it has only felt to maliciously amplify the darkness that is prevalent in our very real world.

Truth be told, and directly due to how dark life in the 21st century has become and will continue to become in 2025, I have questioned deeply the relevance of a site like this because isn't writing about movies frivolous when people's lives are literally on the line more than ever and values of human decency, integrity and compassion have been so devalued and unrewarded?

Yet...writing about movies and writing about music is my chosen art for it is through experiencing movies and music, and then discovering how to write about each art form, I am sharing my way of  engaging with the world and my place within it with all of you. After which, perhaps you can share with me in return. 

The late, great Roger Ebert once referred to the movies as existing as an "empathy machine," a means for which the viewer is able to transport themselves into a story during which they are able to engage with this thing called life via another individual sharing the same life experience regardless of time, place, race, class or gender. This is the function of stories and storytelling, whether through literature, plays, sculpture, paintings, dance, photography, music and in the case of this site, the art and artistry of cinema and motion pictures. Movies have always served as one vehicle of that empathy machine, one where I can view the world and view myself simultaneously. It is symbiotic, a sentiment I have written about multiple times over the years and perhaps, as we head into 2025, it is a conversation that needs to continue rather than be silenced.

With that in mind, it is my goal to continue being gentle and patient with myself regarding output and the timeliness with when new postings appear. Life is turbulent and will only grow moreso in 2025 but my wish is to keep trying, to keep writing because I have loved the movies for my entire life and once I really began writing in earnest and declaring myself as being a writer, I do not wish to ever stop. 

It is all meaningless without delivering my gratitude to all of you who have ever spent a moment with me on Savage Cinema, reding my thoughts and responding to them kindly and thoughtfully. As I have stated from the beginning, Savage Cinema is designed to be a positive space and if negative things need to be shared, I will do my best to be constructive--unless the film is question really had it coming! 

I just want to hank you again from the bottom of my heart and spirit that your belief in me has been my fuel to keep going with this endeavor, even and especially when I was struggling with writing new material or even questioning if I even wanted to do this anymore. Your  confidence in me is enough...more than enough. I do not do this for the "clicks." Trust me, whatever digital footprint I have is very small. I do this because it is what I love so very much and I sincerely hope that you can receive that love with each post. I cannot express to you enough that I mean every single written word that my fingers type. 

Savage Cinema is me and I am Savage Cinema. Happy Birthday...Happy Anniversary...Thank you all for going on this ride with me.