Thousands of tiny snapshots pasted together with light shinning through them to give the illusion of movement and life. Life is but a walking shadow. Plato's shadows at the back of a cave have become our reality. No other entertainment or art form has brought so much intrigue, delight, pervasive influence or worldwide acceptance.
It awakens the senses. Through the sense of sound and sight, we experience a sense of space (enveloped in an artificial one); we experience a sense of humor, a sense of drama, a sense of suspense, a sense of romance. We live so vicariously through these tiny strips that we oftn prefer this artificial world to our own reality.
The film experience is nothing short of religious. The theater is the temple, self-promoting and full of pleasure. It offers connection to favorite icons and the communicants choice of elements: popcorn, coke, junior mints. One enters in either purposeful fellowship or jungian super-conciousness. The lights are lowered, the sermon begins and the focus on this spiritual life ensues.
Yet, think of how ephemeral this medium is. A film can be written and re-written a thousand times before it reaches the screen---and I'm not talking about the script. Acting rewrites a film. Editing rewrites a film. Even set design, make-up and costume can completely change the look and feel of a film. I once saw a famous Director of Photography show how color choice can completely "write" a film.
This blog site will be dedicated to film in all its glorious, hallowed reaches and dregs---mainly in the 20th century and forgoing pornography. Even this inconography can reveal the depth, height and length of the human spirit.
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