theMediaman.com

I have a selection of “zen films” that put me in a relaxed state-of-mind when I need it most. They serve slightly different purposes depending the circumstances of my stress, but the all are peaceful, introspective films.

Movies my past time and my career. I’ll stop short of saying they’re my life since that’s really kind of pathetic. However, they do play an important part in how I spend my time. A couple of years ago, I really needed these films. As things became better in my life, they’ve been collecting dust. Over the last year – when I moved my worklife downtown and away from the import DVDs of First Markham Place – I’ve been watching a lot fewer melancholy Asian dramas.

As a result, I haven’t added any such movies to my collection for a while. I wasn’t sure if I should add “One Week” just because my opinions as skewed, having authored the Blu-ray. I wasn’t sure if it was just that my pride was taking over an emotional decision. However, after watching the film with Simone I had to agree that it is a peaceful film filled with some of the most beautiful Canadian scenery.

While it warms you with visuals it also gives you some light psychiatry. I didn’t feel that I had a lot in common with Ben, but a well written story doesn’t need you to relate to the protagonist. The fact that he was overwhelmed with the information in his life, and that he removes himself physically from it all is something I was able to connect with.

Again, something I haven’t had to do  for a while is “just drive north”. When living in Toronto becomes just a bit too much, then I remove myself physically from the city and “reboot”. When I don’t have the time or resources to do that for a few hours… well… I put in a movie like One Week.

One Week won’t give you purpose in your life, but it is a good film to balance your mind. On a superficial level, the scenery and excessive (but very good) Canadian Indie rock lulls you into a state of complacency. The larger message doesn’t hit you like a ton of bricks. You’re ready to reach a zen state on that surfboard along with Ben.

A bit of an annoyingly excestential analysis of the movie, I admit. However, that’s what makes this movie so likeable. It’s a solid message, without being heavy-handed.

I suggest picking it up. If you get the Blu-ray, I’ll even autograph it.

This week I finally watched Passchendaele – one of the most gruesome, realistic depictions of the old adage, “War is Hell”. It also was the last of three of my most proud projects for me to finally sit down and watch.

Young People Fucking was one of my first projects that I worked on after joining Juice Productions last year. Passchendaele was a brilliant piece of Canadian film. Like YPF, I did some of the preliminary programming. One Week, another excellent film that any Canadian should have in their collection, was programmed (Blu-ray, at least) by me with only a little code-borrowing from other projects. 

I’ve programmed dozens of DVDs in Scenarist, many from scratch. I’ve also programmed other Blu-ray projects, but these three are my most proud achievements.

It’s still a strange feeling to see something that I made sitting on the shelf at HMV. However, it’s an even stranger feeling to have it sitting on my shelf downstairs with all the DVD’s I’ve collected since 2001. I’ve made DVDs in the past, but corporate promotional material that was added to my collection purely as portfolio pieces. To be a part of putting some great films into the marketplace like Sunshine Cleaning, Man On Wire, and even Knowing (in spite of my opinions on Nicholas Cage) is fun.

I know I’ve already written an entry on this state of mind. Closing in on one year at Juice, I find my work perforating the marketplace, and that feeling is still there – if not stronger than it was before.

Next month is TIFF, and I keep bugging them for business cards. I’ve never been so driven to network before, but now I can’t wait. I’ve been practising with “Tweet-ups” although that’s not as targeted towards any specific industry (besides “New Media”, which is pretty general).

My first year as a Blu-ray & DVD Author has been a blast. I can’t wait to see what happens next year!