Thursday, July 02, 2015

150 Favorite Films of 2000-2015 (That Isn't Lost in Translation) Announcement




July 5, 2000. I was browsing on the net like everyone else did where one of my obsessions at the time was a song by Leona Naess called Charm Attack which I had seen a lot on MTV2 at that time. I wanted to know more about her where I went to a fanpage and stumbled upon this website called Epinions.com where I learned that if you signed up to write a review, you could get paid. It was the first review I wrote and during those years, I would evolve from writing music reviews to writing about films and so on. I was very popular in the world of music and in film not only for my opinions but in my evolution as a writer. After 9 years of having a good relationship and being quite successful while making some decent money. Things started to sour in the fall of 2009 where it wasn't about getting late checks but also finding myself feeling constrained and compromised by my work and with the people who were running things at that time.

In 2006/2007, I signed up for a Blogger account thinking it would be a platform to write other ideas but with the exception of a review of Hotel Chevalier and a few music reviews. I rarely used it during that time from 2007 to 2009 and I wasn't sure if I would use it properly. Then 2010 came and with the weight of my own depression that was looming over me at the time and a sense of frustration with Epinions.com over not just being paid but being paid properly and actually have more control on what I wanted to say. I found myself leaning towards the blogging and just as I had hit my 10th Anniversary at the site on July 5, 2010. I had this epiphany where I had done so much and had written more than 1600 reviews on film, music, books, and a few other things but with very little to show for. There were things I wanted to do but I didn't have the avenue to do that at Epinions.com as I was also frustrated by the sense of stupidity that was emerging over the quality of the writing and everything else. For that, I told them to fuck off and never wrote for them again as I would also be relieved that the site finally crashed down on its own bullshit last year.

I think if it wasn't for this blog, I would probably be stuck and not really go anywhere. Yet, turning this blog into Surrender to the Void wasn't an easy task as I had to re-familiarize myself with the world of writing reviews and also needed new things to do. There, I was able to create things such as the Auteurs series, lists, and all sorts of stuff. Plus, I was able to expand myself into different kinds of films and review things I wasn't able to do in Epinions.com. It's amazing that I've managed to not just find creative freedom but an outlet that is far more fulfilling.

Five years later and more than thousands of posts and all sorts of crazy shit. The time has come to make a list of films that I have seen and loved for the past 15 years. This isn't a definitive list of the best films of those fifteen years but rather a list of films that I certainly loved that had come out in the past 15 years. Yet, there's a reason why this list is referred to 150 Favorite Films of 2000-2015 (that isn't Lost in Translation). For anyone that has read my work and now of my love for that film will be spared from me talking about how great that film is. For anyone that isn't familiar with my work and will wonder why that film isn't in the list, just read this. So this month will be devoted to 150 of these films that I've selected as it will be told in five parts. Some of you know might now what the top film will be while others won't. That is part of the fun about these lists as there is no clue into what might be on top and what didn't make the final cut.

© thevoid99 2015

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this idea. I'm so glad that you are able to use this blog as an outlet and also therapeutically, because that makes a difference. I'm looking forward to your selections, and I'm praying for a certain #1.

I also adore your love of Lost in Translation, which is one of my favorite films of all time, for sure!

Ruth said...

I love Lost in Translation! It was funny and poignant, though I recommended to a few friends and they didn't get it [shrug]

Hey I'm looking forward to your posts, Steven, you're always good about movie recommendations. And glad you ended up blogging as you're a good writer!

Chris said...

I admire your dedication to your blog, you seem to have something new to post most days. And you just keep going year after year.

Well done on the banner, it's a great teaser, and contains some of my favorites. Look forward to the upcoming lists!

Dell said...

I'm really happy to hear that your blog has been such a fulfilling endeavor for you. I'm looking forward to this list, as well. No clue what #1 will be which makes me even more anxious to see.

Dell said...

Linked to this on my site...

http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2015/07/on-my-mind-and-suddenly-dick-links.html

msmariah said...

I love this idea. It would make for a great ongoing blogathon.

thevoid99 said...

@Fisti-I'm glad I chose to blog because if I didn't, I think I would've been in absolute despair.

@Ruth-Thank you. I know I'm good and all those assholes at Rolling Stone can't hold a candle to what I do.

@Chris-I think the banner is a bit amateurish but since you like it. I think I did OK and I hope to do a better one soon.

@Wendell-Thanks. I'm just glad I'm still doing this and hopefully do it for no matter how long. I just need some money right now.

@Msmariah-Well, if it would be a blog-a-thon, it would a long one.