Welcome to my first blog post! This is so fun — something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile but, alas, had writer’s block. How to start writing about something that I’ve spent my whole life thinking about? I will begin with this Oscar season since it’s arguably the most anticipated time of year for movie lovers. The 2017 Academy Awards will take place on Sunday February 26th, and we will get a glimpse of the red carpet, listen to impromptu celebrity-political thoughts, and absorb emotional, totally “unprepared” speeches over schmaltzy orchestra music. The most important question, you may ask yourself, is: what are they wearing? I’m here to tell you that, quite simply, it doesn’t matter (I know, groundbreaking insight). Unlike some predictions, I think Natalie Portman deserves Best Actress for “Jackie,” but it’s likely that Casey Affleck will win for “Manchester by the Sea,” and while “La La Land” is expected for Best Picture, I could see “Moonlight” being a surprise contender. There was more diversity this year in the nominees and films that were recognized (in stark contrast to the Grammys). Many of the highlighted films deal with death, loss, disappointment, faded dreams, and personal struggle. Some are uplifting. Post-November 9th, seeking out film became an even more important endeavor for me. I inhaled the screenings at the local independent theater, and traded notes with friends about style, technique, and underlying meaning, read the articles that documented the controversies surrounding films like “Birth of a Nation,” and “Manchester by the Sea,” and was delighted to learn that more women were given lead roles in successful films. With friends and family, I also took in “Star Wars,” “Office Christmas Party,” “Ghostbusters,” and other fun movies to help distract from the disturbingly “real” news.

While studying abroad in Barcelona, I took a memorable Spanish film course, where we learned about Almodovar, who I had always loved, and other noteworthy directors. We studied cinema during the Franco era, and discovered the hidden messages in films like “La Caza,” which used a creative script and subversive imagery to protest the dictatorship. I believe that in the darkest times, when we are tested, the most powerful and impactful art is born. Film is, simply, magic. Through a symbiotic melding of talent & hard work, a story is woven, which has the ability, in a mere 2 hours, to transport us across borders, through homes, into the past and future, up through space, underground, on water, in the air. Our minds fly into a realm where anything is possible, and where the very best and worst of ourselves is revealed. Animals can talk, women are Presidents, trees are saved. One can dream, right?

So in this post 11/9 world, where leaders toss around blatant hate & bigotry like reality show contestants, and the powerful prey on the weak, let’s incubate the will to fight. And one way to do this is by supporting the truth teller artists — dancers, filmmakers, musicians, writers, creative geniuses — and, also, by watching as many movies as possible. Maybe there is a chance to find some clarity amidst the chaos — in a young gay boy growing up in Liberty City, a failing jazz musician on a quest for true love, hidden African-American women pioneers at NASA, a grieving working class mother, and a very famous widow. Because their stories conjure our own human frailty, defeat, and against all odds, hope.

Enjoy the show — I know I will. Until next time..