What is a cinephile? A cinephile is a person who is not only in love with movies and the making of them; they eat, sleep, and breathe it 24/7. Now you may be asking What makes a person into a cinephile? But the answer to that question remains unanswered. Most have a movie that opened their eyes they range from pop culture staples like Jaws and Star Wars IV: a New Hope to more intellectual fare like 8 ½ and Triangle of Sadness. But what materials or tools do you need to become a cinephile? Lets begin…
1. Get yourself a Letterboxd account.
In 2011, Matthew Buchanan and Karl Von Randow founded Letterboxd, a social media app for cinephiles. Whether you are logging what you’ve seen, browsing compiled lists, or looking for new film recommendations, it’s a completely free to use (unless you are using the Pro or Patron features) site. If you upgrade to Pro or Patron you can access even more features like actor/director stats and customized posters.
2. Use a library card to get Kanopy
Kanopy is one of the best streaming services out there. All you need is your library card and… BOOM!!! You are in. Kanopy has everything from A24 films, NEON films, Shudder originals, Criterion Collection selections, compelling HBO documentaries, international cinema (which I adore), and some hidden gems like Voyage of the Damned, Séance on a Wet Afternoon, and Mustang. The best part is that it’s completely ad-free and Kanopy also launched its own podcast in 2024 (which is also available on the service).
3. Read screenplays on Simply Scripts
If you are not a Los Angeles native and you cannot access the WGA Library, if you do find yourself in Los Angeles add the WGA to your sites to see, but you should check out Simply Scripts. There are so many different choices on the site from Oscar-winning screenplays to foreign films to action-packed blockbusters, Simply Scripts has everything you need if you are an avid consumer of screenplays or a fledgling screenwriter. It’s also a great resource to learn how the dialogue and action translate onto the screen.
4. You will find a Podcast about movies, there are hundreds
Podcasts have been a popular form of entertainment in the last 10 years and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Podcasts are not only entertaining, they are also funny and educational. There are plenty of options for cinephiles; if you are looking for director filmographies Blank Check with Griffin and David is an excellent choice, for film culture The Big Picture hosted by Sean Fennssey & Amanda Dobbins, for film history You Must Remember This…, and finally for different genres such as horror, comedy or romance there is Too Scary; Didn’t Watch, Romancing the Podcast, and Raiders of the Lost Podcast. The options are endless.
5. Check out Books on Cinema, there is like a new one every week.
There is always a book for every film, genre, filmography, film history, etc. If you want to read about how The Wizard of Oz was made or what celebrities thought when they won an Oscar, there will be plenty of books covering those topics. They might be fun reads, but they are also very educational and insightful. You can visit your local library, use Libby, or browse bookstores or the internet to find these compelling reads.
6. Old reliable DVDs still hold up.
Movies, movies, and more movies!!! That’s why we’re cinephile’s right? You may also be thinking I thought people stopped watching DVDs, or Why is he telling me to buy DVDs? Don’t we have streaming services? Physical media is a very important thing; sometimes streamers won’t carry certain films due to licensing agreements, so DVDs are a better option than streaming (and they are cheaper in the long haul). Some fantastic films, like The Heartbreak Kid and The Four Seasons, aren’t available anywhere except for a physical copy. You don’t have to have a giant library’s worth of DVDs, but only a few that you enjoy watching.
7. Treat yourself to The Criterion Collection
Finally rounding out this article is the Criterion Collection. It is essential for any cinephile. There are currently over 1,000 Criterion DVDs available and cinephiles cherish them not only for their beautiful artwork but also for their restorations, features, and compelling essays. If you think the Criterion Collection is too fancy for you because they have Portrait of a Lady on Fire or The Triangle of Sadness, you are wrong; they also have mainstream films such as Wall-E, The Breakfast Club, and The Silence of the Lambs. The Criterion Channel is also a fantastic streaming service; every month the channel has different selections that have ranged from the films of Paul Thomas Anderson to the new Hollywood age.
If you are a fledgling cinephile this list should give you all the necessary tools and instructions to start your cinema journey.
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