THREAD: I got laid off from NYMag/Vulture after 14 years. The family lost 75% of income + medical. Now mzs.press bookstore, once a side project. is do-or-die for Judith & I. I feel weird telling you this because others are doing much worse. But if you could like or share this, we'd be so grateful!

Well this sounds like a fun read! Collin Williamson’s DRAWN TO NATURE: AMERICAN ANIMATION IN THE AGE OF SCIENCE from @uminnpress.bsky.social! www.upress.umn.edu/978151791487...

"The 45-second film, made around 1897, was the first appearance on film of what might be called a robot" HELL. YES.

JOB POST in FILM STUDIES: @kingsfilmstudies.bsky.social is hiring Lecturer w specialism(s) in 1 or more of following: 1) Film & Media Practice as Research / Filmmaking; 2) Film Curation +/or Archiving; 3) Non-Fiction Film & Media. Deadline MAR 2nd! Please pass along. www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/137766-...

Wow.

A timeless classic of French cinema returns to the screen ✨ Enjoy a free screening of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, open to everyone. For more information: www.spurlock.illinois.edu/events/event...

Perfection

Did YOU know Spurlock Museum has this much going on? We bet you didn't! Check out our February programming! www.spurlock.illinois.edu/events

I’ve finalized my list of films students can work with for our video essay exercises this semester. Purple Rain is joining the ranks this term for some Minnesota solidarity. Stay safe and strong, friends ☔️💪🖥️

This woman speaks for the majority of Americans. 🙌🙏🫶👇

Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).

Great thread here in on the rhetorical power of the "Fair and Balanced" fallacy that has impaired mainstream US media. Bari Weiss may now directly shape CBS News, but all of the major news outlets have long capitulated to this gambit that devalues truth, reality, and accuracy in reporting.

On the occasion of today's 130th anniversary of Lumière's Cinématographe debut, I published this. We know the Lathams' Eidoloscope preceded the Dec. 30, 1895 "first" commercial screening by seven months. But does that film, Griffo vs. Barnett (May 1895) survive? Maybe. wp.nyu.edu/orphanfilm/2...

Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.

Many thanks to Daniel Herbert for his generous review of PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES in one of my favorite journals, MEDIA INDUSTRIES: tinyurl.com/4rmbk52k For holiday distribution to the media historian in your life! @utexaspress.bsky.social for 40% off w/code UTXGIFTS: tinyurl.com/3yyur9zc

I genuinely hope this gives film students some swagger. Mamdani’s videos are impeccable—just immeasurably better than Cuomo’s AI slop—and the videographer is a genuine film nerd. That shit works!

Steamed Hams but it’s a critically acclaimed feature film is the apogee of commitment to the bit m.youtube.com/watch?v=pk-O...

It doesn't get more moving than @mrmichaelphillips.bsky.social's farewell letter. If you read nothing else today, at least read this.

*Simpsons Trivia #731* Guy Incognito was voiced by Dan Castellaneta, who was also the voice of father character Homer

Champaign-Urbana: Join us at 7pm for the third annual Media & Cinema Studies student showcase @spurlockmuseum.bsky.social! Come celebrate student filmmaking and our graduating MACS seniors. The Spurlock Museum acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council for this event.

An amazing new resource for film historians and anyone else interested in the history of moving image technologies. www.filmatlas.com

Eric Hoyt wrapped the panel by recording his own love tape, and expressing his feelings about the NEH. In the spirit of Wendy Clarke’s work, he’d like for it to be shared widely and seen by as many people as possible. #SCMS25 #scms2025 #neh

It’s particularly poignant to hear about the WCFTR’s great work on the Wendy Clarke Collection. They lost their NEH funding this week. Visit the site! #scms25 wendyclarke.wcftr.commarts.wisc.edu

if you'd like to order double crossover, you can do so here: www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0... I'll be posting more about the process and the final product in the weeks leading up to its release in May!

The real Best Picture winner in our hearts...

The first measles death in the US in a decade -- the tragic, preventable death of a child whose parents chose not to protect them with vaccination -- should spark an immediate nation-wide campaign to ensure all children are protected against preventable diseases. Anything less is unconscionable.

New show added! We're thrilled to screen Japanese Paper Films at the Spurlock Museum in Urbana, IL on Fri., March 28 at 7pm. As usual, the amazing Yoko Reikano Kimura (koto) & cellist Hikaru Tamaki will accompany the films with live music. Sponsored by the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies.

Gul Dukat to receive party line approval by the Senate as Secretary of Bajoran Worker Safety.

Public health PSA frens as botulism can paralyze and kill you: Tuna Recall Hits Costco, Trader Joe's, and More Over Botulism Risk www.eatthis.com/tuna-recall-...

Post two media history monographs that you love that you feel didn't get nearly enough attention when they came out No explanation, just post. Luci Marzola's ENGINEERING HOLLYWOOD Phil Sewell's TELEVISION IN THE RADIO AGE

David Lynch, Visionary Director of ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Blue Velvet,’ Dies at 78 variety.com/2025/film/ne...

a short thread of Nicolas Cage resembling various philosophers 1. Spinoza

Teen Vogue is now the paper of record, and the NYT is a fashion magazine. The transfer is complete.

So honored to be mentioned by Oswald Iten in this year’s Best Video Essays of 2024 poll from Sight and Sound, and bursting with pride that my former student Nancy Jia also made the list!!! 🥰 www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...

Early Christmas gift? Thanksgiving miracle? Take your pick, it's wonderful news.

Are you a film & media scholar who wants to learn how to make video essays? Applications for the two-week June 2025 workshop Scholarship in Sound & Image at Middlebury College in Vermont are now open. Come be a videocamper and spread the word!

Hi everyone! For those new to my feed, I work a lot on film history and craft, the intersections between film and dance industries/cultures, style/aesthetics, video essays, and musicals. I wrote a book about all that, Storytelling in Motion (OUP, 2024). Happy to chat more about it!

Hello, new followers! I have a new book about how we fundamentally misunderstand "Method" acting/actors. If you want to know more about what we're really talking about when we talk about folks "going Method," this is the book for you! You can buy it here: bit.ly/43QVOa4 for 40% off w/code UTXGIFTS.

Just a reminder to support your local public libraries! Write letters of support. Use the library often & in many different ways. Show up to meetings. Library staff have been begging for help, advocacy, and action for years. Please show up for libraries.

Just a bit more self-promotion here, but if you use the code RUP30 you will get 30% off on the Rutgers website!

There wasn't a good list of accounts related to video essays - so I made this starter pack! Who did I miss? Who do you know who should join Bluesky to share & talk about video essays? go.bsky.app/PtthhCc

Greetings, new Bluesky arrivals! Seems like a good time to mention my book on early Hollywood film distribution from @utexaspress.bsky.social , PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES. 40% off with code UTXGIFTS: utpress.utexas.edu/9781477328941/

Tenure bookplate ceremony today - a lovely Illinois tradition. I chose THE CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD CINEMA in honor of David Bordwell.

Official publication day for PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES! In this book, I trace practices in US feature film distribution from their 19th century origins to the transition to sound. Thanks to everyone @utexaspress.bsky.social! Code UTXM25 for 25% off and free shipping: tinyurl.com/anamkvnp

Goodbye to the magnificent film scholar David Bordwell, whose book Film Art: An Introduction, co-written with his wife & longtime collaborator Kristin Thompson, has for decades been the go-to introduction to the grammar of the medium for students: www.davidbordwell.net/filmart/

RIP David Bordwell (1947-2024). Deepest condolences to his wife, fellow film historian and most remarkable collaborator Kristin Thompson, as well as to his family, friends and former students and colleagues. www.davidbordwell.net/books/planet...

Author copies are here! Many thanks to everyone @utexaspress.bsky.social and to Ross Melnick and Rob King for their generous blurbs. Order here using the code UTXM25 for 25% off and free shipping: tinyurl.com/37re8z3k