Let's Meet at Cinema Church!

The world may be spiraling around us but one thing is for sure the future for MovieJawn has never looked brighter.

It is no secret that I enjoy to stay busy. Staying active keeps me from making a pitstop in what I am now going to refer to as Metcalf, aka Bummer Town. However… This past weekend… dare I say it: was a bit too much. Friday, MovieJawn partnered with Girls Like Horror for a late night screening of Hollywood 90028 (what a wild film), Saturday, I went to a Ghoulastic Book Fair in Delco with some pals (of course I also networked at the event, because I do not know how NOT to work), later that evening I attended the most unhinged double feature ever: Mildred Pierce and The Raid: Redemption (The Raid was compliments of Space Melt Cinema) and earlier today I hosted the second MovieJawn Town Hall for the staff. During each of the screenings, Benjamin and I were set up with a table in the lobby slingin’ zines and spreading the good word of MovieJawn (where will be next? check the MJ Events page here). As much as I loved my jam packed weekend, speaking with patrons and watching flicks, it inevitably was quite taxing. Last night when I crawled into bed surrounded by my plush, I could not have been more relieved.

One thing is for damn sure… I am so happy I finally got to see Michael Curtiz’s 1945 motion picture Mildred Pierce on the silver screen. I have seen the movie countless times but this was the first time in a cinema, and I truly believe seeing a movie in the cinema versus watching it at home is a completely different (often transformative) experience. This was especially true with Mildred Pierce. I adore this motion picture. In fact, it is one of my favorite films ever made. Joan Crawford’s portrayal of Mildred is so exquisite and Ann Blyth as Veda is unforgettable.

In some ways I see myself in Mildred, especially pertaining to her work ethic and the way in which her character goes about things. I may not have children, but those that are closest to me are always put first and I often seek to find ways to make things better for those that come after me. Yesterday I was feeling all the feels watching the movie. I found it also served as an important reminder: sometimes you need to put the work down and take that trip the beach house (My only hope is that beach house does not contain Monte Beragon - alive or in corpse form) or take a walk with a trusty book and just relax. There will always be something that needs to get done and it will be waiting after you get back.

If you have not seen Mildred Pierce, find it streaming here. You can also check out this fun article I wrote with my film pal, Dr. Ashley Jane Carruthers here. Reviving the Classic Coroners column is on me task list. Also. I must say this before moving on… I am not an action buff by any stretch… but The Raid: Redemption was quite the cinematic wonder. I am extremely happy to have Space Melt Cinema in my life… I feel I am going to be watching a lot of movies that are outside my normal comfort zone. This is a good thing.

I am very excited that the latest edition of MovieJawn, featuring silent film and characters, has started to find its way to people’s mailboxes. I picked up the zine from our printer on Monday and took the last batch of them to the post office on Friday. It is so thrilling to see pictures from our readers start popping up on social media. People seem to be really excited about this issue, and I could not be more pleased.

We ended up ordering 500 copies of the Spring 2025 issue. This was a major accomplishment, as it was the largest amount we ever had printed before. One of my three goals for MovieJawn this year was that we would order at least 500 copies of a quarterly issue by the end of the year. Well… It is only March and that goal can officially be checked off. What is even more exciting about this, is the fact that close to half the zines were sold even before I got them back from the printer due to preorders, wholesale partners and the upcoming 35mm Film Festival at Ambler Theater. If you are interested in purchasing our new issue you can do so here.

Presently, we have only been selling zines in movie theater lobbies local to the Philadelphia area. However, starting in April, I will be hitting the road with Benjamin and other MovieJawn staffers. I am so excited to traverse the land and share with whole new groups of people the awesomeness that is MovieJawn. My hope is that we will gain new readers and followers. We will be starting with the Mahoning Drive-In in mid-April for the Hitchcock event and by the end of the month I’ll be trekking up to Salem, MA for the first time to partake in the Salem Horror Fest with my new pal, Kate. So much rad stuff to look forward to and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for MovieJawn.

Want to see me this weekend? Make sure to stop by the Sci-Phi Film Festival at Hiway Theater in Jenkintown, PA. I’ll be there all weekend with some other MovieJawners slingin’ zines and cinematic goodies. Read more about the event in this great preview piece from one of our Associate Editors, Tessa Swehla, here. Know a place I should travel to with MovieJawn… drop it in the comments.

This week I am proud of… putting my dream of CINEMA CHURCH out into the world. I truly believe it is important to put your dreams out there… tell the world about them. This makes them REAL. It is also extremely terrifying, intimidating and well… takes moxie. When you look back in history, people often laugh at dreamers. Those with zany ideas get laughed at or mocked. Well. I invite it! CINEMA CHURCH will happen, and needs to. In case you may have missed it… you can catch up and learn just what in the heck CINEMA CHURCH is here. 

Each Spring 2025 print issue of MovieJawn comes with a postcard that I designed that shares a bit of a teaser about CINEMA CHURCH. It is also meant to serve as a way for people to engage with the idea, and eventually I will send them more information about it as it invites them to fill out the back and return it to MovieJawn.

We have made this postcard available on the table when we attend events and the reactions from patrons has been incredible. I truly think this is a space that people not only want, but crave. I realize that there is a lot of work ahead of me to see this dream realized, but I believe it may end up being one of the most important things I do in my life. As I continue to navigate my purpose, I know deep down that I am a writer and I must get my ideas out there - I see the church as an outlet to be able to not only write, but a way for me to share my love my cinema with others.

Lastly… I have to mention this: Something I love about the front of the postcard is that one could read the upside down cross as Movies Save or Save Movies - I think both scenarios make sense. There is a war on art, and I truly hope that CINEMA CHURCH will be a beacon of light and help people understand the importance of cinema, especially that of the past.

This week I recommend… that you watch the 1938 screwball comedy, Vivacious Lady.

I caught this grand motion picture starring Ginger Rogers and James Stewart earlier this week on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and it truly is a diamond in the rough.

This George Stevens directed film tells the tale of straight laced professor (James Stewart) who haphazardly marries a nightclub singer (Ginger Rogers). Upon heading back to his hometown, he has to face the wrath of his family, friends and his former fiancée.

I have not heard this motion picture being discussed widely prior and frankly it should be. Ginger Rogers showcases impeccable comedic timing and is perfectly splendid. In watching the always amazing/informative TCM host intro by Alicia Malone, I learned this was one of the first of many films in which Ginger Rogers was out on her own after becoming the box office sensation with her hoofing partner, Fred Astaire. Rogers got to select her cast mate and chose newcomer, James Stewart (who she was apparently dating at the time). The two of them shine on screen and I thought their presence was dynamite. There is an astounding scene in which Ginger gets into a spat with a fellow lady, and the woman kicks Ginger in the shin. For that scene they padded Rogers’s legs to ensure minimal damage… there is also the concern that her gams were insured for $500,000. They were quite the commodity in Tinseltown and they could not afford for Ginger to get laid up.

Even more fascinating is that this film was showing on TCM due to them celebrating pictures that featured slaps heard around the world. You read that right... they had a slew of movies on the channel this week that showcase cinematic slapping. I love TCM. If you don’t have access to it, don’t fret… you can watch Viviacious Lady on Archive.org for FREE here.

Happy you are here.xx.goodbye.

Tell a friend.