Foreword

Christmas 2015 came and went with the speed of a bullet train, as I creep ever closer to my 30th birthday with a growing sense of trepidation. In the grand scheme of things, I'm a little wiser.

Swings and roundabouts I guess.

2015 was a complicated year for me and my family. I changed career and not for the first time in my life. I had 6 years of living under my own roof and under my own terms. For the first time in those 6 years, I moved back home, to give me the best chance to start again. Myself and my partner Hazel have not found it easy in the slightest, but it's my best chance.

Small acorns.

In this case the career change was leaving the Computer Games Industry to pursue my own endeavours as a Writer and a Film Maker or whatever else I feel like I can be. I still love games and I still want to work in the industry but in a different form. My reasons and feelings for leaving my old career will come to light in due course. For now, let us move on to the point of this blog.

1001, what?

"1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" is a book my kind brother Adam gave me this year and it was one I felt completely obligated to read front to back, to see where I stand, naturally. Of that number I have seen 237 films included in the list. Now technically, I have seen scenes from the remaining films, or had elements ruined from numerous countdown shows, you know, where Z list comedians give their zany opinions, that fall a little flat. Or they wheel out a crusty critic and give him a few minutes to illuminate you on the bloody obvious. Huzzah for list shows!

The book spans the birth of the medium of Film in the 1900's, through to present day(ish). Now in that time we have had 16mm & 35mm prints, VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray and of course broadcast on Cable, Satellite and Terrestrial Television.

Now we have the newest platform, Digital Streaming Service Packages.

This got me thinking... If I attempted to try and watch all of the remaining films, how would I actually do it? Where are these films? How long will this take? How much will it cost? Is renting these films any cheaper? Do I want to own all of these films? Why aren't all of these films more readily available? Are there more guarantees for successfully acquiring the film through "illegal" channels? What's the point of doing it anyway?

Now in my own small way, I'm going to try and address most of these questions in this blog, but some of these questions could be clarified with some input outside of my own expertise. Therefore, in future blogs I may try to grab some contribution or insight from people involved and expand on the covered areas here.

For now let's start from the top...

If I attempted to try and watch all of the remaining films, how would I actually do it?

Well subscription services are an absolute must. Netflix is consistent, but its library is updated regularly (every month or so) which means films will likely stay for a couple of months if you're lucky.

Having only used Amazon Prime's services to watch "Man in the High Castle", I haven't seen how often content falls in and out of service. My assumption, which may be proven wrong in due course, would be that the services are parallel to Netflix.

Mubi is useful only occasionally as the films are curated and are limited for our needs. The quality of the service is very good though and the library they do have is massive, just a little rigid in terms of access.

The Sky Movies package which is also available on NowTV via subscription, is a boon in every sense. It currently has the most accessible library but even now, there are films on the Sky TV packages not listed on the Movie Channels at all. Dr Caligari and Metropolis are both viewable via a channel called Information.TV, which appears to show equally terrible and amazing content in a scattergun effect. What Sky has over all the other services is variability regarding its content, but also the ways in which to consume content coupled with long term storage capabilities.

There are also some amazing free websites such as The Internet Archive, SnagFilms, Big Five Glories & Open Culture.

Youtube has several films, though most are probably illegally housed there, given some of the naming conventions for these films. Conveniently users have curated lists of films from the book such as:

"They Shoot Pictures Don't They?" by Jonathan Marasco & "1001 Movies To See Before You Croak" by "Rory Phelan".

I have also curated my own list but it's more bespoke to my own purposes, should you wish to see that particular list here it is, you pedant you!

Where are these films?

Well, with the help of my friends and my partner I have begun cataloging where these films are and how to acquire them as seen below:

You don't even want to see the full list, children cry at the sight of it.

Now regarding the viewing of my remaining list, there are certain limitations and stipulations on my side:

Firstly, I can borrow DVD's and Blu Rays that some of your friends and family may not own. For example the delicious Hannah Marie Green has already agreed to throw some rare and obscure films my way such as Pink Flamingos along with Andrew Mort, Jon Taylor and James Dobrowski, with their individual contributions.

Secondly, I have access to several streaming services that I pay for, my family pay for and my friends share. I may also feel obliged to buy a couple of these films on a whim, you never know.

Thirdly, there is the option to watch these films on Youtube, where some of these films have been acquired and sourced in a fashion that's in conflict with the channel's terms. Now there is a bigger issue going on in the second hand market that deserves its own blog, mostly regarding the acquiring of public domain films to charge at a cost or hamper distribution for profit, as well as those pirating films to profiteer on personal pages and torrent sites. Both are worthy of further discussion. For now I will use the services as they appear, ideally without the use of torrents or illegal means.

How long will this take?

At one film a day, it would take me roughly two years and twenty one days.

At two films a day it's one year and 10 days, which averages about 60 films a month to complete my list so far.

Now on the surface of it, those sums appear quite scary, but in reality we are all consuming content of equivalent volume, in some instances several times a day. So it's actually achievable, if I can maintain the current figures. If.

How much will it cost?

Let's Discuss the options, firstly streaming and satellite subscriptions.

Combined, the cost for having Netflix (£5.99), Prime (£5.99), Mubi (£4.99) and a Sky Movies Package, which is now half price for six months (£28.50 if you're new to Sky, £8.50 if you're not)

The total comes to £45.50 a month worst case, or £25.50 if you already own a Sky box.

Secondary to this, are the options to buy these films outright.

Now if you want a hard calculation, that I can't give. Trading makes prices too variable and I can only give you an estimate. I don't plan on going into every thrift shop or second hand DVD dealer in Lancashire. I'm going to look at prices the same way you are. I'm going to look on Amazon because it's easy and I'm going to work out a worst case, because it's sensible. I'm also going to look at buying new, because that's the ideal situation and I'm only going to pick BluRay if it's cheaper than DVD and second hand DVD's if it's the only option available at the time.

If you want to trawl through Ebay or Amazon with the hopes of finding a great deal, do it. That's on you I'm afraid as this blog over time will age and so the prices will change.

I will say that region specific DVD's may add to the cost if you can't find an efficient work around and have to purchase a region unlocked DVD Player. The best option is to utilize some software to bypass region locking, but that can be found on a quick Google search and the rest is wrestling the software on a PC or Mac.

These are my calculations and totals (estimate only as of Jan 2016).

For those of you who can't be bothered looking, the total is £8,101.26. You will be glad to know that's just the basic price, if you wanted to buy everything including some more extortionate rarities it will cost you £10,194.12.

That price should have a laxative effect. If it doesn't and you want to buy them anyway, here's the list I have compiled on Amazon. Enjoy!

Is renting these films any cheaper?

Yes. Rentals are an option and Prime/Amazon Rental & Sky offer the largest and most varied libraries. There is obviously a cost and that is the real crux of the issue with regards to pursuing this endeavour.

There are also opportunities to buy these films on Sky & Amazon in a digital version, should you want to.

The cost to rent films on Amazon and Sky is too expansive and variable to list here I'm sorry to say. On average it's a few pounds for a single film and Youtube are beginning to offer rentals for a slightly cheaper rate. My advice is if you really want to rent a film, do your research and see the price difference. If it's cheap enough, rent it!

Do I want to see all of these films?

Maybe. I think you have to qualify what you're getting out of the experience of watching a new film.

In my experience some films cater to the first time experience and diminish after a second viewing. Others are designed to toy with the viewer, like "Funny Games", which was utter contemptable moronic drivel. Then there are films that can be life changing and life affirming. The joy really is in the discovery.

For me personally the fact that there is a list involved, taps into my own selfish pedantry. There are films in this list I am genuinely not looking forward to. I do not like musicals. Period. I'm forcing myself to watch them because I can say I have watched them, nothing more.

Why aren't all of these films more readily available?

It's a little complicated so bare with me here.

Streaming services are not digital libraries, despite their appearances. You don't just go and pick what you want, when you want it. They are curated lists that have expiration dates on their content, they disguise this fact with voluminous content, but are still curated. The best way to think of it is like a mobile video library that would appear at the bottom of your street for you to rent a VHS or DVD. Expansive, but transient.

Blu-Ray and DVD are all fine and good but they are physical media which means the content is at risk if treated badly, and that was definitely the case on older formats such as film and tape. Given the rarity of some of these films that is definitely a risk. There is always the issue of storage and I'm not referring to digital storage, I mean literal storage. Based on the average DVD case dimensions here in the UK, and saying for safety's sake that there are 1000 DVD's you must own, they would reach 150 meters in length, stacked side by side, which is about the length of one and a half football fields.

Resale value of second hand content is prohibitively cost inefficient, unless you are trading very rare, out of print films, which already have an exceptionally high price tag before you start and then require the content to be held for a period of time, to increase the item's value when resale is required. If you do plan on doing that, you also risk another copy being found and undercutting your price.

As for why the recirculation and expiry on digital content platforms is there in the first place, I'm afraid I really don't know. My own assumption is that there is a price tag from a distributor to a service provider or maybe there is a set time in which a film can be exhibited and priced accordingly. These are merely best guesses. Naturally, anyone who would like to add some insight on that particular issue is welcome to contribute.

Aside from that, the practical realities of Film and its consumption are quite clear. Films are made in their time for a cost, to be distributed and viewed by the public. The smaller the budget for the feature, the less exposure it receives and therefore the likelihood of it being remembered or known over a protracted period diminishes. This is no fault of the film itself, unless it is universally despised. More often than not it's just the brutal machinations of the industry. So films become forgotten, they get left when transitions to new formats happen and you end up with lost films on older, perishing formats.

Now unscrupulous dealers acquire these films, knowing of their rarity and keeping them for purposes of profit. You could argue that film is more noble, deserves better treatment and representation. I would be inclined to agree, but I think this topic alone deserves its own blog in due course. So for now, lets hit the next question.

Are there more guarantees for successfully acquiring the film through "illegal" channels?

If I qualify this and just say Youtube, as the sole source of "illegally acquired films" it's a yes.

In broader terms, I would say no. The truth is, most people are acquiring older films and rare films to be viewed on their experiences and social worth, than their physical worth. There are clear exceptions and they should absolutely be avoided.

At present I have not attempted to find any of these films via torrents or filesharing, firstly because I'm opened to some form of liability or simply for piracy. That said I'm here detailing my feelings on these films and the worth of attempting to achieve the goal of the book. When certain films cannot be attained cheaply or easily, the alternatives are deferring to piracy. It appears all or nothing and so the market for streaming services hopes to fill the gap. Now, the current spectrum of films I have acquired means I don't actually need a pirated film. This alone is good news for a consumer, but it isn't perfect. I have had to utilise 4 or 5 different providers to get enough coverage to get these films. Ideally it would be only one and even now there are gaps with regards to specific films and their lack of coverage.

For now I will say, illegal channels are popular because of their services and ease in which to acquire content. As time goes by, paid services will continue to change to make accessibility more applicable to their libraries. The only catch is that people can get these films for free, illegally, and one needs only look to the Music Industry to see the lasting damage from an inability to accommodate change in consumption.

What's the point anyway?

Fundamentally this is about films that must be seen.

We will have to see if watching the remaining films is going to enrich my experiences. Optimistically, I would say yes, because that has always been the power of Film, right?

The problem I have, and you have, is my opinion has no basis to inform, it's just an opinion. That said, I'm attempting to watch all of these films listed, by any means I can.

I'm not wealthy, I do not have connections that infer privilege. I'm a writer with a limited disposable income, I'm just like you. I have bills to pay, projects to complete, time to fill. What I do want to do is to see what these films are all about. So I will give little snippets of my experience and document my struggles of acquiring these films as I go.

If you like what I have to say, then by all means stay, share and join the conversation.

OK, so what happens next?

Well the theory is I watch 60 films throughout January and keep going until I finish. At the end of each month I will post a blog about what I went through and how I'm getting on.

More importantly what my feelings are on the films I have seen, ideally without revealing too much.

All I can say is I hope you like it and here's to hoping I get to the end, having seen all of these films enriched through the experience of viewing them.

Who knows? But it's going to be fun trying. Right?