2012 was a great year, and will be difficult for any cinephile to forget. Many are comparing 2012 to the amazeballs year that was 1999 (do I need to tell you what came out that year?) and I’m not going to disagree with them.

Like at the end of every year I tend to look at a lot of top ten lists and be jealous of the flurry of films that hit late on and I haven’t seen yet. However, this post isn’t about the films of 2012 but rather what year 2012 was to me and what I hope 2013 will be (because that’s what today is for, looking forward hopefully and shit).

This past year has been a year of firsts that I hope to build on.

It was the first year that I was employed for the entire year. I know a statement like that makes me sound like some sort of deadbeat who can’t hold a job, but it’s just the first. In late 2011 I moved to Trinidad to start working and that status has yet to change. When I was in 3^rd grade (I think) the first computer came into my home and all I ever wanted was to make things for the computer and now I do. It’s surreal to see how sometimes when you keep your mind focused you can make your goals happen, and I’m happy to say that I’m stepping closer and closer everyday to making more happen.

In 2012 I teamed up with Andrew Johnson from Film Geek Radio to do the podcast dedicated to the new Aaron Sorkin show (which I on average loved but not all the way through) The Newsroom. The podcast was called Navigating the Newsroom and I liked it. I enjoy doing TUMP but this side project was fun as well. I’m always seeking more podcasting projects (and may have an idea or two I want to try out this year coming) as the medium, while not paved with gold, is one I enjoy thoroughly. Will Navigating the Newsroom be returning this year for season 2? I don’t know. Haven’t really had that discussion with Andrew yet, but we’ll see. I honestly don’t even know when Season 2 of The Newsroom starts at this point.

I know I said that I was going to stop talking about this, but I guess it’s tough not to when you’re looking back at the year past, but I finally made it out to TIFF this year. After three years of planning and saying I’d go and what not Toronto let me in and I got to see what the whole fuss was about; and it was great. I got to write for one of my favourite online publications ever since I was reading about film, Film School Rejects, and even had my first interview with someone who works within the film industry (with Nathan Johnson about his score for Looper). I honestly can’t stop gushing about it all and can’t wait to go back again this year (bank account willing). I can’t wait to meet up with all the great Toronto bloggers (and other locations as well) who’re all warming my seat at the bar for me right now I hope.

I hosted my first meet up in Jamaica. As I’ve mentioned for the last couple weeks in What I’ve Been Watching I was in Jamaica for Christmas. One of the first things I did was rally the internet and ask if people would be interested in meeting up for some movie chatter and just saying hey. When I left my home of 25 years in 2011 while I always had the internet to talk to about movies it was always with people far far away in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada or wherever. I’ve always (and we’ve talked about this on TUMP constantly) felt that there weren’t that many people locally who were as into movies as I was and always having to repress my knowledge and love for the sake of not being angry at someone telling me that Transformers Dark of the Moon was a cinematic revelation and looking at me weird when I ask if they know who Stanley Kubrick is. So on Sunday night, the 23^rd of December, I found myself with a few Jamaican cinephiles enjoying a few drinks and some chicken wings at the Macau Bar. You know who you are so thanks for showing up and I look forward to my next time in Jamaica calling on you and many others to make the group grow even wider.

These are all small milestones but memorable ones regardless. What’s leftover to complete from 2012 leaking into 2013 is my John Cassavetes assignment as I’ve seen six films thus far with six more to go. It’s proving to be a much more grueling task than I first thought and I can’t wait to find myself on the other side of that puzzle. I will be doing a lot more themed marathons on the site to help me get through even more unseen cinema, so please endure with me.

For 2013 I’ve decided to join up and play along with the ever continuing Blindspot series. I posted about a month ago my schedule that’s been decided and I’ll try and post the reviews for each film on the last Tuesday of every month that respective film is scheduled for. I’m looking forward to being laughed at less for not seeing certain films, a few of which I’m more ashamed than others to have not seen.

I can’t really say what else I have planned (blogging/writing/podcasting) for the year to come just yet, but let’s just say that I hope that not only I but you will find it very interesting.

Here’s a great year that was 2012 and daring 2013 to better it.