YEAR ONE: A Word From Yours Truly

I kinda have to thank Jackie Chan for sorta becoming the root of this. It really is kinda his fault, lol.

Back in 2007, I took interest in starting a blog that would place me in direct touch with a branch of the sector that garnered my interest in action movies, the independent scene. This interest was in the end driven by my enjoyment of films from groups like Zero Gravity, The Stunt Folks, VJ Films, Montanick Puctures, Persistence Of Vision, Whirlwind Action and Jabronie Photos, etc. and I knew that by contacting indie filmmakers I felt I could lean into something I felt wasn't receiving a lot of consideration. So I went to this website referred to as freehostia.com and began a cost-free-trial supply that would enable me to construct up content till I decided to acquire that specific domain, supplied that I would have the income. And by then, I had currently interviewed a handful of of these folks, and even got to trade emails with Perry Reginald Teo who directed The Gene Generation. This felt like a wonderful time for me and constructed my hopes even additional that I would become an active portion of film culture that would put my then-titled site, Supply Of The Fist, on the map.

Evidently, things didn't turn out as well as I wanted them to, with the computer crashing that summer and no cash to get it fixed, and I eventually lost get in touch with with everyone I've spoken to, and each bit of content I worked toward placing with each other. And if you're a 1st-time blogger, you know that shit isn't straightforward the 1st go-about. So from 2007-2009, I was in a slump. Company was slow here at the family retailer and I could not binge on HKFlix and YesAsia DVDs like usual, and I ended up missing a lot of quite great releases in that period. But what was most devastating was that I felt I might have lost what ever faith, credibility and potential I believed I had with these folks whose perform I enjoyed for so lengthy.

In 2009, we continued undertaking our very best to keep--we eventually stopped utilizing our landlines given that we had been already utilizing cellphones. I had a Motorola i560, from which I then upgraded to a Motorola i465. Both phones could access world wide web, but neither of them could play anything on YouTube. And in this day and age, that kind of thing can drive any individual punch a person in the face at random. So, by about 2010 as the planet finally entered smartphone era and I upgraded to a Galaxy S, life got a tiny easier and I started reconnecting with old buddies even though converting from MySpace to Facebook. Life went on, and I did what I did to pass the time. But I was nonetheless into films, and sharing articles from entertainment websites did nothing at all to drive a conversation on my Facebook wall.

Picture becoming the only one particular in the space who offers a fuck about something as you do and no 1 cared. It sucks actually.

Much more time passed and I sooner or later started a new circle of Facebook pals by the end of 2012, adding indie film guys I utilized to be in touch with, despite the fact that anxious to a large degree that I may possibly not be accepted following feeling like I let so a lot of people down. Fall arrived and I continued adding more and more men and women from the film business, which was a diverse route for me following friending so many people from back in the day--people I used to go to college with, folks I in fact share memories with. It was excellent back then, but even then following all those years, I all of a sudden discovered myself surrounded by more strangers then friends. Individuals alter more than the years...and some men and women remain the exact same. And I either case, I knew I necessary a change.

Adding non-mutual men and women to develop an on the web social life (particularly when you want to network and everyone lives thousands of miles away) is never ever straightforward. You are an unknown, an outsider, a possible threat. The second some they see your friend request, they look at you and raise an eyebrow asking themselves "Who the hell is this guy?", which, when I appear back on it, is really hilarious! And only because if I had been them, I wouldn't blame them. The internet has carried out a bit of a number on the element of trust in an age where any creepizoid with a laptop and undesirable intentions can effortlessly fuck your shit up with the click of a mouse. Hell, with all the times I've been thrown in Facebook jail, you could say I've possibly earned some street cred!

What can I say? Lol! #Thuglife :-P

That mentioned, as you can imagine, my attempts at new connections had been not simple.

September 21, 2012 came and that evening I decided to go more than to Twitchfilm to look at the latest. I scrolled and saw their report forwarding the announcement of Jackie Chan's Police Story 2013, and that excited me. But I knew that I required a better platform. And on the spur of a moment, a Facebook community web page was born with a title that I nonetheless doubt even tends to make sense! I but far more anything, I wanted it to function. And it eventually, what I began out as a movie page evolved into anything that would demand me to do anything a tiny a lot more daring.

With screenfighters being the commence of it all, Film Combat Syndicate ultimately became a spot where I not only shared film news, but also interact with athletes in different fields, such as parkour and tricking. Something of quality content material that involved some type of dynamic movement in action and martial arts would be something I would try to stick to. My audience gradually grew, and quickly, even stunt performers and actors, numerous types filmmakers alike saw my web page and liked it, but wanted a lot more. Meaning, a demand for a weblog was in spot.

I had my doubts at initial. Even now, I am operating on only a smartphone as I did then, when I wasn't positive I could manage the process of a blog considering that phones are nonetheless limited in specific capabilities no matter how "wise" they are. Even though by then, I was a small familiar with Blogger, and on February 9, 2013 (just two days soon after RoboCop premieres subsequent year in 2014) I decided to jump on the Blogger boat and see exactly where I would sail.

I inform you, you need some zen-focus to operate a weblog on a four-inch screen. The app itself is not adequate and so I toggle among the app and the browser to do what I need to have, which is also a discomfort in the ass since occasionally Blogger itself doesn't even cooperate. All types of crap happens, and it can drive you insane!

Never you adore technology?

More to the point though, 1 year later, and I'm happy to see that Film Combat Syndicate has earned itself a following. I really only believed I might get about 1,000 likes on my web page, but getting surpassed 1,600 individuals is a sure sign that I might nicely be undertaking some good. I've had some fairly great milestones so far---I got to interview some quite essential individuals. My interview with Mark Musashi was my greatest assignment at the begin of my weblog in February-a surprise I did not see coming, which also earned me some exposure at Henshin Justice Unlimited, courtesy of Keith Hayward. It was a huge very first step into a difficult adventure I intially wanted for Supply Of The Fist, which did not last as lengthy as Film Combat Syndicate has so far in its existence. Several months later I got a little package of team buttons from a martial arts film and functionality troupe in the UK, SG Action via Royal Mail, which is probably the closest I have been to feeling English since I went to Strawberry Fields in Manhattan, N.Y. for the initial time back in 2002. And ultimately, I did my initial video interview with a stuntman from France who was staying in New York in preparation for a mini-project with the people at Cinema Fight Studio, and that wasn't even planned for the page at all, just two guys initially hanging out at the motion pictures! It was one of the ideal instances I've had at a theater and it was aweosme to share with all of you, and I have totally no thought when it will come about once more, simply because, properly, I'm a small enterprise owner-very first these days, and the subsequent month may see me a small bit further from the weblog even though I have a tendency to a household member in need to have of surgery.

But moreover, seeing my articles read and shared by some of the quite people whose work I appreciate is possibly the greatest, most great thing that I have ever noticed happen to FCSyndicate since it started. It really is been six years because I even contemplated undertaking this sort of issue, and to see it take such great methods toward its prospective is extremely motivating.

As for what lies subsequent, I am pretty certain I have figured out my formula right here, for now, whilst I continue to pace myself as the assignments get bigger, even as I am nevertheless studying. I'm at the moment in the process of courting some folks who share my interests, though what I do right here is, by no means, a paid point. In fact, I currently have just a few people on board who may well be contributing from time to time. And I certainly hope that by this time, next year, Film Combat Syndicate will continue to develop its audience, and I can nonetheless be right here tending to my other infant right here as its founder and chief writer.

To all the genre fans out there who share our collective interests here, and to the haters (you know who your asses are :-P) ...and to all the men and women in the film industry, amd readers from right here, to India, Europe, Asia, wherever and whomever you are who have supported, and continue to endorse my blog with your power and interest in my perform here, I stay ever humbled and thankful. You people are the reason why people like me love what we adore most in action movies. And I have all the faith on the globe that as extended as I am right here, and as extended as I am breathing, this website will continue functioning toward becoming something as memorable as for you as it has been, and will usually be for me.

At any price, I hope to reach a point in my life exactly where I can make Film Combat Syndicate a complete priority. Hopefully some of you might see me at a few film festivals 1 day...a single day maybe.

Here's to year a single, and onto year two! 

Thank you everybody. And you also, Jackie.

~Lee B. Golden
Founder, editor and admin of Film Combat Syndicate

Jackie Chan Photo: THR

YEAR ONE: A Word From Yours Truly
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