The Red Circle

Tragedy by the Bee Gees blared at BP while I pumped gas. It was the first song I heard on the last day of the year. Having been searching for a way to sum up the year, I had just realized that the Brothers Gibb gave me the answer. Tragedy, art based on human suffering that paradoxically offers its audience pleasure. A specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of Western civilization. Our last tens years have brought us nothing but endless outlets for the propagation of tragedy. Every advancement in technology and social media makes it easier to know that some sad sack has got it worse. We are defined and fueled by Tragedy (although most of you will never admit it). If you do not believe me, then explain why Michael Jackson died for six months.

And so it was amidst this tragedy, heroes would rise to bring us all back from the darkness of John and Kate. There were those who wanted to help the world understand visual storytelling in a fuller light. Aimed to combine themselves with the art-form, and explore how the best push far beyond the border of entertainment and use it as a unique form of communication. Unfortunately they died in a car crash. Fortunately for Tom and I, we discovered the scene. After liberating $22.37 from their wallets and taking their plan for a movie site to end all movie sites we decided to make their cause our own. On the first day of October, in this foul year of our lord two-thousand and nine, The Red Circle was born.

We launched with a monthly focus appropriately devoted to Horror (hey, it compliments tragedy). Each day we counted down the best of the Horror genre in mini-reviews to prepare you for All Hallows Eve. Along the way starting a series of weekly posts known as Long Good Friday, Tom reviewed a few films and we generally tried to not fuck it up.

In November we lined up grudge matches of love and hate in our Flip/side feature (to argue often ends in tragedy). I started “Ice Skating Up Hill”. Tom took it to Twilight and Cory K.O.ed Cameron before he even had a chance. Thanksgiving arrived with Tom educating you on Blu-ray as you started your holiday shopping. I closed the month out with my half of the final Flip/side, informing you that 2009 was a tragedy at the cineplex.

Heading into the winter season we were officially joined by Cory Maidens and Jamie Dull to discuss music. Cory counted off his Top 50 Albums of the Decade and Jamie brought us Song of the Day selections. I changed the direction of Long Good Friday, switching from movies to discuss the TV shows canceled before their time. Before the month ended Tom and I took turns skewering what was left of Avatar. Each of us ended the month with a list of our Ten favorite films…ever (or rather the ten reasons for doing what we do).

As I look ahead, there is a lot to offer waiting in the wings. Twenty-Ten will see the launch of the TRC Movie Poster Graveyard, Comic Book reviews, more Television commentary, more reviews, and much more that Major Tom will divulge in his welcome to the future.

Needless to say, The Red Circle was not a tragedy. The best part is this was only a soft-launch for us, our beta period or time to make mistakes. We have lots of new features and articles in the works. It is our hope that Cory and Jamie stick around and continue to contribute articles about the things that make them take notice. Thanks to Tom who shepherded us all along the last three months (especially when it concerned my grammar skills), he might be an editor yet someday. Thanks to myself for generally being fantastic and coming up with anything that was good on the site, but I digress. Tomorrow starts a new year and a new decade; The Red Circle will only get bigger.

Be seeing you,
Ryan Brlecic

Co-Founder of The Red Circle

PS – In 2010, You need to get Disenfranchised!

Share