Two years of WWTW

This month marks the second anniversary of What Would Toto Watch?

Please – save all your cards and letters for the five-year anniversary gala.

This Web site began as a way to introduce myself to the online world. It’s become so much more since then, at least to this starry-eyed film critic.

Here’s just a partial list of what I’ve learned over the last two years thanks to WWTW - and how I hope the evolves during its third year:

• Comment is king: I’m always amazed at how savvy site readers tend to be. The comments here are smart and feisty – the way the best post-movie debates should be. Most commenters treat the site with respect. Consider the still-growing online chatter following my “District 9″ review.

• Indie films need your help: Yes, it’s far more fun to sit through a noisy blockbuster than a low-budget coming of age story or no-budget documentary. But the need for a vital indie film market has never been more apparent – they’re making a movie out of Lego Toys, for crying out loud. WWTW will continue to promote good independent cinema in any way possible.
• Reviewers are, gasp, human, too: WWTW is a one-man operation. So occasionally you’ll see a spelling blip or a technical snafu that shouldn’t be there. I’m trying my best to make this site as seamless as possible. More importantly, my Top 5’s aren’t always debate proof, nor are my reviews. Keep keeping me honest. Please.
• Second thoughts on the Web: One reason I created WWTW was to insulate myself against a changing media landscape. Two years later, I realized the web is a wonderful place for a film critic to ply his trade, with or without a print gig.
• So many ideas, so little time: One of the great things about movies is the avalanche of material to talk about. We can debate the merits of a new movie, explore the political ramifications of a hard-charging documentary or just mourn the loss of a gifted director.
• Blogging is … exhausting: Bloggers don’t get rich, or at least 99 percent of them don’t. Count me in with the majority. This is a labor of love, plain and simple, and an all-consuming one at that. It’s a beast that constantly needs to be fed, especially since my favorite sites are all updated ’round the clock. So expect the same here.

Related posts:

1. Top 5 movies WWTW can’t stop hating
2. Scraps for the Sandler Nation
3. WWTW Rewind – ‘Pillow Talk’ (1959)
4. WWTW Rewind – ‘The Eiger Sanction’
5. Update on Twitter’s impact on film