01. Welcome To 'Films, Mon Amour': A Letter From The Editor

To Lovers of Storytelling, 

Welcome to Films, Mon Amour! If you’re reading this, it means you too have a profound connection to the art of cinematic and televised storytelling, and I am thrilled to have you and your passion here with us.

As my dear friend and cherished artistic collaborator Ishq Pradhan prepared to launch her production company, Amour Films, she approached me with the idea of creating a publication to accompany it—a way to expand and engage with our ever-growing network of like-minded artists between the releases of Amour Films projects. Because after all, we know that the production process is a beautiful but lengthy love affair.

I was delighted by the idea and honored when Ishq asked if I would lead this project. Before I could formally accept, my mind overflowed with concepts for connecting the company and the blog. Ishq and I began excitedly exchanging podcast-length voice notes—a necessity for long-distance friendships and enthusiastic creative partnerships.

We wanted this to be different from your typical cinematic review or analysis blog. Instead, we envisioned a space where one can return to their artistic core and celebrate their love for this craft. We aspire to cut through the noise: the doubts and fears, the endless paperwork and emails, the self-comparisons, waiting to hear back from potential investors, the politics, the budgeting challenges, the hours of self-taping, and all the other nuisances that come with being in this industry. These can feel overwhelming, but in reality, they pale in comparison to that magical feeling.

You know that feeling.

It’s the moment you’re watching a film or reading a script and are completely transported by the brilliance of a group coming together and sharing their gifts and ideas. You are physically sitting there, but your soul is flying, awe-struck and thinking, “Oh yes, this is why I’m doing this.”

Or when you step back in your own creative process and see how your initial concepts and visions are breathing a life of their own with each passing day, thanks to the group of geniuses you are surrounded by.

Or when you’re discussing stories and are swept away by your own enthusiasm—whether it’s about a filmmaker and their entire body of work or a single frame that captivates you. You find yourself caught up in your thoughts and feelings, lost in words, and just release the deepest exhale as you try to capture the depth of your emotions.

ie. I think of Jo in Little Women (2019), exclaiming “women!” before she finds her words and herself again. I am curious to hear your own favorite moments of “exhales” in film.

So whenever you hear Films, Mon Amour, or read the opening of someone’s post, imagine that deep exhale infused with all the love and gratitude you have for this work.

Perhaps, if you’d like, take a moment now for a mini exhale and say to yourself,

Films. Oh, films, my love! Who would I be without this love for stories?

(We’re a little frou-frou about films, let’s just be honest about it and lean into the cheese of that feeling.)

That’s what we’re about here. We aim to create a haven—a weekly reminder to silence the noise and bring you back to yourself and that feeling. Whether you call it passion, inspiration, enthusiasm, or simply love, Films, Mon Amour will be a place to share and receive love letters from global cinematic storytellers and connect through the works that shape us.

Every Monday, you will receive a post in the form of a love letter, written by a different artist and a new theme each month. Now understand, this may be the only time this letter will be addressed to you, reader. Letters will be written to either an artist or a specific work, depending on the theme, to intimately experience how one converses directly with those people and pieces that inspire them in addition to introducing you and the rest of our community to stories and storytellers you might not have stumbled upon otherwise.

To celebrate the launch of Amour Films, our first month’s theme will feature artists involved in current Amour Films productions, allowing you to learn more about our current and upcoming projects. The prompt each writer was given this month was: Write a love letter to a work that inspired you to create your current production. I am so excited to introduce Amour Films’ present productions and some of the wonderful artists behind them through their love letters.

Please share your love! Whether in the comments, sending this blog with fellow story-lovers, or expressing interest in writing a letter for Films, Mon Amour yourself, which you can do by emailing me at bianca@amour-films.com

Remember, this is a place to connect and celebrate, so I invite you to do just that whenever opening a letter from Films, Mon Amour.

Now, go watch something that ignites that feeling and reminds you of why you fell in love!

Affectionately,
Bianca Chesnut
Editor-in-Chief, Films, Mon Amour
xx