I started the LAMB three years ago with a simple purpose: I had looked around the blogosphere and saw a void in the movie-blogging community. Sure, there were (and are) several blog directories out there, but they were (and are, for the most part) highly impersonal. They were “one size fits all” places where blogs of all types were listed, and it seemed you were left hoping that your needle was the one that was found amongst the hay. I had been blogging on my own movie blog for a little less than a year at that time and had formed several relationships with other bloggers. So I sent out an email to 30 or so of them telling them that I’d started this new directory.
It was a modest start, but an enthusiastic one. People were thrilled to have their own place to mingle and discover. An IMDb linking here and a LAMMY event there led to some serious word-of-mouth spreading, and the site’s membership grew rapidly. We celebrated LAMB #201 the day before the site’s first birthday, and #382 before its second. This last year has seen the largest growth, with the 736th LAMB posted yesterday, which means there have been nearly as many LAMBs added in the last year as in the first two combined…and there are over 30 more in the queue as I write this.
I’ve been overwhelmed by this growth, in ways both exciting and challenging. The bigger the site becomes, the harder it has been to maintain that personal touch and intimate feel. I’ve put out the call to contributors several times over the years and have been honored to have no less than 17 others bloggers step up and host an event or – better yet – run an ongoing feature of their own. Bloggers taking some additional time out of their days or weeks to not only run their own sites but help to make this a better, more all-encompassing place. It’s been an awesome sight to see.
But this day of celebration is bittersweet. As you might have noticed (or might have seen via a Facebook update some days back), my role has diminished here over the last few weeks. A few events in my personal life have triggered this – one tragic and the other on the opposite side of the emotional spectrum. I lost my mother 11 days ago, a passing that has, as you might imagine, hurt me phenomenally and made an immediate impact on my life as I struggle to assist my father in any way I can. On the bright side, my wife and I are adopting our first child, a baby girl that is due in early December.
The combination of these events has forced me to take a look at the time I’ll have left in my life for blogging, and the LAMB specifically. As a result, I am stepping down as your “shepherd” and handing the reins over to Rachel Thuro of Rachel’s Reel Reviews. Rachel has ran the LAMBscores feature for some time now, has been a frequent LAMBcast participant, is a longtime LAMB (#43, I believe), and more importantly is a good friend and someone I know will run the LAMB well. I don’t think she has any major changes planned, but she has my full blessing to do anything that she wishes to, and my confidence that whatever she does will be in the best interest of the site.
With that said, you won’t be rid of me completely. I’m going to continue to run the LAMBcast, and I’m sure to be a participant in many of our features, from the aforementioned LAMBscores to the Director’s Chair series and so on. I’ll still be here, just in the background.
So happy birthday, LAMB! I look forward to seeing what you do in the next year.
Tags: happy birthday to LAMB, rachel's reel reviews, site news
*sniff sniff* It’s a long way to tipperary…
Naw, seriously. Wow to the news. I know Rachel will run things awesomely cause she runs things awesomely all the awesomely time.
And for the personal stuff. Sorry for you loss. And congrats on the adoption!
Man, this is why I’m not good at this serious stuff, I never know what to say.
-Jason
@ Rachel (aka My New Boss) — When do we get a “raise”? Ha, ha, ha! I doubt that I would be able to pull the wool over your eyes.
Very sorry to hear about your mother Dylan and in contrast major congratulations on the adoption!
Life has lots of twists and turns in it, but you’re aces in my book so I’m wishing you the absolute best.
Rachel’s absolutely awesome, and runs a blog that’s pure gold, so I’m sure she’ll do wonderfully.
I’ll be sure to do the LAMBcast again soon, hopefully you’ll be around so I can attempt my brainwashing program. I feel you’re the ideal candidate. Which would you rather become: A ninja leprechaun or robotic chicken of mass destruction?
Our thoughts are with you man and it is an exciting prospect to have a new shepherd in Rachel! You have set up something that I am sure the vast majority of LAMBs are excpetionally proud to be a part of.
We shall see you soon …
Simon
Sorry about your loss.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again–I would have willingly taken the reigns of the LAMB had I just had more time to spare. I am, however, excited to hear that Rachel is taking over as the Shepardess, as it were. It’s in good hands!
So sorry, Fletch. The loss of a parent is very difficult.
And congratulations on the new child.
@Dylan – My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Congratulations on the new addition to your family.
It has truly been a pleasure working with you.
@Rachel – Congrats on the new position. I know you will do an awesome job.
Dylan,
Our thoughts are with you. Sorry to hear the sad news, but congrats all at the same time.
Sad to see you go, but thrilled to have Rachel as our LAMB leader!
Happy Birthday LAMB! Yeah!
Sorry to hear about your mom–tough stuff. How wonderful about the new baby! You are in for a wild, exciting ride.
Thanks for everything that you have done for the LAMB. This org. has done a lot to make me feel more a part of a blogging community, and I am deeply appreciative.
Best of luck to you with everything.
Gosh, Dylan, I’m so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing, that’s awful. But I wish you much luck with your adoption- that much be very exciting for you! I hope you raise her to be an excellent movie fan.
And of course we’ll miss you terribly around here as our shepherd but I think Rachel will do a great job!
Thanks everyone for the vote of confidence! I’ve got big shoes to fill, so please be patient with me.
@DJ-I’m actually giving all LAMB contributors a 100% raise. Check is in the mail;)
A RAISE! I’ll be going from O dollars and 0 cents to 0 dollars and 0 cents! O happy day!
Kidding aside I feel terrible about your mom passing Dylan. I’ve always been incredibly close with my mom and I’d be devastated if I ever lost her. I can’t imagine what your going through and I’m sorry.
On the other hand though I’m happy that you’ll be soon becoming a daddy. You’ve always been a stand up guy and I know you’ll raise this kid right (and hopefully an avid movie lover as well -) )
And Rachel I know your going to do great. You handle RRR like a Swiss clock and I have full confidence in your abilities as the new matriarch of the LAMB.
Dylan,
I’m not surprised by the positive comments here and, although I’m not going to say anything new, I just wanted to add my gratitude, sympathies and best wishes to the list.
As I’ve banged on about before, The LAMB came around at a time when myself and others were incredibly disillusioned with the changes that were afoot at Rotten Tomatoes’ user site and, in contrast to how they conducted themselves, I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that The LAMB has always retained that personal touch and sense of appreciation for the community – even towards not-particularly-active-members, such as myself.
Best of luck for the forthcoming year and good luck to Rachel in taking the reigns of The LAMB.
Sam
Sorry to hear about your loss Dylan
Best of luck with the adoption and congratulations on that front. I’m sad to see you take on a diminished role, you have truly done an amazing job rallying up the entire movie community and I’m sure Rachel will be up to the task continuing this formidable enterprise.
Cheers,
Castor
Terribly sorry to hear about your mother, Fletch. And happy to hear of baby-things. And whatnot.
Happy birthday to the LAMB, anyway.
So sorry to hear about your mom, Dylan, but the LAMB turning three and your first kid on the horizon is a whole lot to celebrate. You’re the man, everyone who’s ever been part of the LAMB is better off for it, and thanks for being The Great Unifier. Promise I’ll bake you a cake next year.
Dylan,
We’ve all ready talked about most of this stuff so I’ll just say that I love you Man!!!
Stay focused on that beautiful gift headed your way next month!
KAI
Sorry to hear about the news on your loss, Dylan. Sounds like it’s a lot to go through now. Happy to hear there are some good things going on, congrats with the new addition coming soon.
Thank you for all that you’ve done for us at the LAMB, it’s an awesome community you’ve built for us film bloggers.
Looking forward to many more birthdays, go LAMB!
I meant Dylan. Shit, I’m a terrible person.
Jason, Simon, Chantale, Nick, blake, CS, KC, Alex, Travis, Sam, Castor, Simon, Aiden, Kai, and Film Gurl – Sorry to lump you all together, but I might be here all day otherwise, and I’d be saying generally the same thing. Thank you very much for the kinds words and sentiments. Tough, exciting times lie ahead, both personally and LAMBinally!
Univarn – good to hear that the guys didn’t scare you away from the LAMBcast. And I’d be a ninja leprechaun any day of the week.
My sincere condolences about your mother, Dylan… I lost mine when I was 16 and nothing like losing a loved one makes you reflect on life. But glad to hear about your new baby girl and much congrats for LAMB turning 3! It’s commendable what you’ve done with this wonderful blog and I’m so glad I’ve joined.
Thanks for everything you’re doing to the movie blogging community and I wish you all the best in all your personal endeavor. God bless!