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Travel Notice: We're Going Offline the Rest of March - Enjoy the Show

by Alex Billington
March 7, 2016

Well, it's time. We're off. It's time for a break. FirstShowing will be slowing down and going offline for the rest of March. We've been running for nearly 10 years and it's time for a brief pause, a moment of rest and relaxation, as we figure things out going forward. I wish I had more to share about the state of things, but for now, it's a bit rough and the best plan of action is to hold steady. In the meantime, I just want to update everyone regarding our break. I will be traveling to the other side of the world and will be generally out of contact for the rest of the month. We may post a few trailers here and there but that's about it until April 1st.

There are a bunch of exciting movies coming out this month - I'm sadly missing Batman v Superman and 10 Cloverfield Lane, two of my most anticipated. There's also the official US release of Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups, Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster, Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special, as well as Disney's Zootopia, and a few others hitting theaters. I will catch as many of them as I can once I return back home, and I wish we could keep the discussion going with Sound Offs. As soon as I'm back from the trip at the end of March, we'll be up and running again with regular posts. There is plenty to talk about the rest of the year.

I will be traveling around the world to India and Nepal over the next three weeks. I have made the executive decision to take a break, and keep things running with a few minimal posts about major trailers. In the meantime, all of our regular FirstShowing is available and our release schedule will be updated with current details. As I have been running the site with very minimal staff recently out of necessity, the only way to keep moving forward and focusing on the future is to go offline for now. It will be just a short break. Thank you for understanding, and I look forward to continuing with new updates again starting next month. Ciao.

Update - for anyone interested in following, I'm posting photos of my trip to Instagram here: @abillington.

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Reader Feedback - 87 Comments

Thats a shame, I really wanted to hear your B v S feedback. Oh well, take care guys, see you in April.

Jon Odishaw on Mar 7, 2016

Ohh same here, can't wait to see it. I'm planning to catch it first thing as soon as I'm back and will write my thoughts then.

Alex Billington on Mar 7, 2016

Have fun, well done with the site.

eurogibbon on Mar 7, 2016

Have fun and a wonderful trip. Look forward to updates again in April.

leesteve on Mar 7, 2016

Enjoy your trip, hope the site comes back strong in April!

Efterklang on Mar 7, 2016

happy trails, Alex! you've certainly earned a break. enjoy India and Nepal, i've spent a fair amount of time in the former, it will probably change your outlook on life! already looking forward to picking up again in April.

son_et_lumiere on Mar 7, 2016

Happy trails Alex!! 😀

bebadit on Mar 7, 2016

See you in April

OfficialJab on Mar 7, 2016

Don't eat the airplane fish!!

TheOct8pus on Mar 7, 2016

Enjoy!

Isildur_of_Numenor on Mar 7, 2016

A Well deserved break indeed! (However, you're ever in need of staff, this unemployed proud film, nerd recent NY to LA transplant is ready and raring to go.)

Josh Frierman on Mar 7, 2016

All the best! And thanks for the first 10 years of a great movie experience on the web! Cheers to the next 10 years of First Showing!

Nash on Mar 7, 2016

AB, be safe and enjoy a bit of the world! Get some rest while you're traveling and try not to worry about film for a while! We'll miss you posts for the rest of the month, but will be waiting for your return! Thanks for keeping this place classy.

Gohikeone on Mar 7, 2016

Simple message from a french cinema lover: "bonnes vacances"! And thank you for the work done during these past 10 years! All the best!

Seb Snow on Mar 7, 2016

You will fucking love Nepal! I've been a few months ago and it changed my life. I am planning a massive trip back for next year. Hit me up if you have any questions or want some tips: rick [at] ikbenrick [dot] nl. Have a blast Alex.

Rick on Mar 7, 2016

You've done so much for us Alex and I hope you enjoy this break because you deserve it.

Zade_92 on Mar 7, 2016

From Aus. Thanks for running such a wonderful website and an amazing community of movie lovers. Enjoy your holidays. Have a whopping good time mate and chuck back a few coldies in Nepal.

TK on Mar 7, 2016

Everyone deserves time off. Enjoy, safe travels, see you when you get back.

theslayer5150 on Mar 7, 2016

I wish you a very happy and safe trip Mr. Billington. I hope you come back world wise and keep sharing fs.net with us! I've been here since 2006...I DON'T WANT IT TO END!

Xerxexx on Mar 7, 2016

My thoughts, exactly.

Vijay Anand on Mar 8, 2016

I will definitely miss the site. I remember stumbling upon First Showing as a young lad. It has been my daily companion for over what seems like five years. // Be Well, Alex Billington! You DA MAN, AB!!!~

DAVIDPD on Mar 7, 2016

Have fun man! I've been to that region, Himachal Pradesh in India to be precise, it's absolutely breathtaking. Don't drink the water, take a lot of pictures, and explore and hike around as much as possible. You'll stumble upon so much amazing people and places.

ListenToVinyl on Mar 7, 2016

Hope the time off is good. Easily the best movie site I know of. Here's hoping things are better than ever when April starts.

LightningB on Mar 7, 2016

Enjoy! See you when your back. There's better things than movies. Like going outside.

Carpola on Mar 7, 2016

Drive-ins!

grimjob on Mar 8, 2016

He he he. 🙂

Carpola on Mar 10, 2016

Have been following the site since at least 5 or 6 years ago, absolutely love it for the trailers, production news, casting news, "never knew they were gonna make it until now" news, etc. Have the RSS News Marker in My favourites Bookmarks Bar. I hope you enjoy this break completely, and can come back absolutely re-energized, recharged, reloaded, and refocused, I hope to Keep enjoying this site for many years, as I have until now, cheers Mate...

wylles on Mar 7, 2016

Definitely look into spending the time to do the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Probably one of the most epic things I've ever done. There's even a tiny movie theatre in one of the villages on the way up where we watched the documentary Touching the Void. Enjoy it. Been following this blog for years, hopefully its not the end but thanks for everything thus far.

Mickey Geller on Mar 7, 2016

I'm really bummed to hear that an atrocity that is the new Ghostbusters trailer has caused you to rethink your life as a monk. But I understand. (Seriously though - enjoy some time off. We will be here when you get back)

Mark on Mar 7, 2016

That trailer caused me to rethink my life as a Ghost. (If only to just get Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon to 'bust' me!)

Akirakorn on Mar 9, 2016

Okay your just made me like this trailer a lot better. I guess it's all in how you approach it 🙂

Mark on Mar 9, 2016

Enjoy your much needed break. Have a great journey to the other side of the earth. Take a lotta pictures.

Dann on Mar 7, 2016

Somehow, this place popped up on my radar in 2006. I was just coming here for the trailers alone. The site is so much more than that though. It took me awhile to realize it. Alex, you've managed to curate a place on the internet that's sophisticated and has an amazing community. You definitely have earned a holiday.

redtie on Mar 7, 2016

Enjoy Alex. Been using the site since around 2007 and will continue to do so. Take as long as you need, you deserve it.

Guy who comments on things on Mar 8, 2016

Alex you're forcing my hand over to slashfilm. 😛 I hope you have a nice break and that guru helps you figure out the future of the site. It's a daily visit for me, so, I hope I remember to come back after 3 weeks.. sure I will 😉

Mr Chatterbox on Mar 8, 2016

Cheers, Alex! Well deserved. See you back in a few weeks.

capitandelespacio on Mar 8, 2016

Ahh man - this is my movie porthole ! I hope it is just March but see you on the other side and enjoy the break ! Any recommendations for another site while you're breaking ?

nathan jones on Mar 8, 2016

My favorite movie sites: http://www.thefilmstage.com http://www.filmschoolrejects.com http://www.slashfilm.com http://www.collider.com http://www.ioncinema.com

Alex Billington on Mar 8, 2016

I've heard of them all, but i don't know...I've just had this as a staple for so long that this is like a second home for me. I literally visit two sites for movie news. This and comingsoon. But with how comingsoon has turned into an Ad-circus. It's been this, which doesn't destroy my computer with those giant huge movie ads.

Have Hope on Mar 8, 2016

There are other movie sites besides?: http://www.firstshowing.net http://www.imdb.com and http://www.boxofficemojo.com srsly, the only reason I know to update my shockwave flash plugin is when a trailer gets blocked here.

Akirakorn on Mar 9, 2016

Alex you legend ! Keep cool and njoy the hols !

nathan jones on Mar 9, 2016

Are things that bleak, Alex? I've been getting my daily fix of movie-related news here since 2008, and I don't want to go anywhere else.

Vijay Anand on Mar 8, 2016

Yes. They are. Didn't you see how many other movie blogs shut down in 2015? We're barely alive as is! Sucks.

Alex Billington on Mar 8, 2016

Damn! I sincerely hope to see you and FS back. You have one guaranteed reader. And I wish you a great trip.

Vijay Anand on Mar 9, 2016

Hi Alex, if you are having any plans to visit the Chennai (India). Please do let me know, it would be a honor to watch BVS with you this March. Wishing you all the very best for the most exciting, Incredible journey ahead.

Ani on Mar 8, 2016

Alex, I'm surprised the site is being less active because of your vacation. I guess because the amount of content that is placed on this site, I assumed that you had a team who worked on this site. The fact that your vacation is going to mean a brief lull, is a testament on how much work and passion you have for this site. Enjoy your travels and I look forward to your return. -Clay

Clay Mark on Mar 8, 2016

Thank you. The short explanation is that - the internet has changed a lot in the last 4 years, it's all about quantity over quality, the ad model has changed so much that simply posting good content doesn't matter anymore. In 2015, a number of major movie blogs shut down. It's just impossible to run them and actually make money. We're barely making enough to keep the servers running and everything else. Just tough times unfortunately. :/ But your support is very much appreciated.

Alex Billington on Mar 8, 2016

Alex, i have always come to this site for quality over quantity, and i'm sure i'm not the only one. it sucks that the world is more interested in chasing after the lowest common denominator than providing decent content. enjoy your downtime, we'll be here when you get back.

son_et_lumiere on Mar 8, 2016

Been coming here since 2007 and it's really the only movie site I go to. I didn't realise that things had got so bleak but I get it. You only have to look at social media to see just how far people will go for likes and shares. Click baiting headlines are terrible and some stories are no more then a few lines. This is definitely a quality site and I hope fs.net can keep going strong in the future.

TK on Mar 8, 2016

Maaaaan...i knew it. It's the age of clickbait. I knew when you were posting a lot more less that something was up. And it's true. Quality film journalism is going out the window. But if the people don't support sites like these then what can you do? The people have to do the action, and promote places where there is actual care taken in what is written.

Have Hope on Mar 8, 2016

True, but do you think it would make a difference? I'm not even sure what to ask for. Money for a re-design - will that help? Even if we improve in some ways, the ad systems have changed so much and I just don't want to participate in the clickbait game and we'll never make enough. I've been trying to wait it out and hope for some new monetization systems for blogs, but nothing good has come about yet.

Alex Billington on Mar 10, 2016

There's the Youtube angle, and make a Firstshowing weekly webisode. That's a possibility. But yeah, I think it's about just regrouping and waiting it out, because the landscape has changed. People have turned into TMZ and just attacking you with ads and scoops from all over. I just have to think there has to be a space for a site that just focuses on proper film journalism and not just breaking superhero movie stories. And it just came to me...the film industry has changed. We don't even have enough proper films released like back in the 90's...so how can you even report on film when it's all 150 million big budget movies.

Have Hope on Mar 11, 2016

Look at The Dissolve. Every version of a movie site that has tried to focus on quality has ended up shutting down. It's just not possible on the internet anymore. I'm not a video guy. Not really into YouTube or the video craze. Was happy to be on top of trailers for many years (I was the strongest advocate for putting trailers on YouTube, emailing heads of online marketing at studios telling them it was wrong to remove them, they should focus on YouTube) but just not my interest personally.

Alex Billington on Mar 11, 2016

Yeah...yeah, definitely get what you're saying. But it's like life. All about cycles. We're just at time (because of Raimi's Spiderman) where the culture of film has changed, and it's all about superhero movies, big scoops, big budget....big, big, big. And with the rise of "fanboys" and so forth (funny how so many have suddenly become one who were insulting the same thing about 15 years ago), that's now become the norm. I love comics, and SOME superhero films...but I grew up on films with the 90's being my decade of where I was exposed to Seven, T2, Shawshank Redemption, Matrix and so forth. It's important to comment on these films, and promote them but the industry just doesn't make them anymore, and because of that, and change in culture and society...these films are now pushed to the end of the year and for most of the 12 months it's what pair of tights a great actor will be wearing and now, all the scoops on the next Star Wars film. Which means voices like yours will be hard to be heard. There just needs to be a renaissance or upheaval to get back to making quality films 12 months of the year and not just three, and making people appreciate the concept of film a lot more, which means sites like these will become more relevant and important. Sorry for the looooooooong response, but thumbs up for you not bowing down to the crowd and just being like them.

Have Hope on Mar 11, 2016

Alex, I have been frequenting your site for years. Great content. I hope I will not see a barrage of top 10 ten lists. Cheers.

MaqueeStalker on Mar 10, 2016

Start a gofundme or something like that. Seems like a you have a good number of fans willing to not see this end. You have a good thing going. I, for one, am willing to help. Seriously.

bat0u on Mar 10, 2016

You earned it! Enjoy

Nick Sears on Mar 8, 2016

I discovered this website (then known as a 'movie blog') back in the Digg days. I don't go anywhere else for movie news. Enjoy the break visiting my country (India) and hope you keep this site running upon your return.

M_LokSatta on Mar 8, 2016

Watch out for Snakes on a Plane !! Have fun.

Steven on Mar 8, 2016

Enjoy your break! Love this site!

Lauren Pence on Mar 8, 2016

Top draw to you Alex. We don't always see eye to eye on films but you've items on your site that I might never have seen or investigated were it not for you and the site. Enjoy your well earned break and even if you come back and decide it's too much hassle to keep it going and take the chance to plough your talent into something new, know that your site made a difference and resonated with people. Peace out.

Payne by name on Mar 8, 2016

Bon voyage Alex, I have this website as my homepage - that says it all!!

whoafilms on Mar 8, 2016

Have Fun.

tyban81 on Mar 8, 2016

Alex, this is the only, and I mean THE ONLY web site I come to for updates on upcoming releases, reviews, and all things film related! Honestly, I would say at least half the films I watch (some of which I would have never heard of if it weren't for your site) are because of you or your colleague's recommendations/and or reviews. I wish you nothing but the best on your much deserved break, and hope to see you back full force when the time is right. All things happen for a reason...keep an eye on that bright light at the end of the tunnel!!! God Bless.

CShane on Mar 8, 2016

So....where do I go for movie news now?? I feel so lost. Enjoy your time off, while I sit here wondering whats happening in the movie world.

Higgens on Mar 8, 2016

Have a great trip, always wanted to go to Nepal. And this has been part of my daily movie news supplement for about five or so years now. With comingsoon and others inundated with ads meaning I can hardly even read the news items because of how long it takes to load...it's just so refreshing to have a site that is easy to come to, navigation is simple and y'all keep it real and never BS. So hope to have you back and keep on with this site that sets itself apart from all the others. HH

Have Hope on Mar 8, 2016

Love your release schedule. Please get rest then update it when you get back.

DanOne on Mar 8, 2016

Well shit. I hope you enjoy your time off, you certainly deserve it. This is by far my favorite movie site, and I'm sorry things are difficult right now. We'll all be here when when you return. Bon Voyage Charlie Brown!

grimjob on Mar 8, 2016

It's my favorite movie site for a long long time and mostly because my opinions are well recommended by others and i get allot if praise for it. :))) No let's be serious. I wish you a great vacation in Nepal and if you traveling via Nepal trough the Netherlands you are welcome to crash in my house.

ari smulders on Mar 9, 2016

Funny man Ari, funny man !! Where in Netherlands ?

Tester on Mar 11, 2016

A little town near Tilburg!

ari smulders on Mar 14, 2016

Ah yes, just north of Eindhoven where I sometimes travel to for work.

Tester on Mar 14, 2016

nice, than we should meet one day!

ari smulders on Mar 14, 2016

For sure, I will let you know next time I am in your area !!

Tester on Mar 14, 2016

cool!

ari smulders on Mar 14, 2016

Don't forget to ask for the knife while you're up there. VIVA NEPAL!

Cyberdine on Mar 9, 2016

Have a safe trip!!! You deserve break! FirstShowing is the best movie site around and I can't wait till it's back...but for now have a great time in Nepal!

David Gold on Mar 9, 2016

Sad. Cuteoverload is my only go-to for the cute, and FirstShowing for movies. Cuteoverload has already bid farewell and now FirstShowing is taking a long break. You deserve it though. I'll just echo what everyone's saying. This is my only movie news site and I don't want to go anywhere else. Take care. Hope everything works out in the end. We'll be here when you return.

polar_beagle on Mar 9, 2016

Hope you enjoy your break. I've only been coming here for the past 3 years but this is the one movie site that I really enjoy. No BS posts and you guys have really recommended so many movies that I would not have known otherwise. Sincerely hope you will continue running the site, I wouldn't want to go anywhere else for my movie news. Cheers!

Choon Keat Kung on Mar 10, 2016

Enjoy! We'll be here waiting for you to get back!

Huck PS on Mar 10, 2016

safe trip, have fun and god bless

Kendel John-charles on Mar 10, 2016

The second trailer for Captain America Civil is out - just thought I would put it here while Alex is away - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGfhS1hfTWw&feature=youtu.be

TK on Mar 10, 2016

enjoy the break and see you soon!

Azwar on Mar 10, 2016

Have fun ma man, India welcomes you : )

Varun Bhonsle on Mar 10, 2016

Safe travels dude.. for what it is worth... Thanks so much for this site and your joy of movies !!

Tester on Mar 11, 2016

heya, Alex. enjoy your brief holiday as it's well-deserved. remember that time the Toronto Film Festival wouldn't let you in as media and i tried to get you a pass?

TrinityTA on Mar 13, 2016

Hey Alex n' Team! Greetings from Nepal! hope to meet you around Thamel. Njoy the Himalayas with pure and fresh air out here!

sur@z on Mar 15, 2016

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