![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
“Letterboxd:” The App That Makes Gen Z Fall in Love With Film
The social media app used by self-proclaimed “cinephiles” and movie critics alike has begun to steadily attract younger generations from older millennials to younger Gen Z due to its personalized and unique approach to social networking.
The app’s popularity has mainly seen a surge of new users in recent years. A January 2021 New York Times article reported that “Letterboxd” “has seen its user base nearly double since the beginning of the pandemic,” now having more than three million member accounts, up from the almost two million it had at the start of 2020.
May 16, 2022
In a generation raised with technology, how does a niche program succeed in attracting a wider audience? The answer is sitting in our very own app stores. Created in 2011 by New Zealand natives Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow, “Letterboxd” is a social networking app that’s used to like, rate, and log films. Beyond this, it also allows you to add movies you’re interested in to a customized watchlist.
A synchronous mix of internet culture and film critiques brings in users from across all plains. Sophomore Juliana Noriega has been a “Letterboxd” user since summer 2021. “I mainly use ‘Letterboxd’ as a form of amusement,” Noriega said. “The users review films with such a unique wit [that] it builds such a specific sense of humor for a community of movie lovers and haters alike.” The extensive database opens a door to film exploration never seen before, allowing anyone and everyone to utilize it. “‘Letterboxd’ encourages me to watch films and to embrace my love of cinema—there is definitely something for every user,” Noriega said.
The site produces weekly newsletters, highlighting lowkey indie films, as well as the most anticipated upcoming watches. Each article gives readers an inside look into all factors of film production, even some content not accessible to the general public. The app also has the option to update an account to a PRO membership. This feature lets you have an even more personalized experience by including a capability to remove ads, add profile stats and filters, and special sneak peeks at new projects buzzing in the world of cinema.
With the freedom to write whatever you want — seriously dissecting every trope in your recent watch, or a one word “meme” review –the possibilities are endless. You can add your top four favorite films to your profile and cultivate ranked lists. The easy accessibility of the app also lets you search for an actor’s entire filmography, and provide a percentage for how much of it you have watched. There are separate categories for genre, most popular, highest rated, language, and even the most anticipated films.
It’s not surprising that millions of people have begun to swarm the app’s services and its future is only looking brighter, as their year-over-year app revenue increased by a whopping 243%. So the next time you’re looking for something to watch and don’t know if it’s good, check out the “Letterboxd” rating. If you’re feeling like going on a rant about the most interesting documentary you’ve seen, post a rating. As movie theaters have been fighting streaming giants and shorter movies for popularity and relevance, “Letterboxd” proves that the future of film isn’t all that bleak.
