Thank You

Paper Films is coming up on three months, and I wanted to take a moment to say…

For the past few years, I had largely given up on the idea of a “digital community” and considered it something of an oxymoron. But Substack has changed my mind. I’ve met so many smart, talented, thoughtful people here—people creating extraordinary work while sharing their process, offering encouragement, and inviting others into the spotlight.

Substack Chat, in particular, has been a revelation. In my previous post, I shared just a small sampling of the incredible animations I’ve encountered there. And last week, I created a Chat specifically for zine makers. It’s already received over 100 replies, filled with beautiful, funny, weird, and inspiring examples of what a zine can be (post coming soon). I originally imagined it as a kind of digital “zine swap,” but it’s quickly become something more—people are making plans to exchange their zines by mail and even meet up in-person for sketching sessions.

This is the kind of space I never could have imagined three months ago. And in an increasingly divided age, this little community makes me feel—dare I say—hopeful.

Who knows where Paper Films will be three months from now, but I’m excited we’re heading there together. Thanks for the inspiration and good vibes. There’s much more to come.