Will JWfan last long after John Williams?

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

We could always convert it into a Star Trek/Tim Burton Batman/Titanic forum.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

We have about 5 people here with any interest in actually talking about Star Trek.

And less for the other two.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

5 people?

 

I only count 3.

[Bespin 8,475]

Star trek is dying, it really need spinoffs like Star Wars. Why not making a movie about trebbles?

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

 Bes, that's "tribbles"!

 

[mrbellamy 6,272]

In 2005 I started hanging out on a Harry Potter forum with many active members from around the world and all sorts of off-topic discussion. Potter seemed like it was pretty tangential but that place whittled down pretty fast after the last book in 2007...by the last movie in 2011 I had moved over to a private forum with about 10 friends. It still exists, last post there was in November. I don't really visit there anymore but I do keep in touch with one person pretty regularly via text. She hasn't gotten around to Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts by the way.

 

The reality is that we are all different people from different places at different stages of our lives, with not actually that many (any?) common interests between the entire lot of us except for an enormous amount of passion for this site's namesake. Even our interests in film music differ wildly aside from the old or dead guys. Some of us hardly even follow current film music at all aside from Williams and not all of us buy every LLL set or compilation that comes out.

 

The one thing that ties all of us together is the promise of new John Williams music. I think we are all much more willing to tolerate those who we have nothing else in common with -- even when those disagreements get aggressive -- because in the back of our minds we know that person is here for John Williams. That's what is sort of beautiful about it.

 

When there is no more new John Williams music, it'll be different. There's only so much we can really say all at once about his existing output. Even now we've run in circles repeating discussions. There are groups of people here who actually do have much in common with each other and have formed real lasting friendships and those will continue, but who's to say that it will remain on this board instead of a free private forum where they don't have to be anonymous? Would they always continue airing their opinions and grievances on a public forum under an avatar and screenname? I dunno. There might not be enough donations after awhile to keep this thing going, but maybe the site will take a new shape and flourish. That would be nice to see. Most of us will eventually splinter off, move on to other communities and interests.

 

Just how it goes...how many people did you keep in touch with after graduating school when there was suddenly no reason for you to go back and see those people in that building every day? But you still remember many of those people from your class. I think it's okay.

[Bespin 8,475]

18 minutes ago, Richard said:

 Bes, that's "tribbles"!

 

 

Now you know that I'm not one of the 3!

[KK 3,307]

I think you guys are overestimating the effect Williams' death will have on the population of JWFan. You'll basically be losing out on passing visitors who come for updates about the latest score, but other than that, much will remain the same.

 

You guys make it sound like we only discuss new Williams music, when in truth, about 75% of the discussion here has nothing to do with Williams at all!

[Bespin 8,475]

14 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

(...) we know that person is here for John Williams. That's what is sort of beautiful about it.

 

When there is no more new John Williams music, it'll be different. (...)

 

Hey, I'm here for John Williams!

 

And trust me, 20 years after he's gone, I'll be still busy udating his discography with new material.

 

I added some members of this forum as Facebook friends too...So even if this forum disappear, I will always keep in touch with some precious collaborators.

[Quintus 5,399]

7 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

In 2005 I started hanging out on a Harry Potter forum with many active members from around the world and all sorts of off-topic discussion. Potter seemed like it was pretty tangential but that place whittled down pretty fast after the last book in 2007...by the last movie in 2011 I had moved over to a private forum on Activeboard with about 10 friends. It still exists, last post there was in November. I don't really visit there anymore but I do keep in touch with one person pretty regularly via text. She hasn't gotten around to Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts by the way.

 

The reality is that we are all different people from different places at different stages of our lives, with not actually that many (any?) common interests between the entire lot of us except for an enormous amount of passion for this site's namesake. Even our interests in film music differ wildly aside from the old or dead guys. Some of us hardly even follow current film music at all aside from Williams and not all of us buy every LLL set or compilation that comes out.

 

The one thing that ties all of us together is the promise of new John Williams music. I think we are all much more willing to tolerate those who we have nothing else in common with -- even when those disagreements get aggressive -- because in the back of our minds we know that person is here for John Williams. That's what is sort of beautiful about it.

 

When there is no more new John Williams music, it'll be different. There's only so much we can really say all at once about his existing output. Even now we've run in circles repeating discussions. There are groups of people here who actually do have much in common with each other and have formed real lasting friendships and those will continue, but who's to say that it will remain on this board instead of a free private forum where they don't have to be anonymous? Would they always continue airing their opinions and grievances on a public forum under an avatar and screenname? I dunno. There might not be enough donations after awhile to keep this thing going, but maybe the site will take a new shape and flourish. That would be nice to see. Most of us will eventually splinter off, move on to other communities and interests.

 

Just how it goes...how many people did you keep in touch with after graduating school when there was suddenly no reason for you to go back and see those people in that building every day? But you still remember many of those people from your class. I think it's okay.

 

Well said. 

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Of course this community won't disappear. Look at the range of topics that we discuss here. And we'll probably have lots of 'new' releases to discuss for a long time.

[Dixon Hill 4,232]

JWFan will remain.  It will be like Rivendell in ROTK.  A bit empty, but still kept going by the most important figures.  

 

3 hours ago, Richard said:

He always did like that mausoleum.

Put him in it.

 

Not here! This is my home. 

 

Take Mister Cosman to school. 

[Muad'Dib 1,800]

When Johnny passes on, he will be finally accepted by the more snobbish circles of the concert halls. And then, only then this place will reach its true potential.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

3 minutes ago, TheGreyPilgrim said:

JWFan will remain.  It will be like Rivendell in ROTK.  A bit empty, but still kept going by the most important figures.

 

Tell me, Whitey, who are "the most important" figures, and why are they the "most important"?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Good question? Who would leave us in our time of need? Well I know Lee will, he's been having one foot out the door for years now.

[Dixon Hill 4,232]

3 minutes ago, Richard said:

 

Tell me, Whitey, who are "the most important" figures, and why are they the "most important"?

 

Who can say for certain?  But the ones who stick around, they will have earned the distinction.  

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Well, in that case, let's all hope that TGP will be around to save the day? Go on, say it...

[Dixon Hill 4,232]

What?

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

I said "Well, in that case, let's all hope that TGP will be around to save the day?"

[Dixon Hill 4,232]

Not sure what you're quoting/getting at there. 

[mstrox 6,643]

I am the most important figures.

[Thor 7,463]

1 minute ago, mstrox said:

I am the most important figures.

 

But do you have the most important figure?

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

7 minutes ago, TheGreyPilgrim said:

Not sure what you're quoting/getting at there. 

 

Chamber of Secrets!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

4 minutes ago, mstrox said:

I am the most important figures.

 

I am the walrus.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Goo goob a joob!

 

Expert, textpert, choking smokers, don't you think the joker laughs at you?

[Bilbo 3,709]

It'll last but we'll just change the name to Howard Shore fan. 

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

 Wha'???!!!!! Over my cold, dead one!

[KK 3,307]

That can be easily arranged.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Thanks, KKK.

[KK 3,307]

Anytime, friend!

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Did you know that there are three Ks on every packet of Marlboro cigarettes?

[mrbellamy 6,272]

5 hours ago, KK said:

I think you guys are overestimating the effect Williams' death will have on the population of JWFan. You'll basically be losing out on passing visitors who come for updates about the latest score, but other than that, much will remain the same.

 

You guys make it sound like we only discuss new Williams music, when in truth, about 75% of the discussion here has nothing to do with Williams at all!

1

 

 

 

We all have our pet threads that we like to check but they're different for each of us and it doesn't mean everybody will continue to visit the forum just for the off-topic discussion. The really wonderful thing that we all have in common is that the #1 best thing about JWFan is sharing the release of a new John Williams score together, yes? Am I wrong about that? That's what I love and I check the JW board every day for news on his projects. There's nothing else that brings the whole community so close....we are the only people in the world who love John Williams so fucking much that we just couldn't find anybody within arm's length who could talk about him on our level, so we went online. I love this place, I like reading everybody's thoughts on here on various things, but the thing that gets me really excited to hear from each and every member, uniquely, is what they think about the new score.

 

When John Williams is finally done writing music for any reason, it will leave a huge hole in my life, I am sure of that. And I know that for awhile I am going to rely on this board more than ever, because you are the only people who will understand. We're all going to count on each other for that. The board will keep its usual activity for awhile after the final Williams score but on a day to day level, I just know how tedious it can honestly be when a forum gets to like 10 posts a day and the member you would have most wanted to hear from on a recent news item hasn't been around in a year. Most people are probably not going to continue dropping in like clockwork to post at length about Trump's latest soundbite or which score they happened to listen to for the fiftieth time. Again, aside from a handful of people who really connect outside of Williams, I dunno if we will all gather around every day. We'll always have JW, but we're going to have our own lives and relationships to maintain without constantly checking on JWFan to say hi!

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[KK 3,307]

I understand your ideals bellamy, and would agree that our common love for Williams is what brought us together. Heck, I only stumbled onto this forum in search for news and updates about Tintin and War Horse. But I think our community has evolved beyond that.

 

I, personally, no longer come here to read about the latest SW updates or surprise projects Williams signs onto. Those are bonus delights for me. Rather, I come here to discuss my favourite scores, or my favourite Williams passages, get recommendations from fellow film score fans about works I've never heard before, learn new ways to look at old things and have some fun banter in silly threads while I'm at it. JWFan's function, at least in my eyes, has gone far beyond providing updates about the latest from Williams. It's more of a hub to share ideas, perspectives and learn from each other. I'm not talking about the Trump threads, but rather the ones that ask for more insightful analysis or communication of ideas in regards to all forms of music, film and art in general.

 

Yes, we are all tied together by our mutual love for Williams. But that's independent of the fact that he's still writing. I mean, when you think about it, many of the older posters here don't really discuss or even like Williams' latest efforts other than out of the sheer obligation and loyalty to him. And once he's passed, there's no need for that love to go anywhere. We all still discuss and talk about the likes of Horner and Goldsmith with great fondness here. It will be no different with Williams. Granted I'm sure things will be rather different for a while once the worst has happened, but I'm confident the forum will be back to its usual form afterward.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

[Dixon Hill 4,232]

1 hour ago, Godzilla said:

 

Chamber of Secrets!

 

Cheers for the assist.  I remember now  Haven't seen that one in ages!

[mrbellamy 6,272]

On 3/22/2017 at 3:31 PM, KK said:

I agree with your ideals bellamy, and would agree that our common love for Williams is what brought us together. Heck, I only stumbled onto this forum in search for news and updates about Tintin and War Horse. But I think our community has evolved beyond that.

 

I, personally, no longer come here to read about the latest SW updates or surprise projects Williams signs onto. Those are bonus delights for me. Rather, I come here to discuss my favourite scores, or my favourite Williams passages, get recommendations from fellow film score fans about works I've never heard before, learn new ways to look at old things and have some fun banter in silly threads while I'm at it. JWFan's function, at least in my eyes, has gone far beyond providing updates about the latest from Williams. It's more of a hub to share ideas, perspectives and learn from each other. I'm not talking about the Trump threads, but rather the ones that ask for more insightful analysis or communication of ideas in regards to all forms of music, film and art in general.

 

Yes, we are all tied together by our mutual love for Williams. But that's not reliant on the fact that he's still writing. I mean, when you think about it, many of the older posters here don't really discuss or even like Williams' latest efforts other than out of the sheer obligation and loyalty to him. And once he's passed, there's no need for that love to go anywhere. We all still discuss and talk about the likes of Horner and Goldsmith with great fondness here. It will be no different with Williams. Granted I'm sure things will be rather different for a while once the worst has happened, but I'm confident the forum will be back to its usual form afterward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I don't mean to get all Chicken Little about it. But just from the perspective of somebody who saw a beloved forum fall away, it happened pretty naturally and it's sorta heartbreaking but also understandable. People just get bored. Sometimes this place can feel like a few different communities going on at once except when it comes to Williams who is the one current thing everybody shares. Even the crusty members who don't like his recent stuff still seem to hold out some hope!

 

That's something I've wondered about is if there's anything JWFan could really bond much over without Williams beyond certain "cliques"....there's often so much disagreement on everything else.

 

On 3/22/2017 at 3:30 PM, BloodBoal said:

Oh, and fuck you if you don't care about us! Never liked you anyway!

 

 

[Loert 2,510]

Until the guys up high release every take ever recorded from every single score Williams composed music for, until they record every single piece of music JW penned in his life in digital format (yes, that includes his Symphony No.1), until every JW piece has its sheet music published, until every JW film, TV series and travelogue gets a LtP concert arranged in every major and minor city in the world, and until we know the damn year Williams was enlisted in the USAF, this forum shall still have a purpose to exist. The JWFAN era is only just beginning!

[BloodBoal 7,538]

23 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

 

Oh, I know all right, Mr. Big!

[mrbellamy 6,272]

That's Not Mr. Big to you!

 

Wait...

 

14 minutes ago, LampPost said:

Until the guys up high release every take ever recorded from every single score Williams composed music for, until they record every single piece of music JW penned in his life in digital format (yes, that includes his Symphony No.1), until every JW piece has its sheet music published, until every JW film, TV series and travelogue gets a LtP concert arranged in every major and minor city in the world, and until we know the damn year Williams was enlisted in the USAF, this forum shall still have a purpose to exist. The JWFAN era is only just beginning!

 

 

 

[Nick1Ø66 4,687]

There are active Wagner & Shakespeare forums (FAQ: those guys are dead), so I think we'll be just fine.

 

Though we may have to change the name to JRRTFans.

[Bilbo 3,709]

22 minutes ago, Nick1066 said:

There are active Wagner & Shakespeare forums (FAQ: those guys are dead), so I think we'll be just fine.

 

Though we may have to change the name to JRRTFans.

 

Im down with that! 

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Change it to David Arnold's Roland Emmerich movie score forums.

[Will 2,215]

Man, this thread makes me really nostalgic/sentimental somehow, because, frankly, it's something that's very tied into where my own life will go, whether I will be visiting JWFan for years to come or whether I will move on (although I'll never move on from listening to JW's music!)

 

I sometimes like to think that things will continue with the same vigor even once he has left this earth, or even just retired. But is that realistic? Is it even ultimately desirable?

 

I agree with @mrbellamy in that my main attraction to this place is based on anticipation, not reflection. 

 

What do I, personally, like to anticipate? Primarily, John Williams scores, of course, and Star Wars films (particularly, then, Star Wars films with JW scores!) 

 

So when JW is no longer producing new scores, the only major thing left to anticipate for me will be SW. And of course there are and surely will be tons of other forums to discuss SW. That said, this is the place where I've really come to know people, so it would still be really great if I was able to discuss the new SW films/scores here. 

 

And there will be probably be other fun things to anticipate that we can't even predict at this time. For example, new scores by awesome new composers who haven't even entered the business yet. 

 

But can we remain comrades simply based off of memories? Because that's really in many ways what it might be, methinks. Frequent nostalgic look-backs to making your prequel edits together, seeing and discussing the TFA score for the first time, etc. There would be few new "core memories" to make (to borrow a term from Inside Out ). Or maybe I am wrong on that. I don't know. I haven't been here as long as most of you. But it does seem like I'm not the only one who realizes that the only true "unifying events" these days seem to be new JW scores/projects (frankly, the weak reaction to the BFG does challenge that hypothesis, but, in any case, TFA certainly was quite an event here to say the least). 

 

Maybe a little while after he passes, after waiting for the grief to settle down, after waiting a little longer for any major remaining unreleased music to be released, it might be time to close things down. I dunno. After all, members who want to stay in touch occasionally could still set up a Google Hangout or something. There may just not be a need to keep this place going. The biggest regret I would have would be if there wasn't a way to archive the threads for posterity. I wouldn't want us to lose everything. 

 

Ultimately, I'm not sure if rabid JW fandom is something we should all be doing for large amounts of time for our entire lives. With the exception perhaps of those who enter the music field, JW's music isn't really an end unto itself, however often it may seem that way; it's something that inspires us in our lives. And if we spend so much time discussing JW music that we can rarely be inspired by it to actually do things, then what was the point?

 

I dunno, just my overly philosophical two cents. 

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

I'll keep coming here, even if I'm the only one posting as various female aliases.

[Wojo 2,453]

Yes, because when JWFan has no real females, it becomes necessary to invent them. 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Like prison?

[Wojo 2,453]

More like Brazil. 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Oh Brazil has females, don't you worry about that.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Hairy ones.