Those who have regularly visited Filmtracks over the past year know that the site has suffered from financial difficulties that have brought it dangerously close to insolvency. These issues have been compounded by the sudden and frustrating loss of my day job early in 2012 and a number of other real life complications, most of which medical in nature. I unsuccessfully attempted to sell Filmtracks to two separate parties interested in taking the site in new directions.
Today, however, I accepted an outstanding offer of employment to serve as the web systems coordinator of Western Wyoming Community College, an attractive and growing state institution in Rock Springs, Wyoming. On one hand, this development is a salvation for Filmtracks because it will allow me to utilize my regular income as a safety net for the site during months of minor fiscal losses. Conversely, the physical move of my family to Wyoming (through the nasty blizzards of this region, no less) will require the temporary banishing of Filmtracks' office to a storage unit and the substantial reduction of new content at the site.
The last challenging move for Filmtracks came in 1998, and this one promises to be even more difficult. I do not anticipate resuming my usual activity level here, whether in the reviews or in other maintenance tasks, until April at the earliest. Even then, it is possible that my productivity at Filmtracks will remain low for several months thereafter, especially given the amount of work that lies ahead of me at my new job. The Filmtracks Awards for 2012 will be postponed indefinitely. I do pledge to provide regular, informal updates regarding the status of the site at the Scoreboard and respond as promptly as possible to those who ask for updates privately.
As anyone might expect, there is significant sadness in leaving Missoula, Montana, where the site was born in 1996, but turning the page in life can sometimes yield tremendous benefits in the long term. Once again, I thank all of those who have supported Filmtracks through an incredibly tough 2012, and I especially appreciate those who donated to keep it afloat and, in some cases, vehemently expressed opposition to the sale of the site. With luck and continued perseverance, Filmtracks will someday reach the potential it has to reclaim its position in the soundtrack community and the online entertainment industry.
Thanks again for reading and sharing your passion for film music!
Christian Clemmensen