Announcing The CMBA Fall Blogathon: Cinema Couture | The Art of Illusion

Crafting a film is a lot like sewing a vast tapestry or a new item of clothing; each separate thread and stitch is essential in order to complete the desired result: storyboards, costume, music, editing, direction, cinematography, locations, effects, actors, lighting, matte paintings, props and so on.

The focus of this Blogathon is on the artisanal element of film, where the only A.I. is not artificial intelligence but actual intelligence: knowledge, skill, emotion, human endeavour and effort.

The board invites members to explore the detailed crafting of films with both big and small budgets. How did directors and studios with limited resources and crews achieve spectacular and impressive results on screen? How many staff did a director with unlimited finances employ to design costumes for a particular costume epic? What steps to overcome racial or gender barriers did some directors take in order to achieve their screen vision? How did the Silent pioneers literally invent the very language and imagery of cinema to begin with?

This is your chance to dive deep into the history of a particular film, studio, designer, element of filmmaking etc, in order to share the stories of how the magic happened. The films and topics that you could write about for this are endless.

The Cinema Couture & The Art of Illusion Blogathon (which is only open to CMBA members) will take place between the 9th and 13th of November, 2026. Due to the vast array of possible topics, we will not be accepting duplicates, but members may submit up to two reviews/articles each, so please let us know your desired film or topic as soon as possible by completing the sign-up form below. If you have any questions, please contact us at the CMBA email.

How to participate: 

Please check this list first to make sure your topic hasn't already been chosen  

Then, use this form to sign up. 
You will be asked for your blog name, URL, topic choice and preferred posting date (if you have one)  

 

Choose one of the beautiful banners below and insert it in your blogathon entry. You can also use them on social media.

Post on the day you've been scheduled.

See you November 9-13!

The roster will be updated here: 

Monday November 9
Classic Film And TV Corner: The Red Shoes (1948)
Crítica Retrô: German Expressionism 

Tuesday November 10
SIlver Screen Classics & Nostalgia: Letty Lynton (1932)

Silent Cinema School: A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Wednesday November 11
The Midnite Drive-In: Gone With the Wind

Thursday November 12

Classic Film And TV Corner: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Silver Screen Classics & Nostalgia: The Ice Pirates (1984)

Friday November 13
Dominique Revue: Race Films 
Dominique Revue: Marie Antoinette (1938)
Lost and Found Films: The Lonely Villa (1909)