Welcome to watch this: feel that
watch this: feel that is a Substack newsletter that shares film & TV recommendations for the mood you're in, or how you want to feel.
My goal here is to create a vibe, an aesthetic, a mood that I hope will help you get to your desired emotional state. Maybe it’s not that serious for you, and you just want some movie & TV recs — and if that’s the case, that’s perfectly fine too! But, if you’re anything like me, movies & TV are more than just entertainment to you.
All of my life, I’ve had more emotions than I knew how to deal with, and one of the ways I learned to feel my feelings and understand them was by watching movies and TV. I felt seen when I watched Claire Danes as Angela Chase in My So-Called Life (1994-95), as she crushed too hard on Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto) and was entirely too hard on herself, while also being a caring friend to Rickie and Rayanne (Wilson Cruz, AJ Langer).
I got goosebumps when Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) heard the voice say, “Go the distance” in Field of Dreams (1989), and he finally believed what idealistic dreamer Ray (Kevin Costner) had been telling him.
I learned about the AIDS crisis and deeply felt the true meaning of empathy when I watched Tom Hanks’ performance as Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia (1993).
There are many more of these moments to share, and I will.
So, when I say “watch this: feel that” — it’s because I truly hope you get to feel all the feelings you need to feel, process, and understand when you watch the films & TV series I recommend.
Posts I’ll share will include:
Recommendations - films and TV shows I love and therefore, recommend. These posts will feature recommended films and/or TV series tied to a particular desired feeling or current mood. I aim to send you these posts weekly, and they will always be free.
Reviews* - occasional film reviews including a short spoiler-free summary and a longer more in-depth piece with spoilers.
Spotlight* - occasional posts highlighting the work of one particular actor, director, or writer.
Interviewing* - occasional posts introducing you to actors, directors, writers, and other cast and crew. Find out about their career journeys, what goes on behind the scenes, the films and TV series that make them feel, and the stories they have to tell.
What Would _______ Watch? - occasional, light-hearted posts that imagine what a particular film or TV character might watch.
Films to go with your Spotify Daylist - occasional posts where I pair my subscribers’ Spotify Daylists (or playlists) with films and TV series that have a similar vibe.
Recaps + Short Films - occasional posts that share short films you should watch, updates with you about this Substack, and sometimes ask you for feedback.
*Reviews, Spotlight posts, and Interviewing posts will be free for one week from the date they are published; after that, they will be available only to paid subscribers.
Why should you subscribe?
You’ll have help deciding what to watch — from an actual human person who thinks deeply about these things.
You’ll receive thoughtfully curated film & TV recommendations linked to the feelings you want to feel or escape. Plus: film reviews, interviews with film industry folk, and other film & TV, and culture “potpourri” to satisfy your needs.
Posts will go directly into your inbox, so you won’t have to search for them.
This space can be a fun community for film and TV fans — paid subscribers can join me in the chat to talk about the movies & TV series that make us feel (or that we simply love)!
Free subscribers have access to:
All recommendation posts
Access to reviews, interviews & spotlight posts for 1 week from their publication date.
Why should you consider the paid subscription option?
Simply put, you’ll be supporting my work as a writer, and I can’t say enough about how much this will make a difference in my life.
Also, there are a few perks to the two types of paid subscriptions, and as I continue to publish this newsletter, I hope to offer more:
Paid subscribers have access to:
Full access to all recommendation posts, reviews, interviews, spotlight posts and more.
Annual digital gifts - coming soon!
Access to the subscriber chat to ask questions and nerd out on film & TV.
VIP-level paid subscribers have access to:
Access to everything including the subscriber chat, annual digital gifts, and custom recommendations — simply start a thread in the chat telling me what you’re in the mood to watch, and I’ll send you a direct message with a recommendation.
Who am I?
My name is Heather Heagney and I’m a freelance writer, editor, and creative based in Ottawa, Canada. I’m also a former food blogger, perennial dog lover, recreational swimmer, and experienced interviewer.
My film geek credits are as follows:
I have a degree in English Literature and Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto.
I worked at a video store, and I still own a VHS copy of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
I’ve put in my 10,000 hours of screentime.
I pay too much attention to actors, movies, and TV series so you don’t have to.
I look forward to seeing what this newsletter grows into and I’m looking forward to hearing from you to find out what you’re watching.
Join me in the chat or contact me at heatherheagney@substack.com
