I often went on vacations with my parents because we did not have cable at home.

“Don't you want to see Mount Vernon?” my mom would ask.

“What channel is that on?” I'd respond pressing buttons on the remote.

With my parents shooed to their colonial sight seeing, I'd order a grilled cheese sandwich from room service and watch HBO like it was gospel truth. I didn't care what movie they showed. Amazing Grace & Chuck ? Sounds good. Six Pack starring Kenny Rogers? I'm there.

Heck, I was happy to watch the commercials for upcoming movies, like the ad for HBO's Saturday night feature, The Deer Hunter . It had a darkness that was different than what I was normally exposed to, yet I was completely absorbed by it. Here was this forum where people listened to the message, even if the message was that a millionaire and homeless man shouldn't trade places.

Needless to say, film changed my life. I eventually attended film school, where coincidentally, one of my professors won an Oscar for his sound work in The Deer Hunter . It all made sense… until I took a nostalgic look back and went, “Huh.”

And to this day, I have still never seen The Deer Hunter . Or The Empire Strikes Back . Or any good movie.