A Brief History of Cinematicalism
We are not
NOT a cult of cinema.
Cinematicalism began as a film-centred social media fan account created by Vancouver-based film worker Kory Orban to reconnect with cinema more intentionally. Soon after, he brought in his partner in life and work, Chrissy Mozylisky. As it grew, the question became whether something like this could sustain itself. That question led to an experiment: a Kickstarter for The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema. Now, the ambition is to grow Cinematicalism into a self-sustaining media and commerce hybrid brand—selling movie nerd objects to support movie nerd content, all in service of cinema as craft, culture, and industry.
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Milestones so far
From the flicker in the eye of a production-weary film worker, shaped by call sheets and night shoots, still holding onto a sincere love of the movies.
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2022
Cinematicalism launches as a film-focused social media account created by Vancouver-based film worker Kory Orban to reconnect with cinema beyond just a job after nearly a decade in the industry.
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FALL 2025
The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema raises nearly $300,000 across Kickstarter and BackerKit, earns Kickstarter’s “Projects We Love” distinction, and expands well beyond its original scope.
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SPRING 2026
The first edition is delivered to backers around the world, marking the completion of the project’s first chapter.
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2026 ONWARDS
The sky’s the limit—preferably filled with film, and film-adjacent things like publishing projects, future crowdfunding campaigns, and increasingly sophisticated film-focused digital content.
The Human Beings Behind The Dictionary
The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema was built through the sustained efforts of a cohort of Cinematicalists—each bringing a distinct relationship to, and specialized knowledge of, cinema.
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Researched, Compiled & Co-Written By
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Staff at Cinematicalism
Kory Orban
Co-Founder of Cinematicalism; Co-Author of The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema
Vancouver-based film industry professional and a full member of the Directors Guild of Canada. He has worked across productions for major studios, streamers, and networks including HBO, Netflix, Marvel, 20th Century Fox, and ABC—rising from production assistant to unit manager on large-scale productions.
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Staff at Cinematicalism
Chrissy Mozylisky
Co-Founder of Cinematicalism; Co-Author of The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema
Vancouver-based film industry professional with over a decade of experience across performance and production. She is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, an assistant location manager, and a certified intimacy coordinator, with credits across major studio and streaming productions, including Disney, Netflix, Amazon, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox.
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Scooter Corkle
Canadian Independent Director & Screenwriter; Co-Author of The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema
Vancouver-based writer-director whose career began in 2003 as a music video PA. He has worked across nearly every on-set department before moving into directing, writing, and producing. His films have screened at Tribeca, Telluride, and Clermont-Ferrand, including features Hollow in the Land and The Friendship Game.
Remaining International Team Behind The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema:
Lead Editing By
Tara Avery
Vancouver-based Editor; Chair of Editor's BC
Additional Editing By
Kara Graves
Florida-based Editor; Writing & Literature Instructor
Jennifer Sommersby
Vancouver-based Editor; Publishing Mentor & Author
Jood Singer
Illinois-based Editor; Film and Theatre Critic
Fact-Checking & Entry Contributions By
Matt McAllister
UK-based Entertainment Writer & Making-of Book Author
Caroline Millar
UK-based Scholar & Former BFI Head of Video/DVD Publishing
Additional Research & Entry Contributions By
Fabiola Andrade
Honduran-born, US-based Filmmaker & Creative Director
Barry W. Levy
Vancouver-based Actor & Author
Ricardo Betancourt
Venezuelan-born New Orleans-based Film Producer & Director
Liz Shannon Miller
Los Angeles-based Entertainment Editor & Writer
Marco Bossow
Vancouver-based Cinematographer & Virtual Production Specialist
Adina Moore
Vancouver-based Film & Television Picture Editor
Michael Brooke
UK-based BFI Encyclopedia Contributor & Sight & Sound Contributor
Stephen Nothum
Oregon-based Author, Film Critic, & Story Consultant
Harrison Casavant
Quebec-based Film Sound Editor & Designer
Paul Ouzounov
Vancouver-born, The Hague-based Film Post-Sound & Foley Mixer
Shane Day
Vancouver-based Writer-Director & Production Company Founder
Nicole Ratcliffe
Vancouver-based Scripted Film & Television Picture Editor
Steve Greene
Los Angeles-based Film & Television Journalist
Helenna Santos
Los Angeles-to-Vancouver-based Actor, Producer & Film Journalist
Kyler Henderson
Vancouver-based Assistant Director & Film School Instructor
Matthew Van Deventer
Vancouver-based Documentary Film & Television Archival Producer
Tom Huddleston
UK-based Film Author & Cultural Critic
Additional Entry Contributions By
Emma Pollard
Vancouver-based Independent Filmmaker
Kiyoka Kex Rhodes
Washington DC-based Film Producer
Additional Research, Fact-Checking & Entry Contributions By
Courtney Gardner
Bay Area-based LGBTQ+ Film & Television Journalist
Epiha Inglis
New Zealand-born, Vancouver-based Film Producer, Director & Former VIFF Media Relations
Additional Research, Fact-Checking & Entry Contributions By
Courtney Gardner
Bay Area-based LGBTQ+ Film & Television Journalist
Epiha Inglis
New Zealand-born, Vancouver-based Film Producer, Director & Former VIFF Media Relations
Additional Research By
Griffin Nicholson
Vancouver-based Indigenous Filmmaker & Screenwriter
Proofread By
Michael C. Riedlinger
Staff at CinematicalismArizona-based Writer, Editor & Film Researcher; Cinematicalism’s Copywriter
Layout & Cover Design By
Richard White
Vancouver-based Communication Designer & Graphic Designer
Campaign & Additional Graphic Design By
Midori Haraguchi
Staff at CinematicalismTokyo-born, Vancouver-based Illustrator; Cinematicalism’s Graphic Designer & Social Media Coordinator
Kickstarter Exclusive Alternate Book Jacket Design By
Sara Deck
Ontario-based Film Poster Artist & Illustrator
CONTRIBUTOR CAREER AFFILIATIONS
WHAT READERS SAY
Readers have called it comprehensive, rigorous, and long overdue.
MADE BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE THISMost film books feel pretty disconnected from what actually happens on a film set. I’ve known Kory and Chrissy for years through the industry, and I’m so proud of what they’ve accomplished with this project. When you flip through it, you can really feel the thousands of collective hours that went into it. It works for me not only as someone who works in the industry, but also as someone who genuinely just loves movies. Bravo! Well done, team!
Jesse W.
Cinematographer
Most film books feel pretty disconnected from what actually happens on a film set. I’ve known Kory and Chrissy for years through the industry, and I’m so proud of what they’ve accomplished with this project. When you flip through it, you can really feel the thousands of collective hours that went into it. It works for me not only as someone who works in the industry, but also as someone who genuinely just loves movies. Bravo! Well done, team!
Jesse W.
Cinematographer
MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE THISThe Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema pulls back the curtain and reveals the fantastical, mysterious, wildly imaginative, and endlessly inspired universe of cinema that invites every person who has ever fallen in love with a film, a front row seat as a reader, to discover a whole new language that transforms our understanding of the most beloved forms of art.
Ashley K.
Lifelong Cinephile
The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema pulls back the curtain and reveals the fantastical, mysterious, wildly imaginative, and endlessly inspired universe of cinema that invites every person who has ever fallen in love with a film, a front row seat as a reader, to discover a whole new language that transforms our understanding of the most beloved forms of art.
Ashley K.
Lifelong Cinephile
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FAQS
Everything else you might want to know about The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema.
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WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS BOOK?
A 1,300+ page reference work with 5,400+ entries spanning film theory, craft, industry language, and global cinema. Built with 35+ contributors and over 2,300 sources, it maps how cinema functions—and how it is understood.
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Who is this for, Really?
For the lifelong film fan, the first-year film student, the C-suite studio executive, the indie director making their first feature, the lamp operator #17 on the call sheet, the post-production supervisor, nd the PA, who is about to step onto set for the very first time.
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HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FILM BOOKS?
Most film books approach cinema through a single lens—treated as an academic subject, a technical pursuit, an artistic endeavour, a commercial product, or a fan-driven obsession. This dictionary brings these perspectives together, allowing readers to understand cinema from the big picture to the smallest details.
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DO YOU OFFER INSTITUTIONAL AND WHOLE SALE PRICING ON BULK ORDERS?
Yes — we offer institutional and wholesale pricing for bulk orders. If you’re ordering on behalf of a library, school, retailer, or organization, please reach out to discuss availability, pricing, and timelines. Lead times and quantities may vary depending on demand.Yes — we offer institutional and wholesale pricing for bulk orders. If you’re ordering on behalf of a library, school, retailer, or organization, please reach out to discuss availability, pricing, and timelines. Lead times and quantities may vary depending on demand.
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HOW DOES SHIPPING WORK?
Final copies from the first printing remain available while supplies last. These are limited Kickstarter overprints, making them uniquely exclusive. Orders ship the same week of purchase, with delivery times varying by location. Shipping details will update dynamically at checkout based on your region: customers in the United States and Canada receive free shipping; customers in the United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, and New Zealand receive flat-rate shipping with duties prepaid, so there should be no surprise customs charges on delivery; and customers in the rest of the world receive flat-rate shipping DDU, meaning your local customs authority or carrier may collect duties, taxes, VAT, or handling fees before or upon delivery. A second printing presale is coming soon, with delivery timing determined by demand. If you have any questions about your order, please email dictionary@cinematicalism.com.
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What is Your refund policy?
We want you to be genuinely happy with your copy of The Comprehensive Dictionary of Cinema. If there is an issue with your order, or if the book arrives damaged or not as expected, please contact us within 30 days of receipt and we’ll work with you to make it right. Depending on the situation, that may mean a replacement, refund, or another appropriate solution. Any concerns about your order can be sent to dictionary@cinematicalism.com. We’re a small independent publisher, but we stand behind the quality of the book and the experience of receiving it.