Earlier this week, I watched a Christmas movie on Youtube called "The Special Christmas Gift". There wasn't much in the way of a plot - most of it was a character wandering around, and encountering others who would break into song after being introduced. (The movie was less than an hour in length, and I'd say at least half of it consisted of songs being performed.) It was made in the early 2000's and was 3D CGI, so the video quality tended to be lacking, and at times it came across as preachy (it was religiously themed). Overall, it was fine; worth watching, but not necessarily worth buying. That is, IF you could actually buy a copy of the film.
I originally found out about "The Special Christmas Gift" from a Youtube video, in which the poster recounted a strange Reddit post regarding the movie, and the discussion that came after. By modern standards the film is quite obscure, lacking a page on Wikipedia or IMDB. The Youtuber recounts their difficulty in finding ANY mention or information regarding the film anywhere. Despite the claims made that it was seen by millions of people worldwide and many copies of it being sold, after only two decades or so, it appears to have fallen off the face of the Earth, with only a thrift store DVD and a few saved webpages on the Wayback Machine to show that it actually WAS a thing.
The Youtuber remarks upon all of this, and also recount how this search eventually led to them purchasing a CD of some band that they had never heard of, and also seems to only exist on old, saved webpages. It is remarked that they were likely a local band, one with a small but dedicated following, but never making it out into the wider world. The Youtuber also laments upon how many other movies and bands are forgotten, lost to the ages.
Everyone remembers the big budget, smash hit movies (especially since they usually end up getting sequels made). Smaller, more artistically inclined movies are also made, and maybe they don't have nearly the hype, but they do persist. But how many gems are lost? How many good movies flew in under the radar, appearing and vanishing without fanfare, overshadowed by yet another cliche-laden blockbuster?
How many bands could have made it, had things been different? How many billboard-worthy songs will never grace the radio waves? How many artists will never perform for adoring fans?
How much has been lost over the years? How little can (still) be found?
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