(Module 11) Blogging, Reviewing for Free or $$$

Getting Started with A Film Reviewing Career

• Take an AP High School or college course on film-criticism.
• Write, write, write.
• Watch a ton of movies (in numerous genres from various years).
• Write your thoughts about these films (while watching the film, and immediately afterwards).
• Research the films you watch (especially when writing reviews or articles).
• Research film history.
• Practicing writing actual movie reviews.
• Read other critics reviews (after you’ve seen a film … not before … if you plan on writing a review on it).
• Write more reviews.
• Explore Freelance opportunities .(newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs).
• Contact an editor and offer examples of your work. An opportunity may exist –look for it.
• Write for free if you have to (to get your foot in the door).
• Getting your work out there is the important thing.
• Write some more.
• Build a portfolio of reviews (like you’re doing in this class) –because potential employers will ask for it. There are many free sites to help you get started.
• Get a job. Make some money. Meet movie stars.
• Try to get your reviews (articles) published for money in places like Elements of Madness, Movie Pilot, Cinemablend, Screenrant, Collider, Movieweb, Commingsoon.net, Screencrush, Greek Tyrant, Den of Geek, We Got This Covered,
• Submit your reviews to as many places as you can like Rotten Tomatoes, IMBD, Yahoo Movies, Meta Critic, Amazon Reviews, Fandango, and others. 

Starting Your Own Website or Blog

• Choose a name that no one else is using.
• Make sure it is memorable and easy to spell.
• Don’t make up a word for the sake of creativity or originality.
• If your reviews are genre specific, play with the website or blog title (examples: If you only review horror films try “Fright Flicks” or for superhero films try “Hero Happenings” or for Christian films try “Acts of Faith”).
• Only use your personal name in the url title when you’ve made it big.
• Build an audience by connecting, liking and following other like-minded lovers of film.

 

Website or Blog Design – things to know (once you start churning out regular reviews):

• Always make sure that new releases are easy to find.
• Include your grading system on the front page.
• Offer a Search Function for movies (or genres).
• Tag your reviews.
• Keep and maintain a relevant Top Ten list.
• Use images or video (after all film is visual) at least three per review.
• Make it as easy as possible for your audience to find what they need.
• Remember that not everyone will agree with you… so don’t get upset by others criticizing your opinions.
• You can gain more followers by writing film-related (and relevant) columns as well (not reviews only).

• Additionally: you can offer an outlook for weekend’s new releases, movie news, and box office results (or a link).

Sources

Interviews with various film critics.

Null, C. (2005). Five stars!: How to become a film critic, the world’s greatest job. San Francisco, CA: Sutro Press.

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