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ARTICLES
So You Want to be a Movie Critic Part.
I
by Tamika Johnson
So you want to be a movie critic? Who doesnt. It
is a great job to have. I mean if you love movies, then
what better way to make a living then watching them and
telling people what you think about the movie you just
saw. Most of us are already critics, but it is a big jump
from just telling your friends what you think to making
money telling the world what you think. The jump is big
but not insurmountable and the first step is to know how
to write a good review. Well of course, you may say, but
it is not as easy as it may seem. Anybody can write a
review, but not everyone can write a good, compelling,
I have to read this persons review before I go to
the movies this weekend, review. Whats the
difference?
1. Actively Watch the Movie Yes, I recognize
that movie watching is a passive activity. Watching a
movie isnt something you do, it is something that
happens to you. However if youre planning on being
a movie critic you have to learn how to watch a film with
a critical eye. This means you need to pay attention to
everything and I mean Everything. Notice how the actors
are placed in each shot, the setting, the camera angles,
even the music. All of these elements play a role in the
story that is trying to be told and are important to talk
about if you want to write the compelling sort of reviews
that youll need to write if you want or make a living
at reviewing movies.
2. Take Copious Notes No, I dont expect
you to sit in a theatre with pen and pad or laptop in
hand. But I do expect you to take solid mental notes.
Once you make a name for yourself youll probably
be attending advance screenings of films and wont
see these movies again before your review will be due,
so it becomes necessary for you to be able to take solid
notes, mental or otherwise of some of the more important
elements of the film. Information such as the actors
names or who the director was is easy to come across,
but information like camera shots, or plot devices is
not, so you need to train yourself not only to watch for
that type of information but also to remember it.
3. Summarize. Dont Spoil. This is
important. Nothing is worse then reading a review that
tells the whole movie from beginning to end and leaves
nothing for you to see. Youre being paid for your
opinion, not to be a spoiler. A basic summation of the
plot is all that is necessary. From there you can talk
about whether or not the plot worked well or was the plot
even a plot at all. Let the details of the film be revealed
when your readers see the film, not when they read your
review.
4. Critical Analysis is Key The difference
between a review anyone can write and a review someone
will not only pay you to write but people will clamor
to read is how well you analyze the film. Think about
those papers you had to write for lit class in college.
The professor didnt want you to just tell him what
the book was about but wanted you to break down the themes
in the book and how they related to the plot, the characters,
etc. Well the same is true for a movie review. No one
wants a summary of events or the plot. A good review will
examine the themes or ideas the movie raises and talk
about how well or not so well the movie executed those
themes and ideas.
5. Point Out the Pros and the Cons No movie
is perfect and rarely is any movie all bad, so take the
time to talk about what the movies does well and what
it does not so well.
6. Be Open Minded If youre serious
about doing this for a living then youre going to
watch movies from genres you dont like. You may
hate romantic comedies but you find yourself having to
review one every week. Its okay that you dont
like the genre but be able to know a good film in that
genre when you see one. A movie can be a good film and
well made even if personally you feel the whole genre
should be wiped off the face of the earth. Learn to know
the difference between a good movie and a bad movie in
a particular genre of film that you may detest.
7. Be Original For some folk it is two thumbs
up, for others it is rotten tomatoes. Whatever you decide
you want your rating system to be, be original. Try to
find a hook that works for you. Just dont do something
that closely resembles someone else or youll just
seem like a bad copy of the original.
8. Have Fun Youre not saving the world
here, but you are trying to save a persons movie
going experience, so relax, have fun, and remember this
is a great job to have and youre one lucky person
if you can say this is what you do for a living.
© 2005 Tamika Johnson
About the Author
Tamika Johnson is owner and editor in chief of the following
websites:
http://www.prologuereviews.com Get the Exposure
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