I think it's safe to assume that most of the regular readers (if I have any left) know I have a little side gig writing about movies. It doesn't pay (yet - I'm working on that bit) but it offers me the opportunity to do two things I love: writing (you'd be hard pressed to guess that considering the lapse in my posting here over the last few months) and movies. The entire project started right here as a side project on Blogger where I was reviewing movies.
Not sure how many people read those early posts but in 2005 I took the big leap and set up my very own website. MAD About Movies sort of put me on the map with a few other sites and individuals who were talking movies. Sometime after the site went live, Colleen, Dale and I started a podcast and we've been at it ever since. In 2007 I closed down MAM to join a group of passionate writers at a new place we called Row Three. We moved the podcast over and have been there ever since, basking in the glow of minor notoriety and awesome conversation.
I had no intention of ever leaving Row Three, a site I co-created but late last year I was given an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I'd been communicating back and forth with the great folks at Quiet Earth. It was a friendly relationship and one I valued since their knowledge and readership was so much bigger than ours. And then it happened. They offered me a job. I was a bit hesitant at first because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Row Three but I also couldn't pass up this door-opening opportunity so after much debate, I made the decision to limit my contribution at Row Three to the podcast and the occasional post and came to call Quiet Earth home.
I've been there a few months now and the learning curve has been a bit daunting. I'm use to reporting news that are mainstream and QE is more interested in the work being done on the sidelines, the indie, foreign and genre stuff that doesn't always get attention. Having to dig for new stuff is a little different than just browsing the major sites and filtering what I thought was worthwhile. That said, it's been a great experience and one that's already starting to pay off.
I've come a long way in what seems a very short time. In 5 years I've gone from a little blogger blog that few read to a major film website. I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store. If this first full week of the year is any indication, it's going to be an awesome ride.
I've added a QE feed on the sidebar but if you're into film and are willing to try something new, I urge you to check us out!
So that may be exaggerating just slightly but you know what? It's been a kickass week.
It started off quietly enough but everything changed yesterday when I had the great pleasure of meeting up with a film writer who was in town for a set visit. I've always loved living in this city but with all the filming going on around town, I'm getting the opportunity to meet fans and writers that I generally wouldn't have the chance to meet. Jen and I had a nice lunch over which we talked about movies. Lots of movies. It was heavenly.
Then today I see this Tweet from my buddy Jason and I go hunting. Turns out my little quote will be appearing all over Canadian newspapers and magazines this weekend. It's my first bonafide quote and I have to admit it's pretty exciting!
Here's a picture of the item in the Georgia Straight:
If you happen to be in Canada and spot the ad, snap a picture and let me know. I'd love to see them!
A while back I discussed, in short, the rise in use of book trailers and really, how mediocre and/or poor they were.
Today I had a chance to see one that, though still not perfect, is much more appealing and was successful in what it set out to do: I now want to read this book I'd never heard of before seeing the video.
The trailer is still on the long side; like movie trailers, they should be kept to a maximum of 2 minutes but it elicited emotion, a vibe and even visuals for the story which were really appealing and as a result, I've added the book to the buy list.
The novel The Island of Eternal Love is one of Cuba's most acclaimed novels and I look forward to reading it. See if the trailer does anything for you.
Breaking out in the book business seems so much more difficult than breaking out in the movie business. I've never researched the actual numbers but I certainly get the sense that there are thousands of books published daily whereas there are only a couple thousand of films made every year. I could be way off but that's the sense I get.
I was reading an interesting article by author Sophie Masson on Writer Unboxed, a site I started reading because one of my favourite writers, Juliet Marillier, occasionally posts there. Masson was talking about Web 2.0 and using some of the technology to get some attention. Masson speaks directly about making trailers for books.
I agree with most of the points she brings up but looking at the few trailers she linked to, I must say I didn't finish any of them. I'm not an expert on video but I do know what appeals to me and this certainly isn't it. They all feel static and a little boring. Masson's first rule states "Do not use a video camera to shoot a trailer." I think right off the bat you're missing out on an opportunity. Many of the best on-line videos I've seen on-line are home made. I think the KEY is to ensure that, whatever you're making, make it unique. Maybe use animation or live action, or even the pictures idea but above all, make it interesting and appealing. Also, the minute and a half running length is way too long. 30 seconds or a minute is the most I'd start with and if viewers respond well, then expand. Even better, do a series of short clips. If the first one is interesting, folks are more likely to come back for more.
Just a few things that came instantly to mind. I do think the idea is a good one - certainly thinking out of the box!
There has been a lot of talk around the interweb over the last few months surrounding the firing/letting go of various "prominent" and not so prominent traditional movie critics (by traditional I mean traditional media). Some folks snapped out against bloggers, others against the papers themselves and other still managed to understand that we're in the midst of technological changes that will affect our lives and the lives of generations to come - yes, even things like the way we see film and how/what we read about it. To some, that may be one of the most unimportant aspects of the day to day but to others, myself included, film is a huge part of our lives. Even if I didn't "write" about it, for me movies provide an escape, a learning experience and sometimes even the motivation and inspiration to do something.
I had read a few of these various commentaries but it took Armond White of the New York Press and his essay to really make me question what my place is in my pseudo role as "film critic".
Reading the first few paragraphs I was angry and to an extent, I can't overlook White's dismissal of some of last year's best films but reading on, sleeping on it and re-reading the piece this morning, I also can't help but wonder if White doesn't have a point. With the ever growing number of bloggers out there, everyone has their say and I wouldn't want it any other way but are we missing something in our culture which critics used to provide that is now "apparently" provided by bloggers? If that's indeed the case, how come I don't stumble on these great criticisms on a regular basis?
It's been a hard admission but I'm guilty of White's charges. I don't have a PhD in film, English, art, music or even life but that also doesn't mean that my experiences and personal learning doesn't influence how I interact with film and what I take from it. My life is enriched by more than just movies. I read, I listen to music, I write, I talk to people, I learn from them. What I don't always do, and what I've decided to make an effort to change, is how I share my experiences interacting with film and vice versa. White's point that we need to look and engage beyond what's on the screen and whether it's good or bad and examine, question and argue the merits of the message is a well made point. I'm lucky enough to be involved with a group of people that feel the same way and that want to share, enjoy and discuss more than what's up on screen so I don't have huge steps to take to make my change - I just have to do it.
When I started this movie blogging thing, I never imagined I'd be here 3 years later, having moved from running my own site to contributing to what is shaping into a fantastic site yet - here I am. I'll admit that I have secret dreams of being discovered and becoming famous. I'll also admit that I know very well that it's wishful thinking. What I do want to gain from all of this is the opportunity to share my thoughts on one of the things that brings me great joy in life, film, with others and if one day I can do so and be able to support myself doing it, that would be a huge bonus.
In this recent interview, WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg touches a little on publishing and how everyone's famous to 15 people but what struck me most was his comment of RSS feeds as personalized newspapers. What this suggests to me is that there's room for all of us out there on the bloggosphere. Traditional critics don't have to go silent, they simply need to move beyond lamenting on the loss of their daily/weekly/monthly regular readers and keep providing their thoughts and ideas on the web. I do this for free, because I love film. Yes, I understand that everyone needs to earn a living but life is hard for everyone. Critics aren't the only ones losing their jobs and sometimes, one needs to make sacrifices. Perhaps these great critics can't make a living from doing what they love but how many of us really can? Bottom line: if you love something enough, you should do it regardless of what it pays or even how many people are reading it.
Overall, I think Mr. White was a bit harsh in his commentary but it certainly struck a cord with me and for that, I thank him.
Juliet Marillier, one of my favourite authors, recently wrote this about inspiration:
Not being of a scientific bent, I won’t attempt a discussion of how inspiration relates to brain function. The fact that some people end up as writers, composers, artists or choreographers, while others become accountants, plumbers or truck drivers is probably as much a matter of nurture as it is nature. And where does creativity start and end, anyway? To be a good teacher, baker, gardener or parent, you must be creative; you need inspiration. You need those sparky ideas, the ones that seem to come from nowhere and enable you to communicate with others in a special way. It would be arrogant for us, as writers, to believe that inspiration visits only a narrow group of creative artists.
D and I are finally taking a vacation. We've been together nearly 9 years and this is only the 3rd trip we've ever taken and I'm not sure it really qualifies as a vacation but, it should be fun. I've taken tomorrow off which gives us a nice 4 day long weekend. We're driving out to Newport, Oregon tomorrow morning, spending 2 nights and then stopping over somewhere in Seattle on Sunday night. I'm *very* excited and plan to take loads of pictures. Not to worry, I'll be posting everything along the way!
In other unrelated news, a few weeks ago I mentioned that I'd done my film presentation and that I thought it went well. Yesterday I got back the paper that went with the presentation and I nearly fell off my chair. Not only did I get a perfect score on the presentation, I also nailed the essay with an A+. That was exciting but not nearly as exciting as this next bit. The prof has asked that I fix up the 'rough spots' and give him a clean copy for his files and he's suggested that I look at submitting it for publication in an online film journal out of the University of Victoria.
WOW. WOW. WOW.
This is the greatest thing that ever could have happened. I don't want to get ahead of myself but it would be AWESOME to be published in a film journal.
Because I'm not around tomorrow, I'm posting the KFF a day early. I hope you all enjoy. Good weekend to everyone and an extra good one for my BC buddies who get a long weekend!
