Movie bloggers do have one direct perk – they often are invited to movie screenings free of charge or receive DVDs in the mail for editorial consideration.
That won’t happen overnight. Bloggers must draw enough of a crowd for the PR folks to take them seriously. It can be done, but it will take time – and a professional demeanor.
One way to speed up the process is to think small. Many independent features are begging for press coverage – from traditional print outlets as well as sharp movie bloggers. So reach out to the smaller indie studios to see if they can send you screeners of their films for review purposes. You might end up posting one of only a dozen reviews of a particular film across the entire web. And you’ll be supporting filmmakers who really need a helping hand.
The WWTW review of “One Fast Move Or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur” put this site in rarefied company according to imdb.com. Targeting smaller films lets you stand out in the cluttered web.
Another way to get original content for your site is to show some love to smaller films that deserve a wider audience. For example, WWTW was very impressed with the film “Tenure” starring Luke Wilson even though the film got no publicity and skipped theaters entirely before becoming available on DVD.
So I reached out to the studio behind the DVD release and asked if I could conduct an email Q&A with the film’s creator, Mike Million.
Voila, an original interview with a filmmaker on my site.
Sure, it would be great to chat up Tom Hanks for your site, but it’s more realistic to set one’s sights lower. There are perks to this approach. Some of the best interviews I’ve done over the years have been with young, hungry artists who are the most honest – and unguarded – in their answers.
Prepare for feedback
Your new movie blog may be modest in size and scope, but there’s always the chance people in power will see it. When WWTW posted a mostly negative review of “Saint John of Las Vegas” the film’s writer/director left a comment to defend his film.
I didn’t expect that, but I should have. The web can be a very small place, and a quick Google search will often lead filmmakers to reviews of their movies.
The ensuing exchange was polite and helpful, but that might not have been the case had my review been mean-spirited or snarky.
That’s a lesson that applies to critiquing actors, too. Don’t obsess over a star’s physical attributes – or flaws – in a cruel fashion. That’s not a movie critic’s job. He or she is there to help people find the best movies to rent or buy, not to let the reader know Angelina Jolie would look hotter if she wore tighter outfits. Leave such sniping to the gossip sites. You’re better than that, and writing ugly material online can often reach the person you’re blasting.
Enjoy the ride
Becoming a movie blogger will make you see films in a different light. And, if you’re a movie buff like me, that will be a welcome change. You’ll appreciate good performances more and applaud the movies that do their level best to tell you a story in new, intriguing ways.
And, if you have any questions about the movie blogging process, please leave me a message and I’ll do my best to answer your question as quickly as possible.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t have to start my own movie blog, this guy did it first and better:
http://hollywoodpropaganda.wordpress.com/
Of course, if I want the erudite uber cool point of view I’ll just stick with Toto here.
‘Erudite’ and ‘uber-cool’ — two adjectives that were never uttered in combination with my name before …
Thanks for this! My buddies and I are attempting to do exactly this. Check us out at thethreehands.com and give us feedback, if you don’t mind!