|
|
|
Arkansas Picture Palaces
Arkansas Picture Palaces Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/usa02/AR/theaters/theaters.html Within a...
In The Land of Snow and Dreams – The Nutcracker Suite
In The Land of Snow and Dreams – The Nutcracker Suite Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: ...
Sananda Maitreya Releases His Mastered Album "Angels & Vampires - Volume I" on the SANANDA MAITREYA MUSIC STORE at www.SanandaMaitreya.com
This new mastered album contains twenty songs that are available as MP3 files for download, so now all Mac-users can access the music. The price per album is € 15 with a free real-tone and € 0.99 per song. Milan, ITALY July 30, 2005 -- Grammy...
Try some new music!
Stuck in a music rut? It happens. After listening to your favorite song 1,379,614 times, you will, eventually, get sick of it. So you find a new favorite song, all too aware that you'll soon grow as tired of it as your previous pick. This is even...
Ulalena, Myth Magic and Maui
Ulalena, Myth Magic and Maui Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/shows/ulalena/ulalena.html Astounding,...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
So You Want to be a Movie Critic Part. I
So you want to be a movie critic? Who doesn’t. 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 person’s review before I go to the movie’s this weekend, review. What’s the difference?
1. Actively Watch the Movie – Yes, I recognize that movie watching is a passive activity. Watching a movie isn’t something you do, it is something that happens to you. However if you’re 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 you’ll need to write if you want or make a living at reviewing movies.
2. Take Copious Notes – No, I don’t 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 you’ll probably be attending advance screenings of films and won’t 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 actor’s 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. Don’t 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. You’re 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 didn’t 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 you’re serious about doing this for a living then you’re going to watch movies from genres you don’t like. You may hate romantic comedies but you find yourself having to review one every week. It’s okay that you don’t 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 don’t do something that closely resembles someone else or you’ll just seem like a bad copy of the original.
8. Have Fun – You’re not saving the world here, but you are trying to save a person’s movie going experience, so relax, have fun, and remember this is a great job to have and you’re 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 You Deserve! Get a professionally written, signed, review of your work.
http://www.prologuezine.com – The Best Arts and Entertainment Online Community on the Web. Don’t Delay! Check Us Out Today!
|
|
|
|
|
| Yahoo! Music - Internet Radio, Music Videos, Artists, Music News ... |
| Visitors may create a personal Internet radio station with Lauchcast and listen to music based on their own and other listener's tastes. |
| music.yahoo.com |
|
| All Music Guide |
| Comprehensive guide to recordings in every genre. Cross-indexed source of reviews, essays, and ratings; all available online, on in-store kiosks, ... |
| www.allmusic.com |
|
| MTV - Music Videos, Shows, Celebrity News, Movies, Games, and Photos |
| MTV is the ultimate destination for music and pop culture. We have the latest music videos, band info, entertainment news, photos, album previews, ... |
| www.mtv.com |
|
| Music Videos, Songs, Internet Radio, Free Music Downloads - AOL Music |
| Offers music news, artist bios, discographies, photo galleries, downloads and videos. Covers multiple music genres. |
| music.aol.com |
|
| MSN - Music: Home |
| http://music.msn.com/music/newthisweek;new this week;Gwen Stefani's "The ... Mary J. Blige takes home most honors at Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas ... |
| music.msn.com |
|
| Free MP3 music downloads - Free Music Downloads - MP3 Downloads ... |
| Download.com Music is your source for legal and free MP3 downloads. Download MP3s from thousands of artists. |
| music.download.com |
|
| MySpace |
| Progressive / Alternative / Indie. MySpace Music Video Fresh Pick: Bloodlined Calligraphy (Last Goodbye). Rock the Bells Hip Hop USA Tour (Nov 11-Dec 22) ... |
| www.myspace.com |
|
| College Music Society |
| It is a consortium of colleges, conservatories, universities, and independent musicians and scholars. Dedicated to gathering, considering, and disseminating ... |
| www.music.org |
|
| Apple - iPod + iTunes |
| Complete line of flash memory and hard drive-based music, video, and media content players. Includes technical specifications, video clips, interactive demo ... |
| www.apple.com |
|
| Music - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| Music theory, within this realm, is studied with the pre-supposition that music is ... Amateur musicians compose and perform music for their own pleasure, ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
|
| Worldwide Internet Music Resources |
| Categorized links to musicians and ensembles, composers, research sources by musical topic, the business of music, and performance-related subjects ... |
| www.music.indiana.edu |
|
| BBC - Music |
| Vote in 6 Music's roundup of the best singles of 2006! ... The Man In Black - a true American icon, and one of the giants of country music. ... |
| www.bbc.co.uk |
|
| Pandora Internet Radio - Find New Music, Listen to Free Web Radio |
| Pandora is the music discovery service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites. Create custom internet radio stations, ... |
| www.pandora.com |
|
| Yahoo! Music UK - Free Music Videos, Internet Radio, Music Charts ... |
| The latest official UK music charts, talent and music industry news and special areas. Includes chart commentary and music news round up. |
| uk.launch.yahoo.com |
|
| Napster |
| Add Music to Your IM, Email and Web Pages ... To see the terms for our Music Store and Subscription Service, click HERE. © 2003-2006, Napster, LLC. ... |
| www.napster.com |
|
| Read About Music News, Billboard Charts, Music Videos & Ringtones ... |
| Billboard.com is the music entertainment industry source for music news, information, and the popular Billboard Music Charts. |
| www.billboard.com |
|
| Lycos Music - Music Home |
| Comprehensive search engine by Lycos. Site also has news, reviews and information on players, encoders and rippers. |
| music.lycos.com |
|
| Welcome - Music India OnLine |
| Has a large collection of music and songs classified by type, language and region. All downloads are streamed through RealAudio. |
| www.musicindiaonline.com |
|
| calendarlive.com - MUSIC |
| Concerts, album reviews, pop, jazz and classical music news from the Los Angeles Times. |
| www.calendarlive.com |
|
| CLASSICAL MUSIC ARCHIVES - CLASSICAL MUSIC |
| Contains thousands of classical music files in MIDI format as well as live recordings. New contributions are solicited. A search engine is included. |
| www.classicalarchives.com |
|
|