Film criticism is an excellent tool that serves the purpose of assisting viewers in better understanding and appreciating the art of filmmaking. Film critics need to have a strong interest in movies and a solid understanding of how the many pieces of the industry fit together to create a cohesive whole.
Who Is a Film Critic and What Do They Do?
A person who watches and evaluates different aspects of a movie, such as the character and story development, performance, cinematography, directing, editing, and writing, is known as a movie critic. Critics may use their critiques to persuade people to see a specific film or to prevent them from doing so, and they may also bring up a variety of subjects that are worthy of further debate among audience members. Movie reviewers have the option of writing up their assessments and publishing them in print or online media, personal blogs and websites, or recording themselves discussing the film as part of a podcast or digital video.
There are three categories of movie criticism.
There are three primary categories of film criticism that are most often seen in published works, both in print and online:
The term "amateur movie critique" refers to a sort of subjective film analysis that is performed by non-professional film reviewers who want to share their views with other movie enthusiasts. Those who want to be film critics may post their own film reviews and analyses by blogging or uploading them to their own personal websites. Even though these websites may not get as much traffic as professional media, they nonetheless provide anybody who has an opinion about a movie the opportunity to communicate their perspective online in the form of a podcast, digital video, or blog post.
Journalistic film criticism Journalistic film criticism is the form of film criticism that is the most well-known, and it is generally published in newspapers, periodicals, and internet venues. Journalistic film reviewers are primarily concerned with reviewing newly released movies and developing a rating scale that assigns a quality score to each picture based on the criteria that they have already defined. Their reviews often include both an objective rundown and a synopsis of the film being discussed.
Academic film criticism is a style of film criticism that differs from other forms of film criticism in that it places a greater emphasis on doing an in-depth critical study and is typically more objective. Generally speaking, articles of this kind of film criticism are published in academic journals or books. Academic movie reviewers often have a background in cinema theory, film studies, or film history. They use this knowledge to analyse and understand the subject matter, themes, emotional resonance, and other key parts of a film. Academic criticism, in contrast to journalistic criticism, does not strive to summarize a film or provide a fundamental analysis of it; rather, it seeks to explore a film's significance, its connection to actual events, its position within the history of cinema, and the genre to which it belongs.
A Guide to a Career as a Film Critic
There are a few crucial stages that you should take, regardless of whether you want to become a professional movie critic or specialize on academic film criticism. They are as follows:
Get a degree in filmmaking. A formal education in cinema, such as a bachelor's degree in film studies or screenwriting, may help fill out your knowledge and enable you to talk with authority on the topic if you are interested in pursuing a career as a movie critic for a major newspaper. In addition, if you want to develop a firm basis for your job as a movie critic, you need learn the fundamentals of writing about films or reporting on the film industry.
Investigate the movie business. Research the numerous aspects and components of filmmaking, as well as the directors who have worked throughout the industry's history, so that you may use what you learn to your analysis and judgment of films. Watching a variety of high-quality films from a variety of genres, such as Hollywood blockbusters and less well-known independent films, will help you develop a more well-rounded knowledge of cinema, which will make it easier for you to write about any kind of film.
Exercise those writing abilities of yours. Film critics who want to make a living at their craft need to be able to articulate their thoughts unambiguously and write in a manner that is both engaging and educational for their audience. Read excellent analyses to refresh yourself on correct writing strategies, and study correct grammar, sentence structure, and literary devices to assist in the development of your own writing style.
Create a portfolio of your work. Every film critic needs to get their foot in the door at some point, and the proliferation of social media has made it more simpler than ever before to get one's voice heard. Find websites that post film reviews or critiques that users have contributed, or create your own review website or podcast channel so that you can demonstrate your analytical filmmaking skills.
Gain real-life experience. Positions in newspapers, radio stations, or other publications that are considered to be entry-level might serve as an excellent starting point for those who are looking to get into the industry. These entry-level employment may help you build a network of contacts with individuals who can point you in the right direction and give the tools you need to launch a career as a film critic.