If you love to watch movies, then you might want to consider becoming a film critic and in this post, I’m going to show you how to become a good movie critic in your own space. My name is Tessia and I love the film critic jobs whenever I have got the chance to. I get to go to all of the new movie screenings and tell people what I think of the films. What an amazing job right? I have been doing it for years now and it never gets boring. But, how exactly does one become a film critic?
This might come as a surprise, but there are not very many people locally doing this kind of job so, there’s a lot for you to explore.
What Is A Film Critic?
In the broadest sense, film critics are writers who express opinions on movies. In essence, they are the people who tell you whether a movie is worth seeing or not. Film criticism is a very old and still very vital art. But in the age of social media, anybody with internet access can be a critic.
A film critic usually has a degree in communications, journalism, or cinema studies. They will have spent years learning about the history of cinema, writing about film, and often making their own films.
They may write reviews for a weekly or monthly newspaper or magazine, or work for a website online. They may also appear on television or radio programs as an expert in movies.
Often they will not only review new releases but also classics that are being re-released in theaters, which means having watched thousands of films throughout their career!
Many critics get paid for their work. There are two main ways to do this: 1) by working at a newspaper, magazine or other publication that has an entertainment section and pays their writers to review movies, and 2) by freelancing for various publications. Some critics do both.
Being a film critic can be a rewarding job, but it’s also a very competitive field to break into. The amount of money you can make will depend on where you work and how often you publish reviews, but most critics don’t start out making a lot of money. If you want to be a movie critic, you’ll have to love watching movies and writing about them, because that’s what you’ll be doing every day.
What Are The Types Of Film Critics?
There are many types of movie critics out there who operate in different levels of criticism, here are some of the more popular types of film critics we have today.
Traditional Academic Film Critic
The traditional academic film critic is an individual who contributes to serious film journals and newspapers, writing in-depth reviews of films and publishing books about film theory or criticism. Many of these critics teach college courses or host seminars on film at universities. These critics generally have a deep knowledge of the history of cinema and world film movements, often specializing in studying a particular genre or filmmaker.
Film school is still very much in vogue when it comes to studying film criticism. While there is nothing wrong with learning about film as an art form, sometimes these critics tend to overthink things. It’s great to analyze a scene for its hidden symbolism or explore themes within a film, but some traditional academics forget that at its core, cinema is supposed to entertain us. Some traditional academics also have a tendency to fall into the trap of praising anything with artistic merit while completely ignoring any mainstream entertainment. It’s important to maintain a balance between art and entertainment because without
Journalistic Film Critic
Journalistic film critics are the most common type of film critic. They are usually trained journalists who are specialized to give movie critiques both on air, TVs and even in magazines. In this role, their job is to produce reviews for a newspaper, magazine, or website. As well as writing reviews, they may also be asked to interview film stars and directors.
A journalistic film critic could be expected to spend a large amount of their time watching films, both at the cinema and on DVD. They might also attend special film screenings, where they will watch the movie along with other critics and the cast and crew. Then they need to write up their review in an engaging and entertaining way. They will have an editor who will help them shape their review into something appealing to the target audience.
Amateur Film Critic
An amateur film critic is a person who studies, analyzes, interprets, or evaluates films professionally and has not been paid for his/her writing but may be given a free ticket for his/her review. The amateur film critic could be a blogger, a video maker such as a YouTuber, or someone who posts reviews on sites like Amazon, Goodreads, Google movies reviews, IMDb, etc.
The job of an amateur film critic is to watch movies and evaluate them on certain parameters like direction, cinematography, acting, narration, and the overall entertainment value of the movie. They are not trained traditionally but decided to do the job at will. These reviews are then posted on blogs, websites, or YouTube and help other people decide whether they should go and watch the movie or not.
How To Become A Film Critic
Becoming a film critic can be a hard, but rewarding career. Although there is no “formal” education to become a film critic, having any sort of background in journalism can help. A film critic’s job is not just to tell others if they should watch a movie or not. They need to provide reasons why or why not and support those reasons with evidence from the movie itself by providing quotes and specific examples.
Below are the steps to take in order to become a certified film critic, or film or movie reviewer.
Step 1: Obtain A Degree
Earning a four-year degree is extremely important for learning about film criticism because this is where you’ll get the majority of your training. Many schools will offer courses on not only film history and theory but also on how to write critically about films. Some schools may even provide opportunities for students to write reviews that will be published in local papers or online publications. Some people choose an English degree because of its focus on writing and analytical skills while others opt for art-based programs like Visual Arts Communications or Studio Art that allow them to study more directly under professors who specialize in cinema studies at universities. Sometimes, the only degree you might need is the Journalism degree which gives you a background of general media practices.
Step 2: Study the Film Industry
If you really want to be a film critic, then you should enroll in a professional program, or university program that focuses on film studies or film journalism. There is no formal degree required to become a reviewer, but most employers prefer someone who has at least obtained an undergraduate degree or higher in journalism or communications. These programs will teach you how to write eye-catching headlines and work on strict deadlines while still maintaining accuracy and quality content.
Step 3: Develop Your Voice as a Critic
To become a film critic, you’ll need to develop your voice as a critic and write regularly until you’re able to pitch your work to publications or websites. You don’t need formal training in film criticism or even in writing to become a film critic, but you will need confidence in your abilities and self-discipline to keep working without getting discouraged.
Step 4: Build Your Portfolio
The most important thing to get started as a film critic is a portfolio of your work. Instead of just plodding through the world and writing a review of every movie you see, hone in on the movies you want to write about. If you want to focus on indie films, there’s no point in writing reviews for Hollywood blockbusters.
If you’re currently working at a newspaper or magazine, see if they’ll let you write film reviews. If not, start with your own blog or even imdb.com, where you can write user reviews that will be seen by other users’ browsing titles.
Once you have a few reviews in your portfolio, start sending them out to other venues. Pitch ideas for stories that aren’t just reviews but also give a little context and perspective to the movie (e.g., “What ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Tells Us About the Occupy Wall Street Movement”).
Step 5: Start An Internship
If you haven’t landed a job in film criticism, internships are a great way to get a foot in the door. They allow you to gain a real-world experience, build up your resume, and learn the ins and outs of the industry. You should expect to work long hours for little or no pay, but it’s worth it when those experiences make you more prepared for the job market.
You have plenty of options when it comes to internships. There are many magazine and newspaper publications that offer internships in their arts section. In addition, many film critics participate in internship programs at schools where they teach courses about film criticism.
What does a film critic do?
A film critic makes or writes reviews that describe and assess films in a way that is most likely to appeal to readers, who are usually interested in seeing the films. Critics may have an academic background but typically do not. A film critic’s work is read by the general public and may appear in newspapers, magazines, on websites, or on television.
A film critic evaluates a movie based on several components including technical aspects such as photography and sound as well as plot, setting, and characters. After watching a movie the critic will write a review which includes his thoughts about it.
The job of a film critic is to watch movies and write reviews from the perspective of his readers. Some critics specialize in genres like action or horror while others review any and all types of films. If a critic works for an online publication or website he may be able to choose what movie he will review next based on his own interests or those of his readership.
Some people become film critics because they have always loved movies, but others find their way into the field through other means. Film school can help aspiring writers learn more about writing and filmmaking techniques so they can better understand what makes one movie better than another.
Who is a famous film critic?
The list of famous film critics is endless. But the one name that stands out as the most famous film critic in the US is Roger Ebert. He was a famous film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and contemporary culture for more than forty years.
What do you call a film critic?
A film expert is someone who has deep knowledge about films and can tell you about style, technique, directing, and acting. People who have this depth of knowledge are also known as film reviewers. They have studied films at university or have worked in the industry for years.
How do you become a movie critic?
If you have the drive, patience, and passion for cinema, you’ll find that there are plenty of ways to make a career out of this love, whether as a critic for your local newspaper or an online blog, or even as a freelance reviewer who is able to make a living off writing about and analyzing films. Here are some tips on how to get started:
Choose where you want to work. There are many different venues for movie criticism. Some of the more popular ones include:
Newspapers – Many small and large newspapers across the country still employ film critics who write short reviews of newly released movies.
Websites – There are thousands upon thousands of movie websites. Some of them do not use professional critics to write their reviews, but many do.
Movie studios – Some large studios hire critics to write promotional copy for their film (though you will likely not be able to review other studio’s films).
Public radio and television stations – Most major public radio and television stations have film-related programs that often need guest reviewers.
Blogs – Many people have started their own blogs to review movies, books and other media. This can be very
Conclusion
Learning how to become a film critic or a movie critic is no easy task but can be so easy when you put your mind to it. It takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication to achieve your goal real since you are going to become a critique, you’ll need double eyes to be able to see beyond what the creator can see. Remember, this is a fun hobby at the end of the day; so take your time, go at a pace you’re comfortable with, and try not to take it too seriously. This can be a very rewarding activity for those who put in the legwork and make something out of their passion for film. So get thinking about what kind of professional or future you want in this field, and good luck!