Want To Become A Movie And Television Critic? Now You Can… Here!

Now, some of you out there may be crying foul already, and I'm glad you are. This is, as you're saying to yourself, my personal blog (except mine, not yours), and I have vowed that it will always stay that way. I'm sticking to that. But, we have gotten to the point now that I find myself turning down too many things, mainly in the way of screenings, set visits, festivals, and so on. So, I'm looking for some help in the way of guest writers and/or reporters in the field. Well, something like that anyway.

Before you jump the gun, you should know that I have ludicrously high standards. On the plus side, it isn't a lot of work.

Here's the deal -

First, you have to be in L.A. or New York, or close enough to one of them to go there. I'm looking for one person in each.

Second, the idea of going to a press event of some kind has to seem cool enough on its face that you aren't really worried about both going and getting paid to go. See where I'm going there?

Third, the idea of going to press events has to be cool enough that if I told you to go, you'd be very likely to go... barring injury, weddings, really great deal on pitchers and wings, etc.

Fourth, the idea of going to press events has to be cool enough that you're willing to put forth some effort in establishing a relationship before you get the chance. Job one in the "I don't know you," to-do list is not going to some awesome premiere or suchlike.

Still with me?

So, here's the basic deal.

Once selected, I'll be looking for 2-3 articles of some kind a month. One or two more might be possible, but not less. On the general front, I'm looking for a proactive person here, who is going to pitch what they want to do to me. I'm not assigning the generals. A movie review, television review or opinion piece, a new DVD, some goofball list, maybe a video game now and then, possibly even your own idea of a twice a month special feature of some sort. Whatever it is, I'm looking for you to come to me with what you want to do. (I will find it very interesting if you are willing to be relatively active on Lunch.com)

After we have seen smooth sailing in this regard for a bit, then as things come to me I'll be looking to tell you to go to them.

At some point in the future, there may even be... monetary reward. Well... the future is a vast and wonderful place.

Still with me again?

Here's what you need to do.

1. I need to see a decent sampling of your movie reviews and/or writing (television reviews, whatever), but you've got to have some movie reviews. If you've got some up online somewhere, you can just tell me where to peruse them. If not, you're going to need to send me at least three movie reviews.

2. Tell me about yourself, both from a generally personal perspective, and from an entertainment critic perspective. If you can't write about yourself, you can't write about anything.

3. Figure out a way to convince me that you know what the hell you're talking about, and can write things people will read.

4. Don't be all snooty. I am fantastically smarter than you, but I'm not all snooty about it.

Sound awesome!?!

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "No, it doesn't sound awesome. It sounds like, why the hell would I do that?"

Fair enough there really. Good play on you. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's New And Improved, and Now 20% Fresher! and Low in Sodium!

I have no idea really, but if you are interested, send your pitch to marceastman AT areyouscreening DOT com, and put "I want to be a critic" in the subject.

P.S. it's unlikely that you'll be going fabulous places every time you turn around, and "send" you generally means they'll let you in and little else is guaranteed.

Whatever you send me R belong to me and associated legal mumbo jumbo, and the mere act of applying for the position serves as your being aware that subsequent things you send in, in accordance with the vague description of the position, R also belong to me, and so on and so forth. Your articles, submissions, reviews, and whatever else that are posted on areyouscreening.com will be done with full credit to your name and etcetera, but R still belong to me in senses ordinarily put forward as "rights" and whatnot, though you are free to publish them elsewhere if you choose to generally be annoying in such a fashion.

Go!

© 2010, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

About Marc Eastman

Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.

Twitter | Facebook | More Posts (1450)