So, You Want To Be A Movie Critic? A Handy Article for newbies from a Veteran

My reviewing days may be behind me, but that doesn't mean I don't have some fun things in the pipeline that aren't just updates. Soon, I will be debuting a series on here that I think you'll get quite a kick out of. It's related to screenwriting, but from a different, and frankly often overlooked, perspective.

In the meantime, I'll delve into ThirdActFilm.com one final time, to give you my own tips and tricks as I explain how to start being a film critic on the internet (this is primarily about craft. You can found countless articles and videos about audience growth, video production rates and everything else. This is just about writing a good review/review script and what you should know before you try): http://factoryoflaunch.co.uk/thirdactfilm/guidelines-to-be-an-online-reviewer/

Here's a little teaser to whet your appetite:

So, you’re a young, fresh faced movie geek. You’ve just watched your first Kurosawa or Hitchcock film; you’ve memorised all sorts of random facts about your favourite franchise (Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Jem and the Holograms, etc.), from the names of the production staff to what kind of tape the gaffers used on the set; And, the biggest one of all, you don’t have an immediate circle of people with which to share your passion. For them, cinema is just for big explosion fests, cartoons and maybe the odd ‘serious’ movie around Oscar time.

So, what do you do?


Jump onto social media and become a film critic (or reviewer, depending on your influences and how you view your craft and dedication) of course! Maybe a Youtube channel, popping out a couple of 5-10 minute videos a month, or perhaps a blog that you update every few days. You might even go to Wix or WordPress and start up your own website. Either way, you want to start talking about and dissecting movies.
 
But how? What are some of the fundamentals you need to get right? Well, as someone with seven years of experience in the field, spanning written and video content, I have a few possible suggestions:

Watch my commercial for Creative Access (29/10/17)

Hello, everyone in DA-land. Hope you're all keeping well. I've been quite busy with a number of things, I can assure, and hope to have some cool announcements in the coming months. (As always, follow me on Facebook:[link])

But anyway, let me show you something: Back in the summer, I wrote a recuitment drive short for Creative Access, a community organization that helps get BAME youth into the creative UK industries, like film and TV. I worked with some wonderful folks, like my director Juliana and producer Malick, and am very proud of what we did in such a short tiem frame (production was under three months).

Check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRQ5msngDlk

And of course, check out the site here:
https://creativeaccess.org.uk/

So, what's new with me? Projects update (8/10/17)

Alright, so with my reviewing career confined to the depths of internet history, what have I been filling the time with instead? As it turns out, several things.

First, I'm now in development on a short film for the Masters course. A post-apocalyptic drama about an age-divided society, in fact. Treatment's been signed off and now, I can get to work on actually writing a draft. Unlike the experience of writing Spider-Fly back in 2015, I feel there's been a greater understanding of time and budgetary limitations on the project, and a willingness to work within them.

Second, my own writing projects are progressing slowly but very steadily: my first children's TV pilot, Spring-Heeled Jack, has recieved feedback both from a development assistant as well as a professional screenwriter whose been gracious enough to give me his time for free, given he liked the premise enough (I'll talk more about it when it gains a little more traction). Work on a second, a swashbuckler set in 1840s Spain, has just completed its first draft, and I aim to have a second out by the end of the month. It's a love letter to properties like Three Musketeers and Zorro, and it has been quite fun to write. Especially the villain.

And third, I'm currently hammering out a treatment for a feature about the Spanish Civil War. An LGBT love story, in fact, set amidst the chaos of the conflict between Nationalists and Republicans. It was originally meant to be a miniseries, but feedback from trusted peers has advised otehrwise, feeling the core relationship is better suited to the shroter medium. Like with the pilots, once this gets more set, I'll let you know more.

And that's that for now. Thanks to everyone who wished me well when I announced retirement from reviews, and I hope to hear from you again soon.

Ending an era of Reviews (2010-2017)

There comes a moment in life, and it's never once, where we have to stand up and say, 'Well, time to move on.' It hurts: us humans are a consevrative bunch, taking comfort and even pleasure in routines, schedules and a general sense of 'normalacy'. However, for the sake of development, knowledge and even just plain old survival, we have to change. Lose what isn't working or not pulling its weight, and instead, focus on what is.

To that end, I am declaring my retirement from active online film and television criticism, after seven years and multiple platforms, running from Youtube, Deviantart and Blogger, to professional media and news sites like ThirdActFilm.com, Viral Thread and Blasting News. Decisions like these are not made lightly, but the simple fact is, I can't justify it anymore. I'm not a teenage movie geek with loads of free time anymore: I'm an adult with studies and employment to worry about, using what time he has wisely and with a clear goal in mind.

Recent years have not been kind to online content producers who don't come with a complete team at their disposal: between dwindling traffic thanks to all the competition from bigger, more professional sites, the constant tinkering of search algorithms that mess with any type of content planning and the utter collapse of ad revenue (not that I ever made a real penny from it during 'better' times) have made it very hard to justify devoting time to what is little more than an overblown hobby.

My passions lie in writing film, television, just writing period, not writing ABOUT them: I'm working like crazy to set myself up as, at the very least, a working screenwriter exploring all and any avenues to the industry, Two years of poor professional judgements and career moves have forced me to really sit down and prioritize what I want form life and sadly, that's not with reviews anymore. The time devoted to them is needed elsewhere, and what's the point in doing it if I feel far less drive than I did before?

A big thanks to everyone who stuck with me for a near decade and seen me change and evolve.

Monthly Round-Up (Reviews, articles and more) - August 2017

Summer draws to a close, and so too, I fear, will anothr chapter in my online quest.It wasn't an easy choice to make, and took much thought, internal debate and even libation, but I feel it was the right decision. But enough about that (more in the next post), let's get back to new reviews. As always, follow me on my official page for all news:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

On ThirdActFilm I give you a special ITCFTBB review as I tackle the Christian animated tv movie, 'Joshua and the Promised Land':
http://thirdactfilm.com/came-from-the-bargain-bin-joshua-and-the-promised-land-2004/

Next, I do a Throwback Review on the 90s Tim Burton-produced cult hit, 'Cabin Boy': http://thirdactfilm.com/throwback-review-cabin-boy-1994/


Then, I return to an 80s oddball as I re-examine Robert Altman's 'Popeye':
http://thirdactfilm.com/defense-robert-altmans-popeye/

And finally, I give you my own tips and tricks as I explain how to start being a film critic:
http://thirdactfilm.com/guidelines-to-be-an-online-reviewer/

Get your copy of Time Shadows here and support a really good cause for the disabled:
http://pseudoscopepublishing.com/timeshadows/

Feedback from Big Finish - The Paul Spragg 2017 Short Trip Competition

Normally I don't write about when I enter any sort of scheme, contest or opportunity aimed at writers: not just because, like many a Catholic boy, I fear jinxes, but also because it's rather pointless to do so. Why make a big deal out of something that isn't a certainty?

But this is different. And very nice.

Ian Atkins is the editor for the Short Trips, a range of Doctor Who audio short stories produced by Big Finish. For the last two years, they've held an annual contest to find new writing talent. How? Write a 30 minute short story, or rather its outline and opening, and then submit. The top 100 of their selection are the only ones who receive feedback from Ian, given the sheer amount of submissions they get.

So, lookie lookie what popped into my inbox:

Hi Abel,

Thanks for writing in. We had hundreds of submissions (as last year) and I couldn't reply to all of them. However, in some cases I wanted to make an effort where although the work didn't quite make the final short list, it was very, very good. I thought this was a wonderfully human story, beautifully character-driven even when neither protagonist is actually human, which takes some real skill. Thanks for letting me read it,

Best wishes, and do keep writing,

Ian 

This was a real pick-me-up, and I am very, very grateful for the kind words and encouragement from Ian and the BF crew.

Monthly Round-Up (Reviews, articles and more) - July 2017

So, it's been a bit of a wet and windy summer in the UK, but hey, it's a proper English summer. I'm currently hard at work on a new TV pilot, as well as planning a couple of projects for the future. As always, follow my Official Facebook, for all news and updates:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

Now, onto the reviews. On Blasting News, I cover the subversive Sherlock Holmes novel, 'The Veiled Detective': http://uk.blastingnews.com/opinion/2017/06/the-veiled-detective-review-sherlock-inverted-001812973.html

Now, back to ThirdActFilm's WHOCap reviews. I bring Series 10 to a close when 'The Doctor Falls':
http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-the-doctor-falls-s10-ep12/

Next, I applaud the webhead's arrival in the MCU with 'Spider-man Homecoming':
http://thirdactfilm.com/spider-man-homecoming-review/

Then, I tackle an 80s comedy giant in a Throwback review for 'Police Academy'':
http://thirdactfilm.com/throwback-review-police-academy-1984/

I then do another top 4 list of war movies, inspired by Nolan's 'Dunkirk':
http://thirdactfilm.com/like-dunkirk-heres-more-war-movies-youll-love/

And finally, I tackle one of the mythical 'missing stories' from Classic Who, 'The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve': http://thirdactfilm.com/massacre-of-st-bart-review/

Get your copy of Time Shadows here and support a really good cause for the disabled:
http://pseudoscopepublishing.com/timeshadows/