Seeking Contributors for Online Film Journal

For the past year or two, I've been mapping out ideas for an online, bi-monthly film journal. Last summer, I was able to collaborate with a couple of people and plan out an online film magazine. Unfortunately, only a few of the writers actually churned out content and the whole project nose-dived.

I'm picking up the pieces and am putting it together on my own, but I do need some submissions from anyone interested in writing.

The articles can range from essays to short pieces. Basically, I'm looking for anything that critically analyzes some aspect of the film world--whether it's an actual film, a director, a composer, a score, a script, a writer, a style, etc., etc. Anything creative and thought-provoking works for me. I'm aiming to create an online publication that offers fresh ideas about cinema from intelligent people, and strays from the standard production line-esque pumping-out of generic articles that merely review films and offer ratings.

If you're interested at all, I can shoot you more information via a PM.

I do need some level of commitment, however, just so this doesn't turn out like the other one I worked on. I'd also like to have it online by August, to commemorate the Hitchcock/Truffaut interview of 1962 (and comment on it, too).

Sounds like a great idea, Brown. I'm not sure I'm qualified to contribute (except possibly in an editorial capacity), but I do wish you all the luck in the world.

Thanks, Dr. Khan.

I might be able to but like PK I'm not altogether qualified I'd imagine despite a love for film. If you need some sarcastic or idiot pieces I might be able to stitch something together Brownie.

I'll shoot you a PM later today, Hilly, and I'll see what you've got in mind. :)

Are we to take bi-monthly to mean once every two months or twice a month?

Every two months I plan on releasing an issue.

I would love to contribute given that writing critically about film is one of the few things I'm both good at and enjoy doing but my only question would be what the editorial mandate of the magazine would be. What kind of films would you wish to be promoting or focusing on?

I mean, if I wrote months of essays proclaiming the virtues of comic book movies and science fiction/fantasy properties and saying that if $19 3-D IMAX is the way of the future I would rather Hollywood be giving me big scope projects (like Avengers or Prometheus) that justify the ticket price than cinéma vérité kitchen sink dramas -- and they were all cut from the magazine because the EiC disagreed with those positions, than I won't bother.

I spent four years on the staff of my University newspaper writing for the Opinions and Entertainment section but with most of my content unprinted because I was the only conservative in a roomful of socialist hipsters. It's a frustrating experience.

Quote :

I would love to contribute given that writing critically about film is one of the few things I'm both good at and enjoy doing but my only question would be what the editorial mandate of the magazine would be. What kind of films would you wish to be promoting or focusing on?

...

I spent four years on the staff of my University newspaper writing for the Opinions and Entertainment section but with most of my content unprinted because I was the only conservative in a roomful of socialist hipsters. It's a frustrating experience.

I'm interested in fresh analyses and reviews of films from past and present. I really don't care about what films are discussed, so long as the articles offer an interesting take on them. Everyone and their brothers have written reviews about THE AVENGERS or other comic films, simply stating why they liked it, why they didn't like it, and what they want to see happen next in the franchise. I don't want that.

I think your idea, for example, of "writing essays proclaiming the virtues of comic book movies and science fiction/fantasy properties and saying that if $19 3-D IMAX is the way of the future I would rather Hollywood be giving me big scope projects (like Avengers or Prometheus) that justify the ticket price than cinéma vérité kitchen sink dramas" is a much more interesting approach, and more of what I'm looking for.

Ultimately, it's all about providing clever articles with content that people aren't going to read elsewhere. If I don't do that, then no one's going to have a motive to visit the site, and it just won't be interesting, overall.

I also welcome views from both sides of the political spectrum. This isn't going to be one-sided.

I might also move the release date to January 2013, just so I have a few months extra to plan this out.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

II spent four years on the staff of my University newspaper writing for the Opinions and Entertainment section but with most of my content unprinted because I was the only conservative in a roomful of socialist hipsters. It's a frustrating experience.

You needn't worry about Brown on this score.

:*e*:

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

II spent four years on the staff of my University newspaper writing for the Opinions and Entertainment section but with most of my content unprinted because I was the only conservative in a roomful of socialist hipsters. It's a frustrating experience.

Bearded, clad in plaid, and wearing thin glasses? I lean to the left on plenty, but I generally can't stand those people.

They like David Lynch because he's "deep and stuff".

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

I spent four years on the staff of my University newspaper writing for the Opinions and Entertainment section but with most of my content unprinted because I was the only conservative in a roomful of socialist hipsters. It's a frustrating experience.

Sounds like a group of pretty terrible journalists.

Mr. Brown wrote:

I might also move the release date to January 2013, just so I have a few months extra to plan this out.

That sounds like a good idea. It might also be wise to work on several months this year, and then release them throughout 2013.

I'm preparing the books and essays I might need to cite in the articles I write. As as a Yankophile and my interests my mostly lie with American film composers (film composition is after all a largely though not exclusively American art form, just like the opera is to Italy and the ballet to Russia) but I'm trying to expand my knowledge and appreciation to European and Asian film composers. Unfortunately most of the literature on these is in the native languages. Morricone wrote a great essay on film music with Sergio Miceli, but it's in Italian.

http://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/comporre-cinema-teoria-prassi-musica/libro/9788831777186

I'd be happy to prepare something. There's been an essay I've been meaning to write ever since I saw MYSTERIES OF LISBON.

Harmsway wrote:

I'd be happy to prepare something. There's been an essay I've been meaning to write ever since I saw MYSTERIES OF LISBON.

Sorry for the late response. I lost sight of the thread.

But, that'd be fantastic, Harms.