The reading of film articles can be a both a great pleasure and an educational experience.
With the wealth of film writing available at the touch of a key, it should be pointed out that there are a number of current trends in film article writing that are lowering the overall bar in terms of quality.
Every film writer has his or her own individual style and approach and this article is not a curmudgeonly attempt to stifle anyone’s efforts, but rather an attempt to call out some bad habits.
Here’s a look at six currently widespread counterproductive film writing trends that need to stop. The following is in no order.
1. Underdeveloped lists
This is a simple one. Whether it’s an article on best films in a particular genre or a list of casting suggestions, three or four selections is not enough. “Always leave them wanting more...
With the wealth of film writing available at the touch of a key, it should be pointed out that there are a number of current trends in film article writing that are lowering the overall bar in terms of quality.
Every film writer has his or her own individual style and approach and this article is not a curmudgeonly attempt to stifle anyone’s efforts, but rather an attempt to call out some bad habits.
Here’s a look at six currently widespread counterproductive film writing trends that need to stop. The following is in no order.
1. Underdeveloped lists
This is a simple one. Whether it’s an article on best films in a particular genre or a list of casting suggestions, three or four selections is not enough. “Always leave them wanting more...
- 11/9/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
With the demise of the drive-in theater rose the behemoth home video industry – and a torch was passed from one era of low-budget directors and producers to a new batch of underfunded fringe filmmakers. These fresh faces had new technology, and a new distribution game… but a similar reckless abandon and rebellious tenacity as their b-movie forefathers.
Fright fans were introduced to a new breed of horror movies - made for tens of thousands of dollars… or thousands of dollars… or a few hundred bucks and a borrowed video camera. Unpaid amateurs / quasi-professionals made up the bulk of most casts and crews - and often, the directors and producers were quite inexperienced themselves.
Join me for a visit to the heyday of the direct-to-video, micro-budget horror movie. We’ll explore this strange new cinema of the 80s and see how it evolved through the ‘90s. (Be sure to adjust tracking for best picture quality.
Fright fans were introduced to a new breed of horror movies - made for tens of thousands of dollars… or thousands of dollars… or a few hundred bucks and a borrowed video camera. Unpaid amateurs / quasi-professionals made up the bulk of most casts and crews - and often, the directors and producers were quite inexperienced themselves.
Join me for a visit to the heyday of the direct-to-video, micro-budget horror movie. We’ll explore this strange new cinema of the 80s and see how it evolved through the ‘90s. (Be sure to adjust tracking for best picture quality.
- 3/14/2013
- by Eric Stanze
- FEARnet
This article is dedicated to Andrew Copp: filmmaker, film writer, artist and close friend who passed away on January 19, 2013. You are loved and missed, brother.
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Looking at the Best Actor Academy Award nominations for the film year 2012, the one miss that clearly cries out for more attention is Liam Neeson’s powerful performance in Joe Carnahan’s excellent survival film The Grey, easily one of the best roles of Neeson’s career.
In Neeson’s case, his lack of a nomination was a case of neglect similar to the Albert Brooks snub in the Best Supporting Actor category for the film year 2011 for Drive(Nicolas Winding Refn, USA).
Along with negligence, other factors commonly prevent outstanding lead acting performances from getting the kind of critical attention they deserve. Sometimes it’s that the performance is in a film not considered “Oscar material” or even worthy of any substantial critical attention.
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Looking at the Best Actor Academy Award nominations for the film year 2012, the one miss that clearly cries out for more attention is Liam Neeson’s powerful performance in Joe Carnahan’s excellent survival film The Grey, easily one of the best roles of Neeson’s career.
In Neeson’s case, his lack of a nomination was a case of neglect similar to the Albert Brooks snub in the Best Supporting Actor category for the film year 2011 for Drive(Nicolas Winding Refn, USA).
Along with negligence, other factors commonly prevent outstanding lead acting performances from getting the kind of critical attention they deserve. Sometimes it’s that the performance is in a film not considered “Oscar material” or even worthy of any substantial critical attention.
- 2/27/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Special Mention: The Fake Trailers from Grindhouse (2007, USA): The four fake trailers featured in the otherwise disappointing Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double-feature: Machete by Robert Rodriguez, Werewolf Women of the SS by Rob Zombie, Thanksgiving by Eli Roth and Don’t by Edgar Wright-are all very entertaining trips down horror/exploitation film memory lane and are easily the best part of the film.
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2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:
This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.
Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):
This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...
****
2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:
This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.
Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):
This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...
- 11/4/2012
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Here is your chance to be the first person on your block (and probably in the whole damn neighborhood) to hold a brand new VHS tape over your head and proclaim, “Bow down to The Mutilation Man!” Of course you should be forewarned that performing this kind of unorthodox act could have negative repercussions, but thanks to the good people at Coppfilms, you can do it.
However, you’d best move your ass if you’re serious about getting your paws on a copy of The Mutilation Man. There are only 100 tapes being made, and when they’re gone, you’re out of luck. Did we mention each piece is hand-signed by the director? Hmmm?
So this is it, your big chance to own a signed VHS copy of this rare piece of filmmaking. (Did we mention the VHS tape is red, too? Nice.) Scoot over to the Coppfilms website and grab one.
However, you’d best move your ass if you’re serious about getting your paws on a copy of The Mutilation Man. There are only 100 tapes being made, and when they’re gone, you’re out of luck. Did we mention each piece is hand-signed by the director? Hmmm?
So this is it, your big chance to own a signed VHS copy of this rare piece of filmmaking. (Did we mention the VHS tape is red, too? Nice.) Scoot over to the Coppfilms website and grab one.
- 10/4/2011
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
Low budget New Jersey filmmaker and musician Jimmy Creamer (better known in some quarters as ScreamerClauz), known for his experimental videos and animated shorts that combine some of the strangest computer graphic effects and weird music, brings us a feature film that uses all elements from his shorts and music videos by using creative computer effects and incorporating them into a live action film with sick gore and make-up effects. All these elements combined give us what is quite possibly the best experimental mindfuck done on a miniscule budget since Eric Stanze’s Ice From the Sun and Andy Copp’s The Mutilation Man.
- 5/18/2010
- by Mario Dominick
- HorrorYearbook
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