"New York Movie", Edward Hopper, 1939
“Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world.”
“If you could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.”
- Edward Hopper
1. Sight & Sound Magazine
http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/
First published in 1932, and shortly thereafter taken over by the British Film Institute, Sight & Sound is without question the best film review and criticism magazine on the planet. Each month they review every new film released in the UK, from art house fare to Hollywood blockbusters (including full credits), always in a very thoughtful and cine-literate way.
The articles are to die for; I think I’ve learned most of what I know about film from Sight & Sound. The journalism is of an extremely high standard, and just on the right side of academic, without being dry. They do not confine themselves to purely contemporary filmic matters and are forever profiling some brilliant film, film-maker, actor or genre I’m unfamiliar with.
The BFI also publishes a series of monographs on individual films. In-depth close readings of modern and classic films that make amateur analysts like me drool. They’re small and expensive (a bit like Sight & Sound itself, which is slim but pricey, although it does contain a wealth of material in the small space between the front and back cover.)
I bought my first issue in 1990, and now have an (almost) unbroken collection of this very fine magazine stretching back nearly 20 years.
I am obsessed with filling in the gaps.
2. Creative Screenwriting Magazine’s Podcast
http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=8894
My God, this is addictive. I hardly ever listen to music on my iPod anymore, as I’m too busy listening to these fascinating interviews, conducted by editor Jeff Goldsmith, with many of the greatest screenwriters in the business. The best interviews are lengthy conversations conducted in front of a live audience immediately after the screening of the writer’s latest film, and feature an audience Q & A after Jeff has worked through his stock (but always relevant) questions; How did you break in to the business? What was the hardest scene to write? What’s your writing habit and process? How do you deal with writer’s block? Etc.
I admit to having an almost unhealthy interest in the writing processes of others; there’s always something to be learned from the idiosyncratic technique someone else has developed, so this podcast is catnip for me.
Jeff’s slightly grating Californian geek voice takes a bit of getting used to, but he’s a genuine guy and genuinely passionate about screenwriting.
Subscribe, screen scribes!
3. The Four Word Film Review
“The fwfr is a film review site like no other – an ever expanding collection of extremely brief film reviews and summaries. Submissions are welcomed from anyone – the only condition being no more than four words may be used.”
I love FWFR. It tickles me to death. I thrive under the yoke of a constrictive creative parameter, which no doubt explains why I find it so enjoyable to write reviews for FWFR.
Here are my own reviews:
http://www.fwfr.com/display.asp?sort=2&id=4539&Mode=reviewer&Rows=100&Start=1&do=
And if you’re looking to laugh until things hurt, check out the Top 100 Reviews Of All Time:
http://www.fwfr.com/tops.asp?mode=att
A random sampling of the concise genius on display here:
Kramer Vs. Kramer: “I bet Kramer wins.”
Passion Of The Christ: “Gory, gory, Hallelujah.”
Tootsie: “Hoff-man, Hoff-woman.”
Robocop: “Copper is metal.”
Pretty Woman: “Shags to riches.”
Spiderman: “Teenager emits sticky substance.”
Psycho: “Unfortunate Leigh.”
Eyes Wide Shut: “Pretty shitty gang bang.”
For those of you who believe brevity is the soul of wit. And probably good practice for writing punchier log lines.
