Month: August 2017

Melbourne International Film Festival

gracemarks

And suddenly we are a month into the semester.

This week has been a highlight so far. Our class on Monday was spent sifting through our works in progress for the assignment. Analysing our own work deeper allowing us to see ourselves as a critic and pin point which style of writing we were inclined to use.

Being the week of the Melbourne International Film festival, we were lucky enough to have a question and Answer session lined up with Simran Hans (UK) & Philippa Hawker (AUS). The night before the Q and A workshop I actually took part in MIFF and went to see a film. I saw “Ingrid Goes West,” a satirical comedy/drama about an obsessive compulsive liar named Ingrid that uses social media to copy and stalk instagram famous women hoping to make friends and steal their limelight. It was frighteningly accurate portrayal, embellished for dramatic effect in parts but in its respect quite shockingly true of the way social media is going.

The interview with Simran and Philippa was a fantastic experience. They were both such interesting characters with a huge amount of knowledge and experience in the field. They are classed as free lance writers so they have written for publications all over the world. They spoke about this and what its like starting off, how you have to really push and simply write as much as possible to get your name out their. Now as they are more acclaimed they have more room to move and can be a bit more choosy in what they write.

They both spoke about pitching and the best way to go about that. Looking back on my notes from the session, I see that they gave very straightforward advice.

Pitching:
– Cold pitch- when you haven’t met them. To the Editor, managing editor, find contact info
– If you’ve met them, email them so they remember you- then pitch
– Be canny about the pitch; what the publication produces, don’t waste a pitch
– The way to get published is to get published.
– Small paragraph
– Introduce yourself
– Pitch a story not an idea!!!!!! An actually angle, specific on the specific (where it will fit in their publication)

– Keep it tailored to them, include three examples of past work, three relevant examples of your work.

They both had a fantastic approach to writing. They just said keep going. Write and write and read and read. It really is the only way anyone will improve. They also shed light on the other side, when you are finally a successful writer or critic, they said it still never gets easier.

Our final workshop on Friday saw us sit in on a live podcast being recorded of The Rereaders which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was super interesting to hear what the young up and coming critics had been doing over the week and their time at critics campus. They were all extremely interesting students, all mostly finished or finishing their studies. The three people interviewing, who were from The Rereaders explained to them what usually goes on behind the scenes whilst making a podcast. How at times it is a little bit disjointed when recording however that it shows just how important the editing process is. I am really interested to try out podcasting in the future so i found this session extremely valuable.

Looking forward to next week!

Week 3 Reflection

gracemarks

What a fantastic week in critical review learning it has been.

Monday saw us watching a documentary called City of Gold. The documentary was about Jonathan Gold, an american food critic based in Los Angeles who currently writes for the Los Angeles Times. After watching the documentary we discussed what we thought. I thoroughly enjoyed it, I thought it was a fantastic angle in showing the audience the true culture of L.A. However, as Alexia pointed out, it did romanticise the man and what he does. It painted him as a cultural phenomenon, a kind of catalyst in helping small businesses thrive. As a class we agreed that we didn’t see the documentary as critical. Despite this I found it very helpful to watch a film about reviewing whilst also criticising it in my head as well.

 

Wednesday’s class was a productive one. We all read multiple critical reviews on the same film; Edward Scissorhands directed by Tim Burton. It was extremely valuable and helpful task as it directly allowed us to pinpoint the different styles of each critic. It forced us to closely read each one, picking out certain techniques and tricks that each critic employed. I enjoyed seeing what I found to work and not work and noticing some similarities within my writing style. This exercise will help us greatly as we head into the planning stage of our second assessment; the critic profile.

 

 

 

 

We were all told the exciting news of being able to ask critics who are involved with the Melbourne film festival next week. We will also be able to sit in on a live podcast being recorded, a fantastic opportunity which is extremely valuable to develop our understanding on critical review.

 

The beginning of the Critic

gracemarks

Well here we are already, with week three so very close to our tastebuds it’s probably time to take a step to the side and swirl around the scrumptious delights we have been served up in the first two weeks.

‘Everyone’s a Critic.’ Why did we even choose this studio? We had been asked to report back and deliver the hot and juicy truth inside a student’s mind, deep beneath the layers of  beanies and hoods forced upon our noggins by Melbourne whose ruthless cold is making our task to recall the very reason for selective the studio just a lil bit tricky.

No no, look at me go, I’m not talking to a stranger here so why did I feel I needed to suddenly and so honestly bring up the misfortunate uncontrollable force of nature that connects us all.  Listening to everyone give their two cents was a really nice way to begin the studio. Dreams of improving one’s writing, learning to have more of a critical eye when indulging in the latest blockbuster, establishing a persona, or perhaps simply fine tuning one’s already exquisite critical writing ability. Although the last one I can only dream to be I tended to agree with most, this studio to me seemed the right kind of creative.

There is an overarching writing niche we are working on everyone takes part in everyday. Whether that be judging someone’s ;latest smashed avocado post on Instagram or writing in the comments section of a beauty Vlog on youtube, we all review and use reviews in our day to day life.

I’ve been immediately impressed with the tasks, the speed of learning is to my level. So far all of the class takes part in discussion which is AMAZING having been in classes when you would think that the students have made a pact with one another that the first person to speak will be publicly shamed in the university square I we had a square.

Within the first two weeks, I have already pitched a review, written a review, critiqued another class mates review and written my first project assessment on five different outlets which feature critical reviews of the text of my choice. So far I have been secretly munching on my popcorn as I watch the semester unfolding, hoping that the dramatic climax where everything goes wrong isn’t coming up  too soon. So far blissful character building, eh eh see what I did there?