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To become a film critic, study communications and film, complete an internship, develop critiquing skills, and build a portfolio by writing reviews for a school or community newspaper or website. Earn an undergraduate degree in communications or journalism, gain broad knowledge of film, and complete internships to establish media contacts. Practice writing reviews and consider taking an entry-level reporting job to eventually rise to a critical position.
If you have a passion for film and enjoy writing, you can become a film critic. With many people competing for just a few jobs, film criticism can be a very difficult field to break into. However, there are some steps you can take to strengthen your chances of success. First of all, study communications and film and complete an internship to gain valuable hands-on media experience. Also, develop your critiquing skills and your portfolio by writing reviews for a school or community newspaper or website.
You should begin your quest to become a film critic by earning an undergraduate degree in communications or journalism. This course will give you an in-depth knowledge of print, broadcast and online journalism, as well as a chance to develop your writing skills. If you’ve already completed an undergraduate degree in an unrelated subject, consider getting a master’s in communications.
In addition to understanding the finer points of the field of journalism, you must also have an extremely broad knowledge of film to become a film critic. If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, consider completing a minor in film studies. Even if you’re not a college student, you can take movie-related classes at your local community college. You should also develop your ability to contextualize and deconstruct new films by watching as many films as possible. Try to familiarize yourself with a wide range of “classic” films, independent films, genre films, foreign films and so on, and consider reading what other critics have said about the films you watch.
The experience demonstrated can be invaluable to you in your quest to become a film critic. Try completing one or more internships at local newspapers or television stations. While these internships are generally unpaid, you can earn college credit for them. In addition, they can help you establish media contacts, which can give you an edge when applying for jobs.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to prepare to become a film critic is practice. Write reviews for a community article or start a review blog. Save copies of everything you post, no matter how insignificant the post may seem. Reviewing small publications will help you improve your writing and critical skills. In addition, it will provide you with a portfolio of work that you can show potential employers.
Once you’ve completed your studies and gained some experience, you’ll likely want to move into a career as a film critic. Unfortunately, the supply of critical candidates often far outstrips the number of available, full-time paid positions. Consider taking an entry-level reporting job at a newspaper or television station, even if the position isn’t related to film reviews. Many of the most successful critics started out by taking on unrelated reporting jobs and eventually rising to a critical position.
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