If you have a passion for movies and enjoy writing, you might want to pursue a career as a film critic. With so many people vying for a limited number of positions, film criticism can be a difficult field to break into. However, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of success. First and foremost, pursue a dual degree in communications and film, as well as an internship, to gain valuable media experience. Additionally, write reviews for a school or community paper or a website to improve your criticism skills as well as your portfolio.
A bachelor’s degree in communications or journalism is a good place to start if you want to be a movie critic. This major will provide you with a thorough understanding of print, broadcast, and online journalism, as well as the opportunity to hone your writing skills. If you already have an undergraduate degree in a subject unrelated to communications, you might want to consider pursuing a master’s degree in communications.
To become a movie critic, you must have an extremely broad knowledge of film, in addition to knowing the finer points of journalism. Consider minoring in film studies if you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program. You may be able to take film-related classes at your local community college even if you are not a college student. By watching as many films as possible, you can improve your ability to contextualize and deconstruct new ones. Try to become familiar with a wide range of films, including “classics,” “independents,” “genre” films, “foreign” films, and so on, and read what other critics have said about the films you watch.
Demonstrated experience can help you achieve your goal of becoming a movie critic. Intern at a local newspaper or television station for one or more internships. While unpaid internships are common, you may be able to earn college credit for them. They can also assist you in making media contacts, which may give you an advantage when applying for jobs.
Practice is perhaps the most important thing you can do to prepare for a career as a movie critic. Start a criticism blog or write reviews for a community paper. Keep copies of everything you publish, no matter how insignificant it may appear. Writing and criticism skills will improve as a result of reviewing for small publications. It will also provide you with a portfolio of work that you can show prospective employers.
After you’ve finished your studies and gained some experience, you’ll probably want to pursue a career as a movie critic right away. Unfortunately, the number of available paid, full-time critic positions far outnumbers the number of critic candidates. Even if the position is unrelated to film criticism, consider taking an entry-level reporting job at a newspaper or television station. Many of the most successful critics began their careers as reporters in unrelated fields and worked their way up to criticism positions.