Professional Reviewer Michael Pilney Responds to Tips for Writing Film Reviews

PHILADELPHIA, PA, June 26, 2013

A recent article highlights writing tips for aspiring film critics, advice Michael Pilney promotes as a professional critic of entertainment media for almost a decade. As a reviewer, he successfully writes for several online sites and local publications, spanning critiques on movies, TV, books and video games. He is equipped to supply readers with professional insight and in-depth analysis, a skill that takes significant practice to perfect.

The article begins by defining a failed review, or in other words, a "review that comes across as a personal attack on an actor, director, or screenwriter or a diatribe about a genre." One of the most vital elements of creating a successful film critique is failing to support your criticism with valid reason.

Renowned blogger and critic Michael Pilney weighs in on the delicate balance of expressing opinion and a professional review. "Even if you think it's obvious, always support your criticism," he said. "The world of professional critiquing is a complicated field, especially because anyone with an opinion can come in and produce amateur critiques in blogs, forums, message boards and more."

He continues to point out that there's a difference between reviewing and giving an opinion - stating that anyone who watches or reads a movie, book or game can determine whether they thought it was good or bad. "It's not helpful unless you evolve your complaints and praise into useful feedback," he said. "People don't always rely on reviewers' opinions anymore because of online media. Professional reviewers have to produce high quality material, informing audiences and keeping them involved in the dialogue with producers. It really must be done out of love for the craft."

The article emphasizes the need for valid observations in writing successful reviews, remarking that "hurling invective is not the same thing as evaluation." The author of Daily Writing Tips, Mark Nichol notes the importance of tweaking the style of your writing according to readership. "If you're pitching reviews to a traditional publication, you're expected to be fairly evenhanded," he commented. Michael Pilney adds that while considering readership is important, it's also crucial to reach all main audiences. "Include personal taste in your review, but also know that some may see your negative as a positive. If you're reviewing a movie you felt had too much violence for your taste, keep in mind that others may go see it for precisely that reason," he said. "Most people aren't just searching for your opinion. They want constructive details."

The article advises aspiring critics to ask themselves a series of questions when judging the story, including "are the characters' actions justified?" and "Is there an internal consistency to the way each person behaves, or do some words, thoughts, or actions ring false?" The professional critic responds to this statement. "Critics don't just review things, they pick them apart. They navigate a book or movie or game's entertainment value and they analyze the underlying morals and messages in media," said Michael Pilney.

ABOUT:

Michael Pilney hails from Atlanta, Georgia, and is as a passionate reviewer and professional critic of movies, books and video games. His private blog launched his career of crafting successful reviews, allowing him to do what he loves by sending reviews to local publications and major online entertainment sites. As a self-made professional critic of entertainment media, he is enthusiastic about offering his insights and sharing how to hone the craft with aspiring writers.