A chart is about to go up on the cover of Movie City News and while we have done our best to get it completely right, the more eyes, the more possible people finding mistakes.
The chart is of The Last 120 Film Critics In America. Well... 115 now, as 5 more have lost their full-time gigs since Jan 1.
The criteria is a bit subjective, but here is the idea... if you have a full-time job at an outlet and your primary responsibility is being a film critic, you are in. If you are a very, very busy freelancer... you are not. If you have a staff job and happen to post a review every week or two... you are not.
So, for the sake of argument, we don't see website stars like Harry Knowles or Drew or Devin as people who are primarily employed as film critics. This does not mean their work as critics is not respected. It's just not the same gig. If you are an experienced pro critic and now you are posting brilliant reviews to your blog... congrats, but not for this list. Then there is Cinematical, for instance, where the entire group is freelance as a result of AOL's hiring practices. If someone is freelance specifically by the hire, but works for one outlet and more than 80% of their work is criticism, that should make the cut.
Like I say… subjective… but trying to be as objective and fair as possible. Things are very blurry these days.
We are not suggesting that if you do not have a full-time reviewing gig that you are not a legitimate critic. That is, somewhat, the point. There are a lot of excellent critics who don't have gigs right now. And quite a few who are not so great who do.
Your help is requested if you think you know anyone who has not been listed and should be... or who is listed and who should not be (aside from taste... both Lyonses are on the list). I'm sure there are at least a few misses, despite scouring many sources to try to be complete.
Thanks ahead of time... and if you want to start the broader conversation now, feel free. Or wait until later, when this is posted to MCN's front page.
If you want to keep the advice private, feel free. E-mail me at poland@moviecitynews.com.
Read the complete post at http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/archives/2009/03/your_help_is_re.html