Hi there,
So, this is totally new to me and I’m excited to be joining the Hive Community. It’s always odd to introduce yourself to new people so I apologise in advance for my geeky, dorky approach to this. My name is Bee, I’m in my early thirties and I’m from the U.K. (yes, I am obsessed with tea, I spell colour with an ‘U’ and I talk non-stop about the weather).
I’ve decided to join Hive as I’m looking to bring my film criticism to a wider audience. I’m a bit of a cinephile, and have a degree in Film and Television Studies. Films have always been a major part of my life. Being an introvert, I have always struggled to do the typical ‘socialising’ thing and was always in front of a television set, which probably explains why I ended up needing glasses as an adult! As a kid, I found that films helped me escape into a world of magic and fantasy, which really helped considering that I grew up in a dysfunctional household.
It was my stepfather who really nurtured my passion for cinema. He personally introduced me to so many of my favourite films (“Once Upon a Time in America”, “Bonnie and Clyde”, “Harold and Maude”, “Being There”, “Cool Hand Luke”, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest”- to name a few). I ended up watching films that I shouldn’t have been watching as a ten year old- the likes of “The Silence of the Lamb” and “The Terminator” gave me nightmares for weeks after watching them.
Eleven though I had extensive knowledge of cinema and had developed a passion for it, I had no idea of how one would obtain a career in the film industry. Reflecting back, I realised that the best option was to have simply picked up a video camera and started shooting something. However, I dumbly brought into the idea that obtaining a degree in film would somehow lead me down the right path.
I studied Film and Television Studies for three years and managed to do quite well. However, when I left university I didn’t have a single clue about what to do next...There is a film industry in the U.K. but it isn’t exactly easy to break into. After applying for several media jobs with no such luck, I found myself giving up and ended up getting a job in an Estate Agents.
Anyway, about 5-6 years ago I started blogging about films and slowly I started making a reputation on Film Twitter, and began writing for several different sites (I’ll include some of my articles below so if you want to check it out that would be great!). I’ve even attended some notable film festivals including the Berlin Film Festival and the London Film Festival. I’ve even become approved by Rotten Tomatoes!
Being a part time critic is an enjoyable side hustle, I do get the chance to watch screeners before they are released. I have been able to interview some fascinating and interesting filmmakers, actors, cinematographers and producers over the years. I have even set up my own review website (In Their Own League) which mostly promotes the work of female filmmakers.
One of the questions that I always get asked when I say I’m a film critic is “Seen any good movies recently?” which is just impossible to answer. Normally, I watch between 150-250 films a year (in 2020 I watched an impressive number but this year I’ve been seriously slacking because I have been struggling with the stress of my day job). People can be very negative towards the concept of film critics, and considering how the role of the critic has changed in the last few years, that's pretty understandable. I will never judge a person for their tastes in film, and I will never try to act like I’m superior because I have a degree in film and I’m a certified critic. The power of a good film is that it can connect with so many people regardless of their gender, their age, their social and economical background, their education and their race.
So, that’s me in a nutshell and a little taster of what you can expect from me. In the next few weeks, I hope to bring you all some great articles and reviews which I hope people will find worth reading.
Thank you for your time!
Bee
P.S.
Aside from films, I also love baking & cooking so I might be sharing that side of my life with you all.
A few examples of my work!
https://intheirownleague.com/2021/05/18/why-princess-fiona-is-an-all-star/
https://intheirownleague.com/2020/09/03/womeninaction-month-the-10-action-heroines-who-shaped-my-childhood/
https://intheirownleague.com/2020/07/05/retrospective-review-possessed/
https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/all-stars-revisiting-mystery-men
https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/you-dont-have-to-be-crazy-but-it-helps-mike-nichols-catch-22-at-50
https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-man-who-would-be-king-celebrating-the-30th-anniversary-of-the-fisher-king
https://filmotomy.com/rewind-1979-in-film-being-there/
https://filmotomy.com/dear-dad-remembering-my-father-and-the-films-he-introduced-me-to/
https://filmotomy.com/rewind-1967-in-film-cool-hand-luke/
