Marshall and the Movies

Today, “The Origins Project” takes a look into Sebastian of “Detailed Criticisms,” a fairly new friend of this blog but a friend all the same. I’ve taken a particular interest in his site since we appeared on the LAMBcast together, and I encourage you to go check it out for yourself.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

Oh boy. Starting things off with a hard question! Way to be! I’d have to say the movie that first got me hooked on movies was, and I know this is gonna sound really cliche and obvious, Star Wars. I saw it on VHS when I was seven, and absolutely loved it. Since most of my movie experience up till that point was made up of exclusively of Disney movies, this was just a completely new experience. It’s been a tricky love affair since then, but one that I continually enjoy!

When did you start blogging?

Well, my blog’s been active for about two years now, but, I was writing reviews and such for a year before that (see next question).

Why did you start blogging?

Funny story, actually! I was sitting in my room on day. I had just gotten back from skiing with the family for Christmas Break, and would be going back to school the next day. I felt like doing something to distract from the homework I had to do. So, I decided to write a review of a film I had seen over the break, in this case, No Country For Old Men. I couldn’t think of any place to write it, so I just wrote it as a note on Facebook. My friends read it, and, shockingly, liked it, and said I should keep it up. So, I did, via Facebook, and then, after about a year of that, I realized how stupid it was that I was writing reviews on Facebook, and started the blog! In retrospect: GOOD DECISION!

What has kept you going?

Just the love of movies and the fun of writing about them. Writing about movies just comes easy to me, for some reason, and I have never found it to be boring. The feedback and positive response that has started to trickle in as of late doesn’t hurt either.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

Not really! It’s mostly a one man show. There are some people that definitely provide support (friends, readers, and the like), but, for the most part, I’ve been the biggest driving force behind the blog. Honestly, I’d still write about film and keep the blog, even if no one knew about it or read it.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

The best part about being a blogger is the fact that you control the space, so you have the ability to fill it with whatever the hell you want! Write a review on some movie no one’s ever heard of. Post an article analyzing the supposed underlying current of anti-semitism in Disney movies. Go friggin’ nuts! If people love it? Fantastic! If people don’t love it? Fantastic!

The worst part is… you know, this is really hard. I guess for me, the worst part is feeling the need to live up to your peers. For example, my blog is primarily reviews of movies, and I don’t post all the often. Lately, I’ve been feeling the pressure to post a variety of things, and post more often. And, you know, this will ultimately help the blog become more varied, but, honestly, you should arrive at the point yourself, not because you’re trying to emulate someone who has been doing it longer.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

I wouldn’t say it’s diminished or increased my passion. That’s stayed pretty rocksteady! It has given me an excuse to see a perverse amount of movies that I normally wouldn’t see. If I wasn’t blogging, I can guarantee I would not have seen all three Twilight films.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

About two months ago, Total Film ran their “3 Cool Blogs to Visit” section on their weekly newsletter. Imagine my surprise when my blog was featured, sharing the space with Encore Entertainment and Silent Volume, both of whom I consider my superiors in the blogging hierarchy, if there is such a thing. There have been a few other moments, like the complements people throw at me, or the fact that someone wanted to nominate my blog for a Lammy, but that one takes the cake!

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

For both following a passion, and starting a blog: Just go for it! Don’t have any path set out in front of you. Don’t hop in hoping to create the next best thing; don’t have any aspirations to greatness. Just go for it, be enthusiastic, and good things will come to you.