We have to try a new restaurant, we check its reviews on Google, we are going to watch a movie we see it’s I’m rating, we want to pick up a book to read, we look it up on Goodreads.
Ever wondered who is behind these reviews,
Film critique
A film critique is a person who draws our attention towards the details of the craft that goes into making a film. It also acts as a spotlight given to less popular or maybe less marketed films but which have high potential and strong performance. We all want to show in our Instagram stories that we all watch ‘critically acclaimed’ films, right, like a real cinephile!
So what goes into being a film critic?
Study
Now working as a film critique is like entering into the field of journalism. So a possible stream for graduation that might help you could be:-
B.A. Hindi Bachelor of Fine Arts
BA Hons in film ( Offered in Middlesex University, Dubai)
Interning
Try improving your craft as a critique, by interning with various media houses and newspapers. Also, start writing in-depth reviews and show them to people who you’re working with to get better guidance.
Create a portfolio
Now you have to compile and make a presentation of the work you’ve done. This could be in the form of a video, or articles published on websites or print media. Also, pitch a few segment ideas too for film reviews in your video.
Start applying!
- Go on the websites and offices of some of the major media houses that you want to be a part of and leave your portfolio with their HR
- You can apply to a no. Of magazines and websites, all the major news agencies and media houses national and international like BBC, theQuint, the Times Network, the New York Times, The Hindu, hire film critiques for their papers and channels, cause everyone loves to watch cinema. The best part is, most of the critiques work for multiple papers and channels at the same time.
- Create your linked in profile and keep a lookout for movie reviewer openings.
- Don’t lose heart if you don’t get selected in your first applications. Chances are, your work is passed on among the various outlets looking for just you! So keep going!
And if you want to start your own platform you can try writing your blogs on websites like Blogspots, Medium, and on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube too.
Food critique
A food critic is a writer who writes a review upon visiting a restaurant about its food, services, ambiance, and prices. They write a detailed description and evaluation of the menu that the restaurant offers and can often be seen appearing in many food shows.
So let’s dive into what takes into getting this dream job!
Study
Whereas there is no specific undergraduate degree that might be required to become a food critic, it would surely help if you have a flair for writing and a good knowledge of how a restaurant and the food industry works, here are some suggestions:-
B.A.Journalism
Bachelors in Hotel Management
B.sc. in Home Science
Bachelor of Catering Technology and Culinary Arts
Interning
A lot of the work and authenticity of a food critic depends upon their
- knowledge of food, how easily they can identify the ingredients and
- how well they can judge the work that has gone into preparing the food.
- What are the influences reflecting on the menu,
- How many original recipes are there and how well are the classic ones adapted.
For all this one needs to have a great deal of experience, which can come from working with hotels and restaurants. Also by reading the reviews and watching food shows that discuss these points rigorously.
Jobs
For a food critic, the options for employment could be listed as follows-
- Writing reviews for food magazines and newspapers
- Writing reviews for news websites and food ordering apps like Zomato and Swiggie
- Creating their own blog and working independently.
- And it can be a combination of all of the above job profiles.
Book reviewer
If reading is your passion and you can catch details and point out the unsaid metaphors in a book, then this is for you.
Reading
Start reading a lot of books, especially the new ones.
But you have to come back to the classics as well, a deep knowledge of literature is required, or just an everlasting curiosity can take you a long way.
Writing
Start writing what you’re reading about. This will help you get into the practice of continuous writing and also will help keep an eye out for the details that you mention in your reviews.
Write for the open platforms to gain an audience and improve your writing style. Some of them are-
- Good reads
- Amazon
- Library thing
- Reedsy discovery
Publishing
Now that you have gained a hang of the job, and know what goes into it, you can start publishing your reviews to paid websites and media houses. You can also publish on your own by creating your page or your own platform.
Publishers pay reviewers to write about their books, and writers connect and team up with reviews too.
Some of the websites that feature paid reviewers are –
- Book page
- SFBook reviews
- Kirkus Media
- Any Subject Books
Some of these companies follow proper hiring procedures that you may have to go through the whole applying and here your previously done work on open platforms will be a big help!
Some of these hire reviewers on Freelance basis, so it will help you work in your own way, in your own time, and also might give you time to build your own network!
So these were some of the trending unconventional careers that very few know about, so next time, you feel you’re out of options just come back here and have a read! Till then, sighing off, Happy Reviewing!
Also Read,
Best content marketing online courses.
