film critic education

What Does a Movie Critic Do — And How to Become One

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C hances are, if you’ve shelled out money to go to the movies in the last year, you’ve done so because of a positive word-of-mouth for the movie you’re about to see, or that it’s simply deemed “critically acclaimed”. Movie critics are that “critic” that often shapes the public discourse, sometimes propelling a relatively unknown indie into a buzzworthy future Oscar winner. But what does a movie critic in this modern era actually do ? In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at these professional film reviewer’s day-to-day.

INSIDE THE MOVIE CRITIC JOB

First, let’s define movie critic.

A film critic’s job isn’t just to watch non-stop movies. Movie reviewers must approach each review from an objective, journalistic standpoint that isn’t shaped by bias. Here's a quick definition of the job.

Movie Critic DEFINITION

What is a movie critic.

A movie critic  is a writer who publishes their opinions on newly released movies (and occasionally, due to the new streaming model) straight-to-streaming films and special event programming. It’s important to note that many movie critics also review TV shows and other media. Movie critics typically review new releases with the angle of whether or not the film is worthy to see based on the genre, story, directing, acting, and more.  

Movie critic jobs in the modern age:

• Writing for a print or online publication
• Hosting or writing a movie-themed podcast
• Self-publishing reviews to a blog or personal website

THE SPECIFICS OF A MOVIE REVIEWER JOB

Film reviewing vs. film criticism.

You may be interested in becoming a movie critic and eyeing a “Film Studies” program at a local university. Though many professionals come from these programs, it’s important to note the style of writing required for a film critic job hinges on the review . 

A guide to a film critic job

A movie reviewer’s job is to deem whether or not the film is entertaining enough to be seen by a widespread audience, not whether or not the film itself was “artful.” 

Film analysis is different than what’s typically required of movie critic jobs

The day-to-day of a movie critic job, what’s a typical day for a movie critic.

Similar to many other writing-centric jobs, no two days often look the same. Movie critics are often invited to “Sneak Preview Screenings” where they’re able to watch a movie well before it premieres, or are sent an online link to stream the movie at home. 

Sometimes, they attend film festivals like Sundance and Cannes, where they’re able to review both future blockbusters and independent films. Sometimes, they can be called on as a go-to film critic “guest” on popular radio stations like NPR and KCRW.

In the modern tech age, a lot of movie critics supplement their work for major publishers with their own personal movie-centric podcasts or blogs. Amy Nicholson is a full-time critic but she also co-hosts a movie podcast with comedian Paul Scheer called Unspooled where they reexamine older films.

Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson co-host a film-themed podcast called “Unspooled”

Movie critic salary, how do movie critics get paid.

Figuring out the typical income of a professional movie critic is reliant on a number of factors: level of experience, the publication that they work for, and their geographical location. 

For example, a movie critic living in New York City or Los Angeles where attending press events in person may be pertinent to their job success may net a higher income than a movie critic living in Columbus, OH.

HOW TO BECOME A MOVIE CRITIC

So how much do movie critics make.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate for a movie critic is $26/hour, with the lowest being $7.93/hour and the highest being $47.60. 

Top earners might expect $75,000/year while the average is around $53,000/year.

HOW TO GET STARTED

How to become a movie critic.

Becoming a movie critic does not focus on one specific path. As mentioned earlier, some movie critics start their career path by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.

Regardless of where you start, learning about the history of cinema and studying the nuances between film reviewing and film analysis will strengthen your chances of being successful.

What does a movie critic do and how do they write a review?

Often, recruiters for this type of job consider an applicant’s portfolio of previously written work. Gain experience and establish your voice as a movie critic by writing film reviews for publications such as school newspapers, personal blogs, or recording your own podcast. 

If eligible, seek out internships at places like media outlets or film festivals to not only get a sense of the next wave of filmmaking, but to sharpen your skills in how you discuss these works.

The History of Film, Explained

From photographic techniques to the Pre-Code era to Film Noir. What does a movie critic do? Become an encyclopedia for film history, styles, and more. Brush up on our comprehensive history of film eras below.

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How To Become A Movie Critic? Everything You Need To Know

Becoming a movie critic is a journey through the heart of the entertainment industry, a path that invites you to dissect, analyze, and celebrate the cinematic wonders that shape our culture. The audience wanting to watch a movie relies on the advice of their friends and other mediums when selecting one. But has anyone ever wondered why people recommend movies, though, and on what basis? The difference between simply enjoying a movie, watching it intently, and recommending it to someone else is not just not a thing but requires attention and passion together. If you enjoy writing, speaking, and watching movies and have strong analytical abilities, a job as a movie critic might be the ideal fit. However, before considering whether or not being a movie critic is the perfect profession for you, you need to consider what it entails to do that job. Let us unlock the path to becoming a movie critic.

What is Movie Criticism?

Analyzing and evaluating are all about movie criticism and critics. Movie criticism can be divided into two categories.

• Journalistic criticism includes newspapers, magazines, and other mass media; academic criticism includes theories published in academic journals.
• Amateur movie criticism is a hobby where film enthusiasts analyze and review movies, expressing their opinions and insights, often without formal training or professional affiliation. 
• Academic film criticism is not reviewing but analyzing the movie and where it stands among its genre in the movie industry’s history.

What Do Movie Critics Do?

A movie critic sees new movies and then carefully analyzes each one’s many elements, including acting, pacing, narrative, and character chemistry. He/she must create a well-written, candid review that will be published in one or more newspapers after interpreting the movie. While some critics exclusively write for one particular magazine or newspaper, others do it for multiple publications. A critic may also discuss films on a website, television show, or professional journal. A movie critic needs to have the ability to write. The reviewer may frequently have to watch numerous films in a single day while collecting notes and producing an accurate assessment of particular movie parts. It can be mentally taxing for critics to meet the rigorous deadlines they frequently have to meet for multiple publications. The interesting part is that it can occasionally be very challenging or impossible to remain objective while seeing a movie, especially when the film critic must write a review of a film with a writer, director , or actor they don’t particularly like.

How to Become a Movie Critic?

Movie critics research films, offer insightful criticism, and tell us whether a film is a hit or a dud. You must first have a passion for movies to be a professional or hobbyist film critic. The two things that can help you develop as a film critic are watching as many movies as possible and reading other critics’ writing. Always remember that practice is the key. Keep Writing a lot and possibly movie reviews as frequently as you can.

Cultivate a passion for film criticism

To become a movie critic requires a passion for both writing and movies. Most critics started writing as a hobby and eventually created a career. 

Watch a variety of quality films

Watch movies of all genres and all varieties. Never choose a movie to choose. Trying movies from other cultures and languages can help develop insightful knowledge. Includes all types, such as classic films, indie films, foreign films, short films, animated films, comedies, and dramas.

Read the work of other film critics

Reading is another key to becoming an expert. Just like writing, reading also requires practice. Read the work of other critics and learn their style. It helps a critic to develop a style of their own.

Make some films of your own

Making a film with a smartphone is no big deal today. You can also try to make a short movie with the available gadgets. This helps to learn the nuances of filmmaking.

Study journalism

Although there is no degree, certification, or degree for becoming a movie critic, enrolling in a course in journalism will benefit one to get groomed as a movie critic.

Take some movie classes

Along with having a degree in journalism, taking a course in filmmaking or acting will help to have technical knowledge of movies.

Start a movie blog

Another great way is to start a blog and write about the movies you watch. A blog is also a good way to practice writing and create a network on social media.

Apply for jobs as a film critic

Once you have your samples ready, start applying for jobs as a movie critic. 

Analyze the film

A movie critic should be able to examine these components and explain the story, scenes, music, and aesthetic of the movie they are reviewing. To examine a movie, you should know about the different elements involved in a movie.

Steps to Become a Professional Movie Critic

To become a professional movie critic, one has to be able to think like a critic, and it requires a few steps to be followed. Let us have a look:

• Learn the different forms of criticism and write accordingly. Learn the differences between reviews, academic articles, and critical essays.
• Analyze the movie in every aspect and angle, and don’t merely describe the plot, scenes, and music.
• Know how to interpret the movie and understand what the director is trying to convey through the story.
• Evaluating a movie, whether good or bad, is an important step toward becoming a movie critic.
• Be aware of the difference between your personal choices and judgments. Never write a review based on what you like or don’t like.
• Have a strong understanding of writing skills such as grammar and style. Keep practicing how to write like a pro. Also, read the works of other writers and movie critics to know their style and vocabulary.
• Use simple, readable language while writing about a movie. 
• Ensure to be honest about the movie, whether it be a positive review or negative. 

How to Become a Movie Critic With No Experience?

To be a full-time movie critic required a definite set of skills and responsibilities. Working on oneself and practicing gets you to be a fine movie critic:

• Watch movies in all genres, frequently multiple times.
• Take notes on the dialogue, music, plot, and influences.
• Examine the technical aspects, such as the lighting , editing , and camera angles .
• The reviews must be submitted by deadlines.
• Establish connections with producers, agents, and distributors of movies.
• Watch movies and go to press conferences, previews, and film festivals.
• Investigate archive materials regarding movies and filmmakers and interview actors, production workers, and filmmakers.
• Update your knowledge of critical theories.

Where Do Movie Critics Work?

There are numerous jobs available for film critics. They frequently work for periodicals, radio stations, or television stations. Also, they can write for their publication, a blog, an online magazine, and more. Movie critics may occasionally hold positions in more than one of these areas.

Do Movie Critics Need a Degree?

There are no set degrees for movie critics; anyone with writing, analytical skills, and a critical eye can become a movie critic. A bachelor’s degree in screenwriting or film may help to be a movie reviewer. Some critics could come from a journalism or creative writing background. But to ace the race, they all require a fundamental knowledge of writing or reporting for the film. To learn more about the business, a movie critic must research and evaluate the work of directors throughout cinematic history, as well as watch several Hollywood blockbusters and other movies of all languages and genres.

Skills Required to Become a Film Critic

Being a movie critic includes discussing a movie’s flaws or what viewers appreciate or dislike about it. You must adequately comprehend both the film’s positive and negative elements. A film critic’s duties include analyzing the movie for the audience and contrasting its plot and story with those of similar movies. You must have good oral and written communication ability for this. The various components and filmmaking techniques must also be familiar. You should be able to examine all film aspects, such as acting, direction, cinematography, screenplay , script , etc., and have a general awareness of the film industry.

Career Path for Film Critics

It is ideal that you finish your studies in the Arts and Literature stream and put more of an emphasis on the language if you want to work as a film critic. You can become a film critic by developing your writing and public speaking skills. Any other stream is also an option. Your chances of finding work in this area should improve if you have a bachelor’s degree in cinematography, film studies , journalism, communications, or a similar discipline.

Is Film Critic a Good Career?

You must love movies to be a film critic. More importantly, you should be eager to express your views on movies to the audience. Many individuals base their decision to see a movie on reviews. If you are open and honest about the positives and negatives of the film, the audience will enjoy it. You have several options in the entertainment sector to get started and develop a lucrative career as a film reviewer. Working for someone and gaining expertise in writing or recording reviews will be beneficial. Most movie critics have a YouTube channel where they publish videos discussing their thoughts on various movies. It is one good platform to pursue a career.

What Are the Industries that Hire a Film Critic?

To begin your career as a film critic, you can work at the following places.

• Publishing houses 
• Media houses
• Print media (Newspapers, Magazines)
• Broadcast media (Television, Radio)

What Are the Job Roles that Will Help as a Film Critic?

Becoming a successful film critic requires a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of cinema. While there is no one-size-fits-all path, there are several job roles and experiences that can greatly benefit aspiring film critics:

Film Journalism

Working as a film journalist for newspapers, magazines, websites, or blogs can provide invaluable experience. This role involves writing articles, interviews, and movie reviews, honing your writing skills, and establishing your presence in the film industry.

Editorial Positions

Editorial roles within journalism can teach you about the intricacies of publishing, content curation, and editing. These skills are crucial for crafting well-structured and polished film reviews.

Film Studies

Pursuing a degree in film studies or a related field can deepen your understanding of film history, theory, and analysis. It equips you with the academic knowledge to assess and appreciate films critically.

Scriptwriting and Filmmaking

Learning about the filmmaking process, including screenwriting and directing, can provide unique insights into the creative decisions behind a movie. This knowledge can enhance your ability to critique films from a filmmaker’s perspective.

Film Production

Working on film sets or in production roles can give you firsthand experience of the filmmaking process. Understanding the technical aspects of filmmaking, such as cinematography and editing, can enrich your critiques.

Acting and Theater

Training in acting or theater can sharpen your ability to analyze performances in films, which is a crucial aspect of film criticism. Understanding the craft of acting can make your reviews more insightful.

Film Festivals

Volunteering or working at film festivals can expose you to many films and filmmakers. It’s an opportunity to network, gain access to exclusive screenings, and build your credibility as a film critic.

Online Presence

Building an online presence through social media, a blog, or a YouTube channel dedicated to film reviews can aid you in reaching a wider audience and showcase your writing or presentation skills.

Building relationships with filmmakers, actors, and fellow critics can open doors to exclusive screenings, interviews, and collaborations. Networking is crucial in the film industry.

Public Speaking

Developing strong public speaking and presentation skills will enable you to articulate your thoughts and opinions confidently, whether it’s during interviews, panel discussions, or public speaking engagements.

Cultural Studies

A background in cultural studies can help you analyze films in a broader societal context, examining their impact on culture, politics, and society.

Continual Watching and Analysis

Watching films regularly across genres and eras is critical to preparing for a film critic career. Practice analyzing and critiquing them, developing your unique voice and perspective. 

How Much Does a Movie Critic Get Paid?

In the US, the typical movie critic makes $42,876 annually. Movie critics typically receive a bonus of $916 per year or 2% of their pay, and 100% of those surveyed said they do. In San Francisco , movie critics’ average total remuneration of $64,158 is 50% higher than the US average.

How do you become a movie critic paid?

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How To Become A Film Critic? Detailed Guide

• Published on August 11, 2022
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A lot of people watch movies based on recommendations from their friends or family. You might have some friends who would ask you to watch a movie and vice versa. Although, have you ever wondered why people recommend movies? Just liking a movie and paying attention to every detail of a movie and recommending it are two very different things. 

If you are someone who has a passion for understanding how movies are made, what goes into making them, and then speaking about that movie, then you sure can consider a career in critiquing movies. But do you think it is going to be a job as easy as watching a movie? 

Absolutely not! It is going to be challenging yet very interesting and rewarding.

If you are interested in knowing whether this is possible, read this blog about how to become a Film Critic.

Table of Contents

Who Is A Film Critic?

A film critic is someone who views and analyses various elements of a movie such as direction, acting, plot, cinematography , emotional impact, story, relevance, originality, proper flow of events, editing , and writing . Movie critics either write and publish their critiques in print or online publications, personal blogs, and websites or record and create a podcast or video and post it. Apart from critiquing films, film critics also vote on films during the award season. 

Learn more: How to become a Film Director

How To Become A Film Critic?

Step 1: stream selection.

There is no particular stream that you need to pursue. Many people complete their bachelor’s and switch fields. Although, it is ideal if you choose Arts and focus more on the language. This will help you to improve your writing and speaking abilities if you want to become a Film Critic. 

Step 2: Certificate and Project Courses 

You can opt for Film Making Courses or Film Criticism Courses to enhance your knowledge about films. These courses will teach you the basics of filmmaking, cinematography, direction, and many other elements of a film that you need to know about in order to be a Film Critic. 

Step 3: Educational Qualifications

How To Become A Film Critic After 10th?

Once you complete your 10th-grade exams, opt for a stream that you like. Although, if you have made up your mind that you want to be a Film Critic, choose Arts in 11th and 12th. Take up film courses and improve your abilities. 

How To Become A Film Critic After 12th?

Choosing your undergraduate degree course is not something you need to be extremely particular about. If you want to know how to become a Film Critic, take a look at these undergraduate courses that you can consider taking in India.

• Undergraduate courses in India for Film Critics
• Top Colleges in India for Film Critics
• Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune
• Vivekananda College, Kolkata
• National Academy of Media and Events, Kolkata
• Hindu College, New Delhi
• Miranda College, New Delhi
• Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi
• University of Mumbai, Mumbai
• International Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi

If you want to know how to become a Film Critic, take a look at these undergraduate courses that you can consider taking abroad.

• Undergraduate courses abroad for Film Critics
• Top Colleges abroad for Film Critics
• American Film Institute (AFI)
• Toronto Film School
• London Film School
• Academy of Performing Arts Film and TV School (FAMU)
• Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA)
• Los Angeles Film School
• Kanbar Institute of Film & USC School of Cinematic Arts
• Television, NYU
• National Film and Television School (NFTS)

Want to boost of chances of admission abroad? Try Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA advertising program and add real industry projects to your student portfolio!

Step 4: Job Preparation

• Gain experience One can’t expect to land a film critiquing job just by getting a degree. Apart from knowledge, experience in writing reviews and critiquing films is a prerequisite a lot of employers look at before hiring a candidate. So, take up internships or create your own blog during your graduation years. This will prove to serve as a portfolio for you when you look for jobs. 
• Learn about films Whether or not you have completed your graduation, you need to keep learning about films. The nature of films keeps changing from time to time. Learning about the different styles of filmmaking and understanding them is an essential part of being a film critic. If you ever come across a small course or conference that talks about films, attend it. It’ll definitely help you to compare films.
• Look for roles where you can write about films You might not land a job as a film critic immediately after graduation. Try to look for roles at a small publishing company or even a website. These experiences will count for your future.

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Skills To Become A Film Critic

• Thorough understanding of the good and bad aspects of the film. 
• Analyze films and compare the storyline and plot 
• Excellent verbal as well as written communication skills.
• Knowledge about the different elements and styles of filming. 
• Analyze the good and bad aspects of a film and all the other elements such as acting, direction, cinematography, story, script, etc.

How Much Does A Film Critic Earn In India?

If a candidate joins a media house, he or she can easily earn ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month after some initial experience. With experience and depending on the size of the organization, the remuneration rises, and an established critic may earn between ₹1,000,000 and ₹1,50,000 per month. The average salary of a movie critic in India is ₹5,48,119. 

How Much Does A Film Critic Earn abroad?

Top recruiters for film critics in india and abroad.

If you are looking for a job as a film critic in India, you can start working independently by having your own blog. You can also work as a freelancer or apply for a job at different entertainment media companies. 

That’s all you need to know about being a film critic. We hope this blog helped you and answered all your questions about how to become a Film Critic, the skills you need, what you need to study, how much you can earn, and a lot more. Good luck! 

FAQs about how to become a Film critic

What do film critics look for.

The artistic merit of the film is what most interests critics. This indicates that critics are seeking out aspects of the movie that are effective or ineffective. Both the information and the aesthetics are appealing to them. Additionally, they are not primarily interested in acting as a cinematic version of Consumer Reports.

Is Rotten Tomatoes a viewer or critic?

Whether you love it or hate it, the movie and TV review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has earned a bad reputation in Hollywood for aggregating user and reviewer reviews of a certain film and rating its quality as “fresh” or “rotten.”

Do film critics matter?

Fundamentally, the industry still values criticism. Film criticism continues to play a significant role in the ecosystem of the industry, even though it may not have a significant impact on how much money the big movies gross.

Why do we need critics?

First of all, feedback helps us see things from a different angle and opens our eyes to possibilities we might not have previously considered. Constructive criticism and feedback, whether it comes from a peer assessment of your work or a performance evaluation, can help you grow by illuminating areas for growth.

How much does a film critic make in India?

The average gross pay for film critics in India is 5,24,711, or $252 per hour. Additionally, they receive an average bonus of 10,389 dollars.

Is it hard to become a film critic?

It’s challenging to succeed as a well-known film critic. Many reviewers put up a lot of effort for years before seeing any compensation. In addition, many critics write movie reviews as a pastime because they adore movies. Passion is essential in film criticism because it requires a lot of time and effort and there is no promise of a stable income.

How to become a film critic without a degree?

While no prior schooling is necessary to work as a freelance movie reviewer, it is likely that you will need to have a substantial body of work on your portfolio. You can start small by submitting your film reviews to regional publications or other smaller businesses that publish film reviews in order to get your work published.

How do film critics rate movies?

The Rotten Tomatoes score calculates an overall fresh or rotten rating for a movie based on the ratio of positive to negative reviews as they are added up for a particular release. Scores of over 60% are deemed “fresh,” while those of 59 percent or less is “rotten.”

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Want to Learn How to Become a Film Critic?

Have an educated opinion about movies. .

I don't know about you, but I spent the majority of my youth watching Siskel and Ebert, Leonard Maltin, and scanning IMDb to see what movies I should watch over the weekend. I would scan the Arts & Entertainment section of the Philadelphia Inquirer to see who got four stars and beg my parents to take me if what I wanted to see got a good write-up. 

Thanks to all that reading and watching, I learned a lot. 

Film criticism is not just fun to read, but it's an amazing skill to have, especially if you want to work in Hollywood. It can teach you how to speak about the things you like in films. You can learn lessons about what you would want to add to your films, and just have a conversation with people.

We've covered some film theory on this site before, but today I want to focus on criticism. 

But how do you become a film critic? And how do you learn how to talk about films in an educated way when making an argument on whether or not it's good? 

Let's talk about it. 

Want to Learn How to Become a Film Critic? 

Are you the person your friends go to before Rotten Tomatoes? Maybe a career in film criticism is right for your future.

As we mentioned before, it’s not about “good” and “bad” but having a breadth of knowledge that allows you to compare a movie/TV show to the pantheon of entertainment that came before it. You have to analyze  character and plot development, performance,  cinematography , directing, editing, and writing. 

You can comment on how the lighting changes the tone. Or how the director’s control of the edit makes the movie too long, too short, or just right. Or you could even make a YouTube channel where you blow all that up and focus on nitpicks.

Film criticism is really about trying to figure out if the film accomplishes what it set out to do.

So where do you learn these skills? 

You can develop them in college by taking courses on analysis in film and literature. You can even get a degree in journalism. If you don't want to make this your concentration in school, you can spend some time reading as many different critics as you can. No matter what, you need to learn to be a good communicator and have a natural curiosity about the world and work. 

Then, no matter if you got to school or not, you have to sit down and actually write some reviews. Take notes as you watch the films and really dig into the symbolism, meaning, and themes. Write an opening that draws them in and come to a conclusion that's fair and balanced. 

You should write lots of reviews, and if you are serious about becoming a critic, maybe start your own website or try to submit to magazines or newspapers that take them. Make sure you read the briefs from these sites so you know you're writing in the style accepted by them. 

As you get published or self-publish, you'll begin to get a portfolio that you can use to get other work. 

The Three Kinds of Movie Critics 

1. amateur .

An amateur critic self-publishes their work and usually makes no money from them. Sometimes they make their own YouTube channels where they dissect and pick apart cinema and all the little details.

They do it for the love of movies, but if they begin to hone and market their skills to make money, they can quickly move into the next section of criticism. 

2. Journalistic 

I qualify all paid critics or people who make money from their criticism as journalistic critics. These are the critics whose opinions we pay to hear. They're Roger Ebert, Amy Nicholson, and Justin Chang. They're people hired by magazines, TV channels, and websites to watch movies, interview actors, go to festivals, and bring us a lot of information about films and filmmaking. 

3. Academic 

Think about the film professors you had in college or graduate school. They write books, get published in journals, and typically do deeper analyses of movies, not just whether or not they are good. Academic criticism focuses on the film’s importance, how it reflects on real-life events, and its place within film history within its respective genre. 

People can work in all three of these sections or multiple at once. A journalist could write an academic deep-dive book, or an academic could run a movie review website. But these are just the categories I see. 

If you want to join the ranks, listen to this advice from Siskel and Ebert. 

Summing Up How to Be a Movie Critic 

Hopefully, all this information helps you set off on your course toward film criticism. If nothing else, it gives you something to debate at parties and something to talk about with your friends. 

Who are some of your favorite film critics right now? Who are some of the people you most respect? 

I'd love to hear about them in the comments. 

Are King Kong and Godzilla Actually Friends?

In honor of godzilla x kong: the new empire check this informative video essay on the history of king kong vs. godzilla from video essayist big action bill..

The cultural impact of Godzilla is undeniable. Godzilla is a total baddie, sometimes sweetie, always ready to rumble. And, lest we forget, a deep rooted metaphor for the impacts of nuclear warfare after the horrific bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

To summarize? This queen slays.

And, while it goes without saying Godzilla is always close to our hearts and minds, he had quite a year last year. For one, Godzilla Minus One took home an Academy Award, and while only tangental, the guy sort of responsible for the original Gojira 's influence took home seven. (Let us know in the comments if we claim Bobby Oppenheimer as the grandfather of Godzilla.)

And what about one of Godzilla's most notable rivals, King Kong ?

Kong hasn't gotten as much love as our beloved Godzilla, but is still a cultural icon all on his own. Say what you will, I'm a fan of both Peter Jackson's King Kong and the recent MonsterVerse iteration of Kong: Skull Island , both movies showing the contrast of different directions to revamp character.

To celebrate Godzilla and Kong's big day day of friendship in Godzilla x Kong , please enjoy this very in depth video essay on the making of the original King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) from video essayist Big Action Bill.

Did you know Kong was originally going to fight Frankenstein? That Godzilla vs. Kong was originally intended to be a satire of commercialization? Are King Kong and Godzilla actually best friends?

Find out all of this plus some interesting history of stop motion in Big Action Bill 's video essay below.

Oh, and yes, we do debrief on our fave titans friendship, too.

The History of King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) by Big Action Bill

Are King Kong and Godzilla Friends?

Battle or hug? King Kong vs. Godzilla

film-grab.com

Though this video essay doesn't quite get into their friendship at large (lame), it does get into a lot of the politics between the Japanese and American film markets.

There is a lot of crazy back and forth on the two different versions of the film considering John Beck stilled owned the rights for American distribution and recut a ton of scenes from Honda's original directorial release.

If nothing else in terms of friendship, King Kong Vs. Godzilla does expose the tensions and rivalries of producers and directors existed long before Apocalypse Now, Blade Runner or Justice League of our world.

That leaves it up to us to uncover the true hidden secrets of Godzilla and Kong. Is Hollow Earth just a high school lunch room waiting for our heroes to meet and realize they aren't so different after all?

Let us know if you think King Kong and Godzilla are really friends in the comments.

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Being a film critic is an exciting and rewarding career for movie lovers. Whether you’re interested in sharing your opinions on the latest blockbusters or diving deep into classic cinema gems, there’s no better way to immerse yourself in the world of film. In this article, we’ll explore how to become a successful film critic by examining the necessary skills, education, and networking opportunities.

1. Develop your passion for movies

Before you can become a successful film critic, it’s essential to develop a genuine love for movies. Watch as many films as possible across various genres and time periods, paying special attention to standout works and critically acclaimed productions. Doing so will give you a solid foundation of knowledge about the art of filmmaking and help you articulate meaningful critiques.

2. Build a strong foundation in film history and theory

Understanding the history of cinema and its language is critical for any aspiring film critic. So, invest time in studying important films, directors, screenwriters, and actors from different eras and countries. This often involves reading books on film theory, attending workshops or classes, and engaging in online discussions with fellow movie enthusiasts.

3. Hone your writing skills

One of the most important skills of a film critic is being able to effectively communicate their thoughts through writing. Practice writing critical essays that explore various facets of a movie like plot structure, character development, visuals, sound design, themes, and more. Remember that presenting a well-organized argument supported by evidence will make your reviews more compelling.

4. Build an online presence

Next up is establishing your personal brand online by showcasing your writing work and film opinions through channels such as blogs or social media platforms (e.g., Twitter or Letterboxd). This allows potential employers to view your portfolio easily while also enabling you to connect with fellow film fans who might become future collaborators or mentors.

5. Network within the industry

Attending film festivals and joining organizations like the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) will help you build connections with like-minded professionals and open doors to job opportunities. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to fellow critics, filmmakers, industry execs, and others who could help advance your career.

6. Obtain formal education (if desired)

While not necessary for all aspiring film critics, obtaining a degree in Film Studies or Journalism can offer additional credibility to your work. Higher education can provide you with a broader understanding of cinema and improve your critical thinking skills.

7. Find publication opportunities

As you become more established in the field, look for opportunities to write for magazines, newspapers, or reputable websites. Submit your work to local publications or reach out to editors at established outlets and pitch your review ideas. This can lead to steady freelance opportunities or a full-time position as a staff writer.

In conclusion, becoming a professional film critic requires passion for cinema, strong analytical and communication skills, dedication to building an online presence and industry network, and persistence in seeking publication opportunities. By following these steps and maintaining your love for movies, you’re well on your way to turning your passion into a fulfilling career.

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Becoming a Film Critic: Expert Tips for Success

• Published: July 11, 2023
• By: Yellowbrick

Film criticism is a field that has been around for as long as movies have been made. Film critics are responsible for providing insightful and compelling reviews of movies that help audiences decide whether or not to watch a particular film. If you’re someone who loves movies and has a passion for writing, then becoming a film critic might be the perfect career for you.

In this article, we’ll discuss what it takes to become a film critic, the skills you need to develop, and some tips for success in the field.

What is a Film Critic?

A film critic is a journalist who writes reviews of movies for newspapers, magazines, websites, and other media outlets. Film critics are responsible for analyzing and evaluating movies, and then sharing their opinions with the public. They often attend movie screenings and film festivals to get a first-hand look at the latest movies.

Film critics have a significant impact on the movie industry. A positive review from a reputable critic can help boost a movie’s box office sales, while a negative review can hurt a movie’s chances of success.

Skills Required to Become a Film Critic

To become a successful film critic, you need to have a passion for movies and a love of writing. You should be able to analyze and evaluate movies critically and objectively. You should also be able to communicate your opinions in a clear and compelling way.

Other key skills required to become a film critic include:

• Knowledge of film history and theory: To be a successful film critic, you need to have a deep understanding of film history and theory. This includes knowledge of different genres, directors, and film movements.
• Attention to detail: Film critics need to pay close attention to the details of a movie, including the acting, cinematography, script, and editing.
• Strong writing skills: Film critics need to be able to write clearly and concisely, with a strong command of language and grammar.
• Time management skills: Film critics often have tight deadlines, so it’s important to be able to manage your time effectively.

Tips for Becoming a Successful Film Critic

If you’re interested in becoming a film critic, here are some tips to help you get started:

• Watch a lot of movies: To become a film critic, you need to watch a lot of movies. This means watching movies from different genres, time periods, and countries.
• Read film criticism: Reading film criticism from established critics can help you develop your own critical voice and perspective.
• Write regularly: To become a successful film critic, you need to write regularly. Start a blog or contribute to a student newspaper to gain experience and build your portfolio.
• Attend film festivals: Attending film festivals can help you stay up-to-date on the latest movies and network with other film critics and industry professionals.
• Build your online presence: In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is important for any aspiring film critic. Build a website or social media profile to showcase your work and connect with others in the industry.

Key Takeaways

Becoming a film critic requires a passion for movies and a love of writing. To be successful in the field, you need to have a deep understanding of film history and theory, strong attention to detail, excellent writing skills, and good time management skills.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in film criticism, consider taking the NYU Film and TV Industry Essentials online course and certificate program. This program will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the film and TV industry, including film history, theory, and criticism. It’s a great way to gain the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful film critic.

Enter your email to learn more and get a full course catalog!

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What is a film critic and how to become one

A film critic is a person who reviews and analyzes movies. They attend screenings, watch films, and then write reviews. They often write articles about the movies they've seen and sometimes conduct interviews with the cast and crew. They also participate in editorial meetings and learn about the design of newspapers. They may also cover press screenings and review both blockbuster and independent films. They may even generate online traffic using social media.

How long does it takes to become a film critic?

It takes approximately 5 to 6 years to become a film critic.

Year 1-4: Complete a Bachelor's degree, which typically takes 4 years.

Year 5-6: Gain 1-2 years of experience in related fields such as writing, journalism, or film studies.

• Salary $80,326
• Growth Rate -10%
• Jobs Number 5,435
• Most Common Skill Video Games
• Most Common Degree Bachelor's degree
• Best State Massachusetts

Film Critic career paths

A film critic can pursue various career paths, including becoming a writer, editor, or producer. They can also transition into a senior role, such as a senior editor or senior producer. Some film critics choose to explore other areas, such as public relations, media relations, or content management. Others may opt to become a content writer, staff writer, or public information officer. Additionally, they can consider opportunities as a managing editor, editorial manager, or contributing writer. Some film critics may even choose to become a founder or a media relations director.

Key steps to become a film critic

Explore film critic education requirements, most common film critic degrees.

Bachelor's

Master's

Start to develop specific film critic skills

Film critics review and critique new and old films, write articles and reviews, and conduct interviews with casts and crews. They also attend press screenings, learn about layout and design, and generate online traffic through social media. They analyze films, discuss their cultural impact, and contribute to radio shows.

Complete relevant film critic training and internships

Research film critic duties and responsibilities.

A film critic's primary responsibility is to watch and review films, both new and old. They attend press screenings, analyze film components, and write concise and personality-filled reviews. They also conduct interviews with casts and crews of major motion pictures and use social media platforms to generate traffic for their content. Some film critics even contribute to weekly DVD review columns and write feature-length film, music, and book reviews.

• Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.

Prepare your film critic resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your film critic resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a film critic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Film Critic Resume templates

Apply for film critic jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a film critic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

• Browse job boards for relevant postings
• Consult your professional network
• Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
• Watch out for job scams

Are you a Film Critic?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average film critic salary

The average Film Critic salary in the United States is $80,326 per year or $39 per hour. Film critic salaries range between $47,000 and $137,000 per year.

What Am I Worth?

How do film critics rate their job?

Updated March 14, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Critical Film Studies: An In-Depth Exploration of Cinematic Analysis

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on July 30, 2023

Categories Filmmaking , Education

Critical film studies is an academic discipline that focuses on the analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of films, filmmakers, and their impact on society, culture, and the art of cinema.

This field of study adopts various theoretical frameworks and critical approaches to better understand and engage with the complex visual, auditory, and narrative elements that make up a film.

Throughout its history, critical film studies has evolved to encompass a broader range of topics such as the historical and cultural context of film, the impact of political and social issues on film production and reception, and the roles of technology and the economy in shaping the film industry.

As a result, critical film studies today incorporates a wide range of methodologies and perspectives, aiming to generate meaningful conversations about the influence and importance of films in our lives.

Key Takeaways

• Critical film studies analyzes and evaluates films to understand their impact on society and the art of cinema.
• The discipline has evolved to cover various topics like historical and cultural context, political issues, and the film industry’s economic aspects.
• A range of theoretical frameworks and methodologies are employed to foster significant discussions about films’ role and influence in our lives.

History and Evolution of Critical Film Studies

Early film studies.

In the early days of film studies, it was primarily concerned with the aesthetics and technical aspects of filmmaking. Early film theorists like Sergei Eisenstein and Vsevolod Pudovkin focused on the role of editing and storytelling in cinema.

They analyzed the various methods filmmakers employed to create meaning and evoke emotions in the audience.

The study of film as an art form eventually expanded to include the cultural and sociopolitical contexts in which films were produced and consumed.

One of the key movements in early film studies was the auteur theory , which emphasized the creative control of a director over a film, viewing them as the primary author of a work. This led to the establishment of film studies as an academic discipline, integrating it into the broader field of film history .

Modern Approaches

Modern critical film studies have evolved to encompass a wide range of critical approaches , such as the study of film and cultural identity, film and gender, and the relationship between film and history.

This expansion of the field has allowed scholars to examine films from various perspectives, including reception studies, which focus on how audiences engage with and interpret films.

Technological advancements in filmmaking and film distribution have also shaped the development of critical film studies. With the advent of digital cinema and streaming platforms, film scholars have had to adapt their analyses to new modes of production and consumption.

Furthermore, the field has had to consider the role of transnational and global cinema, as films are increasingly produced and distributed beyond national boundaries.

In short, critical film studies has evolved significantly over time, adapting to new cultural, social, and technological contexts to provide scholars with a multifaceted understanding of the medium of film and its impact on society.

Theoretical Frameworks

Auteur theory.

The Auteur Theory suggests that the director’s personal creative vision is the driving force behind a film, making them the primary “author” of the piece. Often, the director’s work is analyzed for recurring themes, visual styles, and distinct narratives that represent their unique perspective.

This approach to film theory emphasizes the creative power of an individual in shaping film regardless of time, genre, or changing societal norms.

Genre Studies

Genre Studies focus on examining how films fit into certain established genres or categories. These can include everything from romantic comedies, action dramas, to science fiction or horror.

By comparing and contrasting films within a genre, critics can identify common themes, narrative structures, visual aesthetics, and character archetypes. Genre studies also touch on the social impact of these films and the audience’s expectations, and how they reflect societal values and interests.

Gender and Sexuality

An essential aspect of critical film theory is analyzing movies through the lens of Gender and Sexuality . This approach looks at how films portray and represent gender roles, sexual orientations, and the dynamics between these.

By considering the ways movies depict masculinity, femininity, and diverse sexual identities, critics can identify societal norms, biases, and stereotypes in the film industry. This framework of film theory is closely related to sociology, as it helps to demonstrate the relationship between cinema and the society it reflects.

Influential Films and Case Studies

Pulp fiction.

Pulp Fiction is a highly influential film directed by Quentin Tarantino. The non-linear narrative structure and unique blend of dark humor, violence, and pop culture references have made it a classic.

The cast includes big names such as John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman. Their dynamic performances, along with Tarantino’s distinct directing style, have shaped the film’s impact on media and film studies.

My Dinner with Andre

My Dinner with Andre is a thought-provoking film that explores the art of conversation.

It features two main characters, played by Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory, engaging in a real conversation over dinner. Directed by Louis Malle, the movie focuses on the depth and importance of interpersonal communication.

My Dinner with Andre has become a seminal work in critical film studies as it pushes the boundaries of plot conventions and challenges viewers to examine their own conversations and relationships.

Community Episode: Critical Film Studies

Community, a popular TV show, has an episode titled “Critical Film Studies” that pays homage to My Dinner with Andre. The episode stars Danny Pudi as Abed, who invites Jeff (played by Joel McHale) to a “Pulp Fiction” themed surprise party.

However, Abed and Jeff end up at another restaurant, where Abed recreates the setting of My Dinner with Andre.

Throughout the episode, themes from both Pulp Fiction and My Dinner with Andre are discussed by the characters. For example, the “gimp” scene from Pulp Fiction serves as a metaphor for the masks people wear in society. We also see the character of Britta, played by Gillian Jacobs, attempt to recreate a scene from Cougar Town, a show Abed likes, to teach Troy (played by Donald Glover) a lesson.

The clever blend of pop culture references and media studies commentary makes this Community episode a prime example of how films like Pulp Fiction and My Dinner with Andre continue to influence television and storytelling in various formats.

Roles and Careers in Film Studies

Film studies is an academic discipline that examines various aspects of cinema, including film production, theory, and history. Graduates in this field have plenty of career opportunities in the film industry and beyond, such as film directors, filmmakers, and film studies educators.

Directors are responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of a film. They work closely with actors, screenwriters, and production staff to ensure the final product aligns with their creative vision.

A strong foundation in film studies can provide aspiring directors with valuable knowledge about cinematic techniques, storytelling, and film history. To gain hands-on experience, students may participate in internships or create their own short films, paving their path into the film industry.

Filmmakers, including producers and writers, work collaboratively to create films from pre-production through to post-production. They are involved in various aspects of film production, like screenwriting, budgeting, and marketing.

One possible career path for film studies graduates is independent filmmaking, which allows for greater creative freedom while producing films outside mainstream networks. They can also find work opportunities in theater productions, journalism, and animation, where their understanding of film concepts, visual storytelling, and critical analysis can be applied effectively.

Film Studies Faculty

Film studies graduates may also choose to pursue a career in academia as faculty members at colleges and universities. They teach courses on film history, theory, and production, helping students develop a critical understanding of the medium.

Beyond teaching, they often engage in research, publish scholarly articles, and present at conferences to contribute to the ongoing development of the field. A career in academia typically requires a higher degree like a master’s or a Ph.D. in film studies or a related discipline.

In conclusion, film studies graduates have a variety of career options to explore within the film industry and beyond. Their deep understanding of the craft and business of cinema can be applied in professions like directing, producing, writing, and teaching.

Through internships and hands-on experience, they can build their networks and establish a strong foundation for their future endeavors.

Impact on Society

The impact of critical film studies on society can be seen in the way movies influence community values and norms. One significant area in which this relationship becomes apparent is censorship .

As films are often seen as powerful communication mediums, they sometimes face scrutiny and restrictions to prevent negative influence on society. Governments might impose censorship on films deemed inappropriate, offensive, or politically dangerous, as they can shape public opinion and trigger unforeseen consequences.

Influence on Pop Culture

Films are also significant contributors to pop culture , impacting society through fashion, music, and social trends. For instance, movies like “The Matrix” and “Pulp Fiction” redefined fashion and action movie tropes, while “Jurassic Park” created a lasting fascination with dinosaurs.

Films can also lead to social activism and advocacy, such as An Inconvenient Truth raising public concern about global warming.

Interpreting Films as an Art Form

Lastly, critical film studies encourage viewers to interpret movies as an art form, going beyond mere entertainment. The analysis of films involves dissecting the underlying messages, themes, and cultural significance.

This process helps audiences appreciate the intricacies of filmmaking and recognize the impact of cinema on their own beliefs and values. By examining films as art, viewers deepen their understanding of society and culture, fostering open-mindedness and critical thinking.

Notable Film Critics and Scholars

Richard ayoade.

Richard Ayoade is a British actor, director, and television presenter known for his work in various genres of film and television. Ayoade has a distinct and analytical approach to film criticism which he incorporates into his work as a filmmaker.

His directorial debut, Submarine (2010), is a perfect example of his unique take on storytelling and character development, while his sophomore feature, The Double (2013), showcases his ability to blend visual storytelling with a thought-provoking narrative.

Joel McHale

Joel McHale is an American actor, comedian, and television host best known for his work on the television show, Community . While he may not be a traditional film critic, McHale has a keen understanding of the entertainment industry and offers entertaining and insightful perspectives on both film and television.

His background in comedy allows him to approach film criticism from a humorous angle while maintaining a thoughtful and analytical viewpoint.

Donald Glover

Donald Glover, also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, is a multi-talented artist who excels in many different mediums, including acting, writing, music, and directing. Glover’s work in the film and television industry demonstrates his deep understanding of narrative structure, character development, and visual storytelling.

As a film critic, Glover’s perspective is unique because of his diverse experiences in various artistic disciplines. His work on the groundbreaking television series, Atlanta , showcases his ability to merge film, television, and music into a cohesive and innovative storytelling experience.

Television Show Community and Film Studies

Themes and concepts.

The television show “Community” is known for its exploration of various themes and concepts related to film studies. A notable episode is Critical Film Studies , which aired on NBC during the second season. This episode centers around a “Pulp Fiction”-themed birthday party for the character Abed, organized by the study group at the college they attend.

Throughout the episode, discussions of Erik Satie’s music, cinematic trivia, and concepts of friendship intertwine with themes of critical media analysis. The episode delves into these ideas in a way that showcases the influence of film studies on the show.

Performance Reviews

“Critical Film Studies” received positive reviews for its exploration of film study concepts, as well as the performances of the actors.

The dynamic between the character Jeff, who represents the mainstream fascination with pop culture, and Abed, who has a deeper appreciation for the art of cinema, offers an interesting perspective on the importance of film studies in contemporary society.

The actors’ portrayals of their characters, combined with the clever writing, contribute to the episode’s success as a unique exploration of film theories and concepts.

Connections to Film Studies

The “Community” episode not only highlights various film studies concepts and theories but also directly connects to film studies as an academic discipline. In the context of the show, the college Dean is tasked with overseeing various subject areas, including film studies.

The episode’s approach to critical media analysis, combined with its strong connections to the characters’ academic pursuits, showcases the value and potential impact of film studies on popular culture.

Overall, “Critical Film Studies” is an example of how television programming can engage with and promote the importance of film studies in a creative and entertaining way.

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What does a Movie Critic Do?

Disclaimer: The information on our website is provided for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on our website for any purpose. Any reliance on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk and we are not liable for any damages or losses arising out of or resulting from your reliance on any information contained on our website.

A movie critic writes movie reviews and typically works for magazines, journals, television, radio stations, newspapers, social media, or websites. A career as a movie critic is competitive and it may take time to establish your reputation as a critic.

How to Become a Movie Critic

A movie critic typically needs a bachelor’s degree in screenwriting or film to work in this career field. Some critics may have a background in journalism and creative writing. However, they all need a basic understanding of writing or reporting on film as a building block. A movie critic must study and analyze filmmakers throughout the history of filmmaking and watches many lesser-known films and Hollywood blockbusters to gain more knowledge of the industry.

They watch the different elements of the film, like plot and character development and write about the plot, performance, directing, and cinematography. A movie critic needs writing skills to communicate the elements of the film for the public and will try to make the review informative while being entertaining. Movie critics must also build a portfolio that includes published reviews, content on their own websites, or podcasts episodes may have been featured on. This portfolio is essentially proof of their analytical ability in film reviews.

Now we must look at the value of experience. It isn’t easy to get into this business, so a movie critic may begin their career with an entry-level position at various publications or radio stations. They typically also network with people that may help them advance their career. Once a amateur critic establishes a solid reputation, they may move to become a journalistic movie critic. These critics write in more established newspapers, magazines, and online resources and may focus more on new movie releases. They write more detailed summaries, subjectively breaking down the film and rating it. Movie criticism has a significant impact on cinema. The rating from a movie critic is what people may look for when deciding what film they wish to see.

There is another type of film critic, which is academic in nature. A literary film critic typically publishes in journals or books and tends to be more objective about a film. The academic film critic has a background in various areas of filmmaking, like film history, studies, or theory. They help the public understand the subject matter, emotional feel, and other elements. In other words, they help the viewer get more out of the movie. If you are still in high school or middle school, you can take creative writing and focus on English. Photography classes can also be helpful to start teaching you some of the concepts of film.

Job Description of a Movie Critic

The job of the movie critic seems ideal. Who doesn’t love to watch a good movie? However, the critic’s job is to help people select the best movie through creative writing and rating talent. The movie the critic watches may depend on the publisher, newspaper, magazine, or digital outlet that needs the review. Critics are the first to watch a film and writes their review so the public can gain early insight into it’s pros and cons.

They score the movie on various elements such as quality and acting and also summarize the film without trying to give away too much of the film. Writing a film review is time-consuming and movie critics must also meet their deadlines. An amateur movie critic often select which movies they wish to cover and may not have the pressure of deadlines while they build their portfolio. However, amateur movie critics are disciplined to post their reviews while the movie is still current.

The movie critic researches the backgrounds of the writers, directors, and actors, informs the audience of other films they have worked in, and compares their performances. They want the opinions of their reviews to capture their followers. The movie critic’s career is competitive, hard to get your foot in the door, and takes a long time to make a living at it, but don’t give up! If you have a passion for cinema and want to share it with the public, this may be the career for you! Good luck!

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Ahead of this weekend’s Academy Awards, LAist spoke with film critic Carlos Aguilar, who grew up in Mexico City and Southeast L.A. before going on to study film production at Pasadena City College. As an undocumented immigrant, he didn’t think he’d get to have a career in the industry.

Why it matters: Last year, a federal judge ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful. The ruling blocks first-time DACA applications, but current recipients, like Aguilar, can continue to renew their work authorizations. Still, there’s still no clear path on how to create a legal framework for those who are currently protected under the program.

A lifeline: For Aguilar, being able to enroll in Pasadena City College was also about taking back some agency. “Being undocumented, you don't have control over a lot of things in your life," he said.

Resource alert: Keep reading for information on state-based financial aid for undocumented students in California, as well as a scholarship opportunity for local community colleges who are interested in film criticism.

In the summer of 2008, Carlos Aguilar put on a purple cap and gown and headed out for what should have been an entirely joyous occasion.

With a 4.0 GPA, he was salutatorian of his class at Bell High School — no small feat for someone who’d come to the U.S. in ninth grade, without speaking English. Aguilar was also an aspiring director, and he’d been admitted to the top-ranked school of film/video at CalArts. In spite of these accomplishments, his graduation ceremony was bittersweet.

Aguilar’s aunt and cousins were there to support him, but his brother and his parents were in Mexico City, about 2,000 miles away.

When he looked to the future, he felt disheartened. Aguilar is an undocumented immigrant and, at the time, he didn’t qualify for federal or state financial aid. It was up to him to cover his college expenses, and he couldn’t afford to pay for any university.

“I don't think anyone could have given me any word of encouragement,” he said.

Today, Aguilar is a respected member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. And when he looks back on his career, he can say that: “Every little thing I did eventually opened the door for something else.”

But, for several years, Aguilar was an exhausted undocumented film student, helping his coworkers clean out the fryer during the night shift. For a long time, he said, “I was unclear as to what the future held, and I was not feeling particularly positive about it.”

“When you're in that moment,” he added, “you have a lot of doubt, and you don't really know what's the right choice.”

Aguilar didn’t know it then, but he would soon be en route to becoming a prolific film critic, with bylines in outlets like Rolling Stone, Variety, and the New York Times.

That journey was nourished by his upbringing in Mexico City and Southeast L.A., then propelled by a film production program at Pasadena City College.

A year of free movies

Aguilar’s childhood was marked by books and movies. He grew up in the Gustavo A. Madero borough of Mexico City, a working class neighborhood that’s home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where millions of people flock every year to pay their respects. Aguilar said he was never among the faithful.

Money was tight, he told LAist, but there were always secondhand books in the family’s studio apartment. His mom, Esther Arriaga, is an avid reader, and she instilled a love of books in her son.

At school, Aguilar read voraciously and drew the attention of Maestra Alejandra, a substitute teacher and librarian. She encouraged Aguilar to sign up for writing and oratory contests, which bolstered his confidence in his ability. In fifth grade, his classroom teacher encouraged him to write a play. Aguilar did so. Then, with the help of his classmates, he brought it to life.

“It was always in me to write stories, to create things,” he said. The play, he recalled, was about a man whose boat capsized. The man survived the tragedy, only to find himself on an island that was run by rats.

“It was silly and weird,” he said. Aguilar and his classmates used sawdust to create an island in the middle of the classroom, and all but one of them dressed up as a rodent. Looking back, he’s amazed that he was given the time and space to put on the show.

At home, he and his little brother, Daniel, put on similar performances, complete with costumes, voice changes, and music. In place of supporting actors, they used stuffed animals.

“A lot of people who are into film or who eventually become filmmakers [tend to] have all these memories of, like, ‘When I was a kid, my dad gave me a camera, and we made these movies,’” he said. “This was our version of that. We didn't have a camera — we didn't know anyone who had a camera.”

Aguilar’s parents couldn’t afford luxuries like video games, so when it was his birthday or when he got good grades, he was often treated to a film. By middle school, he was in love. Anytime he managed to save up a few pesos, he added to his bootleg DVD collection. On Fridays, he plopped down to watch a local critic review upcoming films on TV.

On one of those Fridays, the critic reviewed Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain , a French romantic comedy centered around a shy, quirky waitress.

The critic “praised the movie as something very unique,” Aguilar said.

Until middle school, Aguilar had mostly watched animated films and Hollywood blockbusters. “ Amélie ,” he said, had “a different sensibility.” He began to think of cinema as “an art form that could do something different.”

During one of his many trips to the movies, Aguilar stumbled on a contest: If he guessed the winners of the five most popular Oscar categories (best picture, best actor, etc.) that spring, he could get a year of free movies.

Because he was under 18, Aguilar gave the answers to his mom and asked her to submit the entry. They won and, for 365 days, they had unlimited access to every Cinépolis branch in the city.

Sometimes he used the pass multiple times a day, at different theaters. And he routinely made the trek to Cinépolis Diana, to see art house films.

“There were times when I had seen everything that was playing,” he said.

More movies, and rats

After his year of free movies, Aguilar immigrated to the U.S. alone. An aunt in the city of Cudahy offered to take him in. Aguilar was 13. He started at Crenshaw High School in South L.A. a week later.

“I remember being scared,” he told LAist. At the same time, he added, “I didn't realize the scope of what it meant ... being an immigrant in this country, leaving your family behind, not being able to return.”

“There was not a lot of time for me to, like, even process it,” he said. “And maybe that was for the best, you know? Maybe there was less time to be sad.”

Always a star student in Mexico City, Aguilar suddenly found himself struggling to communicate in L.A. He pushed himself to learn English quickly. He signed up for extra tutoring after school and enrolled at Bell High School as a 10th grader.

“Eventually, I started making friends and got over my fear of speaking English,” he added. And, eventually, Cudahy, Bell, and the rest of Southeast L.A. became home. He and his friends frequented single-screen theaters on Pacific Boulevard in Huntington Park.

Those theaters were not pretty, he told LAist. But they were cheap, perfect for teenagers on a budget.

“Me and my friends had a joke that, the moment you walked in, they would give you a bucket and a stick. And the more rats you killed, the more popcorn you got,” he said on the Órale Boyle Heights podcast.

In 11th grade, Aguilar joined an afterschool filmmaking program sponsored by CalArts. It gave students access to MiniDV Camcorders. For Aguilar, that was significant: It was the first time he got to work with a video camera.

With the help of his classmates, Aguilar made music videos with a little animation, along with short films. He entered small, local film festivals and won some awards.

“It was very validating to me that these shorts I was making, without any sort of prior knowledge, were being recognized,” he said. Even so, he had no intention of applying to film school.

“I didn't want to have to explain my situation as an undocumented person,” Aguilar said.

'An absurd dream'

In 2001, California lawmakers signed Assembly Bill 540 into law, giving undocumented students access to in-state tuition. Aguilar had a job at a fast food restaurant in Huntington Park. He resolved to pay his way through as much college as possible.

The California Dream Act Application enables students interested in California colleges, universities, and career education programs to gain access to state financial aid. (It’s unrelated to the federal DACA program.)

You can find more information on state-based financial aid here .

He researched film production programs at local community colleges. A few months after graduating high school, he enrolled at Pasadena City College .

Doing so allowed him “to hold on to the dream of studying filmmaking, even though it was kind of an absurd dream,” he said.

For Aguilar, going to community college was also about taking back some agency. “Being undocumented, you don't have control over a lot of things in your life,” he added.

Because he worked full-time while going to school, it took Aguilar about four years to complete his community college coursework. During those years, he took a bus from Atlantic and Florence in Cudahy, all the way to Colorado and Fairfax in Pasadena. Then, he took another bus to campus. After school, he boarded another bus to his restaurant job. He did homework in transit.

Pasadena City College was the first time Aguilar wasn’t surrounded by people of Latin American descent. His classmates were friendly, he said, but he always kept a certain distance.

“Anyone that's undocumented can understand the hesitation that you have in sharing that part of you,” he said.

It was also tough to make friends at a campus where most students are commuters. But, with time, he became part of a close-knit group of film students, and he reveled in the chance to be among people who shared his interests.

He learned about the Criterion Collection . He learned terms to describe what’s going on in a movie. He had the chance to continue working on shorts. (When he looks at them now, he sometimes cringes, he said. “But, at the time, I was very proud.”)

In the spring of 2012, Aguilar started getting close to completing his required coursework. “I was very much depressed and adrift,” he said. “I didn't know what I would do. Finishing community college was kind of like the end of the line.”

At that point, Aguilar had been working at the fast food restaurant for years. Part of him feared he’d work there forever.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association offers a scholarship for aspiring film critics who are enrolled at local community colleges.

The association hasn't posted a call for applications yet for 2024. You can learn more about past recipients here .

In August 2012, Aguilar started a blog to write about movies called “ Selective Vision .”

“I would go to the movies by myself or with friends and pay for my ticket. And then I’d go back home and write a review for no one, because no one was reading that — not even my friends,” he said.

“I don't know what was the driving force that kept me doing these things,” he told LAist. “I didn't know that it could become something ... There was really no clear sign that it could work out, or that I would be able to make a living doing anything related to film.”

While scrolling through Craigslist one day, Aguilar spotted an ad for a film writing gig. He submitted his blog posts as writing samples and landed the job. It didn’t pay anything, but it opened the door to screenings before films were released. Aguilar had never had his name on a list.

After that, Aguilar landed a job at another website, this time based in Iceland. That, too, was unpaid.

“I’m definitely not gonna sit here and advocate for people to do unpaid work,” he said. But it was through that unpaid labor that he got invited to screenings and access to an editor. He also started to become better-known in the industry. “I made a little bit of a name for myself writing for these tiny websites,” Aguilar added.

• What’s It Like to Work With Hayao Miyazaki? Go Behind The Scenes  
• Who Gets To Be A Critic?
• The American Latino Experience: 20 Essential Films Since 2000   
• Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Roma’ Helps Younger Mexicans Appreciate An Older Mexico City

When the U.S. began accepting applications for DACA in 2012, Aguilar wasted no time. With a writing portfolio and the ability to work legally, he landed a job at IndieWire.

Aguilar used his IndieWire clips to apply for the Roger Ebert fellowship, and, in 2014, he became one of six young film critics selected for the program.

That winter, they flew out to Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival . The experience, Aguilar said, was “almost like a film critic quinceañera.”

The experience was a turning point, he said. After the trip, “it really felt like I should dedicate more time to [criticism] and see what became of it.”

The road ahead

Aguilar knows some things are out of his hands. As a DACA recipient, for instance, he can only travel if he’s granted advance parole , and he isn’t guaranteed re-entry. And last year, a federal judge ruled that DACA is unlawful . The ruling blocks new, first-time applications. Current recipients, like Aguilar, can continue to renew their work authorizations. Still, there’s still no clear path on how to create a legal framework for those who are currently protected under the program.

Since migrating to L.A. County in the early 2000s, Aguilar hasn’t returned to the place he once called home. Like the faithful who visit the basilica each year, he’d like to make a pilgrimage to Mexico City. He’d like to reconnect with old friends. Pay his respects at the sites where his grandmothers and father have been laid to rest. Walk around and see what’s changed over time.

And then he wants to go to other places. As an ardent Studio Ghibli fan, Aguilar would someday like to visit Japan. He’d also love to take his mom to France. She really liked Amélie , too.

The Southland is in for another wet weekend, with widespread precipitation expected across Southern California throughout the day Saturday followed by scattered rain on Sunday.

Details: The National Weather Service estimates that most parts of Southern California will see between one and three inches of rain, with up to six inches possible in the mountains and foothills.

Dig deeper: Keep reading for our continous coverage this weekend.

This story will be updated. Check back for details.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch across many parts of the metro area, including most of urban Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Though this storm is expected to be less severe than recent rain events like this winter's atmospheric rivers, landslides and rapid onset flooding are possible throughout the region.

Rainfall totals

The NWS estimates that most parts of Southern California will see between 1 and 3 inches of rain, with up to 6 inches possible in the mountains and foothills.

Here are the projected rainfall totals for this weekend as of the NWS' latest update on Friday afternoon:

• Downtown LA: 1.89"
• Long Beach: 1.85"
• Lancaster: 0.72"
• Pomona: 2.07"
• Santa Barbara: 1.82"
• Ojai: 3.02"

Snowfall is also expected in the mountains, with as much as 48 inches possible in Mt. San Antonio and Snow Valley. Big Bear Lake could see a fresh coat of up to 30 inches, and Idyllwild is forecasted to get one to two inches.

Since the forecast in the mountains will straddle the freezing point, higher elevations such as Mt. Wilson will likely see a combination of rain and snow during the day, followed by snow as the temperature drops below freezing at night. A winter storm warning has taken effect in the San Gabriel Mountains until 11 p.m. Sunday.

Evacuations and closures

In Ventura County, an evacuation order was issued at 10 a.m. Friday for the unincorporated area of Santa Paula, along Ojai/Santa Paula Road, because of sliding soil.

It's possible that Palos Verdes, Topanga Canyon, and other areas that have already seen landslides could see further movement, according to NWS meteorologist Ariel Cohen.

“We are concerned about those locations for sure,” Cohen said. “Everyone needs to be ready for that.”

He recommends people avoid landslide-prone areas, especially around mountain passes and canyons.

Traffic conditions

It's possible that surface streets will see some level of flooding, especially as the rain picks up in intensity. Caltrans has also advised that drivers should avoid unnecessary mountain travel owing to snow in the mountains, especially along construction zones on State Route 33.

*Storm Watch- State Route 33- Los Padres Forest* Up to 6" of snow expected in the mountains this weekend. SR-33 has six construction zones with one-lane alternating traffic control between PM 14.35 & two miles north of the summit. Avoid unnecessary mountain travel. pic.twitter.com/9OY6qPbI4N — Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) March 29, 2024

See latest road conditions in Southern California

The NWS projects a "slight risk" — between 15% and 40% — of rapid onset flooding across most of the metro area.

A flood watch is in effect starting tonight and through Saturday - excessive rainfall in the yellow shaded area is possible with the incoming Pacific storm #cawx #socal which includes urban and small stream flooding pic.twitter.com/ehd3HqwlxK — NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) March 29, 2024

• A wind advisory is in place early Saturday morning, with gusts of up to 45 mph possible overnight across the region.
• The NWS has not issued weather advisories for most of Orange County, with the exception of a flood watch in areas near the Santa Ana Mountains.
• A high surf advisory is in effect for Los Angeles County beaches from 8 a.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday.
• There's also a 15-25% chance of thunderstorms, as well as small hail and heavy downpours. Thunderstorms are possible throughout the weekend, but the most severe impacts will likely occur early Saturday morning.

Strong cold front will bring heavy rain to SW Calif tonight-early Sat. AM. 20% chance of tstms with front will bring potential for strong-locally severe wind gusts to 60 mph, small hail, and heavy downpours. Remote risk of waterspouts/brief tornado. #LARain #LAWeather pic.twitter.com/ZMF6EBnTFp — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 29, 2024

Take this upcoming storm seriously

Residents in mountain, canyon and coastal areas should prepare for debris flows and flooding over the next week.

Those in landslide prone areas like the Palos Verdes Peninsula should be on the lookout for indications of land movement, including the formation of new cracks, the fracturing of underground utilities, doors and windows falling out of plumb and sounds of creaks and groans coming from the ground.

Sandbags are available at all Los Angeles Fire Department locations . Sand is also available at select other locations, and updates on availability can be checked here .

Los Angeles County Fire Department locations also have sandbags and sand.

Sand and sandbags are available at these locations in Orange County.

Understanding National Weather Service warnings

Here’s an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings, if any are issued:

• Flood advisories  are how the NWS begins to raise the alarm. The goal is to give people enough time to take action.
• Flood watches  are your indicators to get prepared to move.
• A   flood warning  is issued when a hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. When one is issued for your area, you need to get to higher ground immediately.
• A flash flood warning is  issued when a flash flood is coming or in progress. Flash floods are sudden and violent floods that can start within minutes.

Read more : Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need To Know

Tips for driving in the rain

Advice on driving in the rain:

• Check  weather  and  road conditions  all along your planned route
• Keep a wider-than-usual distance between your vehicle and the one in front
• Don't drive through standing water — as little as 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and two feet can carry away SUVs and trucks.
• Make sure tires are fully inflated
• Check windshield wiper blades and replace if necessary

Read more:  What You Should Do If You End Up Driving In A Flooded Area

Downed tree, power line or flooded road?

Dial 911 if it's an emergency.

However, if you need to report a flooded road or a downed tree, you can call the following non-emergency numbers:

• L.A. City: Dial 311 for a flooded road or downed tree. Call (800) DIAL-DWP if you see a downed power line.
• L.A. County: (800) 675-HELP
• Ventura County: (805) 384-1500
• Orange County: (714) 955-0200 or visit here .

If you're in L.A. County and need sand bags you can find some at local fire houses.

Staying safe when the winds are high

• Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
• Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they may pose a significant fire hazard.
• If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle and landing with both feet together. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away. 
• Water and electricity don’t mix. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Do not step in or enter any water that a downed power line may be touching.
• Do not use any equipment inside that is designed for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
• If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
• Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage. 
• Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.

Tips on staying warm

• State law requires  residential units to have heating systems that can keep indoor temperatures at a minimum of 70 degrees. That means every dwelling unit and guest room offered for rent or lease should offer heating equipment, usually central air conditioning (A/C) or a wall heater. —  Caitlin Hernández
• Use heat smartly to save money:  Cranking things like the A/C and wall heaters can be expensive. If money is tight, be judicious about how and when you use your utilities. For example, only use heaters at night or only set the thermostat to around 70 degrees.
• Open and close those vents:  If you have central A/C, look at where the vents are around your home. Are any open in places where you don’t stay long? Practice opening and closing those so warm air only goes where you need it (most vents should have a small toggle lever). Humidifiers can also help you warm things up — and it’s useful to add moisture into our dry air.
• Adjust your wall heaters:  If you have a wall heater, you can change the output by adjusting the knob (usually at the bottom). Since wall heaters can only warm the areas where they’re placed, it’s essential to close doors to rooms you won’t be in so hot air doesn’t get wasted.
• Turn on your ceiling fan (really):  If you have a ceiling fan, try turning it on. This sounds counterintuitive, but there’s science behind it. The direction a fan turns can push air in different directions, and since hot air floats up, you’ll want to move that around. Your fan should  spin clockwise  to create an updraft to circulate. Not all fans will have this option, though.

Sign up for emergency alerts

• L.A. City: Notify L.A.
• L.A. County: Ready L.A. County
• Ventura County: Ready Ventura County
• Orange County: AlertOC
• Riverside County: AlertRivCo

How we're reporting on this

This is a developing story. We fact check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.

Today's headlines:

• How “empty nesters” in L.A. are helping young families find the housing space they need.
• A wet Easter weekend is ahead.
• Where to get Philly-style hoagies right here in Los Angeles.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to get The LA Report delivered to you twice on weekdays, with special editions on Saturday and Sunday.

The state's unemployment agency has expanded the languages available to apply online for benefits to include Armenian, Korean and Tagalog. Immigrant advocates say this will encourage applications from non-English speaking Californians and keep them from resorting to exploitative brokers for help with applications.

The backstory: The expanded language access is part of a settlement agreement the unemployment agency made with nonprofits representing immigrants. The groups alleged language access violations under state and federal law.

Languages available : You can now apply online and on the phone in seven languages. Applications are already available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese

What's next: The unemployment agency says it plans to improve language access for those seeking paid family leave and disability insurance.

California's unemployment agency is making online applications available in the seven most-used languages in the state, after years of fielding complaints that benefits were eluding those who don't speak English.

The Employment Development Department announced this week it had added Armenian, Korean and Tagalog to its website on top of English, Spanish, Chinese (in traditional and simplified characters) and Vietnamese.

Those seeking help by phone can call hotlines in all those languages, with Chinese being available in Cantonese or Mandarin.

For years, Joann Lee, special counsel for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles , has been pushing the unemployment agency to improve language access, noting that navigating the application process is hard enough in English. Imagine if it's not your first language.

The language barrier reached a crisis point when the pandemic put many people out of work. Non-English speakers who were able to get through to an EDD representative found themselves unable to communicate their needs and resorted to hiring brokers to help them file claims.

"They kind of appear to be like community-based type services, but they are charging fees just to provide the language access and technology access in-language, sort of preying on members of their own community," Lee said.

The Legal Aid Foundation, along with other nonprofits serving immigrants, filed a complaint against the unemployment agency with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, alleging language access violations under federal and state law.

Armenian : 1-800-547-3506 Cantonese :1-844-660-0877 Korean : 1-866-303-0706 Mandarin :1-866-395-1513 Tagalog : 1-800-547-2058 Vietnamese :1-800-300-5616 All other languages: Interpreter services are available free of charge.

In 2022, the unemployment agency agreed to a settlement to expand the range of languages used for Californians to access benefits.

Lee said hotlines in languages aside from English and Spanish were added more than a year ago; the expanded language access online is part of the department's multi-year effort to fulfill the settlement.

Next up, the agency said it will look at improving access for other benefits it provides: paid family leave and disability insurance — important steps in the right direction, Lee said.

"Ultimately, we want to see that every individual regardless of language, access all of those credit critical benefits beyond unemployment insurance," Lee said.

Applicants for college financial aid say they're still having problems with application, even after fixes.

Who’s affected: Some of the problems, like applications that have trouble recording the required signatures, appear to affect people across socio-economic lines.

Why it matters: Millions of people each year fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in hopes to receive money to pay for college. Over half of students enrolled at many California universities receive financial aid. State aid is given to applicants who’ve filled out the FAFSA.

What officials have done: California has extended the financial aid application deadline to May 2. California public universities have moved their deadlines for students to commit to enrolling — to May 15 for most, and some have moved into June.

But college officials are still worried: Some college officials say they’re worried about filling the open seats for fall enrollment because the number of completed FAFSA applications is lower than expected. There’s also concern the FAFSA problems will lead applicants to give up on enrolling for college in the fall.

The college financial aid process has been delayed many times this year as the federal government has tried to address problems with its revamped form. Colleges have only just started receiving the information they need to give students money.

Are the glitches with the national college federal financial aid form fixed?

“I would say no , because I saw some today,” Allegra Gutierrez said on Thursday. She's a college advisor helping about 100 students in their final year at Centennial High School in Compton.

She said she’s still seeing problems with the signatures required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). That’s the form millions of college applicants and their families use each year, hoping to tap into need-based money to pay for college.

The form asked for either the student or parent signature, but now, she said, it’s showing an error on applications because there’s a second signature missing.

The solution, she said, is to wait.

“As of now, FAFSA has told us that that would be early to mid-April when corrections would be able to open up,” she said.

Many of the students Gutierrez is helping in Compton will be the first to go to college, but the glitches are also affecting families with college educated parents.

What's at stake?

Some college officials say they’re worried about filling the open seats for fall enrollment because the number of completed FAFSA applications is lower than expected. There’s also concern the FAFSA problems will lead applicants to give up on enrolling for college in the fall.

The Department of Education overhauled the FAFSA form this cycle to make it easier for applicants and their families to fill out. But the new form was about two months late. That and glitches found by applicants have led to a domino effect in the college admissions process that means way less time to decide where to go to college.

That’s raising a big question for applicants: Will I be able to enroll at the college of my choice in the fall?

What's really at stake for us is our ability to send our daughter to not only a school that she wants to go to, a school that she is planning to play basketball at, and one of the top schools in the nation.

“What's really at stake for us is our ability to send our daughter to not only a school that she wants to go to, a school that she is planning to play basketball at, and one of the top schools in the nation,” said Nathan Elson, whose daughter attends Portola High School in Irvine. She was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Wellesley College.

There are deadlines coming up to put money down for tuition, housing, and other expenses. He’s hoping financial aid will help cover about $40,000 in yearly expenses.

“The last little bit will affect whether or not we could actually send her there,” he said.

Where can applicants get help?

College admissions officials are very aware of all the FAFSA problems.

“Seventy percent of our students are on some form of financial aid,” said Jessica Wagoner, the head of enrollment management at Cal Poly Pomona.

By this time of the year, she said, her admissions office would normally have twice as many completed financial aid files from students admitted by the university as it has now.

Here’s how colleges are helping answer FAFSA questions:

• Phone : The California Student Aid Commission is providing help by telephone and a chatbot .
• Online workshops:  CSAC is hosting more than a dozen "Cash for College" webinars between January and May 2024.  Register here .
• Individual offices: This CSU portal will connect you with financial aid offices (and help) for all 23 campuses.
• Select campuses: Many have thorough explainers on FAFSA changes — check out this one from Cal Poly Pomona , which can be used by many other FAFSA applicants. And campuses may also hold informational sessions that include help filling out the form, like this one at UCLA .

California lawmakers moved the deadline to unlock state financial aid one month, to May 2. The state’s public universities have delayed their decision deadlines by at least two weeks, to May 15, and some to June.

For the coming fall, Cal Poly Pomona is working to fill 4,600 first time freshmen slots and plans to fill 2,744 slots for students transferring in. Wagoner is concerned about how the FAFSA problems will affect her campus’ ability to enroll those students so her offices are holding webinars and office hours to help admitted applicants.

Despite the problems, it’s not doom and gloom among the people helping applicants fill out the FAFSA.

“While [applicants are] confused, they've also expressed a lot of gratitude, including [the] parents,” said advisor Allegra Gutierrez.

Helping overcome the glitches on the way to help students enroll in college, she added, has created a positive bond between advisors, staff, applicants, and their families.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps students get money for college. It's also a necessary step toward receiving a Pell Grant .

Start here . Undocumented students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but, in California, they can receive assistance by completing the California Dream Act Application .

What You'll Need

To apply, students will need their Social Security numbers. If they are dependents, they will also need the full name, birthdate, Social Security number, address, and email address of their contributors.

Before sitting down to fill out the application, students and families should also have the following information at hand:

• Records of child support received
• Current balances of cash, checking, and savings accounts
• Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

The student and each contributor will need their own StudentAid.gov account . A parent or spouse who does not have a Social Security number can still create their own account .

Nancy Valverde, a pioneer in the Los Angeles movement for LGBTQ+ rights, has died. Here’s why her life was so important.

Who was Nancy Valverde? She was a Chicana and butch lesbian who grew up in Lincoln Heights. It was her dress and appearance that wound her up in jail multiple times — she wore pants and had short cropped hair in the 1950s, which was then illegal under L.A.’s crossdressing law. But she fought against it and ultimately paved the way for the law to be changed.

Has L.A. recognized her? Last year, the city council dedicated an intersection downtown in her name, as well as a place she frequented, Cooper Do-nuts.

Can I pay respects? The L.A. LGBT Center will be holding a service soon.

Nancy Valverde, a daring Chicana lesbian and gender-nonconformist, died at her Los Angeles home on Monday. She was 92.

Valverde was our local groundbreaker for LGBTQ+ rights. Growing up, she was routinely arrested for violating L.A.’s cross-dressing ban, but later was credited with helping overturn that law.

Her early life

Valverde was born in Deming, New Mexico, in 1932, but her life as an Angeleno began at 9 years old when she and her father relocated to Lincoln Heights.

Growing up, she didn’t know anything about being a lesbian, but Valverde knew one thing: She felt like an outsider when all the girls would talk about cute boys.

In her teens, Valverde worked hard to provide for herself. She worked in a restaurant kitchen and did bakery deliveries. But as a young Chicana, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being treated like a second-class citizen, according to the nonprofit Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing . She saw Mexican Americans get displaced when Dodger Stadium was built , where she used to do deliveries.

All of this contributed to a rebellious streak. As Valverde got older, she started looking more masculine under the standard of those days, like wearing pants and having short hair. It was common for people to judge and comment on her appearance.

By 1949, when she was 17, the LAPD began arresting her.

How her arrests changed LA

The L.A. Police Department arrested her at least a dozen times for “masquerading,” which violated Ordinance 5022, a charge that came with jail time and fines.

“Masquerading” essentially meant dressing like another gender, which law enforcement used to target drag queens, transgender people and — in Valverde’s case — butch lesbians.

She served time in the Lincoln Heights jail and was put in a section of the jail derisively called the “Daddy Tank,” an area reserved for women suspected of being lesbians, according to a city council motion .

But she enlisted the help of a clerk at the L.A. County Law Library to search for rulings that showed wearing men’s clothing was not a crime. Valverde’s lawyer was able to use these findings in her defense and she stopped getting arrested.

The documentary L.A.: A Queer History is currently available to stream for free on PBS, which you can access here .

Valverde also has her own short called Nancy From Eastside Clover .

Though it wasn’t immediate, her defense helped set the stage for L.A.’s “masquerading” law to get thrown out.

In her later years, Valverde became a barber. She ended up moving to the L.A. LGBT Center’s Triangle Square apartments, a spot primarily for LGBTQ+ elders.

Among her accolades, Valverde received a Purple Lily award in 2022 for safeguarding her identity despite discrimination.

Last year, the L.A. City Council designated the downtown intersection of 2nd and Main streets as “ Cooper Do-nuts / Nancy Valverde Square .” At the ceremony, the LAPD publicly apologized to Valverde and LGBTQ+ communities for its harmful past.

The L.A. LGBT Center will be announcing a service in her honor soon.

It’s going to be a soggy holiday weekend for Southern California as an unsettled weather pattern is expected to bring heavy rain, mountain snow, thunderstorms, and dangerous beach conditions to the region.

Why it matters: Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles / Oxnard office, told LAist that all of these factors are going to come together during the powerful storm system, and people should be prepared to adjust their Easter plans.

Latest forecast: The wet weather should start moving into Ventura and Los Angeles counties late Friday night, with the heaviest rain expected to hit L.A. on Saturday.

Easter holiday: As for Easter Sunday, intermittent showers and thunderstorms are expected, which Cohen said could bring strong wind gusts and even small hail. A handful of holiday events have already been canceled due to the forecast.

What's next: Palos Verdes, Topanga Canyon, and other areas that have already seen landslides are at risk for further movement.

Go deeper: ...to learn more about the latest forecast.

Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles / Oxnard office, told LAist that all of these factors are going to come together during the powerful storm system, and people should be prepared to adjust their Easter plans.

Latest weekend forecast

The wet weather should start moving into Ventura and Los Angeles counties late Friday night, with the heaviest rain expected to hit L.A. on Saturday.

Most areas are expected to see between 1 to 3 inches of rain, but the mountains and foothills could get between 3 to 6 inches, with peak rates up to a half inch an hour.

The chance of thunderstorms has slightly increased over the past few days, now up to 25%. Cohen said they may be strong to severe, so make sure you’re monitoring the weather closely.

🌧️STORM PREP 🌧️ @CaltransDist7 crews are preparing for this weekend's storm by installing three extra pumps at SB I-5 Lankershim Blvd on-ramp to prevent the highway from flooding. The ramp will remain closed for the duration of the storm. Drive safe and look out for our workers! pic.twitter.com/e5AuUse0uo — Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) March 29, 2024

“If warnings are issued for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes, take immediate precautions to protect life and property, and make sure that you stay away from areas where trees can easily come down, as we're going to be having those strong winds affecting the region as well,” he said.

Here is the latest Precipitation Timing & Intensity graphic! Little change from previous days, except the chance of thunderstorms kicked up from 10-20% to 15-25%. There is still a low (<10%) chance of a severe thunderstorm developing. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/JvcfwIHqgO — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 29, 2024

Much more mountain snow is also in store. Areas above 6,000 feet could see 1 to 2 feet of snow, but the lower elevations, those between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, are expected to get about half that amount.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the Ventura County mountains from 8 p.m. Friday until 11 p.m. Sunday. A winter storm warning has also been issued for the San Gabriel Mountains, including Gorman, Wrightwood, Tejon Pass, and the Angeles Crest Highway, from 2 a.m. Saturday until 11 p.m. Sunday.

Travel could be difficult if not impossible in those areas, according to the NWS, so pack extra flashlights, food, and water in your car, just in case.

All L.A. County beaches are under a high surf advisory from 8 a.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Sunday, with large breaking waves up to 7 feet and dangerous rip currents expected.

Easter impacts

As for Easter Sunday, intermittent showers and thunderstorms are expected, which Cohen said could bring strong wind gusts and even small hail.

A handful of holiday events have already been canceled due to the forecast. They include Pasadena's Egg Bowl and Bunny Brunch at the Rose Bowl, Huntington Beach’s Easter Hunt and Family Fun Day at Huntington Sports Complex, and Garden Grove’s Eggscavation event. But the Easter Bunny will still be sticking around the Garden Grove Sports & Recreation Center on Saturday.

If you still have outdoor plans, Cohen recommends you have easy access to a roofed option, as it will be an “unsettled day.”

Here's what you need to know when storms hit Southern California:

• Tips To Stay Prepared For The Next LA Storm
• Mudslides Can Be Dangerous And Destructive. This Is How You Can Prepare
• Storms Can Bring Lots Of Water — But Much Of It Winds Up In The Ocean
• Your Guide To Driving Safely In The Rain In LA (And Really Anywhere)
• How LA County Prepares For Massive Rainfall — Like The Storm Hitting Us Now
• Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need To Know
• Why Atmospheric Rivers Can Be A Blessing And A Curse

All eyes on landslides

Palos Verdes, Topanga Canyon, and other areas that have already seen landslides are at risk for further movement.

He recommends people avoid landslide prone areas, especially around mountain passes and canyons.

Cocoa prices have more than doubled in the first three months of the year and more than tripled in the past 12 months. Why is this happening?

One reason: It all boils down to a dramatic drop in supply. The world is facing the biggest deficit of cocoa in decades. Most cocoa beans are grown in West Africa, where extreme weather and changing climate patterns have upended crop harvests, which are forecast to fall short for the third year in a row. That means another year of higher prices for makers, sellers and, ultimately, eaters of chocolate.

Read on ... for a bigger bite of info on this cocoa chaos.

Cocoa prices are going nuts: The bean is now more valuable than several precious metals and has surged faster than even bitcoin.

After cocoa passed the all-time record it hit in 1977 of $5,400 per metric ton, right before Valentine's Day — melting not just hearts but also wallets — one of the cocoa prices this week topped a whopping $10,000 per metric ton. Just in time for chocolate Easter bunnies.

To sum it up, cocoa prices have more than doubled in the first three months of the year and more than tripled in the past 12 months.

Why is this happening?

It all boils down to a dramatic drop in supply. The world is facing the biggest deficit of cocoa in decades. Most cocoa beans are grown in West Africa, where extreme weather and changing climate patterns have upended crop harvests, which are forecast to fall short for the third year in a row.

That means another year of higher prices for makers, sellers and, ultimately, eaters of chocolate. Chocolate bunnies and eggs are expected to be pricier this Easter and perhaps for some time to come. Shoppers are still expected to splurge on the holiday, but can anticipate to get less for what they pay for.

Wrong conditions at a wrong time of the year

Roughly two-thirds of the world's cocoa is grown in West Africa, most of it in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

And farmers there have faced extreme weather brought by changing climate patterns for a few years: heavy rains and flooding, high winds during the dry season — wrong conditions at the wrong time of year. This has worsened crop disease and also road conditions, disrupting bean deliveries to ports.

The International Cocoa Organization forecasts that global cocoa supply will decline by almost 11% this season. Other cocoa-growing countries have been unable to fill the gap because ramping up production is expensive and time-consuming; it takes years for newly planted trees to produce cocoa beans.

The extensive shortfall of cocoa has sent buyers scrambling, pushing prices up. And the historic rally has drawn in speculators, exacerbating the price volatility.

"Normally ... if prices are very high, people start producing more of that commodity," says John Ament, an independent consultant who's the former head of cocoa operations at Mars. "That is not as quick with cocoa. So I think these prices are going to stay higher than they were for a while."

Ament says the damaging weather compounded other preexisting problems. Trees in West Africa have been aging and yielding less cocoa; farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast have struggled to battle pests and disease.

In fact, those farmers rarely benefit from the surging cost of cocoa in the market, because they typically pre-sell the beans at agreed-upon prices in advance.

"Unfortunately, the amounts they earn for selling their cocoa doesn't generate enough income to help them rehabilitate their farms — replant, buy fertilizers, buy pesticides, etc.," Ament says. "The sourcing of cocoa and the model for producing and trading cocoa in the world is not a sustainable model."

Smaller bars and Kit Kats only partially dipped in chocolate

There's a bit of a lag before chocolate makers and sellers pass down higher ingredient costs, but shoppers have already been paying more for chocolate for months — seemingly happy to do so, for a while.

Companies are getting creative to pass on or manage the higher costs. Mars has shrunk the size of some of its chocolate bars. Hershey launched a Kit Kat that's only partially dipped in chocolate. Other companies including Nestle, Hershey and Mondelez, owner of Cadbury and Milka, have gone the direct way, raising prices.

Easter-themed grab bags are leaning into non-chocolate candy: gummy, jelly, candy-coated or marshmallow.

The price of chocolates sold at major U.S. stores has jumped nearly 15% since the start of 2023, according to analytics firm DataWeave. For comparison, non-chocolate candy rose in cost just 4% in that time.

Some stores and brands — including Target, Lindt, Cadbury, M&M's and Reese's — offered notably bigger discounts this Easter compared to last year's, DataWeave found, presumably to help offset higher prices.

Industry research suggests people are starting to cut back on impulse purchases of chocolate, though they continue to splurge for special occasions. And companies say more price hikes are likely to come this year because it's unclear when cocoa harvests will be healthy again.

The National Confectioners Association forecasts that shoppers will spend more than $5 billion on chocolate and candy this Easter season. That's similar to last year , when shoppers spent more money to buy slightly less chocolate.

"This price increase will come on top of the price increases that already happened over the last couple of years, so it will be sort of adding insult to injury," Ament says, predicting that chocolate sales will continue declining.

"At the end of the day, chocolate is an indulgence product," he says. "You can swap it for other ways of treating yourself or for snacking."

It's now been a month since Big Bear's famous bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, were supposed to hatch their eggs, and yet, despite them clearly being nonviable, the couple continues to incubate them as thousands of people continue to watch online.

When will they stop sitting on their eggs: Peter Sharpe, a wildlife biologist with the Institute for Wildlife Studies, said the eagles will continue to sit on the eggs until they crack.

“I would expect that to happen anytime now," he said.

What happens when it cracks: If the eggs do break, Sharpe said, Jackie and Shadow will continue to act as though they are still breeding through the end of the season.

Avian breakup: Sharpe also had some heart wrenching news for fans of the Big Bear pair. He said if an eagle couple have had two to four years of unsuccessful breeding, they might break up and look for another mating partner.

Weeks ago, the online community that has so diligently watched the bald eagles tend to their three eggs through rain and snow was glued to the livestream hoping to see eaglets start to emerge from their shells. But as time wore on, the odds of that happening dropped to the point of no return.

So why are the bald eagles continuing a useless effort?

Peter Sharpe, a wildlife biologist with the Institute for Wildlife Studies, said the eagles will continue to sit on the eggs until they crack.

“They dehydrate because the eggshells are porous so they should be losing water and eventually it just becomes more of an air filled space in the egg and they'll just break,” he said. “I would expect that to happen anytime now.”

If the eggs do break, Sharpe said, Jackie and Shadow will continue to act as though they are still breeding through the end of the season, usually in July.

“They know they should be doing something in terms of breeding at this time of year, so they may continue to work on the nest, they may start bringing food to the nest to eat,” Sharpe added.

Sandy Steers with Friends of Big Bear Valley, the organization that runs the livestream , said Jackie and Shadow are leaving the eggs uncovered for longer periods of time now.

“In the past, they don't usually give up completely. They just leave the eggs for longer periods and then sometimes they get preyed upon,” she said.

When the ravens preyed on unhatched eggs in the past, it upset Shadow.

“He stood there staring at the leftover eggshells and he just stood there for probably 10 minutes looking, just looking at them, not knowing what to do,” she said. “He was very upset and then he didn't, for the next couple days, he didn't do anything with his sticks — like he usually is always rearranging sticks and making sure the nest is all perfect.”

Is an avian breakup on the horizon?

Sharpe also had some heart wrenching news for fans of the Big Bear pair.

He said if an eagle couple have had two to four years of unsuccessful breeding, they might break up and look for another mating partner.

“They don't know which one of the individuals is not either fertile or doing something wrong, so they may break up and find a new mate,” he said. “It would upset quite a few people, but a lot of eagles do come through that area in the fall, so there are opportunities to find another mate if one chooses to do so.”

The Biden administration has approved the strictest-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty trucks.

Why it matters: Public health and environmental advocates are celebrating the move as a boost to zero-emission trucks, while some trucking organizations are criticizing it as unfeasible given current infrastructure.

What it covers: The standards cover a wide array of vehicles, from city buses and box trucks to garbage trucks and 18-wheelers. The rules apply to manufacturers, and while it's up to manufacturers to choose how to comply, they are widely expected to lean heavily on battery-powered vehicles.

Didn't California already pass rules? Yes. The state's "Advanced Clean Fleets” rule bans sales of new gas and diesel big rig trucks by 2036, among other strong measures to reduce emissions.

The Biden administration has approved the strictest-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty trucks. Public health and environmental advocates are celebrating the move as a boost to zero-emission trucks, while some trucking organizations are criticizing it as unfeasible given current infrastructure.

The standards cover a wide array of vehicles, from city buses and box trucks to garbage trucks and 18-wheelers. The rules apply to manufacturers, and while it's up to manufacturers to choose how to comply, they are widely expected to lean heavily on battery-powered vehicles.

The state's "Advanced Clean Fleets” rule  bans sales of new gas and diesel big rig trucks by 2036 and requires fleets with more than 50 trucks to transition to electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2042.

It also requires drayage trucks, the most polluting trucks, to be 100% carbon-free by 2035. It would also require garbage trucks and local buses to transition from fossil fuels by 2039.

Read more: California's Groundbreaking Clean Fuel Laws Mean Big Changes For Polluting Trucks And Trains. Why It Matters

Combined with separate Environmental Protection Agency rules restricting other pollutants from heavy trucks , the slate of rules — for model years 2027 through 2032 — are meant to address both carbon emissions that drive climate change and the soot and smog that directly harms human health.

"On behalf of everyone who breathes, thank you," Paul Billings of the American Lung Association said during an EPA press briefing.

EPA administrator Michael Regan said the agency's "strong and durable vehicle standards respond to the urgency of the climate crisis." The EPA estimates the net benefits to society are worth $13 billion per year, including health benefits, climate benefits and net savings to truck operators.

The oil industry has vowed to challenge the rules in court.

Heavy-duty trucks have an outsize environmental footprint; larger industrial vehicles make up about 5% of the country's vehicle fleet, but 20% of transportation emissions.

The rules were first proposed last year. After collecting comments from the public and industry, the EPA adjusted the final rule to kick in more gradually in the next few years and become more stringent in the early 2030s.

Zero-emission heavy-duty trucks exist today, but are more expensive than traditional diesel vehicles. The EPA says that despite the upfront cost, over time the rules will save fleet owners money in reduced fuel and maintenance costs. Some drivers and fleet operators disagree with that assessment and have denounced the rule as unrealistic and expensive.

"We are concerned that the final rule will end up being the most challenging, costly and potentially disruptive heavy-duty emissions rule in history," Jed Mandel, the president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, said in a statement, while maintaining that truck manufacturers "are committed to a zero-emission future" for trucking.

The American Bus Association said it supports climate initiatives that "gradually" move the U.S. toward a cleaner environment, but that the EPA's rules are a "forced march towards electric vehicles" that could potentially double equipment costs for the motorcoach industry.

"This administration appears more focused on placating extreme environmental activists who have never been inside a truck than the small-business truckers who ensure that Americans have food in their grocery stores and clothes on their backs," said Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, in a statement.

"There's nothing new about polluting industries trying to avoid having to clean up," said Laura Kate Bender, of the American Lung Association, calling some of the industry claims about costs "outrageous" and untrue.

Light-duty vehicles just got their own rules

Last week, the EPA finalized rules governing tailpipe emissions from light- and medium-duty vehicles — cars, SUVs, vans and most pickup trucks.

Those rules were also the subject of intense lobbying, and the final standards were tweaked to accommodate automakers' concerns. It was still strict enough that the EPA expects by 2032 more than 50% of new light-duty vehicles will be fully electric, and two-thirds if you count plug-in hybrids.

That's a lot more EVs than the EPA expects heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers to sell. That's because light-duty vehicles are much easier to electrify than heavy-duty ones — they are, well, lighter, which means smaller batteries. And they're easier to charge; powering a gigantic truck takes a daunting amount of energy.

"One charging site for a heavy truck fleet could use as much power as the Empire State Building," says Matt Horton, CEO of EV charging station developer Voltera. Still, he says, that technology exists, and the EPA's rules are a boost to businesses like his because they provide some "certainty in the market" to help make long-term plans around investments.

It's not just the cost of building charging stations — the grid itself needs to improve and expand to support additional demand.

Some heavy-duty vehicles are harder to clean up than others

A school bus that's parked most of the day. A garbage truck with its daily route. A long-haul tractor-trailer on the road for hundreds of miles in a day.

They're all heavy-duty vehicles — but they're different beasts when it comes to cutting emissions.

Already, battery-powered vehicles can handle shorter, consistent routes, especially ones that allow for easy recharging at a depot. The Biden administration is funding all-electric school buses , for instance, which appeal to school districts — and also reduce school-age children's exposure to diesel fumes.

On the other end of the spectrum, long-haul trucking remains a significant challenge. Battery-powered big rigs and hydrogen-powered trucks are the two main candidates. Hydrogen trucks are quicker to refuel, but so far, not cost-effective, and would require brand-new infrastructure to make and distribute that hydrogen. Batteries, meanwhile, are so heavy it would reduce how much cargo truckers could haul, aside from the charging challenges.

The EPA says it factored those challenges into this rule. The agency predicts no significant sale of zero-emission sleeper cab trucks until 2030, and even then, they would be a small fraction of the market. Trucks that travel shorter routes, meanwhile, would be expected to shift toward zero-emission models faster.

Is it feasible? Manufacturers, drivers and some fleet operators disagree

Health organizations like the American Lung Association strongly support these standards as a life-saving measure.

"In the short term, my patients, who are children, are going to enjoy reductions in air pollution which is going to undoubtedly reduce their risk of asthma attacks," Dr. Franziska Rosser of the American Thoracic Society said in a briefing on Friday. "And in the long term this rule is going to mitigate climate change, which is harming everyone, including the children who I serve."

Green groups, like the Environmental Defense Fund, celebrate them as a win for the climate and characterize them as perfectly feasible .

Craig Segall of Evergreen Action, a climate group, called the rule "a key piece of the puzzle" for cutting emissions from the transportation system, noting that federal funding for freight charging infrastructure announced earlier this month will help the trucking industry meet the "ambitious standards."

The oil industry and biofuels industry , meanwhile, have both objected, citing not just feasibility questions but energy security and cost efficiency as reasons to avoid regulations that penalize the internal combustion engine.

"This misguided rule should be overturned by Congress, but short of that, our organizations are prepared to explore challenges in court," the leaders of the American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers said in a joint statement on Friday.

And what does the trucking industry think? Well, it's complicated.

"We are opposed to the rule in its current form," says Jacqueline Gelb, vice president of energy and environmental affairs at the American Trucking Associations. "But we're going to continue to work with the EPA."

Gelb says while the EPA did relax the early years of the restrictions, the ATA, which represents trucking companies, still has serious concerns about what the rules would mean for the bottom line.

Other industry voices are blunter. "We are nowhere near ready for electric vehicle trucks, and I doubt we will ever be," Monte Wiederhold, a fleet owner who's active in the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, told the EPA last year. Critics of the regulations say they could push drivers to keep their existing diesel trucks for longer, eroding health benefits from cleaner, new trucks for sale.

On the other hand, some large public companies that operate large fleets of trucks, like Amazon and DHL, have publicly embraced zero-emission trucks as part of their climate targets. Those two companies are part of a group that actually pushed for the rules to be even more stringent.

Then there are the truck manufacturers — the companies that are directly regulated by this rule. They are investing billions of dollars in making zero-emission vehicles and have publicly set targets for zero-emission vehicle sales. A few, like Ford, pushed for even stronger emissions regulations to promote those vehicles.

But they also emphasize they can't control how quickly charging infrastructure gets built out.

"We cannot afford a scenario where manufacturers must sell zero-emission vehicles, but fleets won't purchase them because there's no infrastructure in place to operate them," Jed Mandel of the Engine Manufacturers Association told the EPA last year. "That is a recipe for disaster."

Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org .

T h e   N e w   S c h o o l

Course catalog, film criticism, eugene lang college lib arts: culture & media.

CRN : 13628

Credits : 4

This writing-intensive course examines the practice of film criticism in the age of Twitter, Letterboxd, and prodigious streaming options. With widely proliferating outlets for distribution and public discourse, what role does the critic play today, as expert, intellectual, influencer, or naysayer? Tracing historical trends from cinema’s origins to the present (auteurism, feminism, apparatus theory, cultural studies, the “oppositional gaze”), along with parallel perspectives from art, music, and literary criticism, the course situates the critic within and against the culture industry, between academia, journalism, marketing, and popular discourse. Students will practice different approaches through written, videographic, digital, and other critical techniques, and discuss the field with professional practitioners. [Tracks C, M, S]

College : Eugene Lang College Lib Arts (LC)

Department : Culture & Media (CAM)

Campus : New York City (GV)

Course Format : Seminar (R)

Modality : In-Person

Max Enrollment : 19

Add/Drop Deadline : February 4, 2024 (Sunday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline : April 16, 2024 (Tuesday)

Seats Available : No

Status : Closed *

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 7:42am EDT 3/30/2024

Latest Issue

FEJ 6.1 is out! Navigate over to UCL Press to browse our latest general edition. As always, contributions span a wide range of topics and angles on film education, ranging from the role of animal in film-making teaching settings, an account of the development of film education in China, and a translated reflection by Emmauel Siety on how films we watched during childhood invite a different approach to the analysis of cinema.

Recent Events

The sixth Scottish International Film Education Conference took place from Thursday 15 to Friday 16 June 2023 . Recordings from the event will appear in the 'Recorded Events' section soon. Stay tuned!

​ Teaching Resources

Recorded events.

The Film Education Journal is the world’s only publication committed to exploring how teachers and other educators work with film, and to involving other participants – policymakers, academics, researchers, cultural agencies and film-makers themselves – in that conversation. The journal publishes a range of article types, aimed at reaching our diverse academic and practitioner audience.

Editorial Team

Jamie chambers.

Edinburgh College of Art Profile Page

Bio coming soon.

Robert Munro

Queen Margaret University  

Robert Munro is Programme Leader in Film and Media at Queen Margaret University. He has served as an Associate Editor on the Film Education Journal since 2020. Robert's research interests centre around film education, Scottish cinema and videographic film criticism. His publications can be viewed here .

British Film Institute  

B io coming soon.

F ilm Education Journal at UCL Press

Email 

f [email protected]

Roger Ebert

(1942-2013)

Who Was Roger Ebert?

Roger Ebert was an American film critic. His career began in 1966, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times ' Sunday magazine. In 1975, he became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize. That same year Ebert teamed up with fellow movie critic Gene Siskel on a television show where they debated the quality of the latest films. The show proved a hit, and Siskel and Ebert became household names. They worked together until 1999 when Siskel passed away. Ebert died on April 4, 2013, at age 70, in Chicago, Illinois.

Writer and film critic Roger Joseph Ebert was born on June 18, 1942, in Urbana, Illinois. Ebert, along with his longtime television partner Gene Siskel, was perhaps the most noted movie critic in film history. With their popular syndicated show, Siskel and Ebert became almost as celebrated and famous as the movies and movie stars they covered.

Ebert, the only child of Annabel and Walter Ebert, came from a modest background. His father was an electrician who earned enough to keep his family out of hard times, but was determined to see that his son carve out a bigger future for himself. As a child, Roger Ebert loved to write, and thanks to a close relationship with his aunt Martha, he developed an appreciation for movies. He also adored newspapers and books and, at an early age, was writing and publishing his own local paper, the Washington Street Times , which he named after the street he lived on.

In high school, Ebert edited the school's paper and developed his own science-fiction fanzine. To earn extra money, he also wrote for The News-Gazette in Champaign, Illinois, where his style and talent were on full display. He captured first place in the Illinois Associated Press sports writing contest his senior year, beating out a whole crop of much more seasoned reporters.

Shortly after he began attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in 1960, Ebert's father died of lung cancer. Ebert quickly rose in the ranks at the school's paper, The Daily Illini , earning the role of editor in chief by his senior year, in 1964. After receiving his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois, Ebert pursued a Ph.D. in English at the University of Chicago, but soon abandoned the dream to write full-time.

Film Critic

Ebert's decision paid off in 1966, when he was hired to write for the Chicago Sun-Times ' Sunday magazine. Six months later, after the paper's society reporter died, the green reporter was tapped to become the paper's new film critic. From the get-go, Ebert demonstrated an energized gusto for writing about film that few could match. On his very first day at his new job, he gave readers a look at the French film Galia , using the film to advance his overall opinion about the entire genre of French "New Wave" movies. "We have been treated to a parade of young French girls running gaily toward the camera in slow motion," he wrote, "their hair waving in the wind in just such a way that we know immediately they are liberated, carefree, jolly and doomed." It's doubtful anyone could have predicted the prestige and longevity Ebert would bring to the position. Certainly his bosses didn't sense anything; his appointment was buried on page 57 of the paper's April 5, 1967 edition.

Move to Television

As he had in school, Ebert soon developed a reputation at the paper as a hard worker and fast writer, someone whose quick mind and quicker typing skills drew the envy of his colleagues. By the mid-1970s, Ebert was already entrenched as a highly regarded movie critic and magazine writer. In 1975, he became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize, and was approached by a local television producer about bringing his work to the world of television. The idea seemed like a novelty at the time: bring together two highly charged film critics from competing newspapers and let them air out their opinions each week for the cameras.

Ebert was an obvious choice. So was Gene Siskel, a movie critic for the Chicago Tribune , whose more reserved, less bombastic style clashed nicely with Ebert's more outgoing flair. The show, initially titled Opening Soon at a Theater Near You , first aired in September 1975 and proved to be an immediate success. By the end of its first season, the program was showcased on more than 100 public television stations. Three years later, PBS, which had secured the rights to the program, brought the show to 180 markets.

While the show's popularity certainly fattened the wallets of the two critics, it wasn't until the early 1980s that the program began to make them rich. In 1982, the pair earned $500,000 each for the season. Four years later, after Walt Disney Co. purchased the program, the two critics doubled their salaries.

Influence on the Movies

As the show's stars became household names, their influence took off. One way the pair flexed their muscles was by drawing attention to issues that stirred their passions. Their campaign for an adult movie rating helped sparked the creation of the NC-17 rating. Other themed shows condemned colorization, and pushed for full-screen letterbox images on video releases and more usage of black-and-white film. They also championed independent and foreign-language films, as well as documentaries otherwise doomed to fall through the cracks.

Both men continued to write for their respective papers. Ebert also authored an assortment of books that expanded his thoughts on film. But it was their television work, (producers finally settled on the title At the Movies ) that put them on the map. Viewers loved their clashes, their highly opinionated debates over plots, performances and direction. They also loved their famous "thumbs up, thumbs down" approval meter—an idea that Ebert claimed he developed.

Personal Life

In 1992, after a series of relationships, Ebert's personal life settled down when he married Charlie "Chaz" Hammel-Smith, a divorced mother of two.

Not surprisingly, Ebert's relationship with Siskel mellowed as well. Over the years, the once fiercely competitive writers grew extremely close. Ebert's Chicago-area brownstone was adorned with pictures of his good friend, who passed away in February 1999 from a brain tumor.

Siskel's death, however, did not signal the death of At the Movies . To continue on with the work that he and his partner had started, and perhaps to keep his friend's memory alive, Ebert chose to keep the program going. With the help of wife Chaz, Ebert tried out a parade of guest hosts before settling on Sun-Times colleague Richard Roeper as Siskel's replacement.

Ebert also continued to move forward off-screen. He wrote more books and even took the hard steps toward losing weight. But in 2002, the celebrated critic experienced significant health issues of his own. He then underwent a cancerous thyroid-necessitated surgery, which he seemingly recovered from, allowing him to return to the paper and his TV show. A year later, however, Ebert was back in the hospital, this time to remove a growth on his salivary glands, to undergo a procedure requiring radiation treatment.

Losing His Voice

In 2006, doctors discovered more cancer, this time in Ebert's mouth. To get at the tumor, surgeons cut out a part of his lower jaw. The procedure seemed to be a success, but just as Ebert was about to head home, he suffered a devastating medical emergency: His carotid artery, which had been damaged by the radiation and surgery, burst, causing blood to rush out of his mouth.

The situation and procedures that followed changed Ebert's life in unimaginable ways. He lost his voice and was unable to eat or drink. He then underwent a tracheostomy, which forced him to get his nutrition through a tube that ran through his stomach. Attempts were made through more surgeries to reconstruct Ebert's jaw from bone and tissue taken from other parts of his body, but none of the efforts were successful. And so the man who had made a living with his words and voice settled into this new phase of life.

Branching Out

The surgeries spelled the end of Ebert's television appearances, but not his writing or his public appearances. He returned to the Sun-Times and continued to review films. In 2008, he also began to write an online journal. What had started simply as an effort to track his recovery development soon morphed into a larger look at other areas like politics (Ebert long identified as an unapologetic liberal), death, religion and other big-picture themes. Additionally, in his later years, Ebert continued to churn out books. In 2009, he finished Great Movies III .

In 2004, Ebert became the first film critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Five years later, he was recognized by the Director's Guild of America with an Honorary Life Member Award. In early 2010, Ebert drew a standing ovation from a crowd that included Hollywood heavyweights like Helen Mirren, Jeff Bridges and Peter Sarsgaard, at the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards. Matt Dillon, who served as presenter that night, called Ebert "a tireless champion of independent film."

But all of that paled in comparison to the developments that took place in early 2010. After several years of speaking with a computer-generated voice that he activated by a keyboard, Ebert stumbled across the work of CereProc, a Scottish company that analyzes prior recordings of a person's voice to recreate a computer generated sound that is extremely similar to how a person actually speaks. For Ebert, there was no shortage of archived sound to draw from, and on March 2, 2010, after months of work, he debuted his old voice on The Oprah Winfrey Show .

Later Projects

In late March 2010, in the wake of the cancelation of At the Movies (in its most recent incarnation, hosted by critics A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips), Ebert announced on his blog plans to launch a new show.

"We will go full-tilt New Media: Television, net streaming, cell phone apps, Facebook, Twitter, iPad, the whole enchilada," Ebert wrote. "The disintegration of the old model creates an opening for us. I'm more excited than I would be if we were trying to do the same old same old. I've grown up with the internet. I came aboard back when MCI Mail was the e-mail of choice. I had a forum on CompuServe when it ruled the web. My web site and blog at the Sun-Times site have changed the way I work, and even the way I think. When I lost my speech, I speeded up instead of slowing down."

Death and Legacy

After battling cancer for more than a decade, Ebert died on April 4, 2013, at the age of 70, in Chicago, Illinois. Ebert's Pultizer Prize-winning reviews and enduring presence in the entertainment industry, despite his illness, made him one of the most popular and influential movie critics of his time.

The annual EbertFest film festival, which the critic launched in 1999, continues to be regarded as a regular movie-lover's event in Champaign, Illinois.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Roger Ebert
• Birth Year: 1942
• Birth date: June 18, 1942
• Birth State: Illinois
• Birth City: Urbana
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Roger Ebert was an American film critic best known as one half of the popular Siskel and Ebert film critic television show.
• Documentary
• Journalism and Nonfiction
• Astrological Sign: Gemini
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Chicago
• Death Year: 2013
• Death date: April 4, 2013
• Death State: Illinois
• Death City: Chicago
• Death Country: United States

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Roger Ebert Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/writer/roger-ebert
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: May 12, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
• No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough.
• If you have to ask what it symbolizes, it didn't.
• Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.

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Critical approaches - Film analysis

Considering ways and means for bringing film into classrooms, and how to talk about them with children and young people; and how to begin some simple film analysis.

Introduction

Here we have two of the ‘3 Cs’ in its sights: watching and talking about film (part of the ‘Cultural’ spehere of film education), and ‘analysing film’ (part of the ‘Critical’ dimension). The section on FIlm Analysis was written by our colleagues in the Danish FIlm Institute, and features a brilliant one-minute film from South Korea. So we have a film from beyond the viewing experience of many young people (part of the ‘Cultural’ sphere), as well as using it to model approaches to film analysis. We emphasise as always the importance of combining the Cs together: so that watching a wide range of film is always done critically; and that film analysis should always range across different types of film forms and genres, periods, and locations.

Educational perspectives: film analysis

In this section we will be looking at a specific approach to teaching film analysis devised by colleagues at the Danish Film Institute. The approach is based on three fundamentals of visual storytelling: themes, style (aesthetics) and film form.

We will introduce you to some hands-on exercises supporting learners’ film analysis skills around a film called ' Edge of Seventeen ', a one-minute short South Korean horror film. Then, we will also ask you to choose a different short film example and propose some analysis activity of your own.

A note on short film

Throughout this course, we typically propose approaches to watching, making, and analysing short films, rather than feature films. This is for a number of reasons:

• Short films are complete narratives in their own right, but can be watched many times in a lesson or session;
• Young people are much less likely to have seen the short films we propose - and much more likely to have seen feature films;
• shorts are more easily cleared for copyright;
• and while taking clips from feature films is sometimes useful for illustration, if you want to teach about whole narratives, then short films are most efficient.

In later steps, you will be looking at ways in which to plan student presentations and feedback from student to student, and finally, you will see an example of film analytical teaching materials, made by the Danish Film Institute. The latter is included to inspire educators to plan their own film analytical tasks after the course. Each step asks you to read a text and/or watch the short film ' Edge of Seventeen ' as part of the step task. We encourage you to share your thoughts and notes with the other participants.

Why analyse film? And how to do it?

Analyzing film has a positive effect on learners’ critical awareness. Film analysis is a powerful way of improving their ability to decode and analyze, and film analytical tools are invaluable in a visually dominated culture with different visual media.

Film analysis motivates a variety of collaborative tasks, from pair work to teamwork and discussions in class. A critical approach to film provokes conversation, which is essential for learning. In school, film analysis can often focus on ‘themes’ - the purpose being to find out what the film is telling us in relation to its underlying theme. However, a film-specific approach will help the students to become aware that both film form and style (aesthetics) contribute to the shaping of the film’s content and the ways in which we, as members of an audience, receive and understand what we see.

It is important to know that a film’s ‘messages and values’ are expressed in a close and dynamic interaction between what (the content) and how (film form and aesthetics). When film form, style and theme(s) interact well, it strengthens the viewer’s personal, emotional, creative and cultural experience of the film’s narrative and message. The approach we take in this section to film analysis is only one among many different approaches. However, the focus on both themes, aesthetics and film form is essential for critical awareness, and the method is suitable across educational groups and ages in school. Teaching this approach to film analysis is a matter of preparation and organization.

Starting Film Analysis

Study Tracks Shifts in Student Mental Health During College

Dartmouth study followed 200 students all four years, including through the pandemic.

Phone App Uses AI to Detect Depression From Facial Cues

A four-year study by Dartmouth researchers captures the most in-depth data yet on how college students’ self-esteem and mental health fluctuates during their four years in academia, identifying key populations and stressors that the researchers say administrators could target to improve student well-being. 

The study also provides among the first real-time accounts of how the coronavirus pandemic affected students’ behavior and mental health. The stress and uncertainty of COVID-19 resulted in long-lasting behavioral changes that persisted as a “new normal” even as the pandemic diminished, including students feeling more stressed, less socially engaged, and sleeping more.

The researchers tracked more than 200 Dartmouth undergraduates in the classes of 2021 and 2022 for all four years of college. Students volunteered to let a specially developed app called StudentLife tap into the sensors that are built into smartphones. The app cataloged their daily physical and social activity, how long they slept, their location and travel, the time they spent on their phone, and how often they listened to music or watched videos. Students also filled out weekly behavioral surveys, and selected students gave post-study interviews. 

The study—which is the longest mobile-sensing study ever conducted—is published in the Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies .

The researchers will present it at the Association of Computing Machinery’s UbiComp/ISWC 2024 conference in Melbourne, Australia, in October. 

These sorts of tools will have a tremendous impact on projecting forward and developing much more data-driven ways to intervene and respond exactly when students need it most.

The team made their anonymized data set publicly available —including self-reports, surveys, and phone-sensing and brain-imaging data—to help advance research into the mental health of students during their college years. 

Andrew Campbell , the paper’s senior author and Dartmouth’s Albert Bradley 1915 Third Century Professor of Computer Science, says that the study’s extensive data reinforces the importance of college and university administrators across the country being more attuned to how and when students’ mental well-being changes during the school year.

“For the first time, we’ve produced granular data about the ebb and flow of student mental health. It’s incredibly dynamic—there’s nothing that’s steady state through the term, let alone through the year,” he says. “These sorts of tools will have a tremendous impact on projecting forward and developing much more data-driven ways to intervene and respond exactly when students need it most.”

First-year and female students are especially at risk for high anxiety and low self-esteem, the study finds. Among first-year students, self-esteem dropped to its lowest point in the first weeks of their transition from high school to college but rose steadily every semester until it was about 10% higher by graduation.

“We can see that students came out of high school with a certain level of self-esteem that dropped off to the lowest point of the four years. Some said they started to experience ‘imposter syndrome’ from being around other high-performing students,” Campbell says. “As the years progress, though, we can draw a straight line from low to high as their self-esteem improves. I think we would see a similar trend class over class. To me, that’s a very positive thing.”

Female students—who made up 60% of study participants—experienced on average 5% greater stress levels and 10% lower self-esteem than male students. More significantly, the data show that female students tended to be less active, with male students walking 37% more often.

Sophomores were 40% more socially active compared to their first year, the researchers report. But these students also reported feeling 13% more stressed during their second year than during their first year as their workload increased, they felt pressure to socialize, or as first-year social groups dispersed.

One student in a sorority recalled that having pre-arranged activities “kind of adds stress as I feel like I should be having fun because everyone tells me that it is fun.” Another student noted that after the first year, “students have more access to the whole campus and that is when you start feeling excluded from things.” 

In a novel finding, the researchers identify an “anticipatory stress spike” of 17% experienced in the last two weeks of summer break. While still lower than mid-academic year stress, the spike was consistent across different summers.

In post-study interviews, some students pointed to returning to campus early for team sports as a source of stress. Others specified reconnecting with family and high school friends during their first summer home, saying they felt “a sense of leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of these long-standing friendships” as the break ended, the researchers report. 

“This is a foundational study,” says Subigya Nepal , first author of the study and a PhD candidate in Campbell’s research group. “It has more real-time granular data than anything we or anyone else has provided before. We don’t know yet how it will translate to campuses nationwide, but it can be a template for getting the conversation going.”

The depth and accuracy of the study data suggest that mobile-sensing software could eventually give universities the ability to create proactive mental-health policies specific to certain student populations and times of year, Campbell says.

For example, a paper Campbell’s research group published in 2022 based on StudentLife data showed that first-generation students experienced lower self-esteem and higher levels of depression than other students throughout their four years of college.

“We will be able to look at campus in much more nuanced ways than waiting for the results of an annual mental health study and then developing policy,” Campbell says. “We know that Dartmouth is a small and very tight-knit campus community. But if we applied these same methods to a college with similar attributes, I believe we would find very similar trends.”

Weathering the pandemic

When students returned home at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the researchers found that self-esteem actually increased during the pandemic by 5% overall and by another 6% afterward when life returned closer to what it was before. One student suggested in their interview that getting older came with more confidence. Others indicated that being home led to them spending more time with friends talking on the phone, on social media, or streaming movies together. 

The data show that phone usage—measured by the duration a phone was unlocked—indeed increased by nearly 33 minutes, or 19%, during the pandemic, while time spent in physical activity dropped by 52 minutes, or 27%. By 2022, phone usage fell from its pandemic peak to just above pre-pandemic levels, while engagement in physical activity had recovered to exceed the pre-pandemic period by three minutes. 

Despite reporting higher self-esteem, students’ feelings of stress increased by more than 10% during the pandemic. By the end of the study in June 2022, stress had fallen by less than 2% of its pandemic peak, indicating that the experience had a lasting impact on student well-being, the researchers report. 

In early 2021, as students returned to campus, their reunion with friends and community was tempered by an overwhelming concern about the still-rampant coronavirus. “There was the first outbreak in winter 2021 and that was terrifying,” one student recalls. Another student adds: “You could be put into isolation for a long time even if you did not have COVID. Everyone was afraid to contact-trace anyone else in case they got mad at each other.”

Female students were especially concerned about the coronavirus, on average 13% more than male students. “Even though the girls might have been hanging out with each other more, they are more aware of the impact,” one female student reported. “I actually had COVID and exposed some friends of mine. All the girls that I told tested as they were worried. They were continually checking up to make sure that they did not have it and take it home to their family.”

Students still learning remotely had social levels 16% higher than students on campus, who engaged in activity an average of 10% less often than when they were learning from home. However, on-campus students used their phones 47% more often. When interviewed after the study, these students reported spending extended periods of time video-calling or streaming movies with friends and family.

Social activity and engagement had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the study in June 2022, recovering by a little less than 3% after a nearly 10% drop during the pandemic. Similarly, the pandemic correlates with students sticking closer to home, with their distance traveled nearly cut in half during the pandemic and holding at that level since then.

Campbell and several of his fellow researchers are now developing a smartphone app known as MoodCapture that uses artificial intelligence paired with facial-image processing software to reliably detect the onset of depression before the user even knows something is wrong.

Morgan Kelly can be reached at [email protected] .

• Mental Health and Wellness
• Innovation and Impact
• Arts and Sciences
• Class of 2021
• Class of 2022
• Department of Computer Science
• Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies
• Mental Health

A Q&A With Film Critic and Theorist Vinzenz Hediger

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