Kelly's Filmy Things #6

"The Round Up Blog of 2010"

We've all eaten our mince pies, we've all celebrated the new year, so I thought maybe now's the time to reflect upon an emotional roller-coaster of a year for The Film Obsession and me. 

Starting off in January (Because that's the most chronological order you can do when writing about a year), I celebrated my 20th birthday, had gone into the 2nd term of my first year at Sussex University, and was trying to make the blog a little bigger. 

From then until April I was reviewing films and started my obsession with Twitter, to which I have now made some excellent friends. That one little social networking device can bring wonderful things, as I am about to explain...

By the time May came round, I thought it might be an idea to start a YouTube page giving my thoughts and opinions on films of the moment. Although it was (and still is) cringingly horrible to watch myself back, the videos produced a lot of views with just under 10,000 watches. I've paused for now, but 2011 has come along bringing with it a sparkly new video camera, so look out for more of those! In this month as well, I had finished my first year of Film Studies and got a job at HMV in Brighton, Churchill Square!

As I carried on vlogging and blogging, the views on this website started to rise a little which meant I had some sort of following. Then the lovely Phil and Kat came along (on Twitter) asking for writers to contribute to Blogomatic3000. I applied and after a trial week of successful posts, they let me write my words on their website! July was when the posts started to fly in... This was the month that I posted the trailer analysis for Paranormal Activity 2, which is now the most viewed blog on my website with over 30,000 views. Ridiculous, right? I still find it hard to imagine people who I've never met reading my work. It's a lovely, silly feeling, that is. 

August was really special. Blogomatic3000 sent me to my first press screening, which was Scott Pilgrim - One of now, my top 10 films. I was sent screeners of Kandahar Break, Love Life and Night Before The Wedding to review by American film companies, and met my good old buddy Monty who I would be nowhere without at press events. And then September came round which caused even more of stir as I exclusively interviewed David Whitney (the director of Kandahar Break) and went to the launch party of StreetDance 3D! Plus, getting into the London Film Museum to meet the team behind Blogomatic3000 was great fun! We geeked out probably as much as we could over film. 

October came and I started back to University, now in my scary, everything counts, 2nd year. But this was the ultimate month for the blog. I hit 10,000 views which was incredible and I only went and got a press pass for The London Film Festival, to which me of all people, was allowed to sit in the same room with the likes of Keira Knightly and Hilary Swank - Now THAT is absolutely bloody amazing. Another amazing thing is I met some lovely people at the festival including Hemanth. His laugh is like Buble's voice to my ears. And I met (finally) the brilliant HeyUGuys team who are literally the nicest people ever. 

After this immense month I actually did have to start doing proper work for a proper degree, so the posts die down a little towards the end of the year. One last junket I did get to attend was the Paranormal Activity 2 event, in which a hotel was paid for, a screening at Paramount Studios was taken place, and a Paranormal reading of ghosts and spirits in the London Tombs occurred. I've literally never, EVER, been so terrified in my life. Without the help of Jo, I think I would of actually passed out, but she kept me grounded... Until we ran from the room, and when I say ran, I believe neither of our feet touched the floor at one point we moved so fast. 

How immense is that? Me, a girl from Crawley who moved to Brighton to study film is hanging around with top journalists? It's just crazy. I'm not showing off in this blog, I'm giving a sense of my appreciation and love for what I do. It's overwhelming the amount of privileges I've been giving and can only hope that 2011 brings with it even more heart stopping excitement (Because when I was gazing into Andrew Garfield's eyes at the Never Let Me Go conference, my heart did stop). 

Happy 2011 everyone!

Kelly's Filmy Things #4

"The Day I Collected My London Film Festival Press Pass"

Blogomatic3000 gave me the chance to cover The London Film Festival AND I AM! It's absolutely crazy right now with things happening in my career. This year has really been a boost for me to figure out what I want to do when I finish my Film Degree - Break into the Journalism world, of course. So based in the BFI on Southbank (only my favourite place in London) the LFF happens once a year, and starts on 13th October until the end of the month. But before it all kicks off, screenings of films are given to the press to let them have a jump start at writing some articles.

FYI, don't drink irresponsibly, have 4 hours sleep, travel 45 minutes in the car, 40 minutes on the train and 10 minutes on the tube - It does your head a world of pain. Nevertheless, I reach Southbank as it starts pouring down with rain (a common theme in these stories) and find my guru Monty who guides me on anything to do with film. Seriously, I'd be lost without him... Mentally and physically. He introduces me to the lovely Guy and Matt who are in competition with Hemanth, who saw 93 films last year, in how many they'll see this year. Considering the festival runs for 3 weeks, 93 is quite a monumental number, don't you think?! Good luck to them...

After a little chat we bump into HeyUGuys editor Jon who is literally the best person to seek advice or knowledge on film. After he efficiently sends me through the roof with excitement about collecting my press pass, we walk to our destination for the screening of The American - George Clooney's new blockbuster. When I spot the desk where I see passes scattered across it, I hastily walk towards it.

Here it is:

Yes I have covered the ID photo with the lanyard. It's not the most attractive picture of me, so for now you can read the information and deal with my vainness.

Once we have our cards scanned and head into the cinema we find out IT'S FULL. No screening for us... So Monty, Jon and I head up to the swanky BFI bar to enjoy the drinks there and discuss all sorts of matters to do with the movie world. It's great to be a film geek and not be judged.

We head back downstairs for the last screening which we happily are allowed into, and it was a curious French film called Living On Love Alone. Now, I do enjoy a bit of le cinéma français parce qu'il est bien agi et vrai (that's right), but this one seemed a little lifeless and hard to connect with. It did however keep me entertained for 90 minutes... That may well have been me still fuelled with excitement though.

After this, I catch the train home and am reunited with my pink glitter walls and giant flower mirror. I have a lovely evening with the 'rents and tell them to stop watching Robin Hood. And finally, I find out The American has an added screening in a couple of weeks...

Privileged, I am.