Bonus: Film Criticism in Flyover Country

For the 23rd annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase hosted by Take-Up partners Cinema St. Louis, Joshua moderated a panel of esteemed St. Louis film critics called "Film Criticism in Flyover Country". Former guests Elliott Collins and Cliff Froehlich joined colleagues Eileen G'Sell and Diane Carson to bring their diverse experiences as film critics to this master class. The panel was recorded live, so please be aware its quality leaves a bit to be desired.

When most film fans think about film criticism, there are likely a few cultural hubs that spring to mind: New York, Chicago, L.A., Paris, etc. However, like a lot of “flyover country,” St. Louis has a decades-strong film criticism community that’s quietly become even stronger as the pandemic subsides and audiences return to the big-screen. As the Internet overshadows print publications and critics find new mediums to work within, how has this community adapted? Are there challenges unique to “regional” critics? As St. Louis’ filmmakers struggle and thrive, what role do their critic cohorts play? Join some of the key St. Louis film critics to get answers to these questions and the inside scoop on what it’s like to make work out of watching and talking movies.

Please share, subscribe, and review! Read on at TheTake-Up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on ⁠Instagram⁠/⁠Twitter⁠/⁠Letterboxd⁠/⁠Facebook⁠. Special thanks to editor Jessica Pierce, Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch, and our partners at ⁠Cinema St. Louis⁠. Theme music by AMP.