BLOG GUIDE WITH SHARIFAH 101 INTERVIEWS: CLARISSA FROM REELVIEWSPH AKA CLARISAYS

Hello and welcome to week four of blog guide with sharifah 101 interviews!

In this Interview series, I Interview different bloggers with different niches worldwide.

Today’s Interviewee is a film blogger, reelviewsph.

Before I interview her, here is her blogging background.

Clarissa is a film blogger from the Philippines who likes to write reviews about movies and television series.

Make sure you read her blog posts.

This interview will cover…

• Movies

• Television series

• Tips

• Advice

• and more

If you’re planning to create a film blog like Clarissa, make sure you get your pen or pencil and a piece of paper and write notes.

Or… you don’t

It’s your choice

Let’s start.

SBG 101 INTERVIEWS WITH CLARISSA FROM REELVIEWSPH

S.O: When did you start your blog reelviewsPH?

C: My blog - ClariSays officially went online in November 2013. I just recently divided my blog into two - foodie views & reelviewsph.

S.O: What do you like about writing a movie/television review?

C: I love the whole process which involves getting excited over a trailer, waiting for its release, watching and at the same time checking for easter eggs, and finally expressing what I think, how I feel and what I discovered while watching a film or series.

20th century fox intro

Credit: ekechio

S.O: What do you dislike about writing a movie/television review?

C: Sometimes I struggle with my own thoughts making it difficult to find the words.

Credit: Tumblr

S.O: On 'thoughts on Marvel studios Black Panther', why did you write that the movie is indeed a breath of fresh air?

C: It’s a breath of fresh air because it’s very unlike the previous films in the MCU let alone in other superhero films. Sure there were intense action scenes like any superhero film but Black Panther is simple. It knows what it wants to show and they successfully did give us even more such as beautiful visuals, proper music and a stellar cast.

Credit: YouTube

S.O: Would you recommend your readers to watch Marvel's studios, Black Panther?

C: Whether they’re following the MCU or not, they should watch it and learn from it.

S.O: What’s your favourite movie snack?

C: For me, popcorn is the best snack but I don’t always eat while watching films. When I’m into the film, I usually forget I bought a popcorn.

S.O: What age rating would you rate a Channel 4 British television series 'it's the end of the f***ing world'?

C: I love the series but I don’t want younger children to watch. I believe it’s for people who can understand black humour and not take it seriously which means it’s definitely not for Preschoolers (2-4), Little Kids (5-7), Big Kids (8-9) or Tweens (10-12). Teens (13+) maybe, but only if there is an adult present.

S.O: On 'thoughts on it's the end of the f***ing world' review, why did you write that the television series is clearly-written?

C: The End of the F***ing World is actually a novel. For a novel to be adapted into a series or film is quite difficult because it’s hard to stay true to the story.

Though I didn’t read the novel, I found TEOTFW cleverly-written and executed because, in a nutshell, the story is pretty crazy. Being able to share that kind of story in live action can be problematic but TEOTFW was successful in delivering a beautiful series.

S.O: Who's your favourite character from it's the end of the F***ing world and why?

C: I honestly love both the main characters - James and Alyssa. Their personalities may be dark but they’re full of life and have different takes on it which in turn gave me realizations.

S.O: What's your favourite movie?

C: I ask myself the same question but I never have an answer. However, there was one film that gave me an intense emotional punch - Black (2005)

S.O: What motivates you to write a blog post?

C: If it’s something that I love and enjoyed, I would definitely write about it even if it’s been shown weeks, months or years ago.

S.O: What are your three blogging tips to film bloggers?

C: There are various helpful tips online but the first one you should consider before following any is yourself. Ask yourself why you are blogging.

1. Once you know the answer and decide to push through it, you must watch and write about films or series that you enjoy. Just because a certain franchise or series is popular doesn't mean you should watch it. Don't force yourself if you don't like it or not ready for it.

2. Just keep writing. I know writing can be difficult but practice will help you know your style.

3. I mentioned to watch and write about what you like but if your blog is not focused on a certain era, it’s always good to try new things. Take on a challenge by slowly deviating from your usual movie choices and write a review.

S.O: How do you plan your blog posts?

C: I realized that the more I force things, the more difficult it gets. So I just do my best to write two new posts a week: 1 food-related + 1 film related. If not, then at least one new post a week is enough.

S.O: Is writing a film blog post hard?

C: Yes, it is. Heck, even a food blog entry is hard. 😭I sometimes get overwhelmed with ideas; not to mention, positive and negative thoughts. When you have a lot to say about a film, it’s difficult to fit them in one short post. Plus, I sometimes get scared of what other people might say.

S.O: What is your advice to someone who wants to write a film review?

C: Don’t be shy and hit publish! I’ve been writing food and film reviews for years but there are times I’m not confident. Since I love what I’m doing, I push myself to write and hit publish.

S.O: Do you think other film bloggers are biased when it comes to writing a film or TV review?

C: I believe that what you write in your reviews depends on your preference. So I don’t erase the fact that maybe those people truly love/hate a certain film or series.

S.O: Do you spot Grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes in your blog posts?

C: Oh, yes! When you’re in the zone, you just write down what you think. Then you proofread before hitting publish. But once it’s available online, that’s when you see other mistakes.

S.O: What are your five steps to write a film review?

C: My process starts in the movie theatre.

1. When I watch a film, I do my best to forget the world around me. This helps me understand and catch some hidden messages or details.

2. After watching, I share my thoughts with my movie buddy - the good and the bad.

3. I write down my initial thoughts.

4. Write about the film which helps me recount what happened.

5. I slowly write the review which takes a while plus a little research if I missed something.

S.O: What’s your opinion on film bloggers who write a false movie or TV review?

C: I dislike fake news and reviews. I haven’t encountered one though or, maybe I don’t know how to spot one. It’s just that reviews are all about how you, the viewer perceived the material. So even if I check review aggregation websites I don’t base my decision to watch a film/series based on their rating.

S.O: The last question, what do you like about blog collaborations?

C: I don’t think I’ve made a lot of blog collaborations. But I do like meeting other bloggers on events and creating connections especially the encouragement and support we give each other.

Thank you, Clarissa, for your answers.

If you don’t want to read this blog post, listen to the audio version!

I hope this blog post has helped you with your film blog; if I have missed something in this blog post, make sure you send me an email or comment below.

Email: sharifahtaiwo31@gmail.com

Should I interview other film bloggers?

Please tell me.

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blog guide with Sharifah 101

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