Reader Question: Does it hurt your chances of working in Hollywood if you start out as a film critic?
From AlexRinggaard:
Something I never got around to asking, and it hasn’t got much to do with screenwriting, but more about the business of hollywood.
What is Hollywood’s view on movie critics? If you start out as a critic, and post some bad reviews of movies, does that hurt your chances of working in Hollywood on movies?
First assumption: You have something Hollywood wants. Perhaps a great script you’ve written. Or a film you’ve directed that makes them come after you for a project. An actor just right for a special role. Whatever it is, let’s assume Hollywood wants you.
In that case, you could pretty much do almost anything — illegal, immoral, or otherwise — and Hollywood would still want to work with you. If you need a history lesson in this regard, check out the story of David Begelman who was involved in a studio embezzlement scandal… then later hired by another studio as its head of production.
On the other hand, Hollywood does have limits as witnessed by a current ugly situation playing out right now. I won’t mention anyone in particular, but the celebrity in question’s name rhymes with Schmarlie Schmeen. Warner Bros. and CBS cut this individual slack for years until a combination of multiple embarrassing public appearances, calling out his TV show’s creator and exec producer, and apparently drinking tiger’s blood put them over the edge.
So a film critic who publishes some negative views of movies? A mere trifle in comparison. I doubt that would cause anyone in Hollywood to bat an eye.