Open To Criticism

Wendy Lloyd

What if your taste in movies is being dictated by powerful voices who don’t look like you, think like you, or care about the stories you want to see? Film critic Wendy Lloyd investigates who’s really shaping what you watch – and why it matters.

In the #MeToo, BLM, and Times Up era, are the gatekeepers of film criticism changing, or are the same old voices still pulling the strings? Wendy digs deep into who gets to shape the conversation, why it matters, and how the stories we value are impacted by race, gender, and privilege.

With sharp wit and a knack for getting to the heart of the issue, Wendy invites fellow critics and commentators into lively discussions about the inequalities still lurking behind the scenes of the industry's most powerful platforms. Who decides what films deserve top honours during Awards season? And why are so few diverse voices holding the reins?

Join Wendy for this twice-nominated Independent Podcast Awards show, as she unpacks the mystery of who holds the real power in film. Blending humour with hard truths in a show that might just change the way you see the movies – and the critics who rate them.

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Top 10 Open To Criticism Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Open To Criticism episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Open To Criticism for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Open To Criticism episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

The Permanent Crisis of Film Criticism with Prof Mattias Frey

Open To Criticism

04/21/23 • 35 min

This week I'm being a swotty fangirl, as my guest is someone whose work I've revered for several years now. Mattias Frey is a film and media industries scholar and he's Professor and Head of the Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries at City, University of London. He's written several books, but his 2015 publication The Permanent Crisis of Film Criticism: The Anxiety of Authority was my Bible during my Masters research. So the chance to discuss his work first-hand, and pick his brains about where we're at right now - especially in the context of the history of criticism - seemed too good an opportunity to miss. If you've ever pondered the story of film criticism and how it's morphed over cinema's 100+ year history then look no further than this week's episode.

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Season 1 trailer: Why we need to talk about film criticism

Open To Criticism

03/02/23 • 7 min

Film Critic Wendy Lloyd sets out this new podcast that investigates how we talk about movies, who gets to do it and why it matters. Previewing upcoming interviews with critics Helen O'Hara, Amon Warmann and Anna Smith, this'll whet your appetite for a series of lively conversations about the changing face of film and its criticism. Launching 10th March 2023.

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Film and Critic Inequality Data with Stephen Follows

Open To Criticism

04/12/24 • 37 min

Perhaps it's rash of me to assume you're on board with my narrative about inequalities in film criticism and its skewed white male demographic. Perhaps you need to hear from someone at the coalface of data who can confirm my claims - and add to them with their own reputable research. If so, then this week's conversation with Stephen Follows should be just the ticket. Stephen's a data researcher and educator in the film industry whose work focussing on patterns and trends has been widely published and recognised. Stephen's also written and produced numerous short films and two feature films. He co-founded Catsnake, a story agency serving non-profits, and serves as chair of the Central Film School. An utter pleasure to chat with Stephen about his research on the continued lack of women in criticism, his theories on why the inequalities remain pervasive and persistent, and what he thinks might improve it.

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Navigating the white space of film as a Black critic with Amon Warmann

Open To Criticism

04/07/23 • 34 min

Amon Warmann is one of very few black male film critics in the UK, and despite having carved out an impressive career over the.past decade he can still struggle to be seen beyond his racial credentials. Amon reflects upon this in this weeks episode, along with how he found his voice in a decidedly white space, how lighthearted film chats on social media can get messy, and his frustrations with the repeated pushback against diverse casting. Our chat took place in summer 2022 and I date it, because he discusses his "BFI Greatest films of All Time" list which has since been made available online.

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How industry Awards still fail filmmakers of colour with Leila Latif

Open To Criticism

03/17/23 • 37 min

2023's Awards season has been a mixed bag - and definitely not mixed enough in terms of representation amongst the winners. This week's guest, critic Leila Latif, has built a career speaking out about the continued lack of recognition for people-of-colour in film. In this episode we discuss the problem with awards campaigns, the unreasonable attacks and judgement endured by Spike Lee and other black filmmakers and how she has to "Trojan-horse" herself into publications to secure commissions beyond the topics of black cinema and diversity.

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"Women vs Hollywood" and other battles with Helen O'Hara

Open To Criticism

03/10/23 • 37 min

Women have had their (brief) moments of power during the 100+ years of Hollywood, but they and other marginalised groups have never had an easy ride. Film critic Helen O'Hara's book Women vs Hollywood: the Fall and Rise of Women in Film is a must-read for understanding this history of cinema - from the perspective of those still trying to get an equal piece of the pie. She's the perfect way to kick off this podcast: from the problem with the (very white male) film canon, to how women's opinions are still shouted down, Helen is a voice of reason - and a highly engaging and entertaining one at that.

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Critic Power at Film Festivals with Mia Farrell

Open To Criticism

03/22/24 • 35 min

Film festivals are more than just red carpet glamour. They're THE launchpad for movies, and the difference between a positive critic reaction versus an across the board trashing can make or break a film. But whilst there are a much more representative cohort of critics working today, it's still the same faces and traditional demographic attending the big festivals. Which means those big first reviews that can decide whether a film gets picked up for distribution and ends up on cinema screens - or not - are being written by the same narrow demographic, which potentially continues to exclude films that aren't traditionally valued. PR and film festival strategist Mia Farrell has worked for most if not all of the big festivals over the years so she was my go-to expert for a look at the relationship between critics and festivals. What might still need to happen for more films to get a fair shot at success and how exactly do critics play a role in that? #critics #festivals #filmfestivals #paolamalanga

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Critics vs Influencers? Round 2 with Anton Bitel

Open To Criticism

04/26/24 • 34 min

I return to the subject of critics versus influences this week, following my enlightening chat with critic and industry influencer Ashanti Omkar back in Season 1. Influencers are increasingly being used by film publicists to provide exposure and hype ahead of film releases - especially Blockbusters. But has it gone too far? Some critics think so - and there was industry outrage last summer when many felt their freedom to express genuine reactions to the film Barbie was being curtailed by publicists. I wanted to have a reasoned debate about this from the perspective of a long-time critic, and Anton Bitel was the man for the job. With a balanced recognition about the reality of criticism as an ever-changing discipline, and the authority to call-out where he sees influencers and their role in marketing impinging on critics' editorial independence, Anton provides an important and interesting perspective on screening etiquette, the reality of modern film promotion, the scourge of 'star ratings', and why critics need to not assume spoilers are always a bad thing. #Barbie

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The Feminist Reframing of Rom-Coms with Corrina Antrobus

Open To Criticism

05/03/24 • 36 min

The much maligned Rom-Com is a perfect example of how a whole film genre can be dismissed by dint of who the stories are for, and who they are about. (Clue: it's not men!). After a classy start in Hollywood, Rom Coms - and their sister genre 'Chick Flicks" - have been used to dismiss a particular type of love story, and anyone who's dared to enjoy them. And so the Guilty Pleasure was born. Thankfully times are changing, and there's a realisation that many films that have been overlooked - at best! - might be worth revisiting in our more enlightened times. Step up this week's guest, critic Corrina Antrobus, who's new book, a 'manifesto in 100 films' entitled "I Love Rom-Coms and I am a Feminist", is released in August. We discuss how lighthearted love stories haven't been given their due over the years and how that's not unrelated to who makes and watches them. And how the genre has only recently begun to recognise love beyond the white heterosexual gaze. Corrina shares her insights from rewatching films spanning 100 years of cinema and together we celebrate a genre which - unlike all others - has a long and strong history of female filmmakers. To preorder Corrina's book, click here: https://geni.us/ILoveRomcoms

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The Kids are Alright? Critiquing Family Films with Jo Berry

Open To Criticism

04/19/24 • 38 min

In the hierarchy of film genres, those aimed at kids, or "family" movies, don't tend to be up there. Even though from Toy Story, to Finding Nemo to Snow White and her Dwarves, there's a long history of iconic movies that have defined the childhoods of generations. Kids' films are also a minefield for parents - discerning what is age appropriate and what to expect from the somewhat confusing certification. Film Critic Jo Berry has carved out an important and much needed niche reviewing family films on her Movies4Kids website. There, parents can get the lo-down on specific causes for a concern so they can make informed and responsible decisions - as well as identify the movies that won't bore them to tears as chaperones! The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) recently released the findings of their latest five year public survey, which revealed what parents are currently concerned about when it comes to their kids' media consumption. Jo shared her thoughts on this, and a lot of very funny and enlightening stories about her life navigating kids' films and their target audience. #KillBill #PawPatrol #ToyStory #ABugsLife #Pixar #Disney #Wish #Paddington #Paddington #FindingNemo #Armageddon #MrBean #ThomasTheTankEngine #DespicableMe #Tarantino #HItchcock #Oscars #TheWizardOfOz #ChittyChittyBangBang #NormOfTheNorth #TheChildCatcher #SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarves #CruellaDeVille #GlennClose #Bambi

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FAQ

How many episodes does Open To Criticism have?

Open To Criticism currently has 23 episodes available.

What topics does Open To Criticism cover?

The podcast is about Metoo, Identity, Film, Film Interviews, Blm, Reviews, Podcasts, Movies, Tv & Film and Film Reviews.

What is the most popular episode on Open To Criticism?

The episode title 'Film and Criticism beyond the Western Gaze with Kaleem Aftab' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Open To Criticism?

The average episode length on Open To Criticism is 33 minutes.

How often are episodes of Open To Criticism released?

Episodes of Open To Criticism are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Open To Criticism?

The first episode of Open To Criticism was released on Mar 2, 2023.

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Open To Criticism

Wendy Lloyd

Top 10 Open To Criticism Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Open To Criticism have?

What topics does Open To Criticism cover?

What is the most popular episode on Open To Criticism?

What is the average episode length on Open To Criticism?

How often are episodes of Open To Criticism released?

When was the first episode of Open To Criticism?

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