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Regional press news - this story published 25 September 2009

How to get ahead in movie journalism

by holdthefrontpage staff

A magazine for lovers of the silver screen has collated a top ten list of the rules for those wishing to get ahead in movie journalism.

The light-hearted feature in Empire recalls classics such as Citizen Kane and more modern offerings like this year's State of Play, starring Helen Mirren and Russell Crowe.

Empire's helpful hints for would-be fictional hacks include disregarding your wedding plans for the sake of a story (His Girl Friday) or manipulating your worldwide newspaper network to pit governments against each other (Tomorrow Never Dies).

Not featuring in the list, but recommended by HTFP nonetheless, is Shattered Glass, a 2003 movie based on the real-life tale of American magazine journalist Stephen Glass who faked stories published in The New Republic, and also Thank You For Smoking.

The latter is fiction and details how a seductive reporter, played by Katie Holmes, uses her ample charms to manipulate the vice-president and PR maestro of the American tobacco lobby into revealing all his inner secrets.

You can read the full Empire feature by visiting empireonline.com and you won't find All The President's Men in there either.

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william telford (25/09/2009 10:59)
Movie reporters always seem to be working on only one story at any time. Case in point: the Kurt Russell serial killer flick The Mean Season. The most realistic films I've seen are, of course, All The President's Men and The Paper.

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Ruth (25/09/2009 11:05)
I like the films where the editor is always in a huge sunlit office overlooking a dramatic cityscape, sitting in a big leather chair behind an imposing desk, who calls reporters into his office and gives them a big important assignment to carry out some James Bond-esque undercover operation / stakeout, in a world where budget constraints don't exist, the staff wear designer clothes, there are plenty of reporters and subs available to generate the necessary copy to produce a busy daily newspaper and news editors happily allow their reporters to be out of the office for days at a time! Ahhh bliss!

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Mr Mobile (25/09/2009 11:05)
Another good one to add is 'The Insider'. Based on a true story about a scientist who exposes lies within the tobacco industry in America. Also stars Russell Crowe and will reaffirm any tired hack's faith in the power of journalism when it's put to good use!!!

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C. Kent (25/09/2009 11:07)
What about me? I work for the Daily Planet and no-one's mentioned me. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's Clark Kent.....!!!!!

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wolfiepix (25/09/2009 13:07)
also Worth watching.. an old black and white movie called Ace in the Hole, with Kirk Douglas in early starring role

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Hengist Pod (28/09/2009 15:41)
Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday! He seemed to be able to come and go as he pleased even though he had an ogre-like boss who seemed to have it in for him. Mind you he was strapped for cash too which would certainly ring true today

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