Festival Cinephilia Profile: Midline Network

ESSENTIALS

Jennings Collins — Writer, Midline Network

Email — Twitter — Letterboxd

FILMOTOMY SAYS

Midline is like the cool, intelligent kid at your school. The one who is just too kind and funny to be true, but somehow is. Covering mainly music and movies, the site is super easy to navigate and fun to browse. My personal favourite feature; the little verdicts under the film before you even click onto the main review. The layout and overall look of the site is great and professional.

There’s also a handy “Our Crew” section that introduces you to the writers with pictures and little bios, making the blog feel familiar and giving faces to the names on the reviews. They also do plenty of interviews, but my favourite section is the “All Corners” which pulls together various articles and features from the team, including a piece on modern black-and-white films. — Maria Lattila

WANT TO KNOW MORE

Robin Write: How was your Website / Podcast Conceived?

Jennings Collins: It was conceived by friends over social media as a way for a small group of younger writers to speak our mind on film and music. We wanted to pave our own path and get our voices out there on our own.

What makes your Website / Podcast stand out from the rest?

We have a diverse range of articles, from film and music reviews, interviews with up and coming musicians, and pieces on general topics like the Documentary category of the Oscars, to reports on the Film Twitter Awards and other events in the film community.

Where do you see your Website / Podcast in the next 5 years?

I see Midline expanding to even more content. We wanted from the beginning to have our own voices stand out more than we wanted to just be critics.

What are your Go-To Sites for Film?

Next Best Picture, Bloody Disgusting and Another Bloody Movie Podcast are typically my go-to browsing for film news and discussion.

Classic Film you Shamefully haven’t seen?

Apocalypse Now

A Film that Genuinely Scared you?

Annihilation

A Film that still makes you Cry like a baby?

Inside Llewyn Davis

A Film that still has you Pissing Your Pants Laughing?

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

An Old film you would love to see on an IMAX screen?

Blade Runner

What is your Favorite Film of 2019 so far?

Which Screenplay do you wish you had Written?

Unbreakable

Who would Play you in your Biopic?

Dan Stevens

Who should Host the Oscars next year?

Jordan Peele

Whose Zero Oscar wins or nominations hurts the most?

Stanley Kubrick

The Internet is no more – what is your Job now?

Acting/Writing

What is one of your greatest Childhood Movie Memories?

Seeing Up in theaters as a kid, and wanting to break down in the first thirty minutes, just like everyone else.

Who were your Movie Star crushes growing up?

Mostly actresses on Disney shows at the time.

Pick 5 words that best describe going to the Cinema?

Immersive, eventful, promising, inspiring, and intimate.

Where do you stand on Streaming Services and their place in film?

I think streaming services are great to get films distributed to people. I would have never seen some movies I genuinely love without Netflix or Amazon Prime. It can get filled with mediocre placeholders, but there are benefits if you’re willing to look and take a chance with what intrigues you.

What is your Honest Opinion on the entire Star Wars saga?

I think The Rise of Skywalker will have to really impress in order to make any of the current revival of Star Wars feel warranted. Both the Force Awakens and The Last Jedi have fundamental flaws that keep them from being great films, but Episode 9 has a lot of promise.

We really need a Film Twitter definition – what is yours?

It’s one of the most diverse places out there. Everyone has a junket to voice their opinions. Some people might have more followers and more experience with studying film, but there’s a place for everyone.

Share one of your most Controversial movie world opinions?

Ever since I watched The Godfather Part 2 for the first time, I’ve preferred it over the original in almost every way.

Change one thing about a Masterpiece, and tell us why?

I would update some of the sound design in the original Halloween. That’s definitely where the low-budget production can sometimes tank its best scenes.

What are some of the Film Quotes you use a lot in everyday life?

“I’m so tired.” -Coincidentally in Inside Llewyn Davis. The way Keanu Reeves just says “Yeah” In John Wick is something I aspire to equal in terms of natural charisma.

What is the Role of a Film Critic – and how important are they?

Film critics are essentially a translator from the language of a film to typical conversation. It’s a critics job to deliver their own interpretations of a film, attempting to open someone’s eyes to their own viewpoint, even if they agree or disagree. Some of my favorite movies have been re-contextualized for me by a great review.

A Film Buff asks you for advice starting a Website / Podcast – what do you tell them?

Work hard, get your content out there, but don’t overdo it. Marketing is just as important as any content you try to make, and the work you put into marketing yourself should always equate your creative output.