ESSENTIALS
Mary Palmer — Editor, Movie Scramble
Email — Twitter — Facebook Page — Instagram — YouTube — Podcast
FILMOTOMY RECOMMENDS
Second Chance Cinema Review: A New Leaf (1971)
Moviescramble Podcast – Episode 2 – Thunder Road
FILMOTOMY SAYS
Eight years and counting, MovieScramble has grown into a site of impressive scope and scale, offering film fans a vast array of content to satisfy their every need. Editor-in-chief John McArthur has leveraged an evident passion for film and a talent for blogging into an operation of the kind of detail and complexity that would terrify most film bloggers! He has regular features, a new podcast, and a great selection of articles in a variety of formats to keep things fresh and interesting to both regular readers and casual visitors.
An attractive visual design sorts articles into categories on the main page, making for a clear and smooth user interface. MovieScramble is bright and appealing, with strong use of images and attention-grabbing article headers. John’s journalistic style is enthused and engaging, ensuring that no reader leaves the site with anything less than full appreciation of his love for film. — Paddy Mulholland
WANT TO KNOW MORE
How was your Website / Podcast Conceived?
The podcast was conceived through a solid year of nagging our Editor in Chief, John, haha! It’s still new, but we’re very excited about it.
The website, I can’t take any credit for, as John and Thomas established that and recruited me through Twitter to join the team.
What makes your Website / Podcast stand out from the rest?
We cover a lot of local, short films and regularly get involved with the likes of the Glasgow Film Festival and Loch Ness Film Festival. Whilst we do cover the big budget blockbusters, we’re also a good stomping ground for more unusual tastes.
Our distinctive purple “M” is also a nice piece of branding.
Where do you see your Website / Podcast in the next 5 years?
Hopefully, with a bigger team of writers behind us and lots more regular content. I would love to see both the website and the podcast grow and attract a regular audience.
What are your Go-To Sites for Film?
I spend a lot of time on Twitter to read reviews and get links through to movie news. I also buy Empire magazine.
Classic Film you Shamefully haven’t seen?
Lawrence of Arabia
A Film that Genuinely Scared you?
Hounds of Love
A Film that still makes you Cry like a baby?
The Green Mile
A Film that still has you Pissing Your Pants Laughing?
Superbad or Step Brothers
An Old film you would love to see on an IMAX screen?
Shadow of A Doubt
What is your Favorite Film of 2019 so far?
Stan & Ollie
Which Screenplay do you wish you had Written?
The Godfather, Part Two
Who would Play you in your Biopic?
Kirsten Dunst
Who should Host the Oscars next year?
The inimitable Tina Fey.
Whose Zero Oscar wins or nominations hurts the most?
Alfred Hitchcock (although he did get an honorary one).
The Internet is no more – what is your Job now?
Reader of books.
What is one of your greatest Childhood Movie Memories?
Seeing Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire or Flubber. I also remember hiding under the seat when the Wicked Queen appeared in her old crone form in a special re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Who were your Movie Star crushes growing up?
Sad to admit this – but I thought Val Kilmer as Batman was the sexiest thing ever. I had an Aragorn / Lord of the Rings poster up in my room for long enough.
Pick 5 words that best describe going to the Cinema?
The smell of the popcorn.
Where do you stand on Streaming Services and their place in film?
I actually wrote an article on this! It’s absolutely not the same experience as going to the cinema – I feel like it doesn’t command my attention the way a dark cinema theatre does – but they are every bit as important. I don’t think it matters how a film is consumed – Roma has shown this – it’s about how it makes you feel and whether or not it’s a well-crafted piece of work.
What is your Honest Opinion on the entire Star Wars saga?
We didn’t need to expand the saga beyond the original three titles. We’re not really adding anything to the canon.
We really need a Film Twitter definition – what is yours?
For Moviescramble, our definition could be: Stream of consciousness thoughts from the team as well as some lovingly drafted reviews.
Share one of your most Controversial movie world opinions?
Leonardo di Caprio is not worth the Oscar hype.
What are some of the Film Quotes you use a lot in everyday life?
“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.”
“We’re going to need a bigger boat.”
“Yesh, Mish Moneypenny.”
What is the Role of a Film Critic – and how important are they?
Every creative art is highly subjective and you should never feel wrong for having an opinion on something. For me, I use film reviews to advise my watching habits or to compare my own thoughts. I think there will always be a place for film criticism as a way to really get under the skin of the films (on a deeper level) or simply to reflect on something in review form.
A Film Buff asks you for advice starting a Website / Podcast – what do you tell them?
Be committed. There is no point in starting something and not seeing it out. Sure, there will be dry spells for content when life gets in the way of things, but keep coming back to it. And make sure you get a healthy social media following behind you in order to get feedback on what works.
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