ESSENTIALS
Heather — Head Valk / Contributor / All Round Nerd, The Valkyries
Email — Twitter — Facebook Page — Instagram — Twitch — Kofi
FILMOTOMY RECOMMENDS
FILMOTOMY SAYS
The most crucial aspect to making a movie site work is not extensive technical knowhow, nor an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of cinema. It’s passion! Welcome to The Valkyries, a site that ought to be lodged immovably in the bookmarks bar of any fan of genre cinema… but not just cinema, as this is an operation of remarkable breadth of vision, covering everything from movies to video games, books to board games, anything relating to the weird wing of nerd culture.
It’s a joy to read such well-informed, impassionate writing on content that’s too often covered in the same tired style by the same type of voice. And that’s what makes The Valkyries particularly appealing – it’s fundamentally located far from the toxic nerd-bro perspective that proliferates on online discussion in this field, as its entire writing staff is female! Eat it, Gamergaters! — Paddy Mulholland
WANT TO KNOW MORE
How was your Website / Podcast Conceived?
After spending 18 months providing video game coverage for another publication I noticed a distinct lack of female voices in the film, game, comic book etc communities and created The Valkyries as a way to try an increase that.
What makes your Website / Podcast stand out from the rest?
The Valkyries is led, populated and driven forward entirely by women and people from minority genders. We cover all aspects of nerdy culture in content articles, take part in charity events and head to game expos/ comic cons.
Where do you see your Website / Podcast in the next 5 years?
In the next five years I would like us to grow, with more contributors and more of a community and for our podcast to have been successfully launched!
What are your Go-To Sites for Film?
For film information my go to has always been IMDB.com.
For general interesting articles Film School Rejects is a great site for really interesting articles, I especially love their piece on The Silence of the Lambs.
Classic Film you Shamefully haven’t seen?
Goodfellas
A Film that Genuinely Scared you?
Ghost Stories
A Film that still makes you Cry like a baby?
LOADS but Moulin Rouge does without fail.
A Film that still has you Pissing Your Pants Laughing?
Fantastic Mr Fox
An Old film you would love to see on an IMAX screen?
Jurassic Park
What is your Favorite Film of 2019 so far?
Captain Marvel or US
Which Screenplay do you wish you had Written?
Her
Who would Play you in your Biopic?
Hopefully someone nice like Drew Barrymore.
Who should Host the Oscars next year?
Robert Downey Jr and Cate Blanchett please.
Whose Zero Oscar wins or nominations hurts the most?
Hereditary for Toni Collete.
The Internet is no more – what is your Job now?
I’d like a farm, or an animal sanctuary.
What is one of your greatest Childhood Movie Memories?
Once me and my dad did a double feature at the cinema of X-Men and Phantom of the Opera and it was awesome.
Who were your Movie Star crushes growing up?
Let’s do some sharing here okay so, Stuart Townsend (thank you Queen of the Damned), James Spader (that one still may long continue) and Missy in Bring it on.
Pick 5 words that best describe going to the Cinema?
Immersive, cold, exciting, spooky and fun!
Where do you stand on Streaming Services and their place in film?
I think streaming services are brilliant, I have and regularly use Netflix it has enabled me to see so many films that I wouldn’t have likely seen from a whole host of creators from different backgrounds. Film can be an incredibly hard industry to break into so the more avenues people can access it from the better! Film for everyone not just the privileged!
What is your Honest Opinion on the entire Star Wars saga?
I can take or leave Star Wars, I know that’ll probable ruffle some feathers but it just doesn’t grab me like other franchises do! I am glad that we are getting a newer fresher more diverse set of movies for the next generation of Star Wars fans, but I am happy to leave it to them.
We really need a Film Twitter definition – what is yours?
My definition of film twitter would be something a long the lines of “A podium on which to debate film but respectfully”.
Share one of your most Controversial movie world opinions?
I don’t know if it is controversial but I think the Oscars are a totally outdated and archaic way of celebrating film and if it is going to continue and try and bring its self back to what it once stood for, then massive changes need to be made in the judging panels, organisation and presentation of the awards.
We need diversity in the judges, nominees and the genres. It has become formulaic to the point you can pick out an “Oscar Worthy” film a mile off and that isn’t the right thing in my opinion, it should be a celebration of film and everything that goes into it.
Change one thing about a Masterpiece, and tell us why?
Titanic, there was room on that door for both of them.
What are some of the Film Quotes you use a lot in everyday life?
“Closer Clarice.. closerrrr” Lots of The Silence of the Lambs quotes.
What is the Role of a Film Critic – and how important are they?
I have never put huge stakes in “professional critics” for anything not just film, I find film to be such a subjective thing that its to find a balance between a professional analyse of a film and a personal hot take. I prefer to read articles ABOUT Films that talk about the performance or the set designs then a column telling me why i’ll hate something or it lacking worth.
A Film Buff asks you for advice starting a Website / Podcast – what do you tell them?
Just crack on! It is terrifying to start with, I spent at least the first year at the Valks and months with the other sites thinking someone would take offence/ dispute what I had to say and start a whole thing, but then everything has been well received and I no longer fear.
Also interact with as many folks as possible, get involved in the communities.
