Talking Movies: How Spling Became a Movie Critic

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As a seasoned movie enthusiast and critic, I, Spling, have had a remarkable journey that has led me to where I am today. It all started with a young boy who dreamt of being an astronaut or a pirate, but instead found his passion in watching and critiquing films.

Welcome to Talking Movies… I’m Spling.

This week, I want to share how I became a movie critic…

For quite some time now, I’ve delved into the realm of film criticism starting from 2007. Since 2013, I’ve also been hosting Talking Movies. However, you might be wondering how I came to be a movie critic – here’s my story.

When asked about their future careers, many children often mention unusual jobs like astronaut, pirate, or professional wrestler. At an older age, I chose “movie critic” as my career, which seemed just as implausible at the time – who would believe that someone actually gets paid to watch movies? Yet here I am, 17 years into this unconventional profession, and I’d still be thrilled to say “I get to watch movies for a living.”

A romantic notion, everyone seems to automatically think this is all it entails – apart from writing the odd review. Nowadays more than ever, there’s no set financial model for being a movie critic and it’s starting to seem like we are a dying breed. Gone are the days when one could get by with one affiliated publication.

As entertainment segments diminish and syndicated content grows in popularity, it’s less about expressing well-considered viewpoints and more about producing content quickly. Movie critics must forge their unique paths or risk being labeled under a broad entertainment umbrella term such as “Showbiz Ninja.”

Let’s take a step back for a moment before things get too melancholic. It was likely Barry Ronge who sparked my interest in becoming a film critic. This well-known, bearded movie critic and entertainment journalist was seen on television, heard on radio, and even had his own magazine column.

An iconic and easily recognisable public figure with a trademark waistcoat, he was prolific, respected and entertaining even if you didn’t entirely agree with his opinion. His gift of the gab, the way he wrote reviews and his multi-pronged fame made him an influential figure and the subject of my recent tribute to the film critic luminary, Remembering Barry.

Engaging in film critique and expressing my opinions about it initially sounded fascinating to me, given my strong background in both Art and English studies. This career primarily involved critiquing various artistic mediums, ultimately weaving comprehensive reviews into a cohesive narrative.

Filmmaking shares some traits with magic, both needing a delicate balance of maintaining doubt while hiding truths, creating the necessary illusion to transport viewers into a dream-like experience. Isn’t it enticing to possess the power to seamlessly transition between reality and dreams throughout the day?

In my school years, writing essays about art history significantly improved my grades in art classes, as it allowed me to dissect the symbolism, techniques, materials, and methods used by artists whose works were shown during our lessons. This process not only exercised my creativity but also sharpened my analytical skills, helping me construct persuasive arguments. Given that English and creative writing were areas I enjoyed immensely, analyzing creative projects in a logical manner was both enjoyable and enlightening for me.

Although I seldom delved into the assigned reading books except for Lord of the Flies from high school to university, I managed to grapple with the themes and construct a satisfactory essay by relying on external sources. The intricate writing in Passage to India and The Great Gatsby might have dissuaded me from finding enjoyment in novels altogether.

Up until I was 15 years old, I was an avid reader of Douglas Hill, Roald Dahl, and Willard Price. However, the academic texts assigned to me started feeling a bit dull in comparison. Truth be told, as a child, I usually gravitated towards vibrant, captivating novels like Asterix and Tintin that I’d borrow from the local library. Yes, you could say comics books fall under that category too!

Due to my exceptional marks in Art and English, I was an unexpected student among Kingswood’s highly anticipated group of Honours candidates, causing the planned photo featuring them to be discarded. Despite it appearing as a lucky coincidence, I dedicated myself during my matric year by establishing a structured routine that combined exercise, rest, and study.

Initially, I chose to study Experimental Film, Media & Visuals at UCT for my bachelor’s degree. However, it wasn’t until later that I fully embraced filmmaking. I considered a Master’s in Business Information Systems focusing on enhancing speech recognition software productivity, but without a dedicated supervisor, I found the path unsustainable. This realization prompted me to take up a copywriting job to explore more creative opportunities instead.

After school, I had acrylic paints and an easel for my artwork, but I desired more than just a pastime. Writing copy turned out to be a beneficial alternative to channel my creativity. I brainstormed attractive product names, designed mailers, and oversaw the creative process from art to sound. Eventually, I shifted to working from home, using my skills in new ways.

In the times before Netflix sent movies through the mail, I began renting films from a local video store and started writing on my freshly created blog, spling.co.za. I decided to name the company after myself since linking my brand to something as intimate as my lifelong nickname was expected to foster my commitment to its endurance.

After making a commitment to critique a film every day for a year, I became fully convinced that this was a task I truly desired. My dedication was validated by the platform, which ultimately helped me secure a weekly featured review as the initial author other than the editor on one of Cape Town’s most prominent and widely read lifestyle blogs at the time.

Through this chance, a fresh wave of prospects unfolded in the media sphere, fostering natural expansion. It didn’t take much time before I was assessing films, delivering weekly written and spoken critiques across various platforms – online as well as on-air. This is how my journey as a presenter for Talking Movies on Fine Music Radio began.

For movie reviews, interviews and previous Talking Movies podcasts visit splingmovies.com.

And remember, Don’t WING it, SPL!NG it!

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2024-09-01 11:43