Film Threat
Encyclopedia
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine
in 1985, created by Wayne State University
students Chris Gore
and André Seewood. In 1997, Film Threat was converted to a solely online webzine.
In issue 9, Film Threat became a printed magazine, and it was also around this time that Seewood left the project. This second life of Film Threat included such classic moments as Gore and “Square Dance Instructor” Paul Zimmerman getting kicked out of the 1988 Toronto Film Festival, only to return the following year under fake names representing a fake publication, "Film Forum." In Issue 18 San Francisco State student David E. Williams wrote in, sparking a friendship with Gore that would lead to both of them relocating to Los Angeles
in summer 1989 to work on the growing magazine.
, relaunching in November, 1991 as Volume 2, Issue 1. "I darted to the newsstand to grab the first glossy edition of what promised to be the turning of the tide for 'Let’s-Blow-and-Stroke-the-Interviewee' type film journalism. And whose face did I see? Macaulay Culkin
’s," stated filmmaker Kevin Smith
of the first issue of Film Threat’s new edition.
In 1993, the magazine—then published bi-monthly—had a circulation of 125,000, and was competing with such titles as Premiere
. Paul Zimmerman became executive editor in 1994, and the magazine continued to grow, but Film Threats tenure with Larry Flynt Publications ended after 28 issues in June 1996.
Gore managed to buy back the rights from LFP, and launched the magazine, for a third time, in December 1996. He would print only two issues, however, before retiring the magazine in 1997.
.
Chris Gore was succeeded as editor of the website by Ron Wells (1997–2003), who was then followed by Eric Campos (2003–6) and then Mark Bell (2006–8). Over the course of 2009, the site was edited by Don R. Lewis and Matthew Sorrento, before a brief hiatus where the site went offline in December 2009. On January 25, 2010, during the Sundance Film Festival
, Gore sold the website and rights to the magazine to former editor Bell, who then relocated Film Threat to New Jersey
and relaunched the website on February 23, 2010.
On May 11, 2011, Film Threat announced that it planned to produce a quarterly print and e-book
edition beginning in September 2011, relying upon crowdfunding for the resources. The campaign to return Film Threat to print raised only $5,111 of its $60,000 crowd-funding goal (based on two coinciding $30000 campaigns, one of which was cancelled on June 11th), and were unsuccessful in its attempt to raise the necessary monies by the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign.
In 2011, Film Threat stopped reviewing independent films for free as a practice and, instead, instituted a for-profit "unsolicited submission" service charging independent filmmakers a fee who wish to have their work reviewed by the site. However, FilmThreat.com still reviews select films that are part of the site's regular coverage for free.
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
in 1985, created by Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
students Chris Gore
Chris Gore
Christopher Patrick "Chris" Gore is an acclaimed speaker and writer on the topic of independent film.Gore was born September 5, 1965 in Big Rapids, Michigan. He is the main writer and the founder of Film Threat, a project dedicated to covering independent and underground movies which he started in...
and André Seewood. In 1997, Film Threat was converted to a solely online webzine.
Beginning
The first initial issues of Film Threat combined pseudo-political ranting by Seewood and cinematic material and parody of mainstream film by Gore. In Gore’s own words, "I thought, Wouldn’t it be great to start a punk rock-attitude movie magazine—and then, the people from this magazine would eventually go off and make films. Wouldn’t it be great?"In issue 9, Film Threat became a printed magazine, and it was also around this time that Seewood left the project. This second life of Film Threat included such classic moments as Gore and “Square Dance Instructor” Paul Zimmerman getting kicked out of the 1988 Toronto Film Festival, only to return the following year under fake names representing a fake publication, "Film Forum." In Issue 18 San Francisco State student David E. Williams wrote in, sparking a friendship with Gore that would lead to both of them relocating to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in summer 1989 to work on the growing magazine.
Larry Flynt Publications
During the early 1990s, Film Threat was transformed as Gore attempted to find a more mainstream release for the magazine, while its new offshoot Film Threat Video Guide, edited by Williams, continued to focus on the underground films and filmmakers that the magazine had featured in its early days. Film Threat would eventually find a new home with Larry Flynt PublicationsLarry Flynt Publications
Larry Flynt Publications, or LFP, Inc., runs the adult entertainment empire founded by Larry Flynt. Founded in 1976, two years after Flynt began publishing Hustler magazine, LFP was originally to serve as the parent company of this magazine....
, relaunching in November, 1991 as Volume 2, Issue 1. "I darted to the newsstand to grab the first glossy edition of what promised to be the turning of the tide for 'Let’s-Blow-and-Stroke-the-Interviewee' type film journalism. And whose face did I see? Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor. He became widely known for his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He is also known for his roles in Richie Rich, Uncle Buck, My Girl, The Pagemaster, and Party Monster...
’s," stated filmmaker Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
of the first issue of Film Threat’s new edition.
In 1993, the magazine—then published bi-monthly—had a circulation of 125,000, and was competing with such titles as Premiere
Premiere (magazine)
Premiere was an American and New York City-based film magazine published by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., published between the years 1987 and 2007. The original version of the magazine, Première , was started in France in 1976 and is still being published there.-History:The magazine originally...
. Paul Zimmerman became executive editor in 1994, and the magazine continued to grow, but Film Threats tenure with Larry Flynt Publications ended after 28 issues in June 1996.
Gore managed to buy back the rights from LFP, and launched the magazine, for a third time, in December 1996. He would print only two issues, however, before retiring the magazine in 1997.
Website
Gore launched Film Threat as a website in 1996. At first a sparse collection of film news, FilmThreat.com grew, covering both the indie and mainstream equally. Over the first 14 years of its online life, FilmThreat.com continued in the tradition of its print counterpart, courting controversy—such as when editor Ron Wells wrote a scathing criticism of Harry KnowlesHarry Knowles
Harry Knowles is known for his website called Ain't It Cool News. Knowles is a member of the Austin Film Critics Association.-Biography:...
.
Chris Gore was succeeded as editor of the website by Ron Wells (1997–2003), who was then followed by Eric Campos (2003–6) and then Mark Bell (2006–8). Over the course of 2009, the site was edited by Don R. Lewis and Matthew Sorrento, before a brief hiatus where the site went offline in December 2009. On January 25, 2010, during the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, Gore sold the website and rights to the magazine to former editor Bell, who then relocated Film Threat to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and relaunched the website on February 23, 2010.
On May 11, 2011, Film Threat announced that it planned to produce a quarterly print and e-book
E-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
edition beginning in September 2011, relying upon crowdfunding for the resources. The campaign to return Film Threat to print raised only $5,111 of its $60,000 crowd-funding goal (based on two coinciding $30000 campaigns, one of which was cancelled on June 11th), and were unsuccessful in its attempt to raise the necessary monies by the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign.
In 2011, Film Threat stopped reviewing independent films for free as a practice and, instead, instituted a for-profit "unsolicited submission" service charging independent filmmakers a fee who wish to have their work reviewed by the site. However, FilmThreat.com still reviews select films that are part of the site's regular coverage for free.