Recently, while wandering in Frost’s proverbial yellow woods, I came to a fork in the road and decided to take the one less traveled. After a half dozen years as a professional film critic writing about other people’s movies, I have decided it is time to start letting them write about mine.
To that end, I have wrapped up my affairs on the East coast and now find myself a resident of Los Angeles, having moved across the country for, at the time of this writing, a career I don’t yet have in an industry that is nearly impossible to break into.
And yet, I cannot shake the words of Theodore Roosevelt, who in 1910 said,
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
What does this mean for readers of BrandonFibbs.com? First off, thank you—all of you—so very much for frequenting this website and using this humble critic’s opinions to guide your viewing habits. I hope I have not steered you wrong. While I have ended my professional career as a journalist, I am also well aware that it is an occupation from which I will doubtless find it impossible to fully withdraw. As such, I will continue to post reviews of recent films, though far fewer than has been my habit in the past and perhaps not with the same sort of feverish tempo. What this website morphs into, be it simply a repository of my work or some new, blog/storehouse hybrid, remains to be seen. You, my faithful readers, will know as soon as I do.
Until then, thank you again for your faithfulness and I wish everyone the same chance to chase after their dreams, no matter how absurd, and, at the very least, the ability to discover other, previously nameless dreams in the wondrous dark of the glowing movie theaters we all so love.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Stacy (Gunter) Friesen // Apr 11, 2011 at 1:33 pm
My hope (and assumption) is that the “industry” will soon recognize that they have been blessed with a memorable, creative and passionate soul!
Although I, with the many, will yearn for a reputable and entertaining movie review, it is good to know that your postings (of some kind) will continue!
2 Calvin Wulf // Apr 11, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Bully for you, Brandon!
3 Lesley // Apr 11, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Best of luck to you Brandon! Looking forward to the day when I can brag to my friends that I took film classes with that guy.
4 Mason Young // Apr 12, 2011 at 7:24 am
I can’t wait to see your first. Like the story of Beneniah who chased the lion into the pit, you’ve got the courage to follow your calling. Blessings on your endeavor. Let me know if I can ever help. Mason
5 Rhonda // Apr 12, 2011 at 8:26 am
Good luck – I just know you’ll be fine whatever you do. I’ll miss your insightful reviews in the Gazette, but I know you have to do what feels right for you.
And anybody who quotes TR is all right by me!
6 Nick Coleman // Apr 12, 2011 at 9:30 am
Looking forward to what the future brings!
7 Randy Stroud // Apr 12, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Good luck Brandon! Hope to see your movie some day soon.
8 Romena // Apr 15, 2011 at 7:06 am
Wishing you all the best in your new venture. Glad you are not giving up the reviews completely, good to know what movies will eventually reach us across the pond
9 Jeff S. // Apr 23, 2011 at 8:00 am
Here’s wishing you much success in your new career Brandon – you must have a lot of guts (and faith) to pull this move. Please keep us posted. I’ve been reading your reviews for years and found your taste in movies very close to mine, more so than any other film critic. With just a few notable exceptions (Children of Men comes to mind – you gotta be kidding, right?) you even got me to like certain movies I might never have otherwise enjoyed. Thank you!! You have a real talent, heightened by your impressive writing style, so I do hope you are serious about continuing to critique movies, even though less often. Good luck in your future endeavors Brandon and may you find all the blessings God has bestowed on you. I have no doubt you will. Take care, Jeff
10 Eric D. // May 2, 2011 at 10:12 am
L.A. eh? Will miss your reviews. Often read them to see what we agree on, or what I get annoyed with you over. I remember the countless conversations in our dorm 17 years ago about you stating, “Yeah but what I really want to do is direct!”
11 Kyle Coster // May 3, 2011 at 2:50 am
I meant to leave a comment when this was first posted but didn’t get around to it. Anyway, thank you so much for all the great reviews. Yours have been the only ones I consistently read and not just skim through. I even read your reviews for movies I know I won’t ever want to see, just to enjoy your writing and increase my knowledge base of current films. I’ll join the others in wishing you good luck. Any updates you want to provide here would be awesome. However, I’m left without a goto critic to read. Any recommendations?
12 Michael Korte // Jun 30, 2011 at 11:55 pm
I’m guessing Michael Bay won’t be a part of your Motion Picture? Wishing you the best. If you are struggling with plotlines and want to write a page-turner about a felted movie reviewer with major OCD, I know a guy…
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