More often than not, these inquiries do pertain to some very specific subjects -- what's my opinion on X, do I have any 'insider news' about Y, and why haven't you done more coverage on topic Z -- and, in those cases, I do respond directly with as much substantive information as I can. Keeping in mind that -- as I've always tried to make clear -- I'm a one-man-operation, I just don't have the kind of time to commit to every single breaking news story and/or developing project out there in genre-related cyberspace. When the spirit moves me, I've been known to pass along important breaking news, but as there are so many other websites out there that already play that game, I do try to stick to a fairly narrow track in these MainPage posts.
Still, every now and then, I'll get a question that I'm not quite certain if the reader is being -- erm -- sarcastic and/or serious; and these queries usually involve me personally, not so much the site as a whole. Because it's a legitimate 'ask' and it's open-ended enough that I feel maybe -- just maybe -- it deserves a bit of space, I'll pen something here -- for the MainPage -- with hopes to clarifying who I am, what I do, and what readers can expect. As I said, I try to be clear every chance I'm given; but even I can't always anticipate the needs of a readership as it grows and changes.
So ...
Today's question was as to whether or not I review every film that I watch for SciFiHistory.Net, and the answer is no. No way. Honestly, I just couldn't. Here's why.
For starters: I watch a lot of stuff. TV. Movies. Regular broadcast stuff. Pay cable. The bottom line is that I wouldn't have enough time to review everything I watched.
Second: I don't only watch genre properties. Like many of you, I have interests that are indeed varied. Some days, I'm just not in the mood for something genre-specific, and I'll go with a more conventional drama or mystery. These things don't fit in this space -- within the rubrick of SciFiHistory.Net's parameters -- so I don't review them here. I may put a blurb up in my Instagram feed or even Twitter, but that's more for me and my friends to know about . It ain't germaine, as they say, to this little corner of the Webosphere.
Third: I do watch genre things that -- quite frankly -- I just have nothing to say over. Please understand that on top of viewing my own casual interests that I receive a good number of unsolicited requests from readers, distributors, directors, writers, producers, etc. Some weeks, I get many requests, while other weeks it might be a few. If I watch something that really makes no impact with me, then I reserve the freedom to decline a review because it would really accomplish nothing for me or the provider. And because I do always try to find something positive to say, what could I put down in ink if I failed to achieve that one little requirement? This is a way of being fair to readers, providers, and myself.
Lastly: there are rare occasions where I watch a film that requires a bit of time to truly sink in. Readers know that I look at messages in stories as well as I do performances; and sometimes a project might involve some meatier observations than just the usual fare. When that happens, I'll do like anyone might -- I'll take some time to think about the experience -- before committing something to writing and broadcasting it in this space. If a writer wanted me to think about his or her work of art, then I do feel obligated to try to honor that spirit ... especially when the finished product deserves a bit of extra reflection.
Though I'm not one for rules -- certainly not like some other websites I've worked with in my past -- this is the modest framework I employ in trying to keep SciFiHistory.Net on its own cutting edge ... and I hope this answers your question, faithful reader.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ