Contributing to Film Daze
All pieces will be published on our Substack first and later on our main website.
A good example of recent essays that we have published can also be found here.
The enthusiasm of the film community has excited us, inspired us, and continues to help us grow. We welcome pitches from new voices and past contributors, but before you pitch to editorial@filmdaze.net, here are a few tips to give your pitch the best possible chance:
(Note: We are not currently looking for any new staff/regular contributors, so unless it concerns festival coverage, please only pitch us one-off pieces. We are not interested in reviews for films/series that have already been released).
We commission most of our festival coverage and general reviews from current staff/regular contributors, so please do not pitch us festival coverage/ reviews unless you see it on our call list.
1. INITIAL CHECK. Review the site before pitching any coverage, as we may have already covered that film or series. If we have something similar, make it part of your pitch to double down on your specific lens – what makes your piece unique? What makes it necessary?
2. TITLING. This is the first bit we see, and it’s important to immediately let us know what you’re pitching for. If you’re pitching for our “Vampires” issue, this should be the first thing we see. Additionally, if not in the subject line itself, the title of your potential piece should be early on in the email – it helps us know what you’re pitching, and helps you frame the rest of your pitch.
3. BE SPECIFIC. We often receive multiple pitches on the same piece of media, and it’s up to you to convince us why yours should be the one we go for. Make your pitch as focused and individual as possible – pitch rejections are most commonly down to just being too broad. To avoid this, we suggest having a title in mind for the piece when you pitch it, as this should prompt you into being specific.
4. TIMING. Holidays and anniversaries are great moments to eye up, but time it appropriately (e.g. don’t pitch for a Christmas piece in February!) It’s okay to sit on a pitch until the time is right – we’re unlikely to approve something 2+ months ahead.
5. PORTFOLIOS. Links to entire portfolios are welcome, but always send us 1+ specific links to your previous work. If you’re pitching a feature, send us a feature – if possible, what you send should always be the most representative of what you’re going to end up writing.
6. MULTIPLE PITCHES. We appreciate the enthusiasm, but the more ideas you present to us in one email, the more you risk undermining those pitches. Please try and limit it to 1-3 detailed and well-thought-out ideas. This won’t be your only shot – we will always consider any emails sent to us, so take your time!
THINGS YOU CAN PITCH TO US ANYTIME
Have you ever watched a film and just obsessed over a certain scene or character action? For example, I often think about the scene in Top Gun: Maverick where Tom Cruise hits Mach 10 but keeps going.
With film peaks, writers will be able to write about these scenes and moments in a tightly written essay. These pieces can be on recent releases or older films. Film Peaks is designed to encourage discussion, increase diversity in our writers, and place a new lens on a film many have watched. Film Peaks Substack pieces will go out a few times a month and are mainly for our Paid Subscribers.
Home Video:
Introducing our new guest column, Home Video! We are looking for insightful writing on what we consider essential directors/films/series (classic and contemporary) available on streaming services and home video (physical collection). Think Criterion Channel, MUBI, TCM, etc.
A few examples:
Homosexual Erasure in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’
The Hand Driving the Needles: On ‘Audition’ and Victimhood
Rates (Effective January, 2024)
New changes and why can be read here
Pieces we previously published can be found here
We are mainly interested in publishing long-form reads on 2023 releases and reviews on 2024 films.
$25 for reviews
$50 for all essays and features Substack (articles, essays, think pieces, listicles, and more.) Substack Pieces will be behind a 2-3 month paywall before being free to read to everyone on our official site (Authors will have access to their pieces to share.)
$60 for Interviews
Festival Coverage TBD
Edits: $15 for reviews, $25 for anything else.
Film Daze is operated by a small group of young, diverse individuals. The more funds we receive, the more we can pay our writers and editorial staff.