Thank you for your no-holds barred and mostly negative response to our magazine proposal, although it wasn’t the feedback I was looking for in terms of what you thought of it, I was delighted that you let me know as honestly as you could that you didn’t want it.
Here’s the thing about the written word and the taking in of it. Things just look better in print. It’s true.
I could read Bram Stoker’s classic DRACULA. I could read THE TIME MACHINE. I could read SHERLOCK HOLMES stories, some of the best literary works ever made which are out of print and free of copyright online for anyone to read but I never would because not only would my eyes get fuzzy but I would prefer to have something physical to hold.
I would rather buy a book I can hold in my hand. That’s why this Iliad reader or whatever they are… I have zero interest in. Why do people still buy Empire magazine when they can find the latest news updates online?
I love how quick online resources are for news gathering information. I check the BBC before I leave the house each morning, get the general intake of news (I never watch televised news) but I rarely read whole articles.
That’s because I don’t care for what’s written, I just wanna get the facts M’am, and only the facts!
Obsessed With Film, as a magazine format would of cause still feature news but it would also be looking at more in depth features. The website will still be here for those wanting to find out who is playing GREEN LANTERN, etc.
We believe we can secure a massive feature exclusive on Frank Miller’s THE SPIRIT for example for our first issue, something we simply wouldn’t be able to achieve as just an online resource. We believe we can secure an exclusive first cover for our PILOT issue for THE SPIRIT, which I would be so delighted to achieve.
Mike Edwards said it best when he e-mailed me this morning with his initial thoughts saying about the film p.r. people… “digitals are the underclass as far as they’re concerned”.
Here’s things as they stand (it almost changes on a daily basis as deals fall down, etc.)
We are in pretty advanced talks for a 70 page EXPERIMENT magazine issue, called THE PILOT ISSUE… which we hope to be complete in about 7 weeks time. Unfortunately, that’s near Christmas which will make shipping a nightmare but as our numbers come in of how well it has done, we will compensate for that.
The magazine will be full glossy and of pretty high quality print. We hope. We expect to lose money on the first issue, quite a lot of it in fact… but it’s just an experiment. And if it’s a disaster, we will shelve the idea.
We will probably print less than 1,000 copies for an initial run. This will cost a fortune in itself but we don’t want to print more than we think we can get rid of. We will bill it as being limited but of course we can always print more copies if there is a high demand.
The price will be extremely low. At least 50% less than Empire and with less adverts.
Feature articles will be the key. We will be looking to expand our clientele by quite a huge number and our goal is to be an interesting resource for movies past, present and future.
We will sell the magazine online with extremely quick posting. Next day delivery and great customer service is the key to keeping you guys interested.
I believe we can secure the magazine in Borders bookshops in the U.K. as I have extremely close contacts there. That would truly get Obsessed With Film out to the wider market.
More as we get it… but don’t worry about the site. It won’t change drastically… the news (which is all you guys seem to want to read anyway judging by your comments) will still be here. Just there won’t be as much daily stuff going up and it might free the site for more audio/visual experiments.
9 Comments
Reading the feedback for the previous post… it was like you left a message on Andrew Sachs’ answer phone! The web is great for keeping up to date with news, but print, I believe, still has the upper hand in feature writing and exploring movies in more depth. The attention span of a web reader probably lasts the length of their screen. It’s all about content, and if you can secure that then you should absolutely go for it. The worst that could happen is that it doesn’t work out, in which case, just focus on the site.
Ok, ok I i’d probably get the 1st issue but only cause i’m a 1st issue sucker!
As for continuing to buy the mag i’m not sure, if you are planning to do a full glossy mag it’s gonna end up being just as expencive as all the others out there and that’s one of the reasons why i dont buy mags anymore.
but hey Matt! I love your site so good luck with it anyway, if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, you should do it.
For the last 4 years I’ve been trying to be a Documentary film maker, it’s hard! but i’m not gonna give up because it’s what i want to do.
Follow your passion. I believe crossing media is a good thing and if you can pull in the advertising sales, then do whatever you want. It’s yours!
And I agree, when I want quick news…I check online. When I want depth…I head to the bookstore.
Why? I’m “obsessed with film” too!
Write on!
I have been reading this site from the beginning and even though I love the site I could see print being a potential problem however if you are really passionate about getting it off the ground it could very easily work and I will most definitely be a subscriber. Good luck and to let you know I have gotten a few friends to start reading your website who are more casual movie fans and they very much enjoy reading it so there is a market out there for this site and there is potential. Best of luck.
That’s just it Dan – we all know there is potential here… it’s just trying to find the best avenues and such like to let the “masses” know about us.
Word of mouth is of course the best form of marketing, though, so many thanks!
i believe u shud go towards wot u belive is rite for ur career. as a reader i will miss my daily updates of news. it was the first place i wud go to to find movie news.as i cannot afford to buy news (lol) i wud have to find a replacement for owf.which saddens me a lil
Tanim, nothing is going to change with regards our coverage on the website.
It’s better to have lived and learned then not to have lived at all so GOOD LUCK mate!
Matt, you sure are a headstrong son of a bitch.
As I said, there is something romantic about print media. But the medium is dying, and for very good reasons.
Mike Edwards’ comment about the perception of web-based sites was true … about four years ago. The media today seems to have little problem sucking up to the guys from AICN or CHUD or Perez Hilton or The DRudge Report. These and many others have, with increased exposure and clout, forced old media to recognize their power and change their tactics. And it will continue to move in that direction.
As far as EMPIRE is concerned, I would be curious to see their sales and subscription figures over the last several years. I doubt that it is on an upward curve, and if it is, it won’t stay that way.
I think you are radically underestimating the amount of work required to deliver a high-quality magazine to paying customers (who will expect it because they are paying for it), and all of that will be wasted in pursuit of a dying medium.
End of bitching.
Good luck.