http://www.smalltowncritic.com COOP COOPER is an independently syndicated film critic with a split personality. His "Southern Side" prints mainstream reviews that appear in various print publications across the mid-south. His "Dark Side" from Los Angeles befouls the site with reviews of horror and grindhouse flicks. Welcome to the site where COOP's two halves (and his contributors) review and debate the latest film/DVD releases... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:00:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2012/01/24/10-reasons-to-attend-the-2nd-annual-clarksdale-film-fest/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2012/01/24/10-reasons-to-attend-the-2nd-annual-clarksdale-film-fest/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:00:51 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3169 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2012/01/24/10-reasons-to-attend-the-2nd-annual-clarksdale-film-fest/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2012/01/24/gypsy-heart-brings-a-fresh-spin-to-an-old-legend/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2012/01/24/gypsy-heart-brings-a-fresh-spin-to-an-old-legend/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:41:10 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3174 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2012/01/24/gypsy-heart-brings-a-fresh-spin-to-an-old-legend/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/04/mississippi-indie-filmmaker-spotlight-michael-williams-illumination/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/04/mississippi-indie-filmmaker-spotlight-michael-williams-illumination/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:20:09 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3134 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/04/mississippi-indie-filmmaker-spotlight-michael-williams-illumination/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/02/things-i-learned-while-making-a-movie/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/02/things-i-learned-while-making-a-movie/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:00:36 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3131 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/02/things-i-learned-while-making-a-movie/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/23/2011-tupelo-film-festival-was-a-blast/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/23/2011-tupelo-film-festival-was-a-blast/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 23:36:23 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3043 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/23/2011-tupelo-film-festival-was-a-blast/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/09/10-reasons-why-film-festivals-are-important/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/09/10-reasons-why-film-festivals-are-important/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 01:29:35 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3035 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/09/10-reasons-why-film-festivals-are-important/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/03/29/coop-is-teaching-a-screenwriting-workshop-at-the-crossroads-film-fest/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/03/29/coop-is-teaching-a-screenwriting-workshop-at-the-crossroads-film-fest/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:09:03 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2999 Crossroads Film Festival in Jackson Mississippi. Theater:  Malco Grandview in Madison, MS (Screen "C") Time:  9:00am Duration:  2 hours Price:  $8 (or $6 for members/students/65+ seniors) Here's the official site's info on the workshop, but unfortunately the personal information they posted about me there is a bit out of date.  Looks like it was culled from a bunch of info on my website that I have since updated.  For a more up-to-date bio, go HERE. CONTENT:  To be more specific, I will talk about the differences between writing a "Spec. Script" for Hollywood and an "Indie Script" for independent productions.  I will include a lot of helpful information and resources for seasoned veterans as well as those new to the process. Topics covered:

• Honest opinions on the latest screenwriting/support software
• Where to find examples of good scripts
• Ironclad resources to help you perfect proper screenplay format
• Effective exercises for beginners and veterans
• The difference between "Hollywood" and "Indie" screenplay structure
• Strategic screenplay outlining
• Pitfalls of writing your first script (spec. or indie)
• Crafting a rich story mythology
• Creating memorable characters
• Solid plot construction
• Insider secrets of the spec. script
• Critical tips for indie screenwriters
• Why "writer's groups" will help you succeed
• Why rewriting IS writing
• What to do when you THINK you've completed a final draft
• Things pro screenwriters NEVER do
• Why making your own film makes you a better screenwriter
• Why living in a "small town" gives you an advantage in writing and making films

Plus, you get...

• Additional resources reviewed and approved by me (many of them are FREE)
• Online access to my supplemental materials just for attending

Hope to see you there! - C]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/03/29/coop-is-teaching-a-screenwriting-workshop-at-the-crossroads-film-fest/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/26/coop-predicts-the-2011-academy-awards/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/26/coop-predicts-the-2011-academy-awards/#comments Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:33:34 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2961 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/26/coop-predicts-the-2011-academy-awards/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/15/the-8th-annual-oxford-film-fest-reviewed-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/15/the-8th-annual-oxford-film-fest-reviewed-by-coop/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:22:35 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2949 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/15/the-8th-annual-oxford-film-fest-reviewed-by-coop/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/18/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-best-of-the-feel-good-film-festival-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/18/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-best-of-the-feel-good-film-festival-by-coop/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:24:43 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2844 Coop’s most recent MICRO REVIEWS (via Twitter): I got to conduct some great Q & A's for some terrific films at the FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL this past weekend. I met some truly gifted filmmakers and inspirational people. I'd like to thank these special guests for affecting me the most: Cheryl Hines for her big intro, Shirley Jones for classing up the joint with her presence, Marty Ingles for reminding us what this festival is really about, Leeza Gibbons for singling me out with a nice compliment, writer/director Lexi Alexander for the lively discussion, producer/actor Googy Gress for his sincere enthusiasm, the League of S.T.E.A.M. for entertaining us all weekend and motivational speaker/actor Nick Vujicic for the sheer inspiration he gave to us all with his fantastic short film The Butterfly Circus (watch here!). I'd also like to give big high-fives to all of the coordinators and volunteers for making the festival such a fun and engaging experience. I had a great time bonding with you all. Finally a big congratulations to producer/actor Joe Russell and writer/actress Casey Strand from the short film "Strawberries" whose engagement I helped orchestrate during one of the more memorable Q & A's. I wish I had seen them all but of the ones I did see, here are the films that I felt were the best (in no particular order)... ]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/18/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-best-of-the-feel-good-film-festival-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/02/coop-is-introducing-movies-and-conducting-q-as-at-the-feel-good-film-festival-aug-13-15/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/02/coop-is-introducing-movies-and-conducting-q-as-at-the-feel-good-film-festival-aug-13-15/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:04:09 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2831 Feel Good Film Festival. I've been asked to introduce some of the features/short films and run the questions & answers session after each. This will be my first year to attend the festival, so I'm excited to get out there and meet the filmmakers, press and organizers involved with the event which will take place at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theater in downtown Hollywood. The festival, which apparently has grown significantly since its beginnings, has quite an impressive indie film line up. Come by, check it out and find me on the red carpet!... Here's the official Press release with details on each film being screened...]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/02/coop-is-introducing-movies-and-conducting-q-as-at-the-feel-good-film-festival-aug-13-15/feed/ 5 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/09/coop-reports-from-the-2010-oxford-mississippi-film-festival/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/09/coop-reports-from-the-2010-oxford-mississippi-film-festival/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:10:58 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2637 th year of the annual Oxford Film Festival in Oxford, Mississippi kicked off the night of Thursday the 4^th by taking over half of the Malco Oxford Studio Cinema and roping an area off for the media, filmmakers and other assorted guests. While I had attended screenings at large festivals during my tenure in Los Angeles, I was only moderately enthused about covering a local one. I figured I'd see a few underwhelming indie flicks and slink on back home to Clarksdale for some light writing and shut-eye. Boy was I ever wrong.

]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/09/coop-reports-from-the-2010-oxford-mississippi-film-festival/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/04/the-small-town-critic-to-host-q-a-at-the-2010-oxford-film-fest/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/04/the-small-town-critic-to-host-q-a-at-the-2010-oxford-film-fest/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:03:45 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2635 WARNING: Shameless self promotion ahead... The Oxford Film Fest - which takes place in the friendly town of Oxford, Mississippi - begins tonight (2/4/10) and yours truly will be hosting the Q & A for the Mike McCarthy cult hit Cigarette Girl at 10pm tonight and 9:45pm Friday night. You might remember me reviewing Cigarette Girl at it's Memphis premiere where I heralded its importance as a symbol of modern cinema born from the ashes of the Memphis urban landscape. Its stylistically gorgeous production design and its bold originality made it one of my favorite cinematic experiences of 2009. ]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/04/the-small-town-critic-to-host-q-a-at-the-2010-oxford-film-fest/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/28/sleep-dealer-2009-12-aint-snooze-worthy-in-fact-its-great-sci-fi-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/28/sleep-dealer-2009-12-aint-snooze-worthy-in-fact-its-great-sci-fi-by-coop/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:36:27 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2523 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/28/sleep-dealer-2009-12-aint-snooze-worthy-in-fact-its-great-sci-fi-by-coop/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/01/david-cronenbergs-crash-1996-reviewed-in-159-one-word-statements-by-dark-side/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/01/david-cronenbergs-crash-1996-reviewed-in-159-one-word-statements-by-dark-side/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:40:26 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2146 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/01/david-cronenbergs-crash-1996-reviewed-in-159-one-word-statements-by-dark-side/feed/ 5 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/12/moon-trailer-is-freaking-me-out-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/12/moon-trailer-is-freaking-me-out-by-coop/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:00:42 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=859 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/12/moon-trailer-is-freaking-me-out-by-coop/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/03/14/south-by-southwest-festival-quickie-watch-a-few-festival-films-from-the-comfort-of-your-computer-chair-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/03/14/south-by-southwest-festival-quickie-watch-a-few-festival-films-from-the-comfort-of-your-computer-chair-by-coop/#comments Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:42:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/south-by-southwest-festival-quickie-watch-a-few-festival-films-from-the-comfort-of-your-computer-chair-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/03/14/south-by-southwest-festival-quickie-watch-a-few-festival-films-from-the-comfort-of-your-computer-chair-by-coop/feed/ 0