Source Spotlight: Moviefone
Whether you’re reeling from awards season or getting pumped for summer flicks, check out Moviefone. Not only can you get tickets to your next favorite film, you can read up on the action before you even get your popcorn. We spoke to Moviefone’s Editor-In-Chief Tim Hayne about the Oscars, keeping content fresh, and what movies to get excited about this year.
Moviefone is both a news source and a valuable service. How does content fit into Moviefone’s overall mission?
Moviefone is about discovering movies and having fun, and the content reflects that. Whether they’re reading a review of the weekend’s hottest new theatrical release, scanning the latest “Star Wars” casting news, or browsing a list of the most terrifying movie aliens of all time, readers will end their visit at Moviefone having found a movie they want to see, rent, or revisit; or having satisfied their movie-related pop-culture fix. Moviefone’s content is fun, engaging, and complementary to its service side.
How do you keep content fresh and exciting?
We have a team of talented editors and writers who know more about movies than you’d think humanly possible. We’re also fortunate to have Hollywood serve up a steady stream of new theatrical and home releases week after week. We feel passionately (for better or worse) about these movies, and that excitement inspires the content we produce every day.
Image: And the Oscar Goes To …
What do you consider the most important part of entertainment journalism?
Establishing and maintaining trust with your audience — especially when it comes to a topic that has as huge a following as movies — is the most important part of entertainment journalism. When you’re recommending a film, posting an exclusive interview, or asserting a movie’s place atop a list of all-time best films, your readers want to know that they can really count on your opinion. Don’t betray that trust; it’s an honor.
What was your takeaway from this year’s Oscars? Any surprises?
Seth MacFarlane was the biggest surprise for me. Like any host, he had his moments, but a lot of his jokes crossed the line into the land of inappropriate – and that just doesn’t fly with the Academy or the TV audience. I was expecting him to be Oscar-safe, and, for some of the time, he was. But when he wasn’t, he really missed the mark.
Also, I realize she was the odds-on favorite to win, but Jennifer Lawrence taking home the Oscar for Best Actress was still a surprise to me. She’s talented, for sure, but she’s only 22 and has an entire career of risk-taking roles ahead of her. Jessica Chastain delivered a powerful performance in “Zero Dark Thirty,” and we’ve seen what she’s capable of in a wide variety of roles, from “The Debt” to “The Help” – even “Mama.” Personally, I would have liked her to take home the award.
What movies are you looking forward to this year?
There are too many to list! But, with summer fast approaching, I’ll start with that blockbuster season. “Iron Man 3,” “Star Trek Into Darkness,” Baz Luhrmann’s vision of “The Great Gatsby,” the animated “Epic,” Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel,” “The Lone Ranger,” and “World War Z” are among my top picks. In the fall, I’ve got my sights set on “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,” sci-fi thriller “Gravity,” Spike Lee’s take on “Oldboy,” the “Carrie” remake, “Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” and, of course, “Anchorman: The Legend Continues.” This is just the tip of the iceberg – there are plenty of films still waiting for a release date.
