Writing a Good Bview

So now that you've read the FAQ and know the basic requirements for submitting a Bview, you're probably asking yourself how the hell you're actually going to write a Bview. I put together these guidelines to help you keep to the Bview format and help you shape what you want to say. It took me a bit to find this formula, but now that I've mastered it, I've found Bviewing much more quick, easy and painless.

The Intro/Summary

• Good things to include in the introduction: prejudices you had going into the film/how those were changed, why you rented the film/how you found it, why you think this film fits in well on Bview, but these are just ideas. Any way you feel best introduces a Bview is good.
• Should not be more than one paragraph - both the intro and summary should both fit into one paragraph.  Though a good time to break this is if you have a long list of known actors/actresses that are in your film.  A lot of times you are better off putting them in a chapter of their own.
• The summary should not reach past the start of the major point of conflict in the movie - We don't need to tell them how the movie ends, because we want them to go see the film. The major point of conflict can take all sorts of forms a film, but a good way to think of when this is would be to figure out where the heart of the film starts.  You don't want your summary to describe past that point.
• Should not include aspects of the film you'll be discussing in detail later in the Bview - Your readers are smart enough that you don't have to tell them the same thing over and over again.  The main character is really interesting, so much so that he's getting a paragraph all to himself?  Great, we don't need you to spend half this paragraph talking about it, too, then!

The Review in the Bview

The heart and soul of the Bview comes in the review itself, but this is also often the hardest part to write, because it's hard to figure out what you want to include/highlight from the film. Also, it's easy to slip into just writing a summary or focusing on a play by play of the film, which can be funny, but doesn't really count as a review (or as a Bview for that matter).  I like to break a Bview down into a series of paragraphs each one focusing on a different aspect of the film.  I often keep these things in mind while watching my movie.

Good Paragraph Ideas for a Bview

• Characters - Either what the cast is like as a whole or highlighting one or two characters that really stand out a lot. Characters are important to me, if they are believable/interesting/entertaining they are going to get some Bview love, if they are boring/bad actors/stereotypes... well... I'm going to talk about them, too.
• Plot/Plot Holes - No, this is not a time for another summary, but to answer some important questions. Is the plot intriguing? Silly? Consistent? Outrageous?  Is it filled with twists?  Does it come together at the end? Does it move too slow or too quickly?
• Setting - This has really become an important to me. I really like it when a setting does a good job of going with the feel of the film, it helps bring it to the next level. So if a movie has a good set, I'm going to do a shout out to it.
• Costumes/Special Effects/Make Up - I clumped all these in one, but really they might be separate.  In horror films especially this will probably deserve a section on it's own.  How cool the deaths are would be under this category.  Super hero films also often have costumes of note that need highlighting. The point of a Bview is to sell others on why to watch a film.  If you think a movie's effects make it worth the 90 min, then mention them in the Bview!
• Action Sequences/Stand Out Scenes - A really cool scene in a film might be so visually appealing that it needs note. Especially if you can get a good still of it to go with it.
• Soundtrack/Music - Not often will this get a note in my Bview, but it's been known to happen if the music really helps set the tone/define the film
• Pet Peeves/Stereotypes of the film - Did something happen over and over and over again in the film? Say lots and lots of jumping? Was there something that stylized the film?  Maybe a theme that was pounded a bit too hard into the movie?  Those are definitely Bview worthy

**Remember you don't have to cover all of these topics in a Bview and you can use other aspects of a film in a Bview, the point is to find a handful of things that really sum up a film/sell it (sometimes selling it as a terrible film worthy of drinking games)**

Wrapping It Up

All Bviews should end with a summary that gives your overall opinion of the film.  Was it worth watching? Only when drunk? Would you own this film? Tell others to own it? At Bview, we try and always find something good about each film. We really try and find a time where any film would be fun to watch.  So that might be with a group of friends and a case of beer, but tell the audience how the movie is best viewed. Give them tips on how to enjoy if you want. Always try end it on the positive.

General Tips/Tone

• Keep Things Positive - Our tag line is "Dedicated to the Awesomely Bad!" And never forget that while you're writing. If you really hate the film and can't find anything good to say about it, you probably chose the wrong film to Bview.
• Drinking Games - If it's really, really, really terrible and painful to watch.  Drinking games. Think of all the drinking games you could make to it and then write up a drinking game to help ease the pain of others watching it.
• Less is More - You may be Bviewing your favorite movie of all the time and want to discuss in detail every moment of every scene, but remember you don't want someone to feel as if they've already seen it leaving the Bview.  Boil the movie down to the elements of the film that make it shine and highlight those.  Let your viewer be surprised by the film still when they watch it.
• Ask For Help - Feel free to contact Rizzy at carissa_neuharth@hotmail.com with ANY questions you have. These guidelines are ever revolving around the questions that YOU ask that have yet to be answered.  Trust me, I love helping out and I'm super friendly. I'm happy to answer any and all of your questions on how to write a good Bview.