Who doesn’t love an underdog story? When an indie film scoops up a ton of Oscars or outsells a multi-million dollar action film in the box office on a budget that could barely put someone through four years at a state school, it revitalizes the faith in the movie industry. At FilmSnobbery.com you don’t have to be a movie guru, you just have to love indie movies and what they represent.
Nic Baisley, creator of FilmSnobbery.com and Massachusetts native, took his passion for independent films and a side-project dedicated to them and turned it into his career. His “why not” attitude propelled him from world of network engineers to becoming “a voice for indie film.” From his very first podcast the site has blossomed into diverse collection of interviews with actors and directs, sneak peeks and trailers, as well as news and reviews. Noting that he is greatest inspired by art and creativity, independent film seems the perfect track to follow.
Nic Baisley, creator of FilmSnobbery.com
“Film is such a broad topic in general, and to cover all of the industry…is a massive undertaking,” said Baisley, explaining why the site focuses specifically on the independent genre. In doing so, he created a website that has been an invaluable resource for filmmakers and actors in the industry. In fact, many people were eager to help the budding site by reaching out to give interviews and content not only because the exposure it would get them, but because they admired what Film Snobbery was doing for indie films.
Baisley learned how to organize his new site as most online entrepreneurs do, through experimentation and making mistakes. “I had to learn the hard way a lot of lessons about branding, consistency, and audience outreach,” he said. His creativity, knowledge of his audience, and unfettered quest to step outside the box, is what makes his endeavor innovative and keeps his readers coming back time after time. The clean website design with a bit of an edge, along with the diversity in his content keeps his updates fresh and exciting because he knows what the readers want. “Writing an exciting article isn’t enough anymore.The culture isn’t ‘build it and they will come.” … You need to keep your finger on the pulse of your audience and know your industry inside and out.” he cautions.
Baisley says that the best part of the job is seeing an indie filmmaker make their second film. Since many filmmakers are hampered by low budgets or inexperience, it’s exciting for him to see them grow and put out an even better film the second time around. The fans are another part that make his job great, and their interaction and reaction to the coverage of the indie business has been made to be all about the filmmakers. Film Snobbery has grown into a community that truly appreciates both the industry and the information that Baisley puts out on his site.
For as long as he’s passionate about independent films and the industry, Baisley will keep up with Film Snobbery. The hardest part about running a website like his is finding the motivation to keep it going, he admitted. His advice to anyone starting their own website about whatever they’re passionate about is to always remember that you’re doing it for you, and there’s no one to pick up the slack if the work isn’t finished. That, he says, is one of the only downfalls of his job. “I really can’t complain about being too busy since it means we are probably doing something right!”
Watch FilmSnobbery Live! – Episode 20 from Nicholas Baisley on Vimeo:
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Nic Baisley gave my film “World Full of Nothing” it’s first review and has continued to support it during its festival run (where it ultimately received the award for Best Director at the Naperville Independent Film Festival) and now its distribution via http://www.indieflix.com and other markets. He is a true connoisseur of independent cinema and of movies in general. Filmsnobbery is a great place for small movies to get their first mentions and I predict that it, along with Nic, will ascend to the lofty heights now occupied by aintitcoolnews. – Jesse Pomeroy, director, “World Full of Nothing.”
I really appreciate Hollywood East Connection and especially Cara Kenefick for taking the time to single us out and do a story on us! I want to make sure I say that we wouldn’t be anything at all if it weren’t for our fans, and other dedicated film people like the folks here! Also, it’s really weird being on the other side of the interviewer’s pen…lol. Thanks again for the terrific and flattering opportunity!
-Nic Baisley