- About Five Stars! How to Become a Film Critic, The World's Greatest Job -

*** SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND UPDATED, PUBLISHED MARCH 2013 ***

So you want to be a film critic and review movies for a living? Veteran film critic Christopher Null teaches you, step by step, how to break into the business with the lessons he's learned from more than a decade in the industry. Five Stars! will teach you all you need to know!

- Understand movie history and the mechanics of filmmaking — without the film snob jargon!
- Learn how to write a review, step by step
- Get into every movie for free and never pay to go to the movies again!
- Get free DVDs — before anyone else!
- Break into professional writing in newspapers, magazines, and online
- Launch a movie review website, recruit staff, and start your own business as a critic
- Learn how to approach editors — from the experts themselves
- Build an audience for your work
- Interview celebrities and hang out with the stars!

Five Stars! is the only book on the market that shows you exactly how to become a professional movie reviewer, step by step! It's an absolute must-read for any aspiring film critic! 264 pages — packed with essential information! PAPERBACK: ISBN-10 0-9720981-1-9 / ISBN-13 978-0972098113 / LCCN 2004097261 --- EBOOK: ISBN-13 978-0972098120 

- The Reviews -

Cinemaslave says Five Stars! is "the best available book on the subject" ... "a comprehensive, practical page-turner."

BookViews says Five Stars! "does an excellent job of teaching the reader just about everything they need to know about the trade."

The Compulsive Reader says Five Stars! is "an honest, clear and thorough guide to becoming a film critic."

James Wegg Review says "Neophyte reviewers will be far better prepared for the rigors of popular cinema"

The New York Resident says Five Stars! is "a gem!"

Hollywood Bitchslap says Five Stars! is "a fantastic little book!" and "If you ever planning to apply for work at one of the better movie review sites, you should consider this great little book a very solid investment."

Round Table Reviews says "If you are interested in becoming a professional film reviewer, you cannot pass this book up!"

Film Threat says "Null is like a film professor you always wanted, but never had."

Blogcritics says of Five Stars!: "If you have even a casual interest in movies, you will learn something."

Rangelife says Five Stars! is "a truly marvelous guide to making your dreams a reality, without all the snobby film school bunk!"

Publishers Weekly calls Five Stars! "a good starting point for anyone looking to learn more about the movies."

MyMac says Five Stars! is "an educational text that is actually enjoyable to read" and "a can't miss proposition for would-be critics and filmmaking hobbyists."

Memosaic says Five Stars! is "essential reading for wannabe film critics!"

BookPleasures.com says "Anyone who wants to know about film reviewing and what to look for when watching any genre of film would do well to read this book!"

Prairie Progressive says "I know that I now watch movies with a different – and more informed – perspective. You will, too."

- About the Author -

Author Christopher Null has been a professional film critic for 20 years. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the popular web site Film Racket; he also works as a freelance writer and editor in San Francisco. A detailed biography can be found here; his daily weblog can be found at chrisnull.com.

Publicity: / large cover image (JPEG) for media / excerpts / publicity stills on request

Alex lives the life of a typical suburban kid, until his first day of high school brings the wrath of the school bully and star football player, Steve. After years of abuse, Alex turns the tables on his tormentor, hatching a slow and brutal plan to end Steve's tortures for good. But will Steve's murder really make life any better for Alex? And what if he actually gets away with the crime? Half Mast is a haunting and powerful tale of revenge… and the inevitable remorse that comes with it. Fans of works such as Generation X, The Secret History, The Catcher in the Rye, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower will love Half Mast!
ISBN-10 0-9720981-00 / ISBN-13 978-0972098106 / LCCN 2002092157

Back in print! Buy a copy here! Paperback or all ebook formats available.

Reviewing media: Request a review copy.

- The Reviews -

The San Francisco Chronicle says "Very believable... Readers returning to the trials of puberty will find this fast read disturbingly accurate."

Slashdot says Half Mast is "an impressive debut novel about an uncommon subject matter."

Blogcritics says "A stunning accomplishment, achieving several difficult tasks simultaneously: gripping caper yarn, perceptive coming of age story, keen observation and commentary on drastic Darwinian social stratification in school (with echoes of Columbine, et al), and a devastating look at the inexorable manifestation of the internal into the external which some call fate."

Curled Up With a Good Book says "I am deeply impressed with this novel... Christopher Null [has] made it to my immediate buy list from this moment on."

The Boox Review says "A completely absorbing, provocative, and finely crafted story."

The Compulsive Reader says "The story is a cautionary tale that is thought provoking and will haunt you for a long time. I will be looking forward to Christopher Null's second book."

3am magazine says "The idea and the appeal of this book is that we're going to see something that we never get to see, a raw and frightening thing that we're going to remember for quite some time. We're going to watch a kid figure out how to become a killer, and the author leads us down that pathway with skill."

The New York Resident says "Null's mastery of the language laces Half Mast with a brilliant thread of emotional tragedy as Alex pinballs helplessly through a young life gone terribly wrong. With its carefully conceived plot, three-dimensional characters and mature refusal to find easy solutions for difficult circumstances, Half Mast scores on all levels. A truly gripping story from its enigmatic opening through its stunning denouement, Half Mast is a striking example of the best of contemporary American fiction."

All About Murder Reviews says "A very satisfying read with a shocking yet stunning ending."

MyMac.com says "What really separates Half Mast from the rest... is the coolly realistic gaze at the aftermath of the vengeful deed and the deeply flawed protagonist."

Other readers say (courtesy Amazon.com):
- "Fiction at its best. The writing is tight, the story is compelling, and the characters are interesting. I started reading it Saturday morning and couldn't stop until I finished it that evening. It has been years since the last time that happened."
- "The book made me see revenge in a whole new light. It's a must read."
- "I haven't been this engrossed in a novel in years. Seriously."
- "This book does for education what Psycho did for showers."
- "Intense read."
- "A truly incredible book."
- "Alex is written as richly and deeply as any fictional character I've ever read.... Should be required reading for every high school teacher."

- About the Author -

Author Christopher Null has been a professional film critic for 20 years. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the popular web site Film Racket; he also works as a freelance writer and editor in San Francisco. A detailed biography can be found here; his daily weblog can be found at chrisnull.com.

Publicity: / large cover image (JPEG) for media / excerpts #1 #2 / publicity stills on request