/Film
A long-running film and TV site offering thoughtful analysis, reviews, and behind-the-scenes coverage
Overview
/Film (Slash Film) is a respected entertainment site that combines news reporting with thoughtful analysis, reviews, and behind-the-scenes features. It covers film, television, and pop culture with an editorial voice that values craft and storytelling quality.
The site features detailed production breakdowns, interviews with filmmakers, and contextual reporting that goes deeper than typical entertainment news aggregation. Its podcast and video content extends the coverage beyond the written articles.
How It Works
For actors, /Film provides a window into how thoughtful film enthusiasts evaluate performances and productions. Its reviews and analysis can help you understand what resonates with informed audiences and critics.
/Film is free to read with no subscription required. The site's content, including articles, podcasts, and video features, is entirely ad-supported.
Who Uses It
/Film is a great resource for actors who consider themselves students of cinema. Its analytical approach to covering the industry rewards regular reading with a deeper understanding of what makes films and performances work. The site was founded in 2005 by film enthusiast Peter Sciretta and has grown from a blog into a professionally staffed publication that balances fan enthusiasm with genuine editorial rigor. /Film's podcast, The /Filmcast, has built a loyal following through its honest, detailed discussions of new releases that model the kind of critical film literacy actors benefit from developing. For performers who believe that being a great actor requires being a great student of film, /Film provides an accessible and engaging curriculum in film appreciation and analysis.
Pricing & Plans
/Film is completely free to access, with all articles, reviews, podcasts, and video content available without a paywall or subscription. The site is ad-supported and generates revenue through display advertising and sponsored partnerships. /Film's podcast content, including The /Filmcast and other audio programs, is available for free through all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the /Film website. The site's YouTube channel provides free video essays and feature content. /Film's commitment to free access means that actors at every income level can benefit from its analytical, craft-focused coverage of the entertainment industry without any financial barrier.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
/Film's greatest strength is its ability to combine genuine enthusiasm for cinema with thoughtful, substantive analysis that goes beyond surface-level opinion. The site's reviews are detailed and craft-focused, evaluating performances within the context of a film's overall artistic achievement and discussing specific choices actors make that contribute to or detract from the work. /Film's behind-the-scenes features and production breakdowns illuminate the creative decisions and technical processes that shape how films are made, providing insight that enriches an actor's understanding of their collaborative role. The podcast content adds an extended discussion format that allows /Film's editorial team to explore films and performances in greater depth than written reviews typically allow. /Film also maintains a strong archival presence, with years of content covering classic and contemporary cinema that serves as a comprehensive film education resource.
What Could Be Better
/Film's limitations include its fan-oriented editorial voice, which means it approaches cinema primarily from an audience perspective rather than an industry insider perspective. The site does not provide the business intelligence, casting news, or deal coverage that trade publications offer, making it insufficient as a primary source for career-relevant industry information. /Film's coverage skews toward genre, blockbuster, and mainstream commercial cinema, with less attention to independent film, art-house cinema, international markets, and theater. The site's advertising can be disruptive, with auto-playing video ads and display advertising that detracts from the reading experience. /Film's editorial team, while knowledgeable and passionate, does not include working industry professionals, which means its analysis sometimes lacks the insider perspective that publications staffed by entertainment journalists with industry sources can provide.
Our Recommendation
Actors who consider themselves cinephiles and who want to deepen their understanding of what makes great films and performances work should add /Film to their regular reading and podcast rotation. The site is best used as a supplement to trade publications — it provides the analytical and critical perspective that business-focused outlets lack, while those outlets provide the industry intelligence that /Film does not cover. If you are an actor who learns by analyzing and discussing films, /Film's podcast format provides an accessible model for the kind of critical film discourse that sharpens your analytical vocabulary and deepens your appreciation for the craft. For actors working primarily in theater, independent film, or non-genre content, /Film's coverage may be less directly relevant, and outlets like IndieWire, Playbill, or Filmmaker Magazine may better serve your needs.
Pro Tips
Listen to /Film's podcast discussions of new releases and pay attention to how the hosts analyze performances — their vocabulary, the specific elements they notice, and the criteria they use to evaluate acting work provide a framework for developing your own analytical skills. Read /Film's behind-the-scenes features and production breakdowns to understand the technical and creative context in which performances are created and captured, as this knowledge helps you collaborate more effectively with directors, cinematographers, and editors. Use /Film's archival content as a film education resource — their reviews and retrospectives cover a wide range of classic and contemporary cinema that serves as the cultural foundation every serious actor should have. When you see a film that features a performance you find remarkable, search /Film for their review or analysis and compare your instincts with the critical response to calibrate and refine your evaluative skills. Share /Film articles and podcast episodes with fellow actors as conversation starters about craft, cinema, and the art of performance — the discussions these pieces generate within your professional community are themselves valuable learning opportunities.