THIS IS

THE STORY OF FORREEL


 

What’s up everyone, Thomas here with ForReel.

Before ForReel was a website, I would post mini-reviews of new films on my personal Facebook page. Capsule reviews that started as two or three sentence opinions eventually grew into multi-paragraph essays. At that point, I figured it was time to create a better platform for this growing interest in review writing.

That is how ForReel began. In 2018, with the help of my long time friend Tim Nagle, we established ForReel as an outlet for film fans to read reviews on the latest feature films, indie projects, and new short films. From there, the site - and the amount of content we publish - has grown every year.

HERE’s how ForReel became what it is today.

In 2020, the Covid pandemic marked a crucial turning point for ForReel. As we all know, lockdown protocols meant movie releases and film festivals had to pivot to virtual options, which not only offered the convenience of watching more movies from home, but also inspired me to start applying for accreditation with film festivals I otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend.

THE OAK ROOM

Read the review from Thomas Stoneham-Judge

It was exhilarating in the summer of 2020 when I got my first ever press credential application approved by Fantasia Film Festival. I took advantage of the opportunity to screen genre-bending films like Jumbo and Lapsis from home, in addition to interviewing filmmaking talent, including director Cody Callahan and actor RJ Mitte for their film The Oak Room.

I would spend the next year remotely covering festivals like AFI Fest, SXSW, and Tribeca. In conjunction with continued work on reviewing new releases, film festivals became a prominent component of ForReel content, and with an increasing output of content, I decided in 2021 to look into expanding our team.

Introducing the team that makes this dream work.

Over the past few years, I am extremely fortunate to have assembled a stellar team of writers from across North America. These talented film fans are dedicated to publishing thoughtful reviews and content, providing ForReel readers with insight that can help determine which films, TV, and entertainment to keep on their radar.

Our featured film critics include Vancouver-based writer Taylor Beaumont, our consumer of classic films and connoisseur of Canadian film. We also have Todd Pengelly, another Vancouverite whose interest in film spans the gamut of genres and styles of filmmaking. And then we have Marty Millman, based in the Southeast region of the United States who enjoys writing on horror, queer, and comedy entertainment across film and TV. And while parenting his toddler in Phoenix, Tim still periodically contributes reviews on mainstream blockbuster films.

I couldn’t be more proud of this team, and I’m excited to continue showcasing their work as the ForReel audience expands.

 

THIS IS

THE FORREEL TEAM


THOMAS STONEHAM-JUDGE

Bellingham, WA

TODD PENGELLY

Vancouver, BC

TIM NAGLE

Phoenix, AZ

TAYLOR BEAUMONT

Vancouver, BC

MARTY MILLMAN

Southeast United States