User talk:Newcwriter

America: From Freedom to Fascism
Dear Newcwriter: I did not place the link (or the comments) in the article. That was done by another editor. There is no "onus" on me. You are proposing a change in the wording describing the link, and you seem to be insistent that your wording must prevail, even though you say you will work out how to use the talk facility (the talk or discussion page for the article) "later." The onus to support your proposed wording change is on you, not on me or on editor Mateo SA. The link and the language describing the link have been in the article for some time. My objection is not so much with your proposed wording change as it is with the lack of a coherent explanation as to why your proposed wording is better than the previous wording, the lack of an explanation of why you feel the current wording is "dubious" or misleading, and your apparent inability to discuss this on the talk page even after two fellow editors have attempted to interact with you. Putting comments on the talk (discussion) page for the article is no more complicated that making changes to the article itself. It's the same physical editing process, so it shouldn't take any time at all to figure out how to interact on the talk page with Wikipedia editors.

Again, generalized comments in an edit summary that seem to amount to nothing more than a sense that you don't like what Professor Siegel says -- without discussing on the talk page for the article -- don't come across well. Just as an aside, I would note that you are going to be very hard pressed to demonstrate substantial errors in Professor Siegel's analysis, and you might as well be aware of that up front.

You are new to Wikipedia, so I will point out that Wikipedia works on the concept of consensus among editors. That means working with other editors to achieve compromise in some cases. Anyway, welcome to Wikipedia, and happy editing! Yours, Famspear 16:04, 18 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Dear User Newcwriter: Thank you for your comments. I moved them from my "user" page to my "user talk" page, here:


 * I also added some questions and comments on the talk (discussion) page for the article itself.


 * By the way, I am neither a film critic nor in the film business, but I would be interested in your thoughts about cinema, or film theory, or film criticism, or whatever you find of interest on related subjects. For example, how did you become interested in film, and what was your BA program like? Do you work in a film business of some kind right now? That sort of thing. (Since this is your own "user talk" page, we don't have to limit a discussion to any one particular topic such as America: From Freedom to Fascism.) Yours, Famspear 21:45, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

PS: Part of what I am driving at on the talk page for the article America: From Freedom to Fascism is that I don't perceive that Siegel is trying to write a formal film "analysis" -- the kind of thing that might appear in a place where film reviews or analyses are published. I don't see him as holding himself out as writing a "film analysis" in that sense. Neither do I see him holding himself out as having expertise in film analysis. I see Professor Siegel as commenting on the substance of the legal issues raised -- which is of course his area of expertise. Also, I see no "hysteria" in his writing. My argument would be that a link to his web page is eminently appropriate. Yours, Famspear 21:59, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

Dear Famspear, thanks for your comments. I have now replied to your questions on the America: From Freedom to Fascism discussion page. Do bear with me as I am still trying to navigate my way around this site and HTML generally.

Whilst I do have a film degree my main interest and now career is more closely linked to television and radio, indeed I initially started out studying for a BA in Broadcasting. Long stories, but I do have to get going as it is very late. Do you have a particular interest in documentaries? Hopefully I will get to know you better over time also. Kind regards. Newcwriter 03:24, 19 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Dear Newcwriter: Yes, I am interested in documentaries and in film generally. I have studied film informally for years, reading books on various aspects of the subject, although nothing very intellectually "deep" or anything. Lots of books on screenwriting, on the business side of film, and maybe a little on the process of making a film. I don't really know that much about it.


 * I do love to find a movie that I can watch over and and over and learn a little bit of something new each time I watch it. I haven't actually been in a movie theater in over eight years, but I buy DVDs (digital versatile discs, or digital video discs) and watch them at home. I don't know if you have widescreen high definition television yet, but on our side of the pond it has been coming on strong in a big way, and it makes viewing movies on DVD more enjoyable. I'm fairly selective in what I buy -- in some sense I try to select films that I think I may want to watch more than once. I like to watch older movies. I recently bought DVD copies of The Asphalt Jungle and Double Indemnity, which I have not yet watched.


 * I have probably watched films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction about 20 times each. I am fascinated with the way Quentin Tarantino uses non-chronological or non-linear story-telling to structure his films to achieve a dramatic effect. Also his effective use of dialogue.


 * I am also interested in the way filmmakers use editing techniques, lighting, long or close-in shots, focus, depth of field and other methods to achieve a desired effect.


 * Unfortunately I have not found the time to really study filmmaking intensively. I would characterize myself as an avid, but only occasional, informal student. Yours, Famspear 14:39, 19 April 2007 (UTC)