Filmmaking

History Of Film Threat (Part 2) – Chris Gore

Filmcourage

Published

September 7, 2021

Film Courage : When did Film Threat cross over into the mainstream?

Chris Gore, Founder/Owner of FilmThreat/Author/Filmmaker: I would say that Film Threat crossed over in the mainstream probably in the early 90’s. I remember I got a check from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a subscription to Film Threat, a check which I never cashed and it had the logo of the Oscar on there and I was just like I’m never going to cash this check. I’m gonna keep it and I kind of felt that people were paying attention. It wasn’t just that we were covering underground filmmakers, we were also kind of giving a finger to Hollywood by the choices of the types of filmmakers and the movies that we chose to cover. But then we would kind of mock the pomposity of Hollywood. Some of the stories that come to mind we wrote an article about comparing Hollywood’s hierarchy to the caste system in India with your untouchables at the bottom which would be your PAs and whatnot and just explain how this hierarchy works the power structure right. These are things that people actually do talk about now but we were talking about early on. Additionally I would be getting other people, for example Steven Soderbergh, wrote me a letter in which he basically lambasted Film Threat saying You’re awful, you suck, you’re terrible, I can’t believe it. Enclosed is a check for all back issues and a subscription. So he was obviously…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).

BIO:

Chris Gore is a writer, comedian, author and television personality who has built a solid reputation as a hilariously outspoken voice in the entertainment world. As a teenager, Chris founded the brutally honest magazine Film Threat, which began as a fanzine while he was a college student in Detroit. As Film Threat evolved into a respected national magazine, he relocated to Los Angeles. The print magazine was retired in 1997 when it was re-launched as a web site. FilmThreat.com found a huge audience online and was named one of the top five movie web sites by the Wall Street Journal. Chris has appeared as a film expert on MSNBC, E!, CNN, Travel Channel, and Reelz Channel. Chis has also hosted shows on FX, Starz, IFC and G4TV’s Attack of the Show as the show’s film expert. His weekly movie review segment DVDuesday was among the most popular on G4. Chris is also an author, having written The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made and The Complete DVD Book. His book The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide is considered the bible of the industry and is required reading at film school.