#sparkchamber 082922 — Marta Djordjevic
Film critic Roger Ebert said, “It’s not what a movie is about, it’s how it is about it.” And that’s the energy filling #sparkchamber today as we welcome film-history and pop-culture writer Marta Djordjevic. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Marta grew up in Vancouver, Canada where she spent her youth soaking up films, both new and old. “Cinema’s building blocks inspire me — learning to understand why certain auteurs did what they did, the innovative techniques they used, and how present-day directors and cinematographers draw inspiration from the earlier years of cinema.”
She works as a features editor at Nicki Swift [The Untold Truth of Robert De Niro], and as a freelance writer both at Looper [55 Best Crime Movies of All Time Ranked] and Grunge [Old Hollywood Feuds that Got Out of Hand], with a focus on old Hollywood nostalgia and cinema.
On the side, she runs @marta.mcfly onTikTok where she shares film recommendations and encourages discussion and analysis on classic and contemporary cinema. “Recognizing homages and influences in the movies we watch is, simply put, fun!” You can also follow along on Instagram.
1.] Where do ideas come from?
Gosh, everywhere! Through the film history books I read, the movies I watch [Criterion, MUBI, and Kanopy are great streaming resources for classic, cult, and contemporary indie cinema], and interviews with directors I take the time to listen to, etc. I’m lucky that through my work, I go through many rabbit holes, which lead me to more ideas for future articles.
With all these ideas, I’ll incorporate them into my writing, and I'll sometimes also make videos for TikTok, where I share my film recommendations and encourage discussion and analysis of classic and contemporary cinema.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
I am motivated to share tidbits of film knowledge that people don’t come across daily. I think cinema’s building blocks and history are essential to know about, in turn making the analysis of modern films much more enjoyable.
As for my drive to share movie recommendations, I think that in today’s sea of blockbusters, people crave to see something fresh — even if it’s an older film. There are so many forgotten gems that the general public simply doesn’t know about, so why not shine a light on them and introduce a younger audience to a critical or thrilling work of art?
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
My brain works best in the morning, and if it wasn’t for my midnight movie marathons, I’d be up at the crack of dawn, clattering at my laptop and scouring the dustiest corners of online and physical cinematic libraries. I take the “hare” approach — tackling my projects head-on and full-force, so as to not lose creative momentum. Note: I would be nothing without my daily to-do list.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
I don’t! I’ll revise and re-read countless times, but I also understand that there comes a point where I know there’s nothing else I can add, and no more I’s to dot and T’s to cross.