Interview with The Dark of The Matinee’s Mad Hatter
Based in Toronto, Canada, The Mad Hatter is one of the most prolific movie blogger around as he is nearing his 1000th post on The Dark of The Matinee and has been a daily destination for many, including us. His annual coverage of The Toronto International Film Festival, which just ended, is one of the most comprehensive around the blogosphere. We caught up with Mad as he was kind enough to take some time off his busy schedule to be part of our first interview.
Hello Mad, can you first tell us a bit about yourself?
MH: Gemini, 5’9″, likes good whiskey and long walks on the beach… Jokes aside I’m 32, have lived in Toronto all my life. My parents raised me on dramatic films and classic rock, which I’m sure played a big part in my love for the greats. Interestingly, my formal training in writing, blogging and journalism is pretty minimal…it’s just something I’ve always had some slight knack for. Perhaps one of these days, I’ll take a few more courses and really unleash the beast within. I lean more towards directors than actors these days, with some favorites being Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann, Stephen Soderbergh and Wes Anderson.
Can you tell our readers about your movie blog The Dark of The Matinee?
MH: I started blogging about my life in 2004, and while it was fun for a few years, it never seemed like it was anything more than a daily Christmas Letter. I enjoyed doing it, but wanted to do something that would allow me – perhaps – to talk to more than just my immediate family and friends. That’s where the topic of movies came in. As it was, anytime I saw a film (which as we all know, is “often”), I’d have six or seven different people at work asking me what I thought of said film – separately. So in an effort to avoid repeating myself, The Dark of The Matinee was born.
Get those pesky people to stop bugging you and read your blog instead, great idea! It seems to be working as you are nearing 1000 posts on The Dark of The Matinee, a true feat of consistency and longevity in the blogging world. What do you attribute your success to?
MH: Community. For much of the first year, and especially the first few months, I was still writing for a readership of seven. It’s hard to stay motivated and push yourself when the base you’re pushing yourself for are two bodies short of a baseball team. After writing the blog for close to a year, I started getting suggestions about film blogger communities to join – namely The LAMB – and the interaction fueled my creative fires and pushed me to be a better – and indeed more constant – blogger. That sense of community and never-ending movie conversation is also what led me to branch the blog out into The Matineecast. While it takes a lot of work to put those episodes together, it’s worth it to be able to actually talk movies with some passionate film lovers.
Indeed, a sense of community on one’s blog goes a long way toward becoming a successful blogger. How has blogging affected your life and your understanding of movies?
MH: I’ve met a lot of great people who have become wonderful friends because of blogging, which by far has been the best side effect of this mad tea party. As for the movies I watch, I try to look a little deeper and focus in on the story. In the past, I tended to get hung up on acting and dialogue, which isn’t a bad thing but can lead one to writing off some rather lasting stories. These days I try to zero in on themes and storytelling, so some films that I now trumpet are ones I might have pitched aside in the past. I also watch a lot more than I used to (84 screenings this year and we still have almost three full months to go!)
Wow! That’s a lot of movies. It does help that you live in a vibrant city like Toronto. You have done a great job of covering the Toronto International Film Festival over the years. What do you like most about the city?
MH: I actually mentioned this in Episode 22 of The Matineecast (Mad’s podcast). Without a doubt, the greatest thing about this city for a film lover is the variety of movies at one’s disposal. Besides the fact that there between ten and twenty multiplexes that play a wide range of films, the city is blessed with another dozen smaller art house theaters that give audiences a second chance at titles they might have missed, along with playing classics, indie titles, and playing host to an insane amount of festivals. It’s going to be hard to move away from this sort of bounty someday!
What else do you do aside from blogging?
MH: I take a lot of photos, which makes sense given that I thought I was going to be a photographer. My day job is indeed in the photo industry, but on the supply side instead of the creative side. I also listen to a lot of music (and sing on occasion), read a lot of books, follow baseball religiously, and am becoming a pretty good cook.
So there is a Blue Jays fan! I feel bad for them being stuck in such a challenging AL East year in and year out. What are some of the biggest challenges you have encountered as a blogger?
MH: I’ve quietly made it a mission this year to post every single day, and admittedly that has been helped by the fact that two days of the week I get to put up a placeholder (a weekly trailer, and a weekly screencap for my “Today, I Feel Like This” feature). But at least once a week, I have a day where I don’t have a film to write about or a podcast to hype and I have to riff. This is where writer’s block sets in and it sucks.
There’s also a small measure of sleep deprivation that comes with the deal as I try give my life and my marriage top priority (as they should get). Thus, many of these posts come hand in hand with a late night or an early morning.
Posting every day is truly remarkable and a sign of great dedication that many bloggers lack. What advice do you have for people wanting to start a blog about movies (or in general)?
MH: Write what you’re passionate about. If you spend a lot of your time talking about your passion anyway, then blogging about it will feel a lot more effortless. Once you’ve picked your topic, do what you can to find communities to be a part of. Whatever it is you love – wine, guitars, politics – odds are there are a lot of others out there who love it too and will make for a richer blogging experience.
Who are some of your favorite bloggers that have shaped you and The Dark of the Matinee?
MH: Dylan Fields’ efforts with The LAMB have really molded my passion for community and trying to grow it. My posts tend to be a bit more long form than snappy online tidbits, and that is heavily influenced by Sam Juliano at Wonders in The Dark. As far as what I take away from a film and decide to focus on when talking about it, much of that this past year has been sparked by Jeff Goldsmith at The Creative Screenwriting Podcast.
Final question: Where do you see yourself and The Dark of the Matinee in 5 years?
MH: This is a tough question since I tend not to think more than two steps ahead. Like every other blogger, I’d love to get paid to do it. How to accomplish that is the question. Then again, I might not still be writing it in five years. Our lives continue to change, and we have to accommodate for that. So in five years it’s possible that i might not have the passion or drive for it that I do right now. It’s also possible that the blog could change its focus and shift more towards DVD and/or classics…the sort of source material that can easily be enjoyed from the comfort of my couch.
Thank you The Mad Hatter for your time!
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Do you have any questions or comments for The Mad Hatter? Leave them below!
41 Comments
I’d wager there’s few bloggers as well written, funny, witty, and nice as Mad. Great guy all around, and I love seeing him getting more love from the community. Great interview as well Castor, hope you’re planning to do many more!
Totally agree Univarn, Mad is a blogger that you feel through his writing that he would be great guy to have a beer with. Thanks for dropping by and yes, I hope to post many more interviews!
*Ahem!* haha
What’s the *ahem* about kai? I mentioned witty, which obviously disqualifies you. Though that shouldn’t get you down, 3 out of 4 is perfectly respectable.
Damn you, guy named after a magical animal thingy!
Very nicely done. I almost feel like the Hat and I have had a beer together, but alas, not yet (one of these days when one of us is in the same city, for sure). I don’t know if I’ve been there since the start of TDOTM, but if not, twas pretty close. A shared affinity for films both big and small and sports and music has helped our friendship as well.
Look forward to more of these, and congrats to the Hatter on his upcoming milestone.
All of us core LAMB bloggers should meet someday
Great interview! I’m still a newbie to a lot of the blogs here and I LOVE Mad Hatter. I’ve been trying to post every day for a month (already blew October!)so I can truly appreciate what a task a whole year would be. Oh and these pumpkins really set the mood. I’ve been getting ghoulish over at my blog too. Halloween is the best!
Ahah I just noticed today when visiting your blog! Nice
Thanks for stopping by Castor! I’m planning a lot more creepy things. Look, I finally got my Gravatar! How often do you plan to do these interviews? I love getting more depth info about some of my favorite blogs.
Woohoo, love it that you got a gravatar finally! I would say about two to three times a month. There will be a new one next week.
Yes Castor great interview, it’s always interesting to read this kind of things and it’s good to see that you’re doing it and you couldn’t have pictured a better subject to boot.
Thanks Mike. I thought I would launch this new feature to coincide with Mad’s 1000th post.
Really great interview! I haven’t checked out Mad Hatters blog yet, but I’ll give him a visit. That toronto cover should be interesting a couple of friends went to Toronto with their feature Easy Money aka Snabba Cash (Original title).
Please do visit his blog! It’s a daily destination for us
I just did. You didin’t kid about that TIFF coverage its great!
Good work Castor..Really nice to read the Interview. Just now saw the Mad’s blog.Really inspiring for his dedication. I try to make myself to be more active in my blog. I expect more interviews from Castor. Cheers…
Thanks for dropping by Mani!
Great interview Castor, and as usual Hatter is well written and thoughtful with all of his answers. I thought I was prolific, and I have three other writers and we just hit our 1000 post mark. It’s incredible that you’ve managed to get there on your own, but aside from that your festival coverage is equally impressive.
At the end of the day what I appreciate most is your true passion and dedication to film. No matter what your love emotes threw your writing and that for me is what makes it so unique.
Thanks Heather. 1000 posts is a big milestone for any blogger. Red and I have been at it for quite some time and aren’t even half way there even when you count all my posts from my blogger days
Thanks Castor_AM for this interview. I was encouraged to keep writing and to do so more diligently by The Mad Hatter. Please do more interviews. I thoroughly enjoyed this! The Mad Hatter is definitely a blogger to look up too. Thanks for allowing us this peek into his daily life.
Thank you Snobbyfilmguy, I will!
No one covers Toronto better than Hatter. And I mean nobody. Thorough introspectives on films in that short of time, amazing.
Woot, woot! Great interview of a fabulous blogger Castor! Both Hatter’s and your blog really set the bar for wee movie bloggers like me. I really enjoy reading Hatter’s posts and reviews, and his coverage of TIFF is downright impressive, what a dedication that must have been… and he’s still got time for family and other hobbies. I’m beginning to wonder if the guy sleeps!
Congrats on the milestone, Hatter! I’ve got about 600+ more to go, he..he.. not sure I can hit 1000 post in 6 years.
It’s hard not to like Hatter. I dunno if it’s cuz he’s Canadian or what but he just seems like a cool cat. I feel like Dylan… like I’ve had a drink with him (I did on Skype but not sure that counts) or seriously need to!
OH! Question for Hatter: That Hatter image you use is from Batman comics, right?
Kai: HELLS YEAH!
You lucky Toronto liver.
Love your blog, good sir.
Congrats to Hatter! That’ll be me soon…in five years, give or take.
Castor, the interview is awesome. Plan to do it as a running feature?
Yes, Anna
Interesting guy!
Having had the pleasure of sharing a beer with Hatter on several occasions, I can vouch that he is as passionate about films, and the film community, in person as he is in print. An all around good guy; glad he has reached another great milestone.
I wrestled with whether or not to leave a comment, since I’m sure many are pretty tired of hearing me talk about myself…but to everybody who commented – thank you, thank you, thank you. Special thanks of course must be given to castor for doing this sort of expose on a schlub like me.
I’m a lucky guy to have such people around to inspire me and encourage me. Keep doing what y’all do best, and I’ll do my darndest to keep the pace.
See that folks, humility in action! And they say there’s no more good people in the world. Guess they’re all in Canada:P
nice one Castor & Hatter… the two of you need to give up the pseudonyms though… let the world (i.e. Google know who you are)
The mystery will remain!
Great interview, Castor. Hatter is one of the best around. Not only does he take the time to make TDOTM a magnificent place to visit, he always takes the time to support his fellow bloggers and podcasters. He is truly a gentleman of the movie blogging community.
Alledgedly!
Thanks Rachel! Agree on all counts
Only thing better than Hatter’s writing are his podcasts. Just as fun witty and open as his posts. Just an all around fun guy and smart without being a snob. My “hat” is off to you bud:)
Totally agree I love them Matineecasts! Been listening through the backlogg the first episode with Lady Hatter is especially memorable!
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