Dear Readers:
Roger brought people together through communication and
technology, encouraging a curiosity about life and movies that resulted in a
worldwide community of humanity. His compassion was the heart and soul of his
reaching out to others along with his core conviction that we are all in this
together so we’d better make the best of it. Sprinkled throughout was much humor as he never believed in
taking himself too seriously. And
of course, a passion for the movies. His passion resulted in RogerEbert.com,
this website about movies and life.
Just before Roger passed away
he announced the formation of Ebert Digital LLC, the independent company that
now owns RogerEbert.com. We were in the process of putting some new changes in
place, including naming someone to help curate content for the site since his
health dictated that he take a leave of presence.
Please help me welcome the
new Editor-in-chief for Rogerebert.com, Matt Zoller Seitz. What Roger and I found refreshing about
Matt is his ability to spot and encourage talent in other journalists, critics and video essayists. He mentored
them with a benevolent style that helped to bring out the best in what they
did. Sound like someone we know? Roger and I watched over the years as Matt
founded, edited and operated The House Next Door, which is now part of Slant Magazine, and Press Play, a film and tv blog that spotlighted
video essays at IndieWire. Matt’s
motivated and entrepreneurial spirit is something we admired and wanted to
bring to RogerEbert.com. Today we
welcome him.
Matt ‘s complete bio is
contained in our Contributor’s Bio, and there are also other biographical
details in the press release we are posting today. You will learn that he is a
TV and film critic who also writes for New York Magazine and Vulture.com. He
acted as interim section editor for Time Out New York, assuming some of the same editing duties he will bring to this
site. He has already gone through what I call his “baptism by fire,” for having
the audacity to have an opinion about a movie that was contrary to what the
majority of other critics opined. See his review of “After Earth,” and the
comments that follow.
Although I don’t agree with
his review, I defend his right to his opinion and welcome civil discourse about
it. I also applaud his writing and
his ability to stand his ground. That is the Ebert way. He has shown that he doesn’t have a
thin skin. As a critic and editor, if you are going to dish it out, you have to
be able to take it. And he can. Roger would have been proud of him, and so am
I.
You will be inspired by
Matt’s first post. He tells you many things about his background and career. He
leaves links so that you can read some of his previous writing about movies and
other topics. He also talks about
his plans for keeping this site current. What he doesn’t tell you and what
Roger and I also found inspirational about Matt is his ability to nurture and
raise two children after the death of his wife. It is this strength and ability that helped him develop even
more compassion for others and to want to leave something lasting in this
world. Yes, he can be witty and he
can also be snappy, but there is a rationality to this, and he doesn’t engage
in snark for snark’s sake. This, as much as his other stellar qualifications are
why I am happy to bring him into the Ebert Digital fold.
This site will continue to be
a repository for Roger’s forty-six years of work, both in print and on
television. We will add video segments, and podcasts, and all kinds of new
sections that will take advantage of the rich body of work Roger left behind.
But I am also looking to Matt to help bring in new voices, and new features and
keep you updated on what is happening in the world of culture and
entertainment. He is raring to go.
I invite you to go on this journey with him.
Josh Golden and I are also
pleased to announce our new Advisory Board consisting of Brad Keywell, a serial
entrepreneur and co-founder of Groupon and other technology companies; Janelle
Brittain, a corporate consultant, coach, speaker and entrepreneurial author and
founder of the Dynamic Performance Institute; and author and journalist Frank Sennett, the former President and
Editor-in-Chief of Time Out Chicago who stepped down after shepherding the
company’s sale. They each bring special skills and experience to Ebert Digital
to help us continue our growth while honoring the legacy of Roger. So stay tuned.
