Piers Marchant

308 Queen St. Philadelphia, PA USA
Website: http://sweetsmellosuccess.tumblr.com/
Contact

Professional Experience

As a professional writer/editor with a literary background, I've worked for both regional and national publications, writing everything from Nightlife chapters for Fodor's guidebooks to a full-length book about becoming the pope ("How to be Pope," Oct. 2005) and as a regular contributor and co-author of the "Worst Case Scenario Survival Guide" series, with two books ("WCS Almanac: History" and "WCS: Life") both out in 2006. I've also worked for NBC's Entertainment blog, The Feast (thefeast.com), regularly contributed reviews and features to NBC's Popcorn Biz movie blog, and am the film critic for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. After receiving my MFA from George Mason back in '95, I worked as a film critic and arts writer in DC, Tucson and Philadelphia before landing in the online space with both feet. I've written sports and DVD columns for AOL and dozens of celebrity features and interviews for both local and national sites.

Expertise

Content Editor (online)
15 Years
Editor
12 Years
Writer
12 Years

Specialty

Entertainment
10 Years
Sports & Recreation
5 Years
Travel
5 Years

Industries


Academia Teaching
10 Years
Newspaper - Local/Regional
4 Years
Online/new media
10 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

12 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

AOL (10+), Little Giant Media, Inc. (10+), Pop Matters (3-5), NBC/Universal (3-5), Chronicle Books (3-5), Fodor's Guidebooks (3-5), Not For Tourists (1-2), NPR (1-2), Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (10+), Quirk/Quirk Packaging (3-5)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Silver Oak Title Co. (3-5), IMC, Inc. (1-2), Scott Rudin Productions (1-2)

Other Work History

Editor, thefeast.com/play Editor in Chief, two.one.five Magazine Senior Editor at AOL Film Critic for Philadelphia Weekly

Technical Skills

Video editing: Final Cut Pro. Photo editing: Adobe.

Foreign Language Skills

A smattering of Spanish.

Unions

None.

Computer Skills

Programs: Word, Excel, Photoshop, Illustrator, light HTML, Front Page. Operating Systems: OS

Equipment

Mac Book Pro, scanner, printer, voice recorder, digital camera, video camera, cd/dvd burner, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Illustrator, Final Draft.

Work Permits & Visas

Dual citizenship with Great Britain. Passports both for Britain and USA.

References

Kiersten Aschauer, (AOL), kierstena@kierstena.com Sharyn Rosart, Quirk Packaging, sharyn@quirkpackaging.com Gwen Shafer, Philadelphia Weekly, gwenlisa@gmail.com

Awards

University Fellowship for Fiction Excellence, 1993, 1994

Associations

Online Film Critics Society

Showcase

Features

An interview feature with actor Matthew McConaughey for his work on "Dallas Buyers Club."
A follow-up examination of some of the films and goings on of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.
An interview feature with Kristin Wiig for her blockbuster comedy "Bridesmaids."
A radio interview done with host Marty Moss-Coane about the popular Tintin character, and the adaptation for the Steven Spielberg film.
A listicle of films whose themes could be seen question the existence of an almighty.

Books

An engaging look at the rigors of wearing the white papal robes of office -- and what to do once you're elected to the Vatican.
A book documenting the very worst things that have happened in the entirety of human history.
A travel guidebook to the city.

Magazines

The first issue of my Philly-based magazine, featuring DJs, skaters, casinos, preemption and the history of the MOVE bombing.

Criticism

A comparison and review of the "Best American Short Stories" and the "O. Henry Awards."
A review of the comic-book action flick, The Avengers.
A review of the brilliantly beguiling Paul Thomas Anderson film, The Master, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
A review of the filmic adaptation of "Les Miserables," from a critic who truly does not like musicals.
A review of the "Jane Eyre" adaptation.
A weekly film review series broadcast on NBC's Philadelphia affiliate.

Cover Stories

Cover story on what happens to a dwelling after a brutal murder has been committed there.
A first-person cover story on the author and his teammates trying to reclaim their dormant basketball jones via a training course.

Sports/Recreation

A weekly column devoted to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.
A feature on mountain biking in the Philadelphia area and why people are so drawn to the sport, as well as a beginner's guide to get started.

Fiction

A long-form short story about a kid's resentment to his father and older brother, as expressed on the basketball court.
A short story about agoraphobia and drivers' ed class.