Being a movie critic isn’t all fun and games, you know. What with the late-night screenings, nerd-laden conventions, being legally obligated to watch the latest Tyler Perry film…the perks are many, but they barely make up for the stress. Except, perhaps, for one.

Free Screener DVDs.

Getting free DVDs in the mail is pretty much every film buff’s dream, but for many critics, it’s reality. You might assume this is one of those perks that automatically comes with fame, but it’s not - just like everything else in life, it must be pursued. And you don’t even have to be famous.

On paper, it’s as simple as finding the public or media relations segment of a movie studio and contacting them with your references. But of course the politics of becoming a recognized critic are much more complicated than that - here are some ways to get yourself closer to screener DVDs.

1. Be a Critic.

This seems like a “no duh,” but as writers it’s far too easy to sit back and never write anything. Just write. Put your name out there. Don’t let your pride get in the way of doing valuable work for free, as long as it exposes you to the industry. You’re not going to get a job working for The Chicago Sun-Times, but your local newspaper and smaller websites are always on the prowl for more talent. You can hone your skills, learn about the business, and build an audience simultaneously.

2. Be Prepared To Be Patient.

The path before you is fraught with many catch-22s. You need to have a following before you can get screener DVDs, and you can’t get much of a following without exclusive reviews. Be prepared to take different approaches in your writing to draw more of a crowd; if the most you can do is put a unique spin on your writing, that might be enough to build a fan base.

Use every (scrupulous) resource you have. Many movie studios have e-mail newsletters that might notify you of smaller screenings in your area. Networking sites like Facebook are also good resources for connecting you with special screening events. These are great places to see films before they reach a wider audience, and also for you to make connections with others in the industry.

3. Have Something Unique To Offer.

Unfortunately, writing for a movie blog doesn’t give you much of an edge. There are millions of movie blogs, and every one of those people would love to be receiving free screeners. But most of them are not, because most of them reach the exact some audience.

The way to impress a studio is to offer something they can’t get anywhere else - a corner on some exclusive market. What this means will vary from studio to studio, but generally, if you are the sole movie critic in a small town newspaper you’re a more interesting prospect than a random movie blogger.

You’ll also need to strike the balance between “small town” and “town too small to care about.” This applies to your online community, as well. If you’ve got a sizable group of people that the studio finds in a suitable demographic, and they’re not likely to be getting movie reviews anywhere else, you have a decent case.

4. Market Yourself.

It’s been said that 99% of success is showing up. If that’s true, then the remaining 1% is how you present yourself - both to the studios, and to your readership. This is closely tied to tips 2 and 3.

Every studio is looking for something different, so use your head. In this day and age, you might not realistically have exclusive access to some segment of the demographic that is highly sought-after, but you can certainly think about attractive ways to present your audience to the studio’s PR folks.

Aim small at first, because getting a handle on several small studios is much easier than one giant; once you’ve built an audience that knows you as “the guy who gets all the indie horror DVDs a weeks early,” it will be much easier to break into the bigger market.

Smaller studios who may be more receptive include The Asylum, MTI Home Video, and Heretic Films (the people behind 24 Hours on Craigslist).

5. Be Prepared To Be Patient…Again.

Even if you manage to cut through all the studio’s red tape, it’s not over yet. You must maintain your established readership in order to stay on their list, and you must be ready to prove yourself again and again as the studio questions your credibility. While some smaller studios are more eager to expose their films, the bigger ones know that theirs are sought-after and are anxious to protect them. Don’t do anything stupid like pirating your DVDs, and be willing to resubmit your qualifications as many times as necessary.

When all else fails, remember this: at some point, every successful movie reviewer was exactly where you are. And if Harry Knowles could parlay a back injury into one of the most popular and exclusive film websites of all time, then you can do it too.

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