About RFJ

A work in progress, Rochester Film Journal is an attempt to close the widening gap in film coverage across the greater Rochester area. True to its name, RFJ will celebrate Rochester's local movie experience: the films you watch in theaters and on DVD or iPod; the new releases and the classics; the first-run blockbusters and the indie usurpers. It will keep an eye on the area's film culture, as well, with coverage of local festivals and film-oriented institutions. In short, if you live in greater Rochester and you like movies, this is your new online home base.

About Rochester, New York

The birthplace of Kodak founder George Eastman -- arguably the most significant American contributor to the birth of film, after this guy -- Rochester is a city rich with history, cultural significance, and garbage plates. Wikipedia lists the city as the 105th largest media market, which is humbling, but 35 slots higher than Rochester, Minnesota, so we've got that going for us.

About Erich Van Dussen

A writer and film critic for the past 20 years, Erich Van Dussen is the founder and Managing Editor of Rochester Film Journal. He began reviewing movies for the now-defunct REAL Magazine in 1992, then for Wolfe Community Newspapers and Take One magazine. Between 1997 and 2009 his weekly print column ran in 10 Messenger Post newspapers and the Sunday Messenger in Canandaigua, NY; today, he blogs about movies and popular culture for the Messenger Post Media group at www.MPNnow.com. He was the on-air film critic for Rochester's WZNE-FM radio from 1999 until 2003. He even had a theme song.

Away from film, Erich's freelance writing has appeared in Rochester Magazine, Canandaigua Magazine and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, among other publications. He has also worked in advertising and non-profit public relations, and is currently Marketing Manager / Creative Director for BCC Software in Henrietta, NY.

He doesn't usually write about himself in the third person.

About Schmidt

Great movie. Have you seen it?