Perrin C. Smith
Film Reviews (Selected)
'Your Honor' finds complication through drama
By Perrin Smith
Published February 6, 2021
Courtroom dramas are nothing new. They’ve become one of the cornerstones of television and movies through “Law & Order,” “The Good Wife” and “12 Angry Men.” So, when a series promises to try on a new suit and do things differently, we should take notice...
'Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man' is the grandfather I'm losing
By Perrin Smith
Published November 6, 2020
One of my earliest memories is of sitting in the dirt. I was between long, narrow stalks of corn. My legs were caked in speckled dust. I was 4. The cornstalks, whenever the wind would blow just right, would reveal my grandfather. He was almost 60 then. Tall, lanky...
'The Good Lord Bird' finds an important place for comedy
By Perrin Smith
Published October 28, 2020
There are far too many historical figures who have their stories told on the silver screen with a tone and mood that’s downright dreary. Far too often, figures like Abraham Lincoln in “Lincoln,” or Queen Elizabeth II in “The Crown,” have their lives adapted so as to place...
'Booksmart' perfects both comedy and drama
By Perrin Smith
Published October 30, 2019
The title “Booksmart” flashes on-screen. It’s fast, sudden, but it’s not at all what has my attention. Up until this moment, when the title illuminates the screen, it’s been pitch-black dark. What has my complete focus isn’t the word in front of me, it’s the booming...
Melissa McCarthy effortlessly tackles drama in 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?'
By Perrin Smith
Published October 31, 2018
“Well, that’s batshit, Marjorie!” exclaims Melissa McCarthy in her portrayal of Lee Israel in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” This is a line that would not be out of place if spoken by any number of her...
News Articles (Selected)
'In Conversation with Ethan Hawke' delves into success in the arts
By Perrin Smith
Published October 28, 2020
“Kids don’t know,” said Ethan Hawke. He was speaking about the first time he remembers being interested in the arts. Whether or not, as asked by Variety’s Deputy Awards and Features Editor Jenelle Riley...
Daniel Poler insists on preparing for success
By Perrin Smith, Photos by Nick Thomsen
Published October 19 2019
It’s quiet inside the Pei Ling Chan Amphitheatre. Rain pours down on the roof as Daniel Poler, a creative director for Condé Nast, begins his presentation. Over a dozen students lean in, poised to hear his insights on filmmaking and the fashion industry. Poler starts with...
City of Savannah launches plans for new Canal District and Arena
By Perrin Smith
Published October 19 2019
There is an area of Savannah that goes commonly unnoticed. It’s an area steeped in history and culture right at the doorsteps of downtown. It sits right across the old railroad bridges that connect...
Published Fiction
Fireflies - Published in The Port City Review
By Perrin Smith
Published March 24, 2021
Johnny twiddled the straw sticking out of his cup. We were in the window booth at the diner. His head was turned, and his eyes glazed over, looking out the window at the oak trees across the parking lot. "What d'you want to do tonight?" he asked...
Podcast (Selected)
'Bookmarked and Dogeared' Episode Eight: Halle Hill
By Perrin Smith
Published March 27, 2021
“I live by this rule that I think everything is sacred, everything gives me information, everything has something that’s powerful. So, I wake up knowing I’ll find something that’s inspiring,” said Halle Hill, a writer. Hill earned her M.F.A. in writing from SCAD in 2020.
'Bookmarked and Dogeared' Episode Six: Kenneth R. Rosen
By Perrin Smith
Published February 13, 2021
“It’s cathartic, but it’s also relieving,” said Kenneth R. Rosen, senior editor at Newsweek. Rosen, who is currently promoting his new nonfiction book “Troubled,” previously earned a B.F.A. in writing from SCAD and served as District’s Editor in Chief in 2013.
'Bookmarked and Dogeared' Episode Five: Ariel R. Felton
By Perrin Smith
Published January 29, 2021
“Growing up, no one talked about writing as a thing you could do. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I took a yearbook class and I got to write a lot that I realized I can do this as a career,” Ariel R. Felton said. Felton is a SCAD grad, who earned her M.F.A. in...
'Bookmarked and Dogeared' Episode Three: Madison Hamburg
By Perrin Smith
Published December 11, 2020
“My parents told me they were getting a divorce the day before Christmas. I was 11 years old. And on Christmas day, they gave me a Handycam and I just totally lost myself in that — just filming whatever I could. But [filmmaking has] always been a thing that I...
Unpublished Reporting
The Ballad of James Rogers
By Perrin Smith
Written October 2020
He was about to retire. Locked into his decision in June 2013, James Rogers stood backstage at The Celebrity Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He had just played one of his final shows. curtains had closed behind him, his Martin guitar was packed away in its case...