Emily
Maskell

Hi, I’m Emily, but most people call me Em! I’m a writer who mainly covers film and pop culture, a published author and a script reader.

I graduated from King’s College, London, with a Master’s in Film Studies, and my undergraduate thesis was on the cinema of maestro Luca Guadagnino.

Journalism

I write for several outlets on a freelance basis, including BBC Culture, GQ, W Magazine, The Daily Beast, Nylon, Teen Vogue, i-D, Curzon Journal and more.

I have a monthly column for Vulture where I chart the most exciting book-to-screen adaptations.

My writing includes film criticism, festival coverage, op-eds, profiles and reported interviews. I mainly cover film and TV, but I’ve also written about internet culture, music and books.

I’m a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and have contributed to critics’ surveys, like Sight and Sound’s Greatest Films of All Time poll. My love for cinema has taken me all over, including film festivals like Berlin, Cannes, London, Sundance and BFI Flare.

Books

Buy now

Icons of Cinema: Baz Luhrmann

My debut book in the Icons of Cinema series charts the directorial career of Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Icons of Cinema: Baz Luhrmann was published by Bonnier Books’ imprint Studio Press.

Empire Magazine review: “Film journalist Emily Maskell goes film-by-film for this nicely presented potted history, bolstered by handsome imagery and concept art. Each film - and what Maskell describes as his "Luhrmannisms" - is broken down with thoughtful, analytic detail.”

My debut book in the Icons of Cinema series charts the directorial career of Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Icons of Cinema: Baz Luhrmann was published by Bonnier Books’ imprint Studio Press. Empire Magazine review: “Film journalist Emily Maskell goes film-by-film for this nicely presented potted history, bolstered by handsome imagery and concept art. Each film - and what Maskell describes as his "Luhrmannisms" - is broken down with thoughtful, analytic detail.” Mononym Mythology: “QUOTE - coming soon” ` My second book in the Icons of Cinema collection is due in late 2025.

My debut book in the Icons of Cinema series charts the directorial career of Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Icons of Cinema: Baz Luhrmann was published by Bonnier Books’ imprint Studio Press. Empire Magazine review: “Film journalist Emily Maskell goes film-by-film for this nicely presented potted history, bolstered by handsome imagery and concept art. Each film - and what Maskell describes as his "Luhrmannisms" - is broken down with thoughtful, analytic detail.” Mononym Mythology: “QUOTE - coming soon” ` My second book in the Icons of Cinema collection is due in late 2025.

Buy now

Big Smoke, Big Screen

My essay on Matthew Warchus’s 2014 film Pride and my experience at Gay’s The Word bookshop is a chapter in We Love Cinema’s book, Big Smoke, Big Screen.

For this chapter, I interviewed Gay’s the Word bookshop manager, Jim MacSweeney, about the bookshop’s history in central London and its importance to the LGBTQ+ community.

My debut book in the Icons of Cinema series charts the directorial career of Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Icons of Cinema: Baz Luhrmann was published by Bonnier Books’ imprint Studio Press. Empire Magazine review: “Film journalist Emily Maskell goes film-by-film for this nicely presented potted history, bolstered by handsome imagery and concept art. Each film - and what Maskell describes as his "Luhrmannisms" - is broken down with thoughtful, analytic detail.” Mononym Mythology: “QUOTE - coming soon” ` My second book in the Icons of Cinema collection is due in late 2025.

Coming Soon…

My second book in the Icons of Cinema collection is due in late 2025.

My debut book in the Icons of Cinema series charts the directorial career of Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Icons of Cinema: Baz Luhrmann was published by Bonnier Books’ imprint Studio Press. Empire Magazine review: “Film journalist Emily Maskell goes film-by-film for this nicely presented potted history, bolstered by handsome imagery and concept art. Each film - and what Maskell describes as his "Luhrmannisms" - is broken down with thoughtful, analytic detail.” Mononym Mythology: “QUOTE - coming soon” ` My second book in the Icons of Cinema collection is due in late 2025.

Reading

I am a freelance script reader with experience working for Oscar-nominated writer-directors and cultural organisations.

As a script reader, I have worked on films throughout development, from the first draft to the shooting script. I provide proofreading script drafts for spelling/grammar and narrative edits. I also have experience editing additional administrative documents like beat sheets, treatment notes, and film presentation documents.

“Emily is a dedicated, efficient script reader and writing assistant who is able to make welcome creative contributions based on her extensive knowledge of cinema. Emily is friendly, professional, and has a sharp eye for detail—I’d make no hesitation in recommending her.”

- Harry Shaw, writer-director of WNTKYF feature film.