David Sims, a staff writer at The Atlantic and co-host of the popular Blank Check podcast, is taking questions from film fans in a live Reddit AMA. The session, hosted in collaboration with The Atlantic and the r/blankies community, invites users to ask about movies, the state of the film industry, and his new weekly newsletter, Video Village.
The AMA is being conducted across two subreddits, with the main thread running in r/blankies and promotion from r/movies. Sims is expected to return at 2 p.m. ET to begin answering questions, according to the announcement. The event offers readers a direct line to one of the most recognized voices in contemporary film criticism, known for his work at The Atlantic and his long-running podcast alongside Griffin Newman and David Farley.
Video Village, Sims's new newsletter, is a central focus of the Q&A. The project marks an expansion of his film writing into a weekly format, giving subscribers regular analysis and commentary beyond his magazine work. The newsletter's title references the monitored area on a film set where directors and key crew watch takes, a fitting metaphor for a critic who spends much of his time observing the craft and business of moviemaking.
The AMA also arrives at a moment of ongoing debate about the health of the film industry. Topics likely to surface include the shifting theatrical landscape, the role of streaming platforms, and the challenges facing mid-budget original films. Sims has written extensively on these subjects for The Atlantic, and his perspective as both a critic and a podcaster positions him to address how audiences and the industry are adapting to rapid changes in distribution and consumption.
Reddit AMAs have become a staple of entertainment journalism, allowing critics, filmmakers, and actors to engage directly with fans without traditional media filters. For The Atlantic, the collaboration with r/blankies reflects an effort to meet readers in the digital spaces where film discussion thrives. The r/blankies community, built around the Blank Check podcast, is known for its deep knowledge of film history and its enthusiastic, often humorous, engagement with directors' careers.
Sims's dual role as a staff writer and podcast co-host has made him a bridge between legacy film criticism and the newer, more conversational formats that dominate online culture. His newsletter, Video Village, extends that bridge by delivering his insights directly to subscribers' inboxes on a weekly basis. The AMA gives potential readers a chance to learn more about the newsletter's scope and tone while also getting his take on current releases and industry trends.
Questions submitted ahead of the 2 p.m. ET start time will likely cover a range of subjects, from specific film recommendations to broader questions about criticism itself. The event is open to anyone with a Reddit account, and participants have been directed to the r/blankies thread to post their queries. The AMA is expected to run for a limited window, with Sims answering as many questions as time allows.
For film enthusiasts who follow criticism and industry analysis, the session represents an opportunity to engage with a writer whose work regularly appears in one of the country's leading publications. It also highlights the growing intersection of traditional journalism and community-driven platforms like Reddit, where audiences increasingly expect direct access to the voices they follow.