My awful.

Wednesday: Point of View

I sit at a messy desk while I write today. It was difficult to drag myself here. Too often I feel like everything needs to be perfect before I can begin. The right time, the right order, the right mood... what have you.

But today I told myself to own the awful. It's an attitude I've tried to adopt ever since watching Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020) on Netflix.

Back story...

Lars (Will Ferrell) dreams of singing at Eurovision--the world's biggest song competition. Problem is, he lacks the vocal and performing skills but doesn't know it. His singing partner, Sigrit (Rachel McAdams), has the voice of an angel, but she stays tethered to Lars. The singing duo label themselves Fire Saga.

Through a bizarre turn of events, they are sent to represent their beloved Iceland at Eurovision.

Meanwhile, at a pub in Fire Saga's hometown of Husavik, a group watches soccer on the television.

Someone insists...

MAN #1

Turn on the song contest, I want to watch Iceland.

Others grumble and complain.

MAN #2

What's wrong with you people? Lars and Sigrit are from our town. They've grown up with all of us.

(to the schoolteacher)

Lenderman, did you not teach them both as children?

(to another)

Steve Gundersson, they played music at your first wedding.

GUNDERSON

And my fourth.

More conversation about Fire Saga's horrible performances...

MAN #2

... We know they're awful, but they're our awful. I say change the channel and let's take our medicine!

I love that scene, "...let's take our medicine" makes me laugh! But I find myself thinking about the phrase "they're our awful". Not only does it remind me to support friends and family in their endeavors, it reminds me to support myself--my awful--when life or dreams go awry.

That doesn't mean I won't continue efforts in trying to improve, but falling short of ideal is okay. 

So what if my desk is a mess, so what if I have notes upon notes of unfollowed ideas, so what if I am inconsistent with my writing... it's my awful and I can take it.

NOTE: If concerned about content, ClearPlay offers filters for this film. 

As the pendulum swings.

Image from Storyblocks.com

For more than a year I have been swinging on a pendulum (creatively speaking) between an open floodgate of ideas drowning me with too many possibilities and a yawning void echoing the chirp of crickets. Back and forth. Back and forth. Floodgate. Void. Floodgate. Void.

At the beginning of this year I felt a pull to go to Scotland. Then it left. Then it came back. Then it left. So, when an opportunity to attend a writer's retreat in Scotland happened along, I grabbed it, hoping to shake something loose.

You see, one of my many floodgate ideas swirls around the experiences of a notable Scottish ancestor. I thought visiting her homeland would help me gain focus and maybe flesh out her story.

I spent three weeks in Scotland, and pardon my gushing, but I absolutely love that ancestral homeland! 

Nine days were spent with writers in workshops, conversations, and excursions. Hanging with other writers was a balm I've needed for a long time. Still, a story eluded me.

After the retreat, I journeyed east of Edinburgh to an area where my ancestor had lived, and spent several days exploring. I strolled along the coast of the North Sea, her favorite place, then hopped on a bus to her hometown. Surely I would feel a story there, right? But no muse met me... instead I had a disturbing experience and left disheartened. 

My husband joined me in Edinburgh after I was done with the retreat and my research. It was mid-August, so the Festival Fringe--"the world's largest arts festival"--was in full swing. Edinburgh exudes amazing creative energy during the festival. Still, a story eluded me.

We had a blast exploring and eating our way through the Scotland. (Haggis with "neeps and tatties" is delicious, ya'll!) Oh, and if you ever get the chance to go to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, do it!

Liverpool, England was next on the agenda and we walked along the Royal Albert Dock where my ancestors sailed to America. Then onward to London, and a day trip to Chawton to see the home where Jane Austen lived and wrote. (If you read my previous post Jane Austen Binging this will not come as a surprise.) Still, a story eluded me.

Upon my return home, I went into a slump again. The void.

Then the pendulum swung towards the floodgate, but this time clarity shone upon one of the ideas and a story surfaced for a new screenplay... incorporating the aforementioned odd experience in my ancestor's hometown as a twist. I immediately opened Screenwriter and typed until the idea faded.

Now I am back in the void.

And that's okay.

Thanks to the supportive writers I met at the retreat, I am being patient. They encouraged me to relax about the process, and assured me that even if a story comes in fragments, I can write a fragment at a time until it all comes together.

Jane Austen Binging

Public Domain Image: Jane Austen

I've been binging on movies based on Jane Austen novels. It started with watching the six hour BBC mini-series of Pride and Prejudice (1995) with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, which then made me want to watch the two hour version (2005) with Keira Knightley playing the part of Elizabeth Bennet.

Since I was on a roll, I moved on to Sense and Sensibility (1995) starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, then watched the 2008 mini-series for comparison. Both are good, but I prefer the version with Emma Thompson.

With that name in mind, I went to Emma (1996) starring Gwyneth Paltrow in the lead role, followed by the 4-hour TV mini-series (Emma 2009).

But the binge didn't end there. I also watched Mansfield Park (1999) with Jonny Lee Miller as the best friend-turned-love interest, Edmund Bertram. (I watch the Elementary series with Johnny Lee portraying Sherlock Holmes, so it was fun to see him in such a different role!)

Does my husband mind all these supposed chick flicks? Not at all. In fact, a couple weeks ago when asked what movie he wanted to watch, he selected The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) and felt proud that he knew most of the stories they discussed... except for Northanger Abbey. I was unfamiliar with that one, too, at the time.

So, I downloaded a free app called "Serial Reader" that provides just a small portion of a classic book each day at a specified time, and I selected (you guessed it) Northanger Abbey. [This is a great way to read classic literature because it only takes about 10-15 minutes to read the day's portion, making it a bit easier to concentrate on and digest.] I'm approximately 81% through this one.

Then I stumbled across an interesting book: The Jane Austen Diet: Austen's Secrets to Food, Health, and Incandescent Happiness by Jane Austen, Bryan Kozlowski (Contributor). The Jane Austen Diet? I had to see what it was all about, and it turned out to be full of delightful nuggets. Who knew Jane Austen was a health guru! One thing for certain... she wouldn't advocate binging, so it's doubtful she would be flattered by our excessive viewing/reading of all things Jane.

But...

In the meantime, I discovered our local library has the DVD of Northanger Abbey... two versions, actually. I didn't even know it was made into a film, let alone more than one! Guess what we'll be watching after I finish the novel!

The woes of selecting seats.

Thursday: Point of View

As mentioned in the post Next...!, I went with my husband and son to see Avengers: Endgame (2019) the weekend it opened. When I learned it was three hours long, I dreaded it. That's a long time to sit in the theater. However, our air conditioner chose that weekend to go on the fritz with outdoor temps around 97°F, so (like I mentioned in Weather) I was happy to sit in the nice cool theater for three hours!

I gave it a thumbs up (plot holes, sure, but still entertaining), my husband gave it a thumb sideways, and my son gave it a thumbs down with an asterisk... *his view of the movie was tainted by his frustration with the seat occupant next to him... a wiggly toddler. Yes, toddler, who did everything except sit still while the parents ignored the child's behavior for the duration of the movie.

Made me think of a post I wrote several years ago, Outtake: Picking your seat. Here it is:


When we were kids, one of my brothers saw a man pulling at the back of his pants and quipped, "That guy must be going to the movies... he's picking his seat."

There are some theaters that make us select our seats when purchasing tickets. The first time we experienced this, it was not good. We selected our seats on the computer screen by looking for the green chairs (available) in the midst of the red (taken), but when we arrived inside the theater, we discovered that a huge guy filled not only his own seat, but also half of my husband's. And as I stepped over to my seat, I felt a slosh beneath my feet. A noisy child behind me had spilled an entire bottle of water (thankfully just water). I spent the duration of the movie trying to keep my feet dry.

So I think if theaters (and airlines) insist on people selecting their seats at time of ticket purchase, they need to provide detailed information on the screen. The seat map should indicate things such as:

Row F Seat 14 - Reeks of cheap perfume.

Row C Seat 6 - Crying child.

Row M Seat 12 - Addicted to texting.

Row S Seat 4 - Hasn't bathed in a week.

Row P Seats 7, 8, 9, 10 - Talkative group.

Row N Seats 12 & 13 - Needs to get a room.

Row G Seat 3 - Flatulent Freddy.


When you select seats, what information do you wish the chart included?

Something old turned new.

Wednesday: Point of View

I recently reviewed two wonderful movies (linked below) which seemed fresh in their respective genres despite having age-old plots.

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another. (Voltaire)

Good story-tellers can turn something old into something new, but I get a chuckle out of this comedy sketch...

Studio C: Teddy's Story Joint

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. (C.S. Lewis)

I certainly enjoy films that keep me guessing, but I also appreciate movies with their own spin on tried and true plots. How about you?



Links to the reviews referenced above:

• Alpha (2018) - similar to other adventure stories and worth watching.
• Crazy Rich Asians (2018) - similar to other romantic comedies and lots of fun!

A stand for concessions

Wednesday: Point of View

Image from storyblocks.com

A friend told me about going to the movie theater three times in one week and quipped, "That's a lot of popcorn!"

There's something about popcorn and movies. They go so well together.

However, I don't always get popcorn at the theater, because... well, it's not that great. Too dry and salty, so I add the unnatural butter-flavored stuff and end up feeling nauseated from the oil.

That's why I only purchase theater popcorn when I am desperately hungry or have the illusion that it will taste good this time.

And I feel bad about that because... well, I don't eat candy and I don't drink soda so that means all the theater gets from my wallet is the price of admission.

That sounds like a good thing, right? It's a good thing for my personal health, but not for the health of the local cinema. You see, concession sales keep movie theaters in business and I happen to like movie theaters!

Now. Here's my stand for concessions: I make scrumptious popcorn. That's right... homemade, stove-top, pan-popped kernels made with coconut oil and drizzled with real butter, and it's against my principles to sneak it into the theater but I would gladly pay the theater for the privilege to bring it in. They would still make money to stay in business and I would get to eat the good stuff! Win-win!

I'm curious. Am I alone in this? Would you be willing to pay a concession fee to bring in your own popcorn?

Not a money pit... so far.

It's Friday and I need a good laugh.

As mentioned in the previous post, we recently moved. While searching for a home, the realtor asked me what features I hoped for and I told him the only deal-breaker would be a fixer upper. We had one of those in Tennessee some years back and I swore I would never do that again. I'm older now, and tireder.

And yet, a fixer upper is what we bought. Why? Because I fell in love with the office where I now sit surrounded by newly painted walls and unpacked boxes.

Thankfully the house mainly needs cosmetic work, and we saved enough on the price of the home that we could afford a contractor to take care of some of it before we moved in. (Who invented popcorn ceilings, by the way?)

Still, our first week here had some glitches. It took several phone calls and a couple visits by a technician to get cable and internet working. We have a temperamental loud ceiling fan that runs only when it wants to, a washing machine that walks across the floor during the spin cycle, a fridge that keeps things luke-cool (not warm but not cold), and a busted water softener that flooded the garage.

But I'm loving it here. And whenever I think less than kind thoughts about our fixer upper, I remind myself it could be worse. It could be...

"The Money Pit... If they've got what it takes, it's going to take everything they've got."

 Fandanago Movieclips Classic Trailers: The Money Pit (1986)

So far our home is not a money pit, but I gotta tell ya... as I waded into the pond of water in the garage, my anxiety level lowered greatly when I mimicked Walter's (Tom Hanks) laugh...

(The laugh begins around 2:17.)

Fandango Movieclips: Walter's Laugh 

Odds and Ends

Just some odds and ends, catching up:

Image from storyblocks.com. I searched for a photo that looked
somewhat like my hands, but why did they have to title it
"Hands of an old female typing on the keyboard"? hahahaha

• As I mentioned in a previous post (here), I am working on a new page  for this blog which contains a comprehensive list of all the movies I've referenced. So, when there isn't a new post on here, please know I am not completely absent, just working behind the scenes.

• Speaking of behind the scenes... I was "background talent" in the Hallmark movie Switched for Christmas (2017). If you watch the office Christmas party scene and go in slo-mo frame by frame you might catch a blurry glimpse of the shoulder of my Christmas sweater. That's my claim to fame for being 12 hours on the set.

• My husband and I saw Wonder (2017) in December. I borrowed the book from the library and loved it so much I bought a copy. The movie was excellent, too. 

• In comparison, we went to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) last Friday. Our tickets were free and yet we felt like we wasted our money. 

• I added a few more movie review links on "My ClearPlay Movie Reviews" (see above tab or click here).

• My theme word for 2018 is LAUGH, so I hope to find some good clean comedies to post about on here. Which are your favorites?

Goodness of characters and people.

Disappointment and frustration with the film industry made it difficult to post anything on this blog for the past several months, but I recently purchased Ebert's Essentials: 33 Movies to Restore Your Faith in Humanity, and feel hope again.

In the introduction to his book, Roger Ebert states that he rarely cries at the movies, but when he does, "it's almost always because of the goodness of a character."

All of the films listed in the book "have one thing in common--the goodness of people."

"They are very different people and good in many different ways, but all of them, whatever the place in life that fate has led them to, try to do the best they can with their opportunities. Yes, that can restore your faith in humanity. We need more of these films and fewer weekend blockbusters entertaining young people with the slaughter and suffering of anonymous victims in action pictures."

More goodness of people and less slaughter... I wholeheartedly agree!

Of the 33 movies listed in the book, I've seen eight:
Apollo 13 (1995)
Casablanca (1942)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The King's Speech (2010)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
October Sky (1999)
12 Angry Men (1957)
Up (2009)

The remaining 25 have been added to my list of films I want to see.

He writes about movies that can restore faith in humanity, but his book also restored my faith in filmmakers. Thank you Roger Ebert.

Action

Wednesday: Point of View

(I found this in my drafts and it's a post that I needed today.) ...............

Action.

Imagine if Joan Wilder (Romancing the Stone) remained in her New York City apartment searching for tissue and feeding her cat. Or if Jean Valjean (Les Misérables) spent his time curled up in a ball, whining. We wouldn't feel engaged in their problem, or really care about them much.

At some point in compelling stories, the main characters take action to solve their problems. The idea or solution might come from an outside source, but the characters act on it--even when it pushes them out of their comfort zone--and we cheer for their success.

Think of a favorite movie. How did the main character take action to solve his or her dilemma? Did it make the character more interesting and likable?

I think of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. When Walter leaps onto the helicopter as it takes off, I thrill over his courage. His story becomes far more interesting at that point.

We are the characters in our own life story, and taking action to solve our dilemmas can make us more interesting, too.

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. ~ Dale Carnegie

As I said... I needed this. Lately I've been rolling along letting circumstances dictate direction. I don't want to be that character. It's time to take action.

What kind of character are you in your life story?

Movie locations inspire vacation destinations.

Writing Prompt: Write a blog post inspired by the word: vacation.

Sometimes a film's breathtaking or intriguing location implants a desire to vacation there.


Here are some vacations of my dreams and the films that fueled them.

GREECE

• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), a somewhat forgettable movie, except for the scenes of Greece. When Lena (Alexis Biedel) rides a donkey up a path surrounded by blue domed white-washed buildings with glimpses of the deep blue sea while iconic Greek music plays, well… it calls out to me.

Start at 0:38

• The same with Mamma Mia! (2008). The main thing I remember is the beautiful scenery, and my desire to go there.

POSITANO, ITALY

• The film Only You (1994) highlights beautiful areas of Italy, but my favorite scenes take place in Positano. Breathtaking. 
• Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) also has a short scene in Positano.

Because of those films, when I went to Italy on an internship a few years ago, I made sure to visit Positano. Unfortunately, I only had about 45 minutes to enjoy it, and still feel disappointed over that. I could spend days there. Homes and buildings ascend the hillside connected by stairways everywhere. (I love stairs!) They say you don't walk to your neighbor's home, you climb. I want to return while I can physically handle it.

AUSTRALIA

• The Man from Snowy River (1982)
• Quigley Down Under (1990)
• and Australia (2008)

The locations and scenery in those films entice me to visit there. My husband and I dream of taking a train ride across that grand continent.

MONTANA

• A River Runs Through It (1992)
• The Horse Whisperer (1998)

Exotic places sound wonderful, but when I want Shangri-La, I go to Montana. Whenever I visit the Bitterroot Valley, a calmness washes over me. I feel peace. Films depicting Montana make me ache for the "big sky state."

Have movie locations inspired your vacation destinations?

It's my job!

Wednesday: Point of View

A company promoting family friendly films asked me to write reviews for their website, giving me an excellent excuse for frequent movie-time. (More on that in a future post.)

So... yesterday our handyman (and long-time friend) arrived to tile our bathroom floor. After discussing the back-breaking chore, I told him, "If you need me, I'll be downstairs working. Don't judge me… I'll be watching a movie."

"What? You're going to watch a movie while I'm up here slaving away?"

I laughed, "Hey, you chose your job, and I chose mine!"

It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it, right?

I love my work.

Something I noticed...

I participated in the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge with a theme of "Making movie lines our own," and as I shared family stories about certain movie quotes, I noticed something: a majority of memorable lines my family use are from animated movies and/or films from the 90s.

Interesting.

What's with that?

I reflected on that during the past week and realized…

… The lines that stuck with us are from movies watched when our kids were young (in the 90s), which of course included many animated films. Watching and laughing with them made lines memorable.

… Most of the lines we quote are from comedies, and unfortunately it's harder to find good clean comedy from the past couple decades.

… Animated films use such clever dialogue. Those lines stick!

… Lines don't linger with me as much nowadays as I've gotten, well... older. I can remember things from years past but can't recall what movie I watched last week. (Wait, did we watch one last week??)

How about you? Do most of your favorite quotes come from a certain genre or decade(s)?

Books-to-film.

Wednesday: Point of View

For a several weeks I consistently wrote "My Take" posts on movies I viewed, but for the past few weeks I slacked off from watching movies and read a couple novels instead. Both books would make great films…

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom (Thought provoking, with profound insights.) Some of his books have been made into films (Tuesdays with Morrie; The Five People You Meet in Heaven; For One More Day; Have a Little Faith) so I hope The Time Keeper follows suit.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Although categorized as "youth fiction," it's an enjoyable adult read. Well-written.) According to IMDB, this one is in development! I look forward to seeing it on the big screen.

Having read The Time Keeper, I almost feel guilty saying this, but…

So many books, so little time.
So many movies, so little time.

Have you read any books you'd like to see in film?

Summer movies for families.

An on-line article (7 must-see summer 2015 movies for every family) ranked the movie titles listed below. Most of them sound fun!

1. Inside Out ◆ My six-year-old granddaughter talked about this movie for months before it finally released. She saw it last weekend and loved it, as did her parents and younger siblings. Animated emotions. I lived it during menopause, but still want to see the film.
2. Shaun the Sheep ◆ What??? This is coming to the big screen! My grandchildren introduced me to the clever TV show, and I look forward to the movie releasing in August.
3. Batkid Begins ◆ A documentary slated to hit the theaters this weekend. Not sure how I missed the news about San Francisco becoming Gotham City to grant a wish to a 5-year-old with cancer, Miles Scott, who wanted to be Batman for a day.
4. Minions ◆ Another animated film I look forward to! This one releases in July. I get a kick out of the minions in Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2, however, a different screenwriter wrote Minions, so hopefully the characters remain lovable.
5. Paper Towns ◆ A mystery flick fit for teens due out July 24. The story sounds interesting, but I will wait for more information on content before deciding if it's a must-see for me.
6. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ◆ I'm interested in the movie, for sure, since I used to watch the TV series years ago… but, again…I await more information on the film content.
7. Jurassic World ◆ This one already opened, but it doesn't interest me. I posted about how the characters in Jurassic Park should say "no" to going again. (Nooooo! Say "no" to these things!) Well, I say "no" to seeing yet another Jurassic movie.

I added most of these movies to my busy summer plans. Laughing in an air conditioned theater sounds like a fun way to beat the heat.

Increased role of alcohol in films.

Watching an old movie with characters often lighting up a cigarette, I told my husband, "I forgot how smoking wasn't an issue back then." So a recent on-line Deseret News article piqued my interest: "With smoking declining on screen, experts turn attention to alcohol."

I didn't realize the role of alcohol in films had increased!

Used with permission from Deseret News.

The article stated, "Even as smoking rates and depictions in entertainment have fallen, another problem has risen to take tobacco's place on the silver screen: Alcohol."

Movies often demonstrate that alcohol is an acceptable way to deal with problems or emotions. Sadness, anger, bitterness, loneliness, and even happiness (time to celebrate!), all seem to warrant alcoholic beverages.

Young people are especially vulnerable to how alcohol is depicted in film "because the brain's centers for impulse and behavior control aren't fully developed until around age 25." So when films give an unrealistic view of alcohol consumption, young minds aren't equipped to sort out reality. They see the fun, glamor, escaping problems, and not the negative impact of death, abuse, accidents, rape.

Hollywood voluntarily cut back on smoking in films and television after the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement restricted manufacturers and advertisers from targeting youth. And since that time, tobacco use among teens has been greatly reduced. Hollywood receives some credit for that.

Here's to hoping Hollywood will soon voluntarily diminish the role of alcohol in films.




(The quotes and information are from "With smoking declining on screen, experts turn attention to alcohol" by Chandra Johnson, May 19, 2015, national.deseretnews.com  Click here for the complete article. )

Zoetrope and Zoopraxiscope

Thursday: Point of View

Zoetrope and Zoopraxiscope

I'm using two z-words since a Zoetrope and a Zoopraxiscope are similar primitive motion picture devices--giving motion to images.

Images in the zoetrope are inside a drum with slits - you view them through the slits. Images for a zoopraxiscope are on a rotating glass disc and projected onto a wall.  

Zoetrope:

Zoopraxiscope: (this one is a little long, but gives interesting history and detail in how it was made)

And that, folks, is the end of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This was my first time, and I already have theme ideas for the next three A to Z challenges! 

Speaking of challenges...this blog kicks off a monthly Video Challenge starting tomorrow, May 1. Check that date for details.

Years

Wednesday: Point of View

Years

Curious about specific years in the movies? Check out IMDb: Years. 

The top ten movies the year I was born: 1956

1. Forbidden Planet
2. The Ten Commandments 
3. Giant
4. The Searchers
5. Bus Stop
6. Around the World in Eighty Days
7. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
8. The King and I
9. Moby Dick
10. Carousel

I've seen four (in bold).

The year between my birth and now: 1985

1. The Goonies
2. Back to the Future
3. The Breakfast Club
4. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
5. Legend
6. Commando
7. Rocky IV
8. Brazil
9. Weird Science
10. St. Elmo's Fire

I've seen two.

Last year: 2014

1. Unfriended
2. Interstellar
3. The Water Diviner
4. The Forger
5. Guardians of the Galaxy
6. It Follows
7. X-Men: Days of the Future Past
8. Adult Beginners
9. Kingsman: The Secret Service
10. The Babadook

I saw one.

Not sure what that proves, except I don't seem drawn to the most popular movies.

What years did you check? Did you learn anything about yourself?

Taglines over the years.

Thursday: Point of View

Taglines

Tagline--short, clever, catch-phrase used to advertise, often found on the film's poster.

Curious about how taglines might have changed over the years, I found information at "Great Film Taglines" (filmsite.org), and selected three from each group (choosing films I've seen).

Silents to 1930s

• Love, Locomotives, and Laughs. The General (1926)
• The story of the strangest passion the world has ever known. Dracula (1931)
• A powerful story of 9 strange people! Stagecoach (1939)

1940s

• EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT IT! It's terrific! Citizen Kane (1941)
• Veronica Lake's on the take. Sullivan's Travels (1941)
• They had a date with fate in Casablanca. Casablanca (1942)

1950s

• A Hollywood Story. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
• The most UNUSUAL and INTIMATE journey into human emotions ever filmed!!! Rear Window (1954)
• He had to find her...he had to find her... The Searchers (1956)

1960s

• Check in. Relax. Take a shower. Psycho (1960)
• The most beloved Pulitzer Prize book now comes vividly alive on the screen! To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
• They're young…they're in love…and they kill people. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

1970s

• This is the weekend they didn't play golf. Deliverance (1972)
• Where were you in '62? American Graffiti (1973)
• More entertaining than humanly possible. The Muppet Movie (1979)

1980s

• The Adventure Continues… The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• The creators of JAWS and STAR WARS now bring you the ultimate hero in the ultimate adventure. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
• He's the only kid ever to get into trouble before he was born. Back to the Future (1985)

1990s

• Invisible. Silent. Stolen. The Hunt for Red October (1990)
• One dream. Four Jamaicans. Twenty below zero. Cool Runnings (1993)
• An epic of miniature proportions. A Bug's Life (1998)

2000s

• Escape or Die Frying. Chicken Run (2000) 
• They have a plan…but not a clue. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• Holmes for the Holiday. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Do you think the taglines improved over the years? Which movie would you see just based on the tagline?

Shifting Movie Titles

Wednesday: Point of View

Shifting Movie Titles

I have a time crunch this week, so I'm re-posting something from 2013. I call it "Shifting Movie Titles." It's a fun way to come up with screenplay ideas.

First I chose ten movie titles consisting of only two words. I wrote each title on a separate piece of paper, mixed them up, then randomly selected each one so I wouldn't be tempted to orchestrate the list. Here it is:

1. Rear Window
2. Finding Nemo
3. Die Hard
4. Roman Holiday
5. Groundhog Day
6. High Noon
7. Citizen Kane
8. Toy Story
9. Funny Farm
10. Star Wars

Then I shifted the first words of each title one notch, and tried to think of ideas for a comedy film.

1. Star Window
2. Rear Nemo (He finally found his son, now he's gotta raise him through the teen years.)
3. Finding Hard (Everything comes easy for Helga, so she sets out on a variety of bizarre and silly ventures searching for something to challenge her abilities.)
4. Die Holiday (A man is determined to kill his least favorite holiday…Halloween.)
5. Roman Day 
6. Groundhog Noon (Groundhog Chattanooga Charlie challenges Punxsutawney Phil to a shadow duel at high noon. Whoever resists running from his shadow is the winner.)
7. High Kane
8. Citizen Story
9. Toy Farm  
10. Funny Wars (Class clown, Andrew, goes to Clown College only to discover being a goofball is serious business.)

I would love to hear your ideas for these titles! Can you come up with humorous concepts for the ones I skipped?