Brutally Blunt Blog Blustering #17: Plus Trailers - Tom Clift's Movie Blog

It's Blusterin' Time!

And remembering: Blustering should be a two-way street; if you've asked to be blustered, you better be a blusterer.

If you're new to this feature or need a refresher, click the label at the bottom of this post and see the first few posts. Otherwise, here's the basics:

What I'll do is list a site; you're asked to critique it. But here's the catch: to induce the most honest reactions, don't leave the comment using your normal alias/login - instead, go anonymous, and be as brutally honest (or complimentary) as you wish to be. Also, be specific, and naturally, don't be rude. If I deem anything inappropriate, I'll have no problem deleting the comment.

So, go to the site listed below, familiarize yourself with it for a few minutes, then come back and leave some constructive criticism and/or comments that you have.

Site: Plus Trailers - Tom Clift's Movie Blog (Yes, it's just a coincidence that Tom's site happened to be up next in the queue.)
LAMB#: 308
URL: http://tomclift.blogspot.com/


















If you're up for this treatment for your site (and you're a LAMB), send me an email with the subject "Bluster Me!" If you've already done so, no need to do it again - you're on the list, and these will be going up in order of when I received your email (by the way, it could take a while for your site to be Blustered, since I don't run this more than once a week or so).

LAMB Chops!

Site Name: 24 Hours to Midnight

Post Title/Link: The Tara Reid School for Real Smart Ladies: Jessica Alba

Submitted By: 24 Hours to Midnight

Site Name: The Film Reel

Post Title/Link: Review: City of the Living Dead

Submitted By: The Film Reel

Site Name: Encore's World of Film & TV

Post Title/Link: There's a Very Thin Line

Submitted By: Encore's World of Film & TV

Site Name: Blog Cabins

Post Title/Link: And now a word from our sponsers... (a different kind of FF-UN)

Submitted By: Blog Cabins

Site Name: Foolish Blatherings

Post Title/Link: Happy Anniversary!

Submitted By: Foolish Blatherings

Site Name: Encore's World of Film & TV

Post Title/Link: Katharine Hepburn: A Retrospective

Submitted By: Encore's World of Film & TV

Send me your submissions to weeklylambchops@gmail.com. I'm not getting enough submissions to do two editions a week as of now. So get a bunch in so we can keep it up! Thanks.

LAMB #363 - what-song

URL: http://www.what-song.com/
Site Name: what-song
Categories: Movie Music/Soundtrack
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
My sites focus is to deliver users music and soundtrack information for the latest movies. It aims to deliver scene descriptions, time information and music samples, for each song, all directly from out site. I currently only have around 450 movies and over 8000 songs, but it is growing fast. My site also has a section for TV and trailers, but I tend to update this less often. Keeping up with the movies keeps me busy enough for now.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
At the moment, I am simply trying to provide an adequate resource for myself and other movie and music lovers. I could never find a website that gave this type of information. It provides users with information I am assuming they would like to know. Not only can they find and listen to songs they heard in movies, but they can vote on their favorite scenes and songs. See a top 10 list of most popular artists. See a top 250 list of most popular songs in relation to scenes and is free to use.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
At the moment, it is pretty much just me running the site, our users can leave comments and interact with the site in many ways, and I strongly encourage them to. Users can add their own movies, music and scenes, however I am just testing this out right now, we intend to limit users having total control in the future and we are looking for dedicated contributors who will be with our site in the future.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I used to run a free blog with Wordpress for about 3 months, but this site has been online for around 8 months now. I post new movies and scenes almost every day. I average at the moment around 40-50 new movies a month. Once I get some ‘contributors’ I hope to increase this number.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
American Beauty, Dumb and Dumber, Knocked Up. That’s probably wrong, but they came into my head first.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I came across you while looking through random movie sites. I think it was through MovieZeal actually.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.

The LAMBcast has landed!

After weeks and months of discussion and preparation and schedule-fitting, the LAMB is proud to present its inaugural podcast, the creatively titled LAMBcast.

In it, I was joined by two of your fellow LAMBs, the man from Down Under, Tom Clift of Plus Trailers, and Mike Mendez of Big Mike's Movie Blog. It was, as discussed, a raw and somewhat experimental affair, as none of us had ever previously participated or produced a podcast. So yes, there are plenty of "uhs" and "umms" and a handful of awkward silences, but that's what happens when you throw three people (from around the world) who've never spoken into a live arena.

Clocking in at around 34 minutes, it's a bit longer than what I'd originally planned, but I think it's a pretty tight, good listen - it was perfect for my drive to work this morning, anyway! All in all, though, I'm proud of what we've come up with and am positive that it's only going to get better from here. I hope you'll join us, either as a listener or, if you're interested, as a fellow podcaster. For more information on the LAMBcast, check out the topic at the LAMB Forums.

Here's a sampling of what we learned this time out:

* Big Mike is in love with the sound of his own voice. ;)

* Tom is in need of a microphone (which I believe he's already purchased since this was recorded).

* I was more nervous/unprepared than I thought I would be, a result of a last-minute drive-and-dash to purchase my own headset/mic prior to recording.

* I didn't do as good of a job as I had thought in synching up the audio tracks, as evidenced in a slight echo audible in certain spots.

* The music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

* Somehow, I was the biggest Trekkie in the room.


Subscribe Free  Add to my Page

Additional sites mentioned during the podcast:

* Phil's Movie Blog
* Not all Texans ride horses to school
* when is evil cool?
* Random Picture Day

A smaller version of the above widget has been added to the left sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would like to!), feel free. We're not yet listed on iTunes, but I've submitted the feed and it ought to be added in the next few days. I'll keep you posted.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them. I'd like to send big, big thanks out to Mike and Tom for participating, and additional thanks to the folks at Punch Drunk Critics, Movie Zeal, and Subject: Cinema for giving me advice and/or inspiration and/or tech ideas (directly or indirectly) along the way with their podcasts.

Stump the LAMBs Movie Trivia Quiz: The Butterfly Effect

Cover via Amazon

No one guessed the answer to the last quiz. That's not surprising; it was pretty out there.

Here's the question again:

Name the movie in which an actor whose birthday is at the end of this month (September) wears a wig made of his own hair.

The answer:

Eric Stoltz, whose birthday is September 30, wore a wig made of his own hair in The Butterfly Effect. Personally, that would creep me out. But no one is paying me millions of dollars to act in movies; maybe the money helps make it less gross.

Here's the next question:

As an homage to Patrick Swayze, this week's question is about one of his best movies (IMHO):

Name the real-life doctor who was offered a role in Dirty Dancing but turned it down.

Please include the following information in your response:

1. The doctor's name
2. Your name
3. Your blog name
4. Your blog URL

Send your submission to Carla of Tricky Movie Trivia at info[@]trickymovietrivia.com by midnight EDT October 9, 2009.

Good luck!

Comments will be closed to prevent inadvertent posting of the answer.

See all the other Stump the Lambs movie trivia quizzes.

LAMB #362 - Kinematoscope

URL: http://kinematoscope.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Kinematoscope
Categories: Reviews, Humor, Classic Film, General
Rating: PG-13 for mild language, brief drug use, and "adult situations"

What is the main focus of your site?
Counting down the entire IMDB.com top 250 films, offering not only reviews, but humorous modern perspective and cultural context of said 250. Also I cover books made into films, various news and opinion and wonkery, and of course I go bananas with Oscar coverage.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
Goals? Lots of readers with funny/pithy things to say to me. (If someone were to make me a professional blogger I would not spit in that someone's face, however).

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
I am decidedly NOT a teacher- I prefer to be the class clown that gets everybody wildly off-topic, metaphorically speaking.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I started under a different URL in September of 07, and moved to Kinematoscope last summer in July, so two years (with some breaks in there for overbearing college loads and so forth). I am currently posting two Top 250 countdown entries a week, and about three other posts besides (on average).

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Fall, and Primer.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I saw one of the shiny buttons on another blog (Lolita's Classics) and clicked through for the awesomeness.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
For those wondering, a kinematoscope was a handivac-shaped thing you looked into and saw moving images in, a forerunner of cinema- this might make it sound like my blog is a high-minded History of Film 101 type thing, but mostly I'm just a crazy film enthusiast on a quest to blog about awesome things. And "kinematoscope" was the coolest sounding thing I could get on blogger.

LAMB #361 - The Peoples Movies Blog

URL: http://thepeoplesmovies.com/
Site Name: The Peoples Movies Blog
Categories: Reviews, News, All movie genre's (not porn), articles, trailers
Rating: UK - 12A/15, USA PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
Trailers, reviews for UK cinema

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
Apart from the trailers, release info. Reviews done by the people for the people instead of professional reporters.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
I like interactive, but occasionally be the teacher.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
Blog started November 2008 but due to college had to stop January time but relaunched May 2009 again. I try to at least post a minimum of 1-5 posts a day, update the blog as much as I can.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Schindler's List
Dawn of the Dead (Zack Synder version)
Alive

How did you hear about the LAMB?
By accident, I think i was looking for something else and found a website/blog with a link to LAMB.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
I am based in UK (Scotland) and release/movie/review info I post will be aimed at British release dates, but I welcome film fans from all over the world to read my blog as well as contribute. I am also shortly starting cinehouse my blog/website for contempory/arthouse/foreign and classic movies, same as the peoples movies but different genres though some stuff maybe on both blogs.

LAMBScores: Inglourious Basterds

Movie Mobsters
The Dark of the Matinee


Foolish Blatherings
Plus Trailers
Sarahnomics
Blog Cabins


Big Mike's Movie Blog
Anh Khoi Do and Movies
The Flick Chick
The Film Cynics
Film Forager


Octopus Cinema


Phil on Film


Lets Go to the Movies


Korova Theatre


Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (15 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

Bonus, Time-sensitive PRESS RELEASE: We Live In Public

From The Hot Blog:

"Note To Bloggers
Yeah... this is inside baseball.

This Friday [September 25th], Ondi Timoner's We Live In Public will be doing a live stream showing of the film specifically for bloggers. They have gotten special dispensation from The Academy to do this, so as not to disqualify the film from doc consideration.

If you want to participate, please write to unclenate@gmail.com for a private password to the event.

Feel free to pass this information along to other bloggers who might be interested. Obviously, the filmmakers will have the right not to include someone they don't see as qualified, so don't be handing out the address on the 3rd Street Promenade. And as always, the best way to see any film is on a screen. But this seems like a unique situation and a unique thing in which to participate.

Now, back to regular programming..."

Got a Press Release, something to Plug, or a Screener available for review (or some combination of the three)? Ok, well don't get all crazy about it. Just click here and give me the details - I'll handle the rest.

PRESS RELEASE/SCREENER/REVIEW OPPORTUNITY: The Hitchhiking Movie

The Hitchhiking Movie to Premiere at Secret City Film Festival

Nashville, TN — September 24, 2009 — Nashville based filmmakers Ryan Jeanes and Phillip Hullquist are premiering their first feature film The Hitchhiking Movie on October 9th at the Secret City Film Festival in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The movie follows the pair’s attempt to cross the entire continental United States in less than a week, using nothing more than their thumbs.

“After over a year of work on this project, we can finally see The Hitchhiking Movie play on the big screen,” said Hullquist, who also served as editor for the film, which is already receiving positive reviews and press. First time filmmakers often times get bogged down in the overwhelming amount of work involved in actually completing a movie, but as Jeanes explains, “The real work is done in the editing room. Successfully filming our hitchhiking adventure was an accomplishment, but I was more excited when we had the finished product. The positive reviews have just made the experience sweeter.”

The full press release can be read here.

Additional media is available for download here:
http://www.11visions.com/media/hitchhiking/

Ryan and Phillip are already working on their second adventure film titled The River is Life which tells stories from the people they meet on a paddling trip down the entire Mississippi River. Flim blogger Mike Longaecker wrote a short piece on the project here. They're just over 1000 miles into the trip and you can observe their progress from this website: http://www.theriverislife.com.

Additionally, screener requests can be sent to phillip@11visions.com. Phillip won't be able to send out any more DVDs until October due to more taping work on the Mississippi River project, but will get them out promptly after leaving New Orleans.

Got a Press Release, something to Plug, or a Screener available for review (or some combination of the three)? Ok, well don't get all crazy about it. Just click here and give me the details - I'll handle the rest.

LAMB #360 - the m0vie blog

URL: http://m0vie.wordpress.com/
Site Name: the m0vie blog
Categories: Reviews, News, Editorials, General
Rating: PG

What is the main focus of your site?
Pop culture. There's a large focus on movies (more that 80% of my posts are on cinema), but there's also room for discussion of television, theatre and comic books. But the main focus is always movies, either drawing attention to breaking news, or commenting on trends or even just rants on things that occurred to me while watching a movie late the previous night.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
Just a place to air my views and also a chance to improve my writing and - hopefully through that - improve my knowledge and understanding of popular culture (with an emphasis on films). I also noticed there were relatively few Irish bloggers on-line, and given we are quite an opinionated sort I decided to fix that. I think every blogger hopes that someday they might have a professional job that resembles what they do now, but I am realistic enough to accept that it's unlikely and I just blog because I enjoy it.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
I like discussion and debate, and I like participation and back-and-forth. That's perhaps the main appeal of on-line blogging: there's no qualification required for entry and thus no formal hierarchy.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
Been blogging since May 2009, and I try to post at least once a day (usually twice) for the working days of each month - though I occasionally go on holidays.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
The Godfather
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Brazil

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Google search for associations of movie bloggers.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.

Brutally Blunt Blog Blustering #16: Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob

It's Blusterin' Time!

And remembering: Blustering should be a two-way street; if you've asked to be blustered, you better be a blusterer.

If you're new to this feature or need a refresher, click the label at the bottom of this post and see the first few posts. Otherwise, here's the basics:

What I'll do is list a site; you're asked to critique it. But here's the catch: to induce the most honest reactions, don't leave the comment using your normal alias/login - instead, go anonymous, and be as brutally honest (or complimentary) as you wish to be. Also, be specific, and naturally, don't be rude. If I deem anything inappropriate, I'll have no problem deleting the comment.

So, go to the site listed below, familiarize yourself with it for a few minutes, then come back and leave some constructive criticism and/or comments that you have.

Site: Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob
LAMB#: 17
URL: http://dementeddoorknob.blogspot.com/



















If you're up for this treatment for your site (and you're a LAMB), send me an email with the subject "Bluster Me!" If you've already done so, no need to do it again - you're on the list, and these will be going up in order of when I received your email (by the way, it could take a while for your site to be Blustered, since I don't run this more than once a week or so).

LAMB #359 - Fandango Groovers Movie Blog

URL: http://fandangogroovers.wordpress.com/
Site Name: Fandango Groovers Movie Blog
Categories: Reviews, News, Editorials
Rating: PG

What is the main focus of your site?
Movie reviews and articles about great films old and new.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
No lofty goals, I just love movies and it is a medium to get my ideas out there.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
Definitely interactive, I like to know if people agree or disagree and why. Many of my blogs have been inspired by comments people have made on previous articles.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
My blog has been going since February this year (2009) before that I used to post short reviews of most films I saw on Facebook.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Just three that is really hard I have so many favourites, here goes: Casablanca, Some Like it Hot and Fight Club.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Seen it mentioned on other blogs I read.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
When did you first review a film?

When I was in primary school, about 6 years old I think, I had to write “what I did at the weekend” and a wrote about a film I had seen, The Cannonball Run. I said who was in it, what was good about it, what was wrong with it, I compared it to other films and drew a picture of a car. I was really proud of it, my teacher hated it. Partly because she said the exercise was “What I did at the weekend, not what the filmmakers did” and partly because I asked her how to spell Lamborghini Countach and she didn’t know!

The Director's Chair #3: Three Weeks Away!

Hi, everyone! It's me, D.J. from Matte Havoc. I wanted to serve up a friendly reminder that we are officially three weeks away from the Billy Wilder edition of "LAMBs in the Director's Chair" series. If you have not grabbed a promotion banner for the event yet then head on over to the original post to grab the HTML code that can be placed on your blog site. If you already have your entry all ready to go and maybe even published for the event then send me the link by e-mail to mattehavoc (at) gmail (dot) com and I will include it in the first day's worth of posted links. Do not forget to include a subject line referring to the Director's Chair #3 event so that I can quickly see your e-mail and not mistake it for something else. I would not want to overlook anyone's entry by mistake. If you have multiple entries for the event I be will more than happy to accept all of them! The more posts the merrier the event will be for everyone!

LAMB Chops!

Site Name: Noirish City

Post Title/Link: The 1935 Walt Disney Classic... 'The Band Concert'

Submitted By: Noirish City

Site Name: Japan Cinema

Post Title/Link: Review: Howl's Moving Castle

Submitted By: Japan Cinema

Site Name: Cinematropolis

Post Title/Link: Review: Woody and the gang bring the funny to 'Zombieland'

Submitted By: Cinematropolis

Site Name: Reel Whore

Post Title/Link: Who's That Lady? It's Judy Greer!

Submitted By: Bitchin' Film Reviews

Site Name: the Movie Fanatic

Post Title/Link: Review: The Informant

Submitted By: Bitchin' Film Reviews

I need more submissions for LAMB Chops!! Send them to weeklylambchops@gmail.com!

LAMB #358 - The Robot Who Likes Pretty Things

URL: http://nothatwasacompliment.wordpress.com/
Site Name: The Robot Who Likes Pretty Things
Categories: Reviews
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
I write movie reviews. Modern movies, classics, and anything in between. I try to tell people how much I, personally, enjoyed a movie rather than going into an in depth analysis of each film. Though, I’m sure some analysis sneaks in there every now and then. I try to be funny too. Emphasis on ‘try’.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I enjoy watching, and writing about, movies, so this blog gives me all the more reason to do just that. My goal is to keep watching movies, sometimes finding great films that I would never have taken the time to watch otherwise.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
It’s somewhat interactive, in that I’m happy to receive any and all comments, complaints, compliments, etc. Though, mostly, I write and the visitors read.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I’ve had this blog going for almost 6 months. I update it every day because I watch a movie every day and write a review for it on the following day.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Seven, The Empire Strikes Back

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Via a link from another movie blog I visited on Wordpress.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
Do you plan to do more than just reviews on your site in the future?

Perhaps. It has crossed my mind to do other posts on movie-related topics, but I haven’t taken the time yet. I think that would be enjoyable though, because I’m sure I have plenty to rant about.

Invasion of the Lambs #15

Many sites have screencap quizzes, but how many are invaded by LAMBs? Every so often, I'll post a screen shot, only the actors heads will be "lambed out" - all you gotta do is name the film and the bodies that the lambs have overtaken.

In case you don't recall, yes, this was the feature that garnered the least amount of votes in the "Which LAMB Features Interest You?" poll we had some time back. Just about broke my heart. Ok, not really, but I'm a fan of it; it's easy to make, easy to play, and easy to ignore if you don't like. So you'll still see it periodically. Just humor me this one time, will you? Maybe it'll grow on you...

If there's anyone that would like to submit their own user-made pictures for future installments, please do so - just email to blogcabins@yahoo.com.
















Standings:
Fox (Tractor Facts), WaywardJam (Reel Whore): 4
Fletch (I stumped everyone): 2
Joseph (Cinexcellence): 1
Dean (filmicability with Dean Treadway): 1
Norma Desmond (The Flick Chick): 1
Samurai Frog (Electronic Cerebrectomy): 1

LAMB Chops!

Site Name: Racsoview
Post Title/Link: Review: Broken Embraces
Submitted By: Rascoview

Site Name: Nevermind Popular Film
Post Title/Link: The Vault: Sunshine
Submitted By: Nevermind Popular Film

Site Name: Plus Trailers
Post Title: 8 Ways to Ensure I Love Your Movie
Submitted By: Plus Trailers

Site Name: Movie Dearest
Post Title/Link: Reel Thoughts: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em on the Screen
Submitted By: Movie Dearest

Site Name: The Cynical Blog
Post Title/Link: Why Backyardigans was better than Transformers 2
Submitted By: The Cynical Blog

Site Name: The Film Reel
Post Title/Link: The Hour with George Romero and a Bloody Film Reeler
Submitted By: The Film Reel

Please send me your submissions now so you can be featured on Saturday's edition! Send them to weeklylambchops@gmail.com. Also, please put 'LAMB Chops' in the subject line. I'm afraid I may have accidentally deleted some submissions thinking they were spam. Thanks!

LAMB #357 - Boiling Sand

URL: http://www.postmodernjoan.com/wp02/
Site Name: Boiling Sand
Categories: Film history, Film theory, Hollywood, Queer cinema
Rating: PG-13 ( I use "ass" from time to time but seldom use "f*ck", if you get my drift...)

What is the main focus of your site?
99.9% of all criticism is grounded in mystification. The views of critics are like those who grade precious stones, examining the surface for flaws or the composition for irregularities, yet still fetishizing the object.

I work from demystification, asking marginally improper questions, especially about those issues some see as tangential or non-essential.

I defend that the backstory of a film is equally as hallucinatory as the cinema-viewing experience; truth is stranger than fiction as the saying goes. And backstory -- the hazards and happenstance of production -- is not just an extra quality, but a door of perception to seeing integral factors in how and why a film was formed and completed.

Part of this view comes from working on 500+ film and video productions in my career. For example, the high quality blow going around a movie set or the argument a director had with his/her spouse the night before definitely impacts the output and culture of a film's production.

Film production, like all professions, is a distinct work culture with deep anthropological dynamics.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
My blog has a parent site, www.postmodernjoan.com , where I started placing more serious, 'academic' articles. [ I had just come back to the U.S. after working in China for a few years, and wanted to reclaim the English vocab I had lost and also market myself again as a film instructor.] But I wanted to do shorter, more down-to-earth pieces too. Creating BOILING SAND has filled that need. Actually, I haven't posted anything on the other site this whole year as the blog has been my main passion. As for what I'm trying to get out of it, right now the goal is to accumulate a substantial body of writings on movies.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
I have around 9,000 RSS subscribers but very few comment on my blog.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
Went live in October, 2008. I add posts once or twice a week. Heavily participate in blog-a-thons also.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
THE ABRAHAM ZAPRUDER FILM
SANS SOLEIL / Chris Marker
VERTIGO

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Linked from another film blog.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
I think my lengthy answer to the first question said it all.

PRESS RELEASE: An Exceptional Year for Canadian Films at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival

This press release was brought to you by LAMB member Anh Khoi Do and Movies.

Montreal, September 7, 2009 – Telefilm Canada is pleased to announce that nine Canadian feature films have been officially selected for the 14th edition of the Pusan International Film Festival, which takes place in Pusan, South Korea from October 8 to 19, 2009.

“Telefilm recognizes Pusan as a valuable venue for Canadian filmmakers to showcase their work to international audiences,” states Sheila de la Varende, Director, International & National Business Development. “Participation in Pusan supports our efforts to increase foreign sales, encourage co-production, and raise the profile of Canada’s industry on the international scene, all of which are critically important to building a sustainable, vibrant film industry in this country.”

In 14 years, Pusan has become one of Asia’s most important film festivals, to which a market component, the Asian Film Market, was added in 2006. Telefilm has been organizing screenings for Pusan’s selection committee and facilitating the selection of Canadian films for this important international festival since 2005.

MIDNIGHT TO 4 AM, a Canada/Singapore/South Korea feature film project, has been selected to be part of the pitching sessions of the 12th Pusan Promotion Plan, the financing forum component of the Pusan Festival. The project is an omnibus feature length film, composed of six short stories by six directors, produced by Cine-Asie Creatives from Montréal.

Director and producer Peter Wintonick will be giving a masterclass and mentoring projects with the Pusan documentary wing called “AND”, the Asian Documentary Network, and with Pusan's Asian Film Fund.

The following films have been officially selected for the festival:

World Cinema Section
UN ANGE A LA MER (dir. Frédéric Dumont; Production Company: Dragons Films, Palomar; Sales Agent: E1 Entertainment; Belgium/Canada) - Asian premiere;

CAIRO TIME (dir. Ruba Nadda; Production Company: Foundry Films; Sales Agent: E1 Entertainment; Canada) - International premiere;

COLE (dir. Carl Bessai; Production Company: Raven West Films; Canada) - International premiere;

DEDE, A TRAVERS LES BRUMES (dir. Jean-Philippe Duval; Production Company: Max Films, Zone 3 Sales Agent: Max Films International; Canada) - International premiere;

LA DONATION (dir. Bernard Emond; Production Company: ACPAV; Sales Agent: E1 Entertainment; Canada) - Asian premiere.

Wide Angle Section (Documentary)
PILGRIMAGE (dir. Peter Wintonick & Mira Burt-Wintonick; Production Company: Necessary Illusions Productions; Sales Agent: Films Transit International; Canada) - Asian premiere.

Flash Forward Section (Competition)
CHICAGO HEIGHTS (dir. Daniel Nearing; Production Company: 923 Films; USA/Canada) - International premiere.

Midnight Passion Section
STOIC (dir. Uwe Boll; Production Company: Brightlight Pictures; Sales Agent: Brightlight Pictures; Canada) - Asian premiere;

TRICK’R TREAT (dir. Michael Dougherty; Production Company: Bad Hat Harry Productions; Sales Agent: Warner Bros.; USA/Canada).

Developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. The Corporation also administers the funding programs of the Canadian Feature Film Fund, the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund. Visit http://www.telefilm.gc.ca./.

-30-

For additional information, please contact:
Alejandra Sosa
Communications Officer and Press Attaché, Telefilm Canada
416-973-6436, ext. 2505 or 1-800-463-4607
sosaa@telefilm.gc.ca


Got a Press Release, something to Plug, or a Screener available for review (or some combination of the three)? Ok, well don't get all crazy about it. Just click here and give me the details - I'll handle the rest.

LAMBScores: District 9

Sarahnomics
Careful with that Blog, Eugene


Blog Cabins
Foolish Blatherings
Film Forager
The Film Cynics


Cut Print Review
Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob
Plus Trailers
Bitchin' Film Reviews
The Dark of the Matinee
Anh Khoi Do and Movies
The Flick Chick
Big Mike's Movie Blog


Matte Havoc
The Rest Is Cream Cheese
Lair of the Green Knight


Korova Theatre


The Stop Button


Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (19 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

Brutally Blunt Blog Blustering #15: Where the Long Tail Ends

It's Blusterin' Time!

And remembering: Blustering should be a two-way street; if you've asked to be blustered, you better be a blusterer.

If you're new to this feature or need a refresher, click the label at the bottom of this post and see the first few posts. Otherwise, here's the basics:

What I'll do is list a site; you're asked to critique it. But here's the catch: to induce the most honest reactions, don't leave the comment using your normal alias/login - instead, go anonymous, and be as brutally honest (or complimentary) as you wish to be. Also, be specific, and naturally, don't be rude. If I deem anything inappropriate, I'll have no problem deleting the comment.

So, go to the site listed below, familiarize yourself with it for a few minutes, then come back and leave some constructive criticism and/or comments that you have.

Site: Where the Long Tail Ends
LAMB#: 94
URL: http://wherethelongtailends.com/



















If you're up for this treatment for your site (and you're a LAMB), send me an email with the subject "Bluster Me!" If you've already done so, no need to do it again - you're on the list, and these will be going up in order of when I received your email.

LAMB #356 - The Paradise of Horror

URL: http://paradiseofhorror.blogspot.com/
Site Name: The Paradise of Horror
Categories: Reviews, Horror & Classic Film
Rating: R

What is the main focus of your site?
The main focus of my site is to provide reviews on horror movies that don’t just focus on the acting the story but also the technical and tone aspect. I also provide my own commentary on horror movie news, posters, trailers and other accessories. I also provide small essays on the effects horror movie’s have on our society.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I just want to state my opinion on horror movies… an opinion that has not been done yet. I want to provide a commentary about horror movies from an aspiring filmmaker perspective as well as a teenage perspective. I also will like this site to eventually gain me recognition in the film industry since I would love to become a film editor as well as director of the horror genre.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
I would love an interactive community that helps me span my knowledge as well as provide feedback on my articles.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I have been blogging for about 3 months right now and I post updates almost everyday but occasionally, when I am busy, I may skip over a few days or so. Not too many though.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
The Thing (1982)
Titanic (1997)
Jurassic Park (1983)

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I found it out through numerous other LAMB members. Pretty much by looking into other horror movie bloggers.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
The name of the blog, The Paradise of Horror, comes from the idea that this a paradise for anybody that loves horror movies to come to and it's tropical theme as so often the word 'paradise' associates with; a tropical vacation.

LAMB #355 - illuminate my eyes

URL: http://illuminatemyeyes.blogspot.com/
Site Name: illuminate my eyes
Categories: Reviews, Editorials, Ratings, General
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
To offer my point of view on films that I think are relevant to the world and that have influenced me to encourage other people to watch them or to comment.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
To create my own voice and followers, and later on to promote my work.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
Interactions are what make a blog interesting.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I've been blogging for a little bit more than three months and I the updates vary, but in average, about twice a week.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Eraserhead, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The Holy Mountain

How did you hear about the LAMB?
From the blog: Korova Theatre Presents.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.

LAMBScores: G.I. Joe-The Rise of Cobra

Big Mike's Movie Blog


Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob
Lair of the Green Knight


Film Forager


Cut Print Review


The Stop Button


Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (6 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

Stump the LAMBs Movie Trivia Quiz Answer: A Christmas Story

Cover via Amazon

Four people guessed the answer to the last quiz. There may even be a fifth person, because it seems to me I received another response. But I couldn't find it, so either I was hallucinating or I accidentally deleted it. If you submitted that missing answer, please let me know and I'll add your link to this page. (9/14/09 update: The mystery LAMB has been identified as Kirby Holt and his link has been added below.)

Here's the question again:

Name the movie that lists Melinda Dillon's name correctly in the opening credits but incorrectly in the ending credits, where she's listed as "Melinda Dillion."

The answer:

The movie is A Christmas Story. (It's never too early to start thinking about holiday movies!) I though it was interesting that the plot points about the tongue sticking to the flagpole and eating Christmas dinner in a Chinese restaurant were taken from A Christmas Story writer Jean Shepherd's book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, which was compiled from short stories he wrote for Playboy in the 1960s.

Here are the LAMBs who got it right:

Kirby Holt from Movie Dearest

T.L. Bug from The Lightning Bug's Lair

Fitz from Nevermind Pop Film

Rachel from Rachel's Reel Reviews

General Disdain from The Critical Critics

And a special thanks to Mike Everleth of www.badlit.com, www.ufilmguide.com and www.ufilmguidetv.com for contributing additional information about this question.

Here's the next question:

Name the movie in which an actor whose birthday is at the end of this month (September) wears a wig made of his own hair.

Please include the following information in your response:

1. The movie name
2. Your name
3. Your blog name
4. Your blog URL

Send your submission to Carla of Tricky Movie Trivia at info[@]trickymovietrivia.com by midnight EDT September 25, 2009.

Good luck!

Comments will be closed to prevent inadvertent posting of the answer.

See all the other Stump the Lambs movie trivia quizzes.

LAMB #354 - Eternal Sunshine of Ross' Mind

URL: http://rossbonaime.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Eternal Sunshine of Ross' Mind
Categories: General
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
My focus is to give my thoughts on various films from all time periods and all genres. I try to have a combination of older, classic films, and new releases to gain interest from a wide variety of people.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
Besides trying to educate and give my opinions on various films, I also use this blog to try to become a better critical writer. I hope to one day become an entertainment critic/journalist.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
Not answered.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I have been writing about entertainment for over 12 years, yet I have only been blogging for about four years. I first had my own personal blog, then decided to start my own entertainment related one. I update my site several times a month.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Kevin Smith's Clerks, Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and John Lasseter's Toy Story.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I actually found out about it through Blogger while trying to find fellow movie blogs and also trying to find ways to advertise my own blog.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.

Send me your chops!

LAMB Chops is tomorrow. And I need submissions! Send them to me! Weeklylambchops@gmail.com.

LAMB Chops!

Site Name: The Film Reel
Post Title/Link: Finally Remake Monday Round 8 - Last House on the Left
Submitted By: The Film Reel

Site Name: NoirishCity
Post Title/Link: The Old Mill
Submitted By: NoirishCity

Site Name: Japan Cinema
Post Title/Link: Review: Shinjuku Incident
Submitted By: Japan Cinema

Site Name: Jairam's Jives
Post Title/Link: Review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Submitted By: Jairam's Jives

Site Name: Rachel's Reel Reviews
Post Title/Link: Review: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Submitted By: Bitchin' Film Reviews

Get your submissions in ASAP for Tuesday's edition! Weeklylambchops@gmail.com

LAMBs in the Director's Chair #3: Billy Wilder

Recently, fellow LAMB’er D.J. Heinlein has stepped up to the plate to be the new contributing organizer for the "LAMBs in the Director’s Chair" series. He is the main author for one of the oldest sites listed in the LAMB directory: Matte Havoc (member #20).

The last installment of the series has already come and gone a few weeks ago. Personally, I was hoping to plow through the series by immediately scheduling a third installment for the end of September. However, since we are already halfway through the month it would be unfair for everyone involved and anyone who would be interested in participating to be placed on such a short notice. So, here is your opportunity to join your fellow writers in discussing the career of an iconic director by looking forward to part three in the series LAMBs in the Director’s Chair! The event has been scheduled as a three-day event for October 12th through October 14th so that everyone has a good month of time to obtain a copy of a movie or two from our chosen director’s list of film credits. Do what you will for the event, since there is no particular set of rules on how each writer can respond. Be creative in which ever way inspires you when you start writing for this event!

The focus of Director’s Chair #3 would be a director who gained notoriety for successfully directing numerous cinematic gems that varied from film noir to the screwball comedy to the courtroom drama and even a foreign movie or two. I am talking about none other than Billy Wilder! Earlier this year one of his famous comedies, Some Like It Hot, was notably marked for its 50th anniversary. There were a couple of local San Diego organizations that celebrated the anniversary down at Hotel del Coronado in mid-September. The trivia experts out there would know that there were several prominent scenes from the movie that had been filmed at the Hotel Del.

In honor of the film’s fiftieth anniversary, as well as the value of his lucrative career, I thought it would be appropriate for us to select Billy Wilder as the next person to be placed in the Director’s Chair. Make sure to send me the link(s) to your posted material via e-mail so that I can include it here on the LAMB site. My e-mail address is mattehavoc@gmail.com and do not forget to include the subject line: LAMBs in the Director's Chair #3. If you already have an article or movie review posted on your site that is related to any of Billy Wilder’s work go ahead and send me the link as soon as possible and I will include it within the first day’s posting. Do not forget that the absolute deadline for the event is October 14th!

For those who would like to promote the upcoming event can use any one of the three banners that have been listed below. Have fun with writing your articles! I am looking forward to reading them.

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