We have a couple of “foodies” on the Online Content Team. I myself love to eat, love to cook, and love to unashamedly watch cooking shows to excess. I also love movies about food, or that prominently feature food. So when we saw that Julie & Julia was coming out August 7, we naturally got to talking about our favorite food flicks. Here are a few of mine:
Big Night
This movie is about family relationships and food. The best part is the excellent cast, which is headed up by Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci (who is also in Julie & Julia). Warning: this movie will instill a furious craving for Italian food in you. Ignore at your own risk.
Ratatouille
After you get over the fact that having a rat cook in a commercial kitchen is undeniably gross and potentially a way to bring back the Bubonic Plague, this movie is pretty charming, with excellent animation.
Diner
Okay, this isn’t really a food movie, but it takes place in a diner and it’s my list, so count it. It has great dialogue, funny characters, and, most importantly, The Gutt.
Mostly Martha
I can’t decide whether this is a chick flick or not, but I kind of think it is. So be it — it’s a good movie. No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones is an adaptation of Mostly Martha, although it was made only five or six years after the German film and looks much more romantic-comedy-ish.
Soylent Green
It’s not about food so much as IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE!!!
Delicatessen
Don’t judge me because this is the second movie involving cannibalism on my food movies list. It’s a very cool, very weird movie.
That’s all I have for you, but if you’re hungry for more (wordplay!) check out our full list of food movies or take our Foodie Poll.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Getting to Know Crew: 1st Assistant Camera
Today I’m talking with Robert Rendon about his work as 1st Assistant Camera Operator on films. I’m hoping to turn this into a regular feature where Robert, who as far as I’m concerned is a Hollywood Insider, explains the roles of various film crewmembers. Hence the punny feature title.
What is your job title?
I’m officially termed 1st Assistant Camera, also known as a 1st AC or Focus Puller. My primary responsibility is to make sure everything is in focus. Sounds simple, but a lot goes into that final outcome.
Distances are marked on every lens in feet and inches. I translate distance to the action and relay that to the lens with a geared focus wheel. After measuring or guessing the distance, I then pull the distance to the appropriate setting on the lens. Hopefully I get it right. Sometimes there is no second take. I’ve been doing this for 15 years so I take it that my guessing distance is OK (sometimes). Luck plays a huge part of it.
Every department on a film set has a certain hierarchy. In Camera, every position has a certain job. I can only perform my job when everyone else has completed theirs, kind of like a race car team. A camera pit crew. The Camera Department answers to the Director of Photography/Cinematographer. Usually the department is composed of:
Camera Operator — lines up and frames the shot
1st Assistant — maintains focus, head of the department - responsible for gear and crew
2nd Assistant — right hand of the 1st, keeps camera logs, lays actor marks, organizes gear
Loader — loads film into magazines, keeps truck organized, maintains alcohol supply (Ed. note: that seems like the most important job on set)
What does a normal day on the job look like for you?
I’m not sure if there’s such a thing as a normal day. That’s what makes this job interesting for me. There are always new people, new locations, new situations to be had. Being flexible is the key to success.
Our days average to be 12 to 14 hours long. Sometimes 16 to 18 hours is not unusual. My longest is 23. I try to establish a routine, but it’s hard. I start by showing up 30 minutes early to grab breakfast and settle in to our truck. I like to take my time in the mornings with a cup of coffee and some music.
Once the day begins, all hell breaks loose. I lug the camera wherever the Director and Cinematographer want it. Sometimes it’s easy on stage in an air-conditioned studio. Sometimes it’s on a mountain, in a desert or on a crowed city street, anywhere really. We basically:
Build our camera.
Lens the shot.
Shoot the scene.
Reconfigure the camera for the next set-up.
Carry heavy cases, push heavy carts.
And do it all over again, all day long. Real glamorous.
What kind of education or training did you have to receive in order to do what you do?
Everyone has their own story; some go to film school, some learn on the job, some are born into it. I graduated from college with a film degree.
It was more theoretical education rather than practical on-set training. During an internship, I sort of fell into the camera department. I learned from watching others. A couple of established ACs took me under their wing. I was very lucky to have met key people early in my career.
For me, college was great but not necessary. It gave me a context of the industry and the knowledge to see things through, but most of my education/training was achieved on set. The most valuable skill has been how to deal with so many personalities. Just like many other jobs, it’s all about people skills. Most of my work stems from previous relationships formed on set. Each job is an audition for the next.
What are some of the projects you’ve worked on?
Sin City
Grind House
Friday the 13th
Friday Night Lights
The Killer Inside Me (to be released next year)
Tons of commercials and a few music videos
What was your favorite film to work on and why?
Every film is different. It’s hard to choose a favorite. Some are better than others. For me, it boils down to my personal experience. The film business amplifies the bizarre, the surreal and the extraordinary. There’s a saying that film people are carnies with teeth. Life can be a circus.
I guess I rate movies on whether I had a good time. The great people that I met. The ability to see places where the average Joe is prohibited. Learning new ways of doing the same thing. Having that feeling of accomplishment. Being part of something bigger than you. My favorite films encompass all of the above.
It’s hard for me to judge the quality of a movie as I’m working on it. The story may be interesting and the cast may be well known and talented, but by the time it leaves my hands and goes through the process of post-production... It’s easy to lose sight of the final product.
What is your job title?
I’m officially termed 1st Assistant Camera, also known as a 1st AC or Focus Puller. My primary responsibility is to make sure everything is in focus. Sounds simple, but a lot goes into that final outcome.
Distances are marked on every lens in feet and inches. I translate distance to the action and relay that to the lens with a geared focus wheel. After measuring or guessing the distance, I then pull the distance to the appropriate setting on the lens. Hopefully I get it right. Sometimes there is no second take. I’ve been doing this for 15 years so I take it that my guessing distance is OK (sometimes). Luck plays a huge part of it.
Every department on a film set has a certain hierarchy. In Camera, every position has a certain job. I can only perform my job when everyone else has completed theirs, kind of like a race car team. A camera pit crew. The Camera Department answers to the Director of Photography/Cinematographer. Usually the department is composed of:
Camera Operator — lines up and frames the shot
1st Assistant — maintains focus, head of the department - responsible for gear and crew
2nd Assistant — right hand of the 1st, keeps camera logs, lays actor marks, organizes gear
Loader — loads film into magazines, keeps truck organized, maintains alcohol supply (Ed. note: that seems like the most important job on set)
What does a normal day on the job look like for you?
I’m not sure if there’s such a thing as a normal day. That’s what makes this job interesting for me. There are always new people, new locations, new situations to be had. Being flexible is the key to success.
Our days average to be 12 to 14 hours long. Sometimes 16 to 18 hours is not unusual. My longest is 23. I try to establish a routine, but it’s hard. I start by showing up 30 minutes early to grab breakfast and settle in to our truck. I like to take my time in the mornings with a cup of coffee and some music.
Once the day begins, all hell breaks loose. I lug the camera wherever the Director and Cinematographer want it. Sometimes it’s easy on stage in an air-conditioned studio. Sometimes it’s on a mountain, in a desert or on a crowed city street, anywhere really. We basically:
Build our camera.
Lens the shot.
Shoot the scene.
Reconfigure the camera for the next set-up.
Carry heavy cases, push heavy carts.
And do it all over again, all day long. Real glamorous.
What kind of education or training did you have to receive in order to do what you do?
Everyone has their own story; some go to film school, some learn on the job, some are born into it. I graduated from college with a film degree.
It was more theoretical education rather than practical on-set training. During an internship, I sort of fell into the camera department. I learned from watching others. A couple of established ACs took me under their wing. I was very lucky to have met key people early in my career.
For me, college was great but not necessary. It gave me a context of the industry and the knowledge to see things through, but most of my education/training was achieved on set. The most valuable skill has been how to deal with so many personalities. Just like many other jobs, it’s all about people skills. Most of my work stems from previous relationships formed on set. Each job is an audition for the next.
What are some of the projects you’ve worked on?
Sin City
Grind House
Friday the 13th
Friday Night Lights
The Killer Inside Me (to be released next year)
Tons of commercials and a few music videos
What was your favorite film to work on and why?
Every film is different. It’s hard to choose a favorite. Some are better than others. For me, it boils down to my personal experience. The film business amplifies the bizarre, the surreal and the extraordinary. There’s a saying that film people are carnies with teeth. Life can be a circus.
I guess I rate movies on whether I had a good time. The great people that I met. The ability to see places where the average Joe is prohibited. Learning new ways of doing the same thing. Having that feeling of accomplishment. Being part of something bigger than you. My favorite films encompass all of the above.
It’s hard for me to judge the quality of a movie as I’m working on it. The story may be interesting and the cast may be well known and talented, but by the time it leaves my hands and goes through the process of post-production... It’s easy to lose sight of the final product.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Let’s Get Digital, Digital
I’m not going to lie to you people: I’m a fairly lazy person. Especially after work. It takes a monumental effort for me to get off the couch once I’m home. So while I enjoy visiting our stores and “walking the wall” (industry insider term!) to find a movie, I don’t often go during the week.
Luckily, we’re living in the future these days (although we’re still without jetpacks), so there are a number of ways to have movies beamed directly into my house. Here are some of the ways you can get digital movies from BLOCKBUSTER:
Available Now
Downloads
We have thousands of movies and television shows to download to your computer at blockbuster.com/download. You can buy or rent everything from new releases to classics. The quality is good — it looks and sounds pretty much like a DVD.
You can usually begin watching a movie within a few minutes of starting a download. Best of all, it’s legal, so you won’t have the feds breaking down your door in the middle of the night just because you had to watch The Wizard on your laptop last week.
Set-Top Box
You know what’s even easier than downloading movies to your computer? Ordering and downloading them right from your TV. And we just happen to have a BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand set-top box that lets you do exactly that.
Just hook up the box to your TV and your network connection, and you can rent movies from an on-screen guide. And right now you can get the box for the price of free when you prepay $99 for 25 rentals. Is it some sort of crazy dream? No, it’s all true! And you can order one of your very own on our website.
Coming Soon
Samsung TVs and Blu-ray Players
Pretty soon, you won’t even need to have an extra piece of equipment to order and watch digital movies from BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand on your TV. Starting this fall, select Samsung HD televisions, Blu-ray players and home theater systems will have an integrated BLOCKBUSTER movie store.
Just connect the TV or player to the internet, and start renting and buying movies from the nifty onscreen menu. Movie rentals will range from $1.99-$3.99. You’ll be able to buy TV episodes starting at $1.99, and movies from $7.99-$19.99. I saw a top-secret demo of this at a meeting a few weeks ago, and it is really, really cool. I totally want one (this is a completely unsubtle hint to our Digital team in hopes of getting some awesome swag).
More info from TechCrunch.
TiVo
Say you aren’t planning on buying a new TV or Blu-ray player anytime soon, but you do have a TiVo box. Don’t fret: you’ll also be able to get BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand in the fall.
Movies will be available to rent for $1.99-$3.99 a piece through your TiVo Series 2, Series 3, TiVo HD or TiVo HD XL box. Even if you’ve had your box forevs, you can just do a software update, and you’ll have access to sweet, sweet digital movie goodness. If you don’t have a TiVo, you’ll soon be able to buy one at thousands of BLOCKBUSTER stores around the country.
More info from Engadget.
In the Future
While I can’t discuss specifics yet, we are working on more and more ways to make it easy to watch movies from BLOCKBUSTER at home or on the go. To that end, we’re exploring partnerships with a number of different companies to put our digital movies on new devices, some of which you may already have in your home. Stay tuned to this blog and our Twitter feed for news.
Luckily, we’re living in the future these days (although we’re still without jetpacks), so there are a number of ways to have movies beamed directly into my house. Here are some of the ways you can get digital movies from BLOCKBUSTER:
Available Now
Downloads
We have thousands of movies and television shows to download to your computer at blockbuster.com/download. You can buy or rent everything from new releases to classics. The quality is good — it looks and sounds pretty much like a DVD.
You can usually begin watching a movie within a few minutes of starting a download. Best of all, it’s legal, so you won’t have the feds breaking down your door in the middle of the night just because you had to watch The Wizard on your laptop last week.
Set-Top Box
You know what’s even easier than downloading movies to your computer? Ordering and downloading them right from your TV. And we just happen to have a BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand set-top box that lets you do exactly that.
Just hook up the box to your TV and your network connection, and you can rent movies from an on-screen guide. And right now you can get the box for the price of free when you prepay $99 for 25 rentals. Is it some sort of crazy dream? No, it’s all true! And you can order one of your very own on our website.
Coming Soon
Samsung TVs and Blu-ray Players
Pretty soon, you won’t even need to have an extra piece of equipment to order and watch digital movies from BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand on your TV. Starting this fall, select Samsung HD televisions, Blu-ray players and home theater systems will have an integrated BLOCKBUSTER movie store.
Just connect the TV or player to the internet, and start renting and buying movies from the nifty onscreen menu. Movie rentals will range from $1.99-$3.99. You’ll be able to buy TV episodes starting at $1.99, and movies from $7.99-$19.99. I saw a top-secret demo of this at a meeting a few weeks ago, and it is really, really cool. I totally want one (this is a completely unsubtle hint to our Digital team in hopes of getting some awesome swag).
More info from TechCrunch.
TiVo
Say you aren’t planning on buying a new TV or Blu-ray player anytime soon, but you do have a TiVo box. Don’t fret: you’ll also be able to get BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand in the fall.
Movies will be available to rent for $1.99-$3.99 a piece through your TiVo Series 2, Series 3, TiVo HD or TiVo HD XL box. Even if you’ve had your box forevs, you can just do a software update, and you’ll have access to sweet, sweet digital movie goodness. If you don’t have a TiVo, you’ll soon be able to buy one at thousands of BLOCKBUSTER stores around the country.
More info from Engadget.
In the Future
While I can’t discuss specifics yet, we are working on more and more ways to make it easy to watch movies from BLOCKBUSTER at home or on the go. To that end, we’re exploring partnerships with a number of different companies to put our digital movies on new devices, some of which you may already have in your home. Stay tuned to this blog and our Twitter feed for news.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Movies We Want on Blu-ray
As I’ve said before, some movies were just meant to be seen in high-def. And while a lot of older flicks have already been converted to Blu-ray, there are still a few holdouts.
Well we, the citizens of the BLOCKBUSTER Online Content Team, will not stand for it any longer. We are drawing a line in the sand. Today, is our Independence Day. We’re as mad as hell, and we’re not going to take this anymore! Attica, Attica!
Sorry, I got a little carried away there. Anyway, here are some of the movies I think are most deserving of glorious Blu-rayification.
Star Wars
I don’t really care about episodes I-III, but the fact that the original three movies are not on Blu-ray (and are most likely not going to be anytime soon) gives me a sad face, like this: :(
Alien
This seems like a no-brainer to me, especially because the awesome creepiness of the movie would be even better with high-def sound and visuals.
Indiana Jones
There are rumors around some dark corners of the internets that the trilogy will be out on Blu-ray by the end of the year. Crossing my fingers.
Jurassic Park
I just caught the last half of this on TV the other day, and it reminded me of how cool it is. It also reminded me to see if it was available on Blu-ray yet. Sadly, it’s not.
Saving Private Ryan
Well, this just seems un-American.
The Lord of the Rings
This is supposed to come out in November, but I’m just pointing out that it’s taking a long time because I’m a nerd, and we like to complain about this kind of stuff online.
Well we, the citizens of the BLOCKBUSTER Online Content Team, will not stand for it any longer. We are drawing a line in the sand. Today, is our Independence Day. We’re as mad as hell, and we’re not going to take this anymore! Attica, Attica!
Sorry, I got a little carried away there. Anyway, here are some of the movies I think are most deserving of glorious Blu-rayification.
Star Wars
I don’t really care about episodes I-III, but the fact that the original three movies are not on Blu-ray (and are most likely not going to be anytime soon) gives me a sad face, like this: :(
Alien
This seems like a no-brainer to me, especially because the awesome creepiness of the movie would be even better with high-def sound and visuals.
Indiana Jones
There are rumors around some dark corners of the internets that the trilogy will be out on Blu-ray by the end of the year. Crossing my fingers.
Jurassic Park
I just caught the last half of this on TV the other day, and it reminded me of how cool it is. It also reminded me to see if it was available on Blu-ray yet. Sadly, it’s not.
Saving Private Ryan
Well, this just seems un-American.
The Lord of the Rings
This is supposed to come out in November, but I’m just pointing out that it’s taking a long time because I’m a nerd, and we like to complain about this kind of stuff online.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Guilty Pleasures: Television
We all have them: those TV shows we watch alone, when we’re free from judging eyes. They’re not exactly the kind of programming you want everyone to know that you watch, but you can’t help loving them.
Well today the BLOCKBUSTER Online Content Team is letting you know our guilty pleasure shows. Let this be a Day of No Judgment!
Trading Spaces
Designing Women
Cheaters
Cops
American Idol
The Girls Next Door
Real Housewives of Orange County
Tori and Dean Inn Love
Miami Vice
Weeds
Head Case
Gossip Girl
What Not to Wear
Golden Girls
Well today the BLOCKBUSTER Online Content Team is letting you know our guilty pleasure shows. Let this be a Day of No Judgment!
Trading Spaces
Designing Women
Cheaters
Cops
American Idol
The Girls Next Door
Real Housewives of Orange County
Tori and Dean Inn Love
Miami Vice
Weeds
Head Case
Gossip Girl
What Not to Wear
Golden Girls
Thursday, July 16, 2009
My Emmy Votes
After seeing the Emmy nominations, it took me all of a few minutes to compile my list of who I’d vote for if I had a vote (which I totally should — who can I call about that?). That’s despite the fact that there were a few really tough choices to make. But I did it, for the good of the land.
So here’s who I would vote for. Please note: since I can’t possibly watch everything on TV (not for lack of trying), I didn’t make a pick in every category. I’m not trying to snub anybody or anything. And while I think everyone should agree with my tasteful, intelligent views, these are not the opinions of Blockbuster Inc.
Nominees for Best Comedy Series:
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Weeds
My vote: This was the hardest category for me, since all of these shows are good to great. But I’ve got to go with 30 Rock. I feel it’s the second funniest show on TV right now. See below for the first.
Who got robbed: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which is astoundingly funny.
Nominees for Best Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
My vote: Alec Baldwin. I would have picked Jemaine, but you can’t have Jemaine without Bret. They’re like yin and yang, or chicken and waffles.
Who got robbed: Charlie Day for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Nominees for Best Actress in a Comedy Series:
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
My vote: This is another tough one, but I’m going with Tina Fey because I love her. I wish Mary-Louise Parker and Sarah Silverman could also win in some sort of Best Actress in a Comedy Series Triumvirate. Maybe they’ll add that category next year.
Who got robbed: Kaitlin Olson for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Pattern!
Nominees for Best Drama Series:
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
My vote: This is an easy one for me — Mad Men.
Who got robbed: Battlestar Galactica. Again. Seven nominees this year and you couldn’t fit it in? Uncool.
Nominees for Best Actor in a Drama Series:
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
My vote: Jon Hamm. And not only because he’s in that extraordinarily fantastic Between Two Ferns sketch with Zach Galifianakis.
Who got robbed: Edward James Olmos for Battlestar Galactica. He’s only in charge of protecting the last few thousand survivors of the human race, people!
Nominees for Best Actress in a Drama Series:
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
My vote: Glenn Close.
Who got robbed: Mary McDonnell for Battlestar Galactica.
Nominees for Best Reality Competition Program:
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
My vote: I’m only even including this so I can vote for Top Chef.
Nominees for Best Reality Competition Host:
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Padma Lakshmi (Host) and Tom Colicchio (Co-Host), Top Chef
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
My vote: And I’m only including this so I can vote for Padma Lakshmi. We should probably just go ahead and put her in every category.
Nominees for Best Reality Series:
Antiques Roadshow
Dirty Jobs
Dog Whisperer
Intervention
Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List
MythBusters
My vote: Dirty Jobs. Mike Rowe is hilarious.
Who got robbed: Nova on PBS (that might not count, but it’s still awesome) and Deadliest Catch.
Nominees for Best Variety, Music, or Comedy Series:
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
My vote: The Colbert Report. Some of the best writing on TV.
Nominees for Best Miniseries:
Generation Kill
Little Dorrit
My vote: Generation Kill
So here’s who I would vote for. Please note: since I can’t possibly watch everything on TV (not for lack of trying), I didn’t make a pick in every category. I’m not trying to snub anybody or anything. And while I think everyone should agree with my tasteful, intelligent views, these are not the opinions of Blockbuster Inc.
Nominees for Best Comedy Series:
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Weeds
My vote: This was the hardest category for me, since all of these shows are good to great. But I’ve got to go with 30 Rock. I feel it’s the second funniest show on TV right now. See below for the first.
Who got robbed: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which is astoundingly funny.
Nominees for Best Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
My vote: Alec Baldwin. I would have picked Jemaine, but you can’t have Jemaine without Bret. They’re like yin and yang, or chicken and waffles.
Who got robbed: Charlie Day for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Nominees for Best Actress in a Comedy Series:
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
My vote: This is another tough one, but I’m going with Tina Fey because I love her. I wish Mary-Louise Parker and Sarah Silverman could also win in some sort of Best Actress in a Comedy Series Triumvirate. Maybe they’ll add that category next year.
Who got robbed: Kaitlin Olson for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Pattern!
Nominees for Best Drama Series:
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
My vote: This is an easy one for me — Mad Men.
Who got robbed: Battlestar Galactica. Again. Seven nominees this year and you couldn’t fit it in? Uncool.
Nominees for Best Actor in a Drama Series:
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
My vote: Jon Hamm. And not only because he’s in that extraordinarily fantastic Between Two Ferns sketch with Zach Galifianakis.
Who got robbed: Edward James Olmos for Battlestar Galactica. He’s only in charge of protecting the last few thousand survivors of the human race, people!
Nominees for Best Actress in a Drama Series:
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
My vote: Glenn Close.
Who got robbed: Mary McDonnell for Battlestar Galactica.
Nominees for Best Reality Competition Program:
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
My vote: I’m only even including this so I can vote for Top Chef.
Nominees for Best Reality Competition Host:
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Padma Lakshmi (Host) and Tom Colicchio (Co-Host), Top Chef
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
My vote: And I’m only including this so I can vote for Padma Lakshmi. We should probably just go ahead and put her in every category.
Nominees for Best Reality Series:
Antiques Roadshow
Dirty Jobs
Dog Whisperer
Intervention
Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List
MythBusters
My vote: Dirty Jobs. Mike Rowe is hilarious.
Who got robbed: Nova on PBS (that might not count, but it’s still awesome) and Deadliest Catch.
Nominees for Best Variety, Music, or Comedy Series:
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
My vote: The Colbert Report. Some of the best writing on TV.
Nominees for Best Miniseries:
Generation Kill
Little Dorrit
My vote: Generation Kill
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Movie Road Trip Contest Winners
We had a lot of excellent movie-related travel pics submitted, but there can be only one, er, three. So here are the winners of our Movie Road Trip Flickr contest. Thanks to everyone who uploaded pics!
First Place, and winner of a Sylvania Blu-ray player for his Bottle Rocket pic is Flickr user drewrcrowell
Second Place, and winner of a second, but no less awesome, Sylvania Blu-ray player for his The Office pic is Flickr user horse-head.com
Runner-Up, and winner of a snazzy $50 BLOCKBUSTER GiftCard for his Superman pic, is Flickr user hbkhumanity
First Place, and winner of a Sylvania Blu-ray player for his Bottle Rocket pic is Flickr user drewrcrowell
Second Place, and winner of a second, but no less awesome, Sylvania Blu-ray player for his The Office pic is Flickr user horse-head.com
Runner-Up, and winner of a snazzy $50 BLOCKBUSTER GiftCard for his Superman pic, is Flickr user hbkhumanity
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Post Movie-Related Travel Pics, Win Fabulous Prizes
I can’t think of one person who dislikes movies, travel, photos, and free stuff. Those are all things I think we can pretty much agree are good, if not great. But if you ARE that kind of person, you might not want to read the next part of this sentence: you can win FREE STUFF by submitting your movie-related travel photos to us!
We want to see your pictures from movie and television scenes (Katz’s Delicatessen in New York from When Harry Met Sally, etc.). All you have to do is submit your photos to our Movie Road Trip Flickr group from now until July 10. Then we’ll pick our top three favorite pictures. The top two submitters will each win a Sylvania Blu-ray player. The runner-up will win a $50 BLOCKBUSTER GiftCard. We’ll announce the winners on July 15, and post the winning entries on this very blog.
We have some example pictures already up on the group, just to give you an idea of what we’re looking for. If you submitted a picture to the group prior to today, you’re still eligible to win.
So comb through your archives and find your finest movie-related pics. These Blu-ray players aren’t going to win themselves. For official contest rules, look down the page about half an inch, to where it says “Official Contest Rules.”
Official Contest Rules:
BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE ROAD TRIP PHOTO CONTEST (the “Contest”) NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest runs from 7/2/2009, 10:01A.M. CT through July 10, 2009 11:59 p.m. CT (“Entry Period”). All entries received after the Entry Period will not be considered. This Contest is sponsored by Blockbuster Inc. (“Sponsor”).
Entering: To enter, submit your very own favorite photos depicting a movie or television scene (for example, Platform 9 ¾ in London from the Harry Potter movies) at The BLOCKBUSTER Movie Road Trip Site on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/movieroadtrip (the “Site”). Submission on the Site requires registration at flickr.com, which is free with a free Yahoo account. Sponsor is not responsible for your use of the Flickr site and/or your ability to register on flickr.com and/or yahoo.com. Duplicate entries of the same submission will not be considered.
By entering, you warrant that your materials are original and your own work, do not infringe on any third party’s rights, and that you have obtained any necessary permissions from any third party if a third party or third party’s property appears in the photograph. You must be the sole owner of the copyright of any image submitted. Further, you warrant your materials will not (i) be sexually explicit, unnecessarily violent or derogatory, (ii) promote drugs, alcohol, or firearms, (iii) contain trademarks, logos or copyrighted materials owned by others, or (iv) depict the likeness of anyone or any personal property without their permission. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry if it finds in its sole discretion that any of the foregoing warranties are not true or finds an entry to be inappropriate, in its sole discretion. Sponsor is under no obligation to post any entry. Decisions of Sponsor shall be final and binding.
Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of the photographs they enter except for the following: Your entry to the Contest constitutes your agreement to allow your entered photographs and your name, city, and state, without any fee or other form of compensation, to be published as a winner of the Contest on blockbuster.com and other websites, as determined in Blockbuster’s sole discretion, and Blockbuster may make and retain copies of each winner’s photograph for archival purposes.
Consent by Winner: All entries submitted to the Sponsor become the property of the Sponsor, and no correspondence will be entered into. Sponsor has the right and permission to use, publish, broadcast, reproduce, and distribute the winning photograph in any manner or media through the world in perpetuity, for any purposes whatsoever, including but not limited to, advertising and promotion.
Judging: Entries will be judged by Sponsor’s employees (“Contest Judges”) on the basis of: creativity (50%) and photographic quality (50%). Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified. Decisions of the Contest Judges are final and binding.
Drawing: On July 14, 2009 at approximately 10:00 AM Central Time, the Contest Judges will judge all eligible photos received during the Entry Period.
Eligibility: Contest open to all legal US residents, 18 and older as of the start of the Contest. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Contest subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By participating, entrants agree to these official rules and accept decisions of the Sponsor as final. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. Persons who are employees (and those with whom such employees are domiciled) or agents of the Sponsor, its franchisees or their advertising and promotional agencies and the Contest Judges, are not eligible. The promotion is offered in the United States only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to Texas law.
Prizes: There will be two (2) Grand Prizes consisting of two (2) Sylvania Blu-Ray DVD Players (approximate retail value of $199.99 each) and one (1) Runner Up prize consisting of a $50 BLOCKBUSTER GiftCard® ("GiftCard/s"). GiftCards may be applied to the cost of any eligible merchandise sold or rented at participating BLOCKBUSTER stores and online at blockbuster.com and cannot be used to purchase BLOCKBUSTER GiftCards or any third party gift card. Membership rules and certain restrictions apply for renting at BLOCKBUSTER. For complete terms and conditions, or to locate the store nearest you, visit blockbuster.com.
Prizes must be accepted as awarded, are not transferable, assignable, or redeemable for cash. No substitute of a prize, except by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right at any time to substitute a prize or any portion thereof for a prize of equal or greater value.
Winners will be announced via blog.blockbuster.com on July 15, 2009, and winners will
be emailed through their Flickr accounts. Prizes will be shipped to winners. If a winner is disqualified or determined to be ineligible, or if a prize is unclaimed or undeliverable, an alternate winner will be selected using the same judging process/criteria described above. Alternate winners are subject to all requirements set forth in these Official Rules
Entries must be made on the Site by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, internet domain owner, or other person or organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. The Sponsor reserves the right to verify the validity and originality of any entry and/or entrant (including an entrant’s identity and address) and to disqualify any entrant who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Official Rules or who tampers with the entry process. Failure by Sponsor to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.
Limitation of Liability: Sponsor is NOT responsible for printing or typographical errors in any related materials; stolen, fraudulent, entries or mail; or transactions that are processed or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction. Each winner is solely responsible for payment of all federal, state, and local taxes on prize. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify Contest if fraud or technical failure compromises the integrity of the Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.
Sponsor not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission whether caused by Sponsor, user, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or human error which may occur in the process of submissions which may limit a participants ability to participate in this Contest. Sponsor is entitled to interpret these rules as needed and its decisions are final.
By participating in this Contest, you agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its employees, officers, affiliates, agents and franchisees from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of action, or losses of any kind resulting from your participation in this Contest, including without limitation, infringement of intellectual property rights, any prize won, any use of the entry materials by Sponsor, the warranties participants make, or any misuse or malfunction of any prize awarded. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SPONSOR BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONTEST AND/OR USE OF THE SITE.
Winners List: A Winners Name list will be posted online at blog.blockbuster.com.
Sponsor: Blockbuster Inc., 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, TX. 75270.
We want to see your pictures from movie and television scenes (Katz’s Delicatessen in New York from When Harry Met Sally, etc.). All you have to do is submit your photos to our Movie Road Trip Flickr group from now until July 10. Then we’ll pick our top three favorite pictures. The top two submitters will each win a Sylvania Blu-ray player. The runner-up will win a $50 BLOCKBUSTER GiftCard. We’ll announce the winners on July 15, and post the winning entries on this very blog.
We have some example pictures already up on the group, just to give you an idea of what we’re looking for. If you submitted a picture to the group prior to today, you’re still eligible to win.
So comb through your archives and find your finest movie-related pics. These Blu-ray players aren’t going to win themselves. For official contest rules, look down the page about half an inch, to where it says “Official Contest Rules.”
Official Contest Rules:
BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE ROAD TRIP PHOTO CONTEST (the “Contest”) NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest runs from 7/2/2009, 10:01A.M. CT through July 10, 2009 11:59 p.m. CT (“Entry Period”). All entries received after the Entry Period will not be considered. This Contest is sponsored by Blockbuster Inc. (“Sponsor”).
Entering: To enter, submit your very own favorite photos depicting a movie or television scene (for example, Platform 9 ¾ in London from the Harry Potter movies) at The BLOCKBUSTER Movie Road Trip Site on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/movieroadtrip (the “Site”). Submission on the Site requires registration at flickr.com, which is free with a free Yahoo account. Sponsor is not responsible for your use of the Flickr site and/or your ability to register on flickr.com and/or yahoo.com. Duplicate entries of the same submission will not be considered.
By entering, you warrant that your materials are original and your own work, do not infringe on any third party’s rights, and that you have obtained any necessary permissions from any third party if a third party or third party’s property appears in the photograph. You must be the sole owner of the copyright of any image submitted. Further, you warrant your materials will not (i) be sexually explicit, unnecessarily violent or derogatory, (ii) promote drugs, alcohol, or firearms, (iii) contain trademarks, logos or copyrighted materials owned by others, or (iv) depict the likeness of anyone or any personal property without their permission. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry if it finds in its sole discretion that any of the foregoing warranties are not true or finds an entry to be inappropriate, in its sole discretion. Sponsor is under no obligation to post any entry. Decisions of Sponsor shall be final and binding.
Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of the photographs they enter except for the following: Your entry to the Contest constitutes your agreement to allow your entered photographs and your name, city, and state, without any fee or other form of compensation, to be published as a winner of the Contest on blockbuster.com and other websites, as determined in Blockbuster’s sole discretion, and Blockbuster may make and retain copies of each winner’s photograph for archival purposes.
Consent by Winner: All entries submitted to the Sponsor become the property of the Sponsor, and no correspondence will be entered into. Sponsor has the right and permission to use, publish, broadcast, reproduce, and distribute the winning photograph in any manner or media through the world in perpetuity, for any purposes whatsoever, including but not limited to, advertising and promotion.
Judging: Entries will be judged by Sponsor’s employees (“Contest Judges”) on the basis of: creativity (50%) and photographic quality (50%). Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified. Decisions of the Contest Judges are final and binding.
Drawing: On July 14, 2009 at approximately 10:00 AM Central Time, the Contest Judges will judge all eligible photos received during the Entry Period.
Eligibility: Contest open to all legal US residents, 18 and older as of the start of the Contest. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Contest subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By participating, entrants agree to these official rules and accept decisions of the Sponsor as final. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. Persons who are employees (and those with whom such employees are domiciled) or agents of the Sponsor, its franchisees or their advertising and promotional agencies and the Contest Judges, are not eligible. The promotion is offered in the United States only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to Texas law.
Prizes: There will be two (2) Grand Prizes consisting of two (2) Sylvania Blu-Ray DVD Players (approximate retail value of $199.99 each) and one (1) Runner Up prize consisting of a $50 BLOCKBUSTER GiftCard® ("GiftCard/s"). GiftCards may be applied to the cost of any eligible merchandise sold or rented at participating BLOCKBUSTER stores and online at blockbuster.com and cannot be used to purchase BLOCKBUSTER GiftCards or any third party gift card. Membership rules and certain restrictions apply for renting at BLOCKBUSTER. For complete terms and conditions, or to locate the store nearest you, visit blockbuster.com.
Prizes must be accepted as awarded, are not transferable, assignable, or redeemable for cash. No substitute of a prize, except by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right at any time to substitute a prize or any portion thereof for a prize of equal or greater value.
Winners will be announced via blog.blockbuster.com on July 15, 2009, and winners will
be emailed through their Flickr accounts. Prizes will be shipped to winners. If a winner is disqualified or determined to be ineligible, or if a prize is unclaimed or undeliverable, an alternate winner will be selected using the same judging process/criteria described above. Alternate winners are subject to all requirements set forth in these Official Rules
Entries must be made on the Site by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, internet domain owner, or other person or organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. The Sponsor reserves the right to verify the validity and originality of any entry and/or entrant (including an entrant’s identity and address) and to disqualify any entrant who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Official Rules or who tampers with the entry process. Failure by Sponsor to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.
Limitation of Liability: Sponsor is NOT responsible for printing or typographical errors in any related materials; stolen, fraudulent, entries or mail; or transactions that are processed or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction. Each winner is solely responsible for payment of all federal, state, and local taxes on prize. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify Contest if fraud or technical failure compromises the integrity of the Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.
Sponsor not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission whether caused by Sponsor, user, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or human error which may occur in the process of submissions which may limit a participants ability to participate in this Contest. Sponsor is entitled to interpret these rules as needed and its decisions are final.
By participating in this Contest, you agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its employees, officers, affiliates, agents and franchisees from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of action, or losses of any kind resulting from your participation in this Contest, including without limitation, infringement of intellectual property rights, any prize won, any use of the entry materials by Sponsor, the warranties participants make, or any misuse or malfunction of any prize awarded. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SPONSOR BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONTEST AND/OR USE OF THE SITE.
Winners List: A Winners Name list will be posted online at blog.blockbuster.com.
Sponsor: Blockbuster Inc., 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, TX. 75270.
