Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Going Postal
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
IS THIS THE END OF WPFS!?
The Warehouse is going under renovation. So the WPFS will not be screening there this AUGUST. Tonight is our last screening til September. Plus I'm having more trouble on the job and am fighting a 2 week suspension without pay. Ive been accused of more wrong doings. Kind of like 10 years ago when some coworkers decided to frame me for a crime that was never committed. Yes, the 1998 Going Postal fiasco. So I'll be doing that....I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind sort of thing. I'll keep you all posted. Later folks.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Crazed Alcoholic Tour Guide
Treasure of the Amazon is what some people call an Indiana Jones rip-off. WRONG! The Indiana Jones films were rip-offs of earlier serial adventures. I'm not here trying to defend either one. I'm just saying that this film has more of a crazed reality to it. Greedy Honchoes looking for gold on sacred ground. Bad men trying to hustle the natives. Topless women on horses. Bad men threatening topless woman on a horse. Well anyways, these bad boys go floating down the river and no one trusts the other.
Hungry Hungry Hippos and other jungle creatures glaring at them from the jungle. Angry Angry natives staring at them from the jungle. All this comes together with a lot of backstabbing. Unlike the kind that goes on at your job.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Happy Funtime on a Big Friggin Bus
Hey Folks, it's time for some big laffs. It's the Big Bus, a spoof on disaster movies with an all-star cast who I will not mention 'cause there's just not enough room. A very funny movie full of gut-busting shenanigans. Fun for the whole famn damily.Tonight is also Free T-shirt night.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Super duper Badass Movie
When it comes to local filmmakers, Charles E. Cullen is one of my favorites. I never met the guy. I hope he's cool and all too. His movies are just plumb crazy goodness and Super Badass is one of his finest films.
The WPFS is screening this gem once again because it just has to be seen and we like showing it. So come on down tonight to The Warehouse and enjoy it with us. We will be giving away some great door-prizes tonight thanks to Allied Advertising. T-shirts and hats that have nothing to do with this movie but are movie related.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Twitter meets Mystery Science Theater 3000
It’s ‘Mystery Science Theater’ meets Twitter
Normally, rampant texting in a movie theater is grounds for ejection.
But in St. Charles, it’s encouraged.
During a screening of ”Zoolander,” audience members could heckle the movie via text, then watch as their comments appeared onscreen with the film: “I want a comb-over like Trump” and “Breakdance fighting is becoming more popular in UFC.”
“I’ve described it as a mash-up of ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ and Twitter,” said Rien Heald, the Naperville inventor of MuVChat.
Thus far, MuVChat is in the early stages, with three test screenings at Classic Cinemas’ Charlestowne 18 theater. The next will be Saturday’s screening of “Dodgeball” at 10:30 p.m.
“Normally, you don’t want people texting on their phones, [the glowing screens] are kind of like fireflies inside the auditorium,” said Charlestowne manager Randy Pollock. “But if everybody is doing it, it’s fun.”
Brian Stewart, 35, of West Chicago found out about MuVChat through Facebook. He participated in its inaugural screening of “Zoolander” in January.
He describes the texting as “funny comments that you normally snicker to your friends, but this you share with the whole audience.”
The multitasking experience of texting, watching the movie and reading others’ comments didn’t distract him.
“The movies they are doing are mostly movies we’ve seen, so they’re cult classics,” said Stewart, a grocery store manager. “Mostly, we’re watching for the comments. You can’t talk out loud, but it’s cool if you’re able to use your phone.”
Heald said the MuVChat concept popped into his head while he was riding the train one day as he commuted from an Internet job from which he has since been laid off. He’s now developing MuVChat full time. Its allure tends to be generational, he said, adding that older viewers can be skeptical of it.
“Anybody who is in the Millennial to Gen Y demographic thinks it’s a very good idea. Texting is a big part of their lives,” said Heald, 46. “It’s those kids who really latch on to it.”
The system works this way: Audience members text to a central number, which runs their comments through software. The MuVChat software then displays the texts in a three-line configuration at the bottom of the screen, like a vertical ticker, as the movie plays. Sitting in the projector booth with a standard computer, Heald uses a profanity screening program and can, on the fly, filter comments and ban abusive users.
Most viewers make about 40 comments per movie, Heald said, and not all of them are snarky. Just as often, people will play “Name That Tune” when the soundtrack swells or ask other members of the audience to bring them popcorn.
Ultimately, Heald said, “it could be used in movie theaters and then it could be used in non-theatrical venues, like college campuses. It’s a community-building event.” Right now, however, Heald wants to keep his business plan secret.
MuVChat only shows second-run features, often comedies. Sam Raimi’s “Army of Darkness” has been a popular request for a future screening, and ”Office Space” is up next. Charlestowne manager Pollock said he’d like to see box office bombs such as Mariah Carey’s ”Glitter” and Ben Affleck’s ”Gigli” get the MuVChat treatment.
“You can’t do ‘em any harm,” Pollock said.
But does he think MuVChat will ever be available for new movies?
“You never know,” he said. “If it makes money, I’m sure Hollywood would do it with their new releases.”
MuVChat’s screening of “Dodgeball” is at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Charlestowne 18, in St. Charles. Tickets: $5. More information: MuVChat.com.
relder@tribune.com