Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I forget the name but I have the western where the bad guys are all midgets. That'll be my B-Movie Western contribution.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Terror of Tiny Town? If so, there's nothing but midgets in that one.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

That's the one.

If only such a town really existed...

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Below is the current schedule.

January - open (except for Holiday on the 1st only)
February - Academy Award (most of the month)
March - open (except first week is Academy Award)
April - B-movies/Cult/Drive-in
May - Make-Your-Own-Challenge Challenge
June - History (westerns, war, documentaries, bio pics)
July - Sci-fi
August - Animation
September - Criterion
October - Horror
November - open (except last week part of Holiday)
December - Holiday

I'm thinking that perhaps we could just have multiple Make-Your-Own-Challenge months to fill the partially covered months.

Also, I know many hate combining genres like they do in video stores for classification purposes, but perhaps we could add War to the Western month to make it more inclusive.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Love the challenges. Will participate in as many as possible in 2010.

Really look forward to starting again Sunday with the Oscar challenge.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Isn't it time to start getting the cult/b-movie pre-challenge thread started?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

:drool:

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Yep. Just about time. Official thread should be up by 3-1.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I support the idea of a Challenges Sub-forum. I also think it should go in the Movies forum, rather than the DVD forum, because Laserdisc, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, online streaming, TV broadcast and theatrical exhibitions all qualify for every challenge I've seen so far.

As for inspiring discussion, I know that I don't say much in the threads because I figure they're such a chore to read through as it is with those novel-length posts that no one wants discussion going on at the same time. At the same time, since the list threads contains the actual titles of what people are watching, there's not much to go on in the discussions threads. Furthermore, I tend to think of the discussion threads as being for laying the groundwork and getting everything straight about what does/does not qualify, when TCM is running eligible movies during the challenge time frame, etc. Once the challenge goes active, I forget about the discussion thread.

I see January and November have some openings. I suggest that, perhaps, we move the "Make Your Own" challenge to one of these months (preferably the shorter available time in November, which is better suited for a less structured challenge). Then, make May the Military challenge. Build up to Memorial Day, and let challenge-takers count some kind of Memorial Day special on their lists the way the Academy Awards broadcast counts on the Oscars challenge.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I think it might be too late to move May's Make-Your-Own-Challenge Challenge. People are getting excited for it.

Of course, that is up to Dimension X, it's totally their call on when it goes. Then of course we'd need a volunteer to run the War Challenge, unless that was you raising your hand....

I'm leaning towards thinking that perhaps War and several other genres could be covered by the Make-Your-Own-Challenge Challenge, and that perhaps we could have four different Make-Your-Own-Challenge Challenges, slotting them into all the empty or mostly empty months.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

What about next year, though?

I'm told that only fools volunteer. I'm in!

I'd be tempted to vote against multiple Make-Your-Owns, because I fear it would cheapen the one time a year when you're on your own. It did occur to me that I don't see any kind of Crime challenge, which could incorporate cop movies or gangster movies. I suppose we could generically lump cops in with soldiers and have a Men in Uniform challenge. (If, you know, you don't mind participating in a challenge with a blatantly homoerotic name.)

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Memorial Day month does sound appropriate for a War Challenge, although I imagine we could find other dates in the other open months that could work as well.

But yeah, unless Dimension X or others object, maybe starting next year we could have War in May and move Make-Your-Own.
One of us! One of us!
We should also have Foreign and Comedy Challenges.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I'm very much looking forward to the Western challenge, though I definitely think War films should be an entirely separate category. There are certainly more than enough Westerns available to watch, and combining unrelated genres like that dilutes the whole purpose. I'd be all for a Comedy Challenge, perhaps in November?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

You're right. I've regretted proposing that. I too am looking forward to delving through my Western collection.

I made the suggestion mainly because I've been trying to get more light shed on the Challenges here, and to encourage more participation. I'll have fun even if it's only three of us, but I see the Challenges one of the best ways to keep/make this forum more of a community and less a place where people just come for bargains or questions.
Great! I'll pencil you in. You'll be sharing the last week with the Holiday Challenge of course, but a lot of titles would qualify for both I imagine.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

The May date was established for the Make-Your-Own-Challenge back in August, if anyone had any objections, they should've voiced them then. As for moving it next year, I'd say wait and see if the challenge is even popular enough to warrant a second year first.

Oh, and multiple Make-Your-Own-Challenges sounds like a terrible idea to me. Use whatever time is still open for another themed challenge.
I thought there was a Comedy Challenge scheduled, but I must've been thinking of Animation. November would be a good time for it if we were to add one (although, if you want to say May should be themed to War movies because of Memorial Day, maybe Comedy should be in April :sarcasm: ).

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I admire the intent, and I support it. I think you made a remark elsewhere that you didn't feel like you finally "belonged" here until you participated in a challenge, and I totally get that. I dabbled with last year's Horror challenge, but being a baseball fan, I didn't fare too well. This year's Academy Awards challenge, though, was almost addictive!

I hate to bring negativity into the Challenges, but I've already decided to bow out of the B-Movie/Cult/Drive-In challenge, as well as the forthcoming Criterion challenge. I simply don't have much in the way that qualifies--and I only have one Criterion in my library. To be honest, I've wondered if maybe we oughtn't have a Make-Your-Own challenge as an alternative to the Criterion challenge, since there are 1) so few of them anyway and 2) not likely to be found in sufficient quantities in many of our libraries.

As for a comedy challenge, it sounds interesting. My first reaction is to have it follow the Holiday challenge in January. This way, we can all unwind from the nightmare that is the Christmas season and have some yuks before the Awards challenge picks up in February--and let's face it, the Awards challenge eligibility list is very much skewed in favor of heavier, more serious fare.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Oh, we're having at least one a year for as long as I'm alive. We haven't even had it yet and I am positive that it is the best Challenge idea yet. I don't care if no one at all participates, it's a permanent fixture. No question.
But remember, watching one film for a Challenge is just as successful as watching 400.
I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but quantity means nothing really. I think the Criterion Challenge was really successful, except for the lame thread leader. Five participants watching two films each would be fine.

As long as there is a free month, and a person or two interested, why not have one? It doesn't have to have 100 people and 20,000 page views to be successful or useful.
Holiday a nightmare? Yeah, some people feel/joke about that, but overall i think most people think of the holidays as a light and fun period, with much mirth and comedy already. I'm thinking a Comedy Challenge would be much better as a follow-up to the dark and scary Horror Challenge.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

You mean I'm gonna be stuck doing one every year? :suicide:

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Ah, humor between Horror and Holiday. Sounds good to me! That would leave January and May for what is apparently "my" War Challenge. I still think May would make more sense, but I'll do as I'm told. Following orders would seem to be in the spirit of the challenge!

This is what I get for missing staff meetings...! ;)

Philosophically, I agree with you entirely. And yet, there's a part of me that just feels like it's wrong to only participate so minimally. I dunno, maybe it's just the way I'm wired.

As noted above, I'm on board with this. (I actually missed the previous post about having it in November, or I wouldn't have bothered with my superfluous January remarks.)

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

How about having the "War Challenge" in November in honor of Veterans Day?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Sounds good to me! Out of curiosity, what's a good number of categories to have for a checklist for one of these things?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Movies taking place during certain wars? Maybe an espionage category and one for cannon fodder?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Oh, I've already got a list. I just need to know what a good number of categories is!

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Ah. I always just went for the same style as other challenges and as long as it wasn't freakishly long compared to the others, I felt fine.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I haven't seen one yet that wasn't too freakishly long. Personally, I think we should have a rule that checklists have to be in spoiler tags. That way, those of us who don't give a rat's ass about them can read others' lists without having to scroll through the damn things. -ptth-

Rob

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I've spoilered my checklists, but the truth is that the lists themselves are what threaten to overrun most threads. The reason is, there's no standard. Some members list every award for which the film was nominated or won--whether in the Awards thread or not. Some break up their lists by the day that they watched, with date headers. Some include large graphics.

But, yeah, I'll try to keep the War Challenge checklist manageable. I have some ideas that I hope will be rewarding for its participants.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Yeah, the large graphics can be annoying too at times (I love my Adblock) :D but none of the other things you mentioned really bother me. I used to break up my lists by the day I watched stuff, but now that I'm only able to watch one or two movies a day, I don't bother.

BTW, no offense, but I hate war movies even more than I hate the checklists, so I'll be avoiding that challenge completely. :) So feel free to make the checklist for that one just as long as you want to. ;)

Rob

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

No offense taken at all. Would you be kind enough to share with me what it is about war movies that you don't like? It might be helpful to me in crafting the checklist and directing the challenge. I confess that I'm not terribly big on them myself, but then Trevor very shrewdly recruited me for the challenge. It seems like something I have to do in order to justify my history degree.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

They just don't interest me at all. Admittedly, I've only seen a few, but enough to know that I don't care for the genre. I'm not a big fan of action films, as a rule, which might have something to do with it, but there are a few I like. Sorry I can't really be any more specific than that; the genre as a whole just has zero appeal for me.

Rob

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Would you be interested in a war movie if it was more of a drama (or a comedy), than an action picture?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Hmmm, possibly. I do like A Very Long Engagement, which I think counts as a war movie, but that has absolutely nothing to do with why I like it. If anything, I like it in spite of that. :lol:

Rob

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I have to say, I'm rather excited about organizing the War Challenge. Aside from starting the threads and putting together the checklist, what are the duties of a host?

I'm completely kidding about the 10% of course
 

And making the rules.

But generally, most of the Challenges here have been halfway created and set-up by the forum as a whole, with many people contributing 'rules', and many have other people doing the checklists or some part of the Challenge. We all owe the Challenges being to Chad though, so 10% of all your profit goes to him as a tribute. He may try to get 'physical' favors from you as well, but according to the DVDTalk bylaws he just gets the 10%.

A results thread is also nice if you have time to do one, people seem to enjoy those.

Personally, I prefer a very loose format with huge numbers discouraged, or counting even discouraged, as it should all be about community building and discussion. I think TV shows should definitely be allowed, with the standard 'counting' being 1 point for a film of any 'academy' length, 1/2 a point for a 60 minute TV show, and 1/4 point for a 30 minute show.

Re: I'm completely kidding about the 10% of course
 

I have some pretty clear ideas of what I'd like to do, but I expected to shake things out with a discussions thread to see if I've missed something or included something of little interest to participants. 10%, huh? In the spirit of my challenge...he'll have to fight me for it!

This is actually what I'm most anticipating, because I hope that my challenge will really invite some personal discussion.

Hmm. The History Channel is a given for the War Channel, and I've actually got a spot on my preliminary checklist for one of their documentaries. Things like Band of Brothers come to mind, or Generation: Kill, but otherwise the only thing from TV that comes to mind is Tour of Duty. I'm sure I'm missing a lot of obvious ones, but I'm drawing a blank for war on TV. Something for the eventual discussions thread!

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Lots of older TV shows like Combat and Rat Patrol.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

^Don't forget Hogan's Heroes!

Re: I'm completely kidding about the 10% of course
 

If TV is allowed, that'd be nice since I could pull out the MASH set I bought a few years back.

I'm a rebel
 

No offense to any of the Challenge thread starters, myself included, but I hope that no one here thinks that they have to completely play by any of our 'rules'. I consider everything regarding a Challenge as more of a guideline than a rule. I speak for none of the other Challenge leads of course, this is just my opinion.

For example, if when I do the Western Challenge I decide that watching TV shows doesn't count, feel free to ignore that and watch only TV and count it triple. Sure, you may get questions, I may ignore your total if I do a results thread, and you may not win any prizes, but who cares? Watch whatever you want! This all about having fun with our hobby, doing something together, and building community.

That was just a random example by the way, TV shows will definitely count for the Western Challenge.

I've been meaning to open up my MASH set and watch it, so I think I'm watching it for the War Challenge whether it 'counts' or not. Along with at least 20 movies of course. Still waiting for my second ever viewing of Saving Private Ryan.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

:doh:

I never meant to hijack this thread for the War Challenge, but I'd definitely support this.

Wrong! My challenge is a War Challenge! If you don't follow orders...oh. Uh, well....yeah, do whatever the hell you want.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I think it was the 2nd Holiday Challenge was in the Movies section. It was moved there by a mod, but the 1st and all others have been in the DVD section. I think people are used to finding the info in the DVD section.

I don't know about squeezing in challenges in January or November. The Holiday Challenge always begins the Monday before Thanksgiving and the Academy Award Challenge usually begins in January depending on when the Oscars are that year. So you'd have overlapping of Challenges. Those are the only 2 that do that (and the only 2 I run, go figure), I think it would make things a bit complicated to people who would want to do both challenges. And even if you were to only run the challenge for the time between challenges (Like November 1st until November 23rd, or something like that) I think that would get confusing to people as well.