If we decide to go this route I'd volunteer to maintain the list and coordinate prizes with all the Challenge leads.

Oh sure. Like you're not going to just use that list to travel around the country and raid our collections.

It *would* be extra work but as you would only be dealing with those who wanted to be included in a month end drawing it should be fairly simple and quick to drop them all in a spreadsheet as they come in (that could also provide numbering based on rows). From what I've seen some of you go through with the drawings it seems that it might be less work overall.

A "master list" like it seems that Trevor is suggesting sounds like more work as you would need to make sure addresses are current and filter such a list against challenge participants opting in each time. But as Trevor is volunteering who am I to tell him it sounds like more work...

I thought about the "opt out" method but think you would have people who either would forget to opt out or just not bother at all which brings you back to the original problem.

Maybe, maybe not. I thougth Travis did a great job with the prize selection and quantity. I know I'm always happy to win a prize no matter the "size" if it's something I don't already own. On the occasions I've not been interested or already own what's offered I've made a point to opt out.

I find it odd that people don't check the discussion thread until all prizes have been sent. If they are that uninterested the polite thing to do would be to send the host a opt-out request. I sometimes wonder if someone wins a prize but doesn't want the title won so rather than decline they ignore the request knowing in a week or so it'll be re-drawn.

I'm sure I've offered it before, but I'll do so again based on the recent discussion. I'm ok with all prizes being sent to me. I only make this suggestion because I want our fine hosts to have a smooth experience each time in wrapping up their particular challenge.

Shh! Delete this post and I'll share my ill gotten booty.

I think most of the challenge hosts just do the one pick and that's it, or at least used to (I know a few years back GoldenWheels talked about having unclaimed prizes left over from at least one challenge).
Somehow "ill gotten booty" doesn't sound all that great.

I shouldn't have a problem running things again this year. I've been very absent from challenges (and posting), but I'm planning on having some more time this year. Things should be a bit easier this time around and I hope to be a better host than I was last year.

I suggested a paring down of the checklist last year and I believe it was generally (unanimously?) defeated. My rationale was that checklists may discourage some from participation. With the Criterion challenge, we start to get away from discussion and towards checking items off a list. Personally, and I know everyone isn't with me on this one, that's what I find most fulfilling about participating in the challenge. I do think it's difficult to require spine numbers that are just coming around the bend as many of them are new releases and people may not have as easy of access to them. I'm really torn; spine numbers are such a part of the Criterion identity, but they are also completely arbitrary for the purposes of the challenge.

I think the checklists are good to have as they encourage branching out into uncharted territory. If it wasn't for the "decade" list on the Academy Award challenge, I would probably still have never watched Wings, or How Green Was My Valley. I'm not sure what the answer is; it seems like a number of people abandon the checklist altogether, and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

Either way, I'm on board for running the challenge again. Hopefully, we still have a good number of participants.

While I no longer have Hulu Plus, and my Criterion selection of DVDs is rather limited, I do plan to participate this year.

I'd have to go back and read the previous discussion threads, but my memory of it is that in the discussion thread near the end of the month we find ourselves sharing ideas of what we might find to maximize our checks. Even that still promotes some discussion, even if it's just a matter of simplistic recommendations (or advisories to avoid a given movie).

Criterion is one of the few challenges where I think the checklist is just about perfect. Of course, having said that...I do have an idea or two.

Looks like we had around 35 participants last year...and that's been pretty consistent. I just hopped on a 2-month free trial of Hulu Plus to coincide with the challenge.

I was looking back through the checklist and then I sorted through the Criterion database pretty extensively. You can get this checklist done in about 16-20 films, so I think that's plenty accessible. I'll try and get the discussion thread up in the next few days so that we can discuss any immediate items or ideas.

Sweet. Criterion has become my favorite challenge. (Don't tell TV on DVD* or Historical Appreciation.)

Criterion Discussion Thread is up. I plan to fine tune some of the language, but I wanted to get the discussion rolling earlier rather than later.

I've been thinking and have come to a decision. While the Sci Fi and Animation Challenges are long way off, I think I only have the oomph to run one or the other. I think the reason I watched hardly anything during the Animation Challenge was due to being burnt out from running two challenges back to back. What I would like to know is if there are any volunteers to run one or the other Challenges? If there are more than one volunteer, I would be willing to step down from both Challenges.

My apologies to those who said I did a great job running both Challenges, but I just don't have it in me to run two Challenges back to back anymore.

^ You rocked them both shadokitty! While I think it's too soon to be willing to step down from one, let alone both, I'm sure someone will step up.

Everyone, don't forget that right about now we're starting about twelve hours of double secret bonus time! Watch any of the many Criterion horror titles and get credit for both Challenges from dusk today to dawn tomorrow.

I think you did great running both challenges! But, I can understand not wanting to do both.

I'd be willing to volunteer to host...having participated in two challenges now, I feel I have a pretty good handle on it. I'm not sure what I'll be doing in a year as I have a few things I'm thinking about doing right now, but don't think it should be a problem for me to host it either way.

Whoops-I'm talking about the animation challenge there, almost forgot to mention that.

Thanks for stepping up LJG, if you need any help along the way, I'll be glad to offer advice.

Thanks! I probably will need it!

Any word on the comedy challenge? I know that the time for it is coming up fairly soon.

I just messaged DX to see if he wants to run it again. If not, I'll just throw it up if no one else volunteers.

Also, The Monkees has put up the annual Holiday Challenge thread!

Yeah, I guess I'll do it - unless someone who hasn't run one before wants to volunteer. I just hadn't gotten around to it yet. I was about to bump this thread and see if there was still any interest in it (especially since the Holiday Challenge thread is already up).

I'll start a discussion thread tomorrow if no one volunteers before then.

I might be interested in doing sci-fi, but obviously it's about half a year too early to decide for sure.

Way too damn early for a Holiday thread. MADNESS!

I noticed Christmas stuff up in several stores already. More madness!

My next door neighbor has a Christmas tree up and a "let it snow" banner hanging from his door. Fucking whackjob.