Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I thought someone already addressed the idea of the "ongoing make-your-own" as being unnecessary, since we already have generic "What are you watching/what did you last watch" threads. In any event, I think multiple MYO's threatens to not only devalue the MYO Challenge proper, but the entirety of challenges, since anyone would then have the option of watching whatever they wanted and there'd be no real theme among discussions.

Tell you what: You guys figure this damn thing out and let me know. I don't even care any more. First it's War, then it's Westerns, then we're combining them and expanding to a History challenge and now we're back to just wanting one of those things. I don't even care anymore. Let me know when the Sci-Fi challenge gets going; I'm determined to re-visit A.I. after all these years.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I get that it would be an alternative for people that don't care for whatever the Challenge is for that month, but it seems like doing something like that will ultimately subtract from participation in the other Challenges. For example, doing something like Rob's horror TV challenge example is just setting up a way to get around the Horror Challenge rules. It'd be like watching Sci-Fi and Fantasy movies in a separate make your own challenge in July instead of participating in the "Official" Sci-Fi Challenge.

One of the reasons I saw for having the "Official" Make-Your-Own Challenge was to give people the chance to watch horror TV shows, or Fantasy movies, or listen to commentaries and watch extras, or whatever else is not allowed under the rules of the other Challenges.
What's stopping you from only watching Westerns during that Challenge? That's probably what I'll do (unless I throw something else I happen to watch on the list just because it qualifies).

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

That might've been me , but Trevor has said pretty much the same thing too.
:up:
I think your War Challenge was combined with June's Western Challenge (to form the Historical Challenge) mostly because Trevor didn't want to run another Challenge. Like I said, I don't see any reason people can't concentrate on one genre if they want to, and the expanded theme could encourage more participation (which is a good thing).

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Since November is (mostly) open, we could have a second Make-Your-Own-Challenge Challenge then (they'd be six months apart) if there's any interest in having more than one.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

If I recall, November was the original idea for the War Challenge. It was suggested to be merged with Westerns in June because of overlap with the Holiday Challenge. I suppose a Make-Your-Own works better in a "shortened" month because then there's not as much concern about whether there's a lot of time for people to meet uniform goals.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

just a few imho points - take them for what they are... just mho :D

- i dont see an appeal in a "history" challenge. sounds too vague and kinda boring actually. i mean, i really like history, but when you put "challenge" in front of it...

- why not try one "make your own challenge" and see how it goes? if there is demand, yous guys can figure out the supply later.

- re running multiple and/or concurrent "make your own" challenges throughout the year, where is the comaradarie in that? i feel these structured challenges put like-minded people in a thread and allows them to explore. and people being human, when you put "official" in front of the name of the challenge, it makes it feel a bit more worthwhile.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I'm kind of there, too. If we have too many challenges, it makes them less special. We probably don't need challenges for every type of film out there and every month. Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Exploitation all have a fetish aspect to them and have obsessive fans and Oscar and Holiday have unique hooks. Animation is another interesting one. Outside of those genres, we start to hit the mundane films, while entertaining and what most people probably watch on a daily basis, there's just not much reason to go out of your way to participate in a Challenge for them.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Would "A Lot of Movies Based on Real Shit Where Some Badass Mo'fo's Kill Each Other and Blow Shit Up and Did Some Other Impressive Shit Challenge" be more to your liking? I mean, this way, "challenge" comes at the end.

Look, I don't mean to be hostile here, but if you don't want to participate...then just leave that challenge the hell alone. If I--or anyone else--has to defend a challenge even existing, then it's pretty obvious we don't need it. So, here: instead of me waiting for a consensus to tell me whether or not we're doing one and what it will cover and when it will be, I'm officially out. If someone else wants to make something along the lines of a history challenge happen, I'll be more than happy to organize my viewing for a month and mark off little spots on an online checklist. Otherwise, wake me when it's Sci-Fi challenge month so I can make myself dust off A.I.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

:hscratch: I admire your enthusiasm for Westerns, but didn't expect that sort of a 'take my ball and go home' statement from you.

The main reasons for combining similar genres in a 'History Challenge' were:

• There wasn't much interest in a Western challenge. Only three or four or us seemed interested, and I imagine we would have had ten participants tops.
  
• Many people felt that we were planning too many Challenges, so combining a couple of the less popular ones seemed a good compromise. There are only so many months, but 12+ genres with fans, not counting non-genres like Make-Your-Own and Academy. And the whole idea of combining 'real life' genres into one Challenge seems like a brilliant idea imo.
  
• And yes, I don't think I'm a good Challenge lead and you all wouldn't want me leading more than necessary. Plus, I have enough forum projects and would rather not have the responsibility if someone else is willing to lead them.

The way I see it, we could have had a dedicated Western Challenge and had five to twenty of us participating. We will still have roughly that same number of people concentrating on westerns only that month. I know that I'm doing all western. But by opening it up to the other genres, we are getting slightly more participation. If that content really bothers you just ignore their lists/discussion and go hog wild on westerns with the rest of us. I don't think we'll be missing out on any amount of discussion that we would have had if it was Western only, there will just be bonus discussion of the other genres as well. Win win.

I understand that we will never completely please everyone, but we all have to compromise here.
:hscratch: What?! One person complains and you even slightly consider bailing? Nope. History Challenge is a done deal and you're running it in June. No easy outs!

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I'm thinking one is enough so we could have something like a Foreign one instead. No offense.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

None taken. I was just throwing that idea out there "if there's any interest in having more than one." I too think one's enough (we don't even know how much participation it will get yet), but I think having two set six months apart would be a better idea "if there's any interest in having more than one" than ongoing year around MYOCs.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I'll officially volunteer to run a foreign film challenge. I'm thinking January would be the best time as those that participate in the oscar one can double dip and not have to stop one or decide between challenges.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Isn't it time for a discussion thread on whatever the challenge is next month?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Eh? Oh. Yeah. I'm getting to it. It'll get up either later tonight or tomorrow.

History/Historical/Things That Happened Before Yesterday is still on for June, right?

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Awesome! January sounds good to me too, but I guess we don't have to finalize it just yet. Let it stew here for a few months and see what kind of support and ideas it gets.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I know i'm looking forward to it. couple of things I haven't seen yet that I wouldn't mind checking out during june. I guess there is certain leeway as to what would count.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

yeah and january is a bit far away. just keep me in mind.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

History Challenge discussion thread is now active.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

If anyone's waiting for the sci-fi challenge, I also decided to include fantasy from now on. Couple things made me switch to it, one was some film I watched during the exploitation challenge got me thinking that it really wouldn't hurt, and in a way it makes sense, that it's close enough to be included. What movie made me think this? Can't remember :)

Second thing was that as a kid, the sci-fi and fantasy sections were always together at the video store.

I also managed to contact sponsors that are willing to put up actual prizes and not giant bags of gummy eyeballs or other things sitting around my house.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Cool! :up:

Not that we minded your gummy eyeballs. ;)

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Cool, I can watch Buffy as part of the sci-fi challenge. Thank ya kindly.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Cool :)

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Funny story on those gumballs.

I won a bag one year, thanks again MP, but stashed them in my pantry and forgot all about them. Pulled them out at least a year later and tried to eat one. They had evolved into a near life form, some strange gelatinous mass that smelled quite intent on eating me from the inside out.
I've been putting off watching Buffy for years now, have only seen one episode. Perhaps this July will be the time for me to crank through that boxset.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

last years sci-fi challenge popped my dvdtalk challenge cherry. cant wait for june :D

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

:banana:

I think it was caligula who mentioned that the two go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

The sci-fi challenge is in July. :(

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

This is good news to me. :)

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Peanut Butter and Jelly, Bert and Ernie, Franks and Beans, Tequila and roofies...

For the record, it isn't just a Bookstore/video store convention. The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year. Then there's The Hugo Awards are given every year for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year by members (supporting or attending) of the annual Worldcon. So, the biggest and most important guilds of the people that produce this stuff consider them together. Plus, as a veteran of many SF conventions, I can attest, that they have a unique symbiotic relationship.

But it's great news. I think the variety helped the Exploitation challenge and this will freshen up the Sci Fi challenge. In fact, there's an extra burden on those watching Fantasy in that those films tend to be longer than average.



For those itching for a casual challenge to fill the time until the SF one starts you can check out the Historical and Western challenge in June. List thread (and maybe a new discussion thread) will be up Monday.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

:up:
I'll be darned. IMDb does list Buffy as "Fantasy." Now I have too many unwatched things to choose from.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I brought a bag of work, to try and get rid of them. This was probably at least a year after I bought them and they were still fine. After getting through half the bag, they'd all come alive in the same way. It was like they were waiting for something just based on how fast they changed. One day they were fine, next day, not so much.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I remember really wishing that I had trick-or-treaters at Halloween, they would have been fun to give out, but this condo is all old people with tiny dogs (and me). Should have given them to a friend with a neighborhood full of kids.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

ah ha! but june is when i will sort through my collection for sci-fi stuff to watch, organize them into potential viewing orders, categoriz... ah nvm. its in july. my bad :D

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I'm pretty new to the forum; have browsed the bargains section at times but didn't actually get involved until I was told about the challenges by a friend. Anyway, just wanted to say that I immensely enjoyed participating in the Historical challenge last month and I'm looking forward watching lots of cool stuff for Sci-Fi/Fantasy month, too.

Anyway, I just wanted to echo the thoughts of those who have suggested comedy and crime challenges. The latter in particular would cover a lot of stuff that doesn't really seem to be covered by most of the current challenges. Just wanted to throw that out there. Cheers!

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Welcome!

Yeah, my story is similar. Mainly just lurked the bargain forum until I found a Challenge. Only then I did I start to feel like this was a community where each of us could contribute and make the place better as a whole.

I think we're getting close to Challenge overload, but would like to somehow see the missing genres covered. Maybe crime could be lumped with action/adventure. Also think maybe Comedy would be a good complement for the partial month November Holiday Challenge. I'm not going to push either though.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Personally, I think we might be saturated with challenges. It makes them less special when they are constantly running. Plus, comedy or drama might be a bit too broad. There's plenty of each in the accepted challenges.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

But I think it only makes them "less special" to us diehards who play in all or most of them.

The whole idea of Challenges is to get people involved in the forum, and many or perhaps even all of the current Challenges don't appeal to a large demographic. They are largely niche genres. A more general Challenge like comedy, drama, or action may pull in a group of DVDTalkers who we are completely missing right now.

Right now, the vast majority of films (standard dramas and comedies, and most action/adventure films) don't apply to any Challenge.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but I wonder if broader genres challenges would have the same community feeling that the niche ones do. I have lurked a little in a couple of challenges before jumping in for the first time this month, and the thing that makes them appealing to me is seeing what others are watching and getting ideas from that, and there's often a good amount of overlap between lists. I'm not sure we'd get that with something like 'comedy' where a slapstick fan might not like gross-out humor and neither of those guys would want to watch romantic comedies.

On the other hand you could come up with a killer checklist for some of the broader genres. "A romantic comedy with at least one fart joke."

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

Good points. But then, there are pretty broad ranges in some of the existing Challenges too.

I know that I'd probably skip any drama or comedy Challenge personally, but think that as long as someone is willing to be the lead, and at least one other person participates, then it's a good thing for DVDtalk.

No one without extreme OCD (myself included) should even think about participating in every Challenge. The average DVDTalker would probably be in one or two of them, and maybe rotate which ones they do every year.

Board activity is much lower than it was a few years ago, right? At least it feels that way to me. If each new Challenge gets a handful of people excited about visiting the site, then we are all better off in the long run.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I think the make your own challenge is perfect for the types that don't all into any other challenge. I've grown much more fond of it after actually doing it than I though I would.

The only challenges I don't really get into are the Awards and Holiday one. I have a short list of Awards movies I plan on watching, so I'll do it this year but I don't really go out of my way enough to watch holiday stuff and keep track of it.

Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
 

I believe the niche factor is what makes these challenges what they are. These are films that most people would watch only on a lark, if they watch them at all. It's a time to focus on them and give them a bit more attention and it's their relative rarity in our daily viewing that makes it interesting to watch 100 of them, or however many you watch. If it is just about the same mundane entertainment we expose ourselves to on a daily basis, then it's not as special and it becomes little more than publicly logging your daily viewing. Comedy and drama are just too broad and mundane to be a challenge, outside of the make your own challenge where you put your own spin on them. Plus, there's plenty of comedy and drama in the other challenges.

There's only a few weeks here and there between challenges. I think that's about right. Maybe some stuff can be swapped out.