"Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
#851
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I like the challenges and if they stay the same, I'm still going to participate and host. But if the agreement is to add some or change things around, I don't see why that's a negative. *shrugs*
#852
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
#853
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
As a viewer, it's nice to have something to guide you to acclaimed films you may not have watched or even heard of before. As a host, it does increase the likelihood of multiple participants having seen a particular film and increases the chance for more involved discussion..
The Horror Subset is excellent fun. A great idea. But I can't take part unless the choices are available to me*. Too much direction and structure can suck the enjoyment right of things... although "too much" is naturally subjective.
*I do like the drive to make sure most are accessible, but sans Netflix, I'm still often out of luck...
#854
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I like that... in theory. But in practice, I have limited funds, limited time and limited collection/library/avenues. I can't watch something I don't have (access to), so this becomes awkward.
The Horror Subset is excellent fun. A great idea. But I can't take part unless the choices are available to me*. Too much direction and structure can suck the enjoyment right of things... although "too much" is naturally subjective.
*I do like the drive to make sure most are accessible, but sans Netflix, I'm still often out of luck...
The Horror Subset is excellent fun. A great idea. But I can't take part unless the choices are available to me*. Too much direction and structure can suck the enjoyment right of things... although "too much" is naturally subjective.
*I do like the drive to make sure most are accessible, but sans Netflix, I'm still often out of luck...
So if you couldn't find something, that would be ok to.
(Do you have a local library nearby? I have great luck with mine especially for challenges like the Criterion).
#855
DVD Talk Godfather
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Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
It's true that some people participate merely to tackle the unfinished pile in a targeted way and aren't looking for new acquisitions.
I think Golden was just making an off-color joke.
I think Golden was just making an off-color joke.
#856
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I'm pretty confident that no Challenge can ever come close to what we have in Horror...
Personal opinion, but even if horror and Halloween didn't exist, and two Chads worked their butts off to run any other Challenge, it wouldn't be too much better than what we already have. Other genres just don't lead themselves to the level of immersion that Halloween gets.
Personal opinion, but even if horror and Halloween didn't exist, and two Chads worked their butts off to run any other Challenge, it wouldn't be too much better than what we already have. Other genres just don't lead themselves to the level of immersion that Halloween gets.
SO WHAT?
Does it matter intrinsically that Other Challenges are not as popular, not as comment-y, not as supported? If only two people participate and have fun, that should be seen as a Good Thing.
If the Challenges were little more than (focused) 'what are you watching' discussions.... again: So What? We watch, we list, we (may) talk. It's cathartic, cameraderie, challenging. It lends focus. It allows for flexibility. It helds guide, allows for discussion, venting and reviewing. Must there be a greater purpose? Even if there is hope for Bigger Things; the absence of hoardes and lengthy conversations doesn't brand things disappointing without us first being disappointed. And there's no reason for that in the face of loose focus, guiding genres, lists and interactions.
#857
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
Some have time. Some have great(er) collections and a dozen online options. Others do not. To be welcoming and inclusive is to allow the Haves to exist alongside the Have Nots.
#858
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
And, more helpfully: GOOD! In addition to discussing the same thing, how helpful (if expensive) it can be to see someone recommend/enjoy an unknown entity. To think that someone with such otherwise good and similar taste might make an unseen film seem a more sensible purchase than before. If we all watch the same thing, and agree (or not), that's discussion. But it's limited and terminal. If we watch things "together" and apart - that we can watch together later - that's more community building than anything!
"But"?! Right after lamenting that no challenge will be as popular as Horror, you put a "but" after "I know it's pppular"?!
#859
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
#860
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
*Plus, I imagine, several laserdisc-only films like Dr. No and Ghostbusters.
**In fairness, many of the names were bafflingly obscure and/or foreign.
#861
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I was confused by a couple of the exchanges but I did get a feeling that at least one person wants things to stay relatively the same and there is some suggestions to consider changes that are not too extreme (being extremely general here). I would suggest that February does lend itself to a mini Romance Challenge and there is some room to discuss adding a Drama challenge concurrently with the Criterion Challenge. Having said that, I know that at least one objection to a mini Romance Challenge was made (the shortness of the time leading to some frustration) and there is not a prevailing interest in adding any new challenges right now. I voted against it because I thought it was moving too fast, I think it would be very helpful for people to weigh in on these two suggestions, including especially if I have their positions improperly summarized.
I do think that one idea worth exploring is the idea of some suggestion of certain movies to watch at certain days, or maybe a movie to watch each week to promote some similarity in what we watch. Start very slow, maybe only allow movies that are on YouTube so everyone can participate if they are interested. Just something to think about.
I do think that one idea worth exploring is the idea of some suggestion of certain movies to watch at certain days, or maybe a movie to watch each week to promote some similarity in what we watch. Start very slow, maybe only allow movies that are on YouTube so everyone can participate if they are interested. Just something to think about.
#862
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
Yes, and quite a reasonable, friendly one. But with a VERY limited range. Criterion was what I tried to get from them first, and they have ten.* I have seen all them - most through the library! - and own five or six of the ten. Overall, their range of films is... limited. I think I went through the Horror "people" lists a couple of years ago and found four or five out of the hundreds of possibilities** (and half of those were Milla Jovovich films, two of which weren't even horror!)...
*Plus, I imagine, several laserdisc-only films like Dr. No and Ghostbusters.
**In fairness, many of the names were bafflingly obscure and/or foreign.
*Plus, I imagine, several laserdisc-only films like Dr. No and Ghostbusters.
**In fairness, many of the names were bafflingly obscure and/or foreign.
#863
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
Nton, just a quick observation before I have more time later, but a lot of your above seems like you think there should be little difference between the Challenges and the "what are you watching" threads. I definitely agree with inclusivity, I've been hammered here before for pushing it, but think we need to differentiate a bit between the two types of threads.
I now see that it appears you pretty much agree with my conclusion, but you know, what's the Internet for if you can't debate back and forth on little points. More later.
I now see that it appears you pretty much agree with my conclusion, but you know, what's the Internet for if you can't debate back and forth on little points. More later.
#864
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
So I ran the Oscar Challenge last year and while it's certainly not the Horror Challenge, I think there's a pretty active core group of folks who participate every year. Are there things we can do to boost participation? I'm sure. It's a rather broad Challenge so we can do daily categories or something to that effect if folks are willing. Horror is not my thing so I've never even peeked at their threads but I guess now I'll take a gander to see where all the fun has been happening.
Though I participate in other challenges I don't discuss quite as much. As someone pointed out, by the time the Challenge rolls around I've figured out what I am going to watch and I just run with it. whereas with the Oscar Challenge, someone might post thoughts on a film I wasn't interested in or hadn't heard of and I might try to track it down based on the recommendation and engage in a discussion. I figured that's the point of the Challenge.
If the goal is to create and foster community then I think we should find ways to sure up participation in the existing challenges. If there's a consensus that a particular Challenge just isn't working, then we can try something different. if on the other hand we're trying to fill the calendar then we can do that too.
Though I participate in other challenges I don't discuss quite as much. As someone pointed out, by the time the Challenge rolls around I've figured out what I am going to watch and I just run with it. whereas with the Oscar Challenge, someone might post thoughts on a film I wasn't interested in or hadn't heard of and I might try to track it down based on the recommendation and engage in a discussion. I figured that's the point of the Challenge.
If the goal is to create and foster community then I think we should find ways to sure up participation in the existing challenges. If there's a consensus that a particular Challenge just isn't working, then we can try something different. if on the other hand we're trying to fill the calendar then we can do that too.
#865
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I think it might help if we all sort of start at the beginning and deconstruct/talk through the whole Challenge process. Well, perhaps none of you need or want to do that, but I think it'll help me as I lay out my verbose thoughts and ideas, please indulge me. Why do we have them, what purposes do they serve? This is our description from post one of this thread back in 2009:
I think we all agree that the main goal of community building is still there, right?
A DVDTalk Challenge is a community experience. Think of them as a way to bond with your fellow DVDTalkers over a common theme. We have a different theme Challenge pretty much every month. October, for example, is dedicated to Horror. The Horror Challenge is our oldest and largest Challenge, with 100 or more of us feasting on horror films and television. While one "goal" is to watch 100 films (or the TV show equivalent) during the month, most people don't get close to that amount and everyone who participates is a "winner". The main fun is generally not in getting obscene numbers, but in these two factors:
talking horror with all of us in the discussion threads all month
exposing yourself to new things by working on the optional checklist and daily themes
You participate in the Challenges however you choose, there is no "right way" or "wrong way". You don't have to start on the 1st, you don't have to do the checklists, you don't have to watch more than one item all month. Just come hang out with us in the discussion threads, commit yourself to the genre(s) of the month, and have fun.
talking horror with all of us in the discussion threads all month
exposing yourself to new things by working on the optional checklist and daily themes
You participate in the Challenges however you choose, there is no "right way" or "wrong way". You don't have to start on the 1st, you don't have to do the checklists, you don't have to watch more than one item all month. Just come hang out with us in the discussion threads, commit yourself to the genre(s) of the month, and have fun.
I'm pretty confident that no Challenge can ever come close to what we have in Horror. The combination of the unique aspects of Horror and our Saint Chad, makes those results non-reproducible. Horror content and October are just a perfect fit, and the genre fans are most likely unique in their binge-worthiness. October is horror, not just at this DVDTalk forum, but nationwide.
So what's best for the number of Challenges? We grew from Horror to include Holiday and Academy Award. These three are probably still the best fit for the concept. They revolve around set dates, a holiday or ceremony, and involve TV content being easily attainable and a sort of worldwide participation already built-in, if you will. The other Challenges probably sprung because of our love of these first three, the fact that by nature we have a lot of film consumers/binge watchers here, and the desire to maintain the conversation we so enjoy in the Challenge threads year round.
Having one Challenge going year round, and having them diverse enough to cover almost every film, seemed like perfect symmetry. I was probably the main proponent for us to keep increasing them until we got to this 'perfect' twelve. But in order to encompass pretty much every film, to have at least one Challenge cover everything in our collections, made it necessary to broaden categories and have several of these newer Challenges be perhaps too diluted.
A smaller specific set of qualifying media is going to increase the chances of multiple people watching the same items and having something to talk about. If everyone watches their own things, it's harder for the community building take place. We might as well just be posting in our blogs or Facebook, or using DVDTalk's "what are you watching?" threads.
Even the horror Challenge had this problem but defeated it by creating the checklist and the daily themes and the daily subset films. These steps substantially increased interaction and, imho, greatly increase individuals enjoyment of the Challenge.
Do we need subsets and themes for every Challenge? Probably, but I think we need to do even more.
Do we need subsets and themes for every Challenge? Probably, but I think we need to do even more.
Perhaps we need to go away from these expansive genres and create smaller focused Challenges that can't help but have more shared viewings?
This would bring into play Mister Peepers suggestion that Challenges be less official but just have people decide on a concept and start their own whenever. We could have multiple or even zero Challenges going on at a specific time. Anyone could start a Challenge whenever, if people don't join in it'll just fade away.
This would bring into play Mister Peepers suggestion that Challenges be less official but just have people decide on a concept and start their own whenever. We could have multiple or even zero Challenges going on at a specific time. Anyone could start a Challenge whenever, if people don't join in it'll just fade away.
Or, keep the 12 existing Challenges to satisfy the people who like tradition and want a Challenge to cover everything in their collection, but then also have several (or even 12) variable challenges to cover the missing genres, and over more focused challenges. This would also help the people who don't watch horror, for example, have another option in October.
Or, and I think this is my preference, but to sort of combine the two extremes. One extreme would be keeping everything basically the same, and another extreme would be encouraging even more Challenges and "letting" people start new ones and/or having different Challenges running concurrently.
Or, and I think this is my preference, but to sort of combine the two extremes. One extreme would be keeping everything basically the same, and another extreme would be encouraging even more Challenges and "letting" people start new ones and/or having different Challenges running concurrently.
So here's my proposal: we could keep the basic structure, but then encourage innovation and a less broad theme within each monthly Challenge.
Take Comedy November for example. Instead of keeping it broad, we would use the month before planning stages of the discussion thread to work out a narrow theme. Maybe something like the icheckmovies top 50 comedies list. But, in the Challenge's "rules", it would continue to allow any type of comedy for the traditionalists and anyone who doesn't want to participate in the chosen narrower focus.
Take Comedy November for example. Instead of keeping it broad, we would use the month before planning stages of the discussion thread to work out a narrow theme. Maybe something like the icheckmovies top 50 comedies list. But, in the Challenge's "rules", it would continue to allow any type of comedy for the traditionalists and anyone who doesn't want to participate in the chosen narrower focus.
I kind of like meeting in the middle-instead of 6 changed challenges, maybe start with 3 and see how it goes? If the majority of hosts/participants don't agree, I think having double challenges would work too, especially if they somehow coincide with the current challenge. Drama and Criterion seem to be a good match, as is a short Romance challenge during February. I also think May would be a good one to have two as the MYOC is so flexible.
If the Challenges were little more than (focused) 'what are you watching' discussions.... again: So What? We watch, we list, we (may) talk. It's cathartic, cameraderie, challenging. It lends focus. It allows for flexibility. It helds guide, allows for discussion, venting and reviewing. Must there be a greater purpose? Even if there is hope for Bigger Things; the absence of hoardes and lengthy conversations doesn't brand things disappointing without us first being disappointed. And there's no reason for that in the face of loose focus, guiding genres, lists and interactions.
Counter: broadness is inclusive. Dilution is diversity.
A smaller set is repetitive. (See upthread anti-Criterion comments.) It disenfranchises people without access, and in an extreme case may suggest that one is not part of the group-proper if they are not watching the same thing..
That (may) move it from "Challenge" to "Chore". A rush to tick boxes, rather than watch what we want. I tend not to have much time to comment. Less to do the checklists (which I miss). And trying to make time for either leaves me no time to watch anything!
Some have time. Some have great(er) collections and a dozen online options. Others do not. To be welcoming and inclusive is to allow the Haves to exist alongside the Have Nots.
A smaller set is repetitive. (See upthread anti-Criterion comments.) It disenfranchises people without access, and in an extreme case may suggest that one is not part of the group-proper if they are not watching the same thing..
That (may) move it from "Challenge" to "Chore". A rush to tick boxes, rather than watch what we want. I tend not to have much time to comment. Less to do the checklists (which I miss). And trying to make time for either leaves me no time to watch anything!
Some have time. Some have great(er) collections and a dozen online options. Others do not. To be welcoming and inclusive is to allow the Haves to exist alongside the Have Nots.
SO WHAT?
And, more helpfully: GOOD! In addition to discussing the same thing, how helpful (if expensive) it can be to see someone recommend/enjoy an unknown entity. To think that someone with such otherwise good and similar taste might make an unseen film seem a more sensible purchase than before. If we all watch the same thing, and agree (or not), that's discussion. But it's limited and terminal. If we watch things "together" and apart - that we can watch together later - that's more community building than anything!
And, more helpfully: GOOD! In addition to discussing the same thing, how helpful (if expensive) it can be to see someone recommend/enjoy an unknown entity. To think that someone with such otherwise good and similar taste might make an unseen film seem a more sensible purchase than before. If we all watch the same thing, and agree (or not), that's discussion. But it's limited and terminal. If we watch things "together" and apart - that we can watch together later - that's more community building than anything!
#866
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
So I ran the Oscar Challenge last year and while it's certainly not the Horror Challenge, I think there's a pretty active core group of folks who participate every year. Are there things we can do to boost participation? I'm sure. It's a rather broad Challenge so we can do daily categories or something to that effect if folks are willing. Horror is not my thing so I've never even peeked at their threads but I guess now I'll take a gander to see where all the fun has been happening.
I kind of like themes and thought about doing them in past challenges I've run but I would have done a theme week instead of theme night. When every night in a month is a different theme, it just seems so rushed and if you want to partake, you have to keep up each night. With a week, there's no rush, it feels more casual, and I can have a relaxed fun time.
#867
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I don't participate because I'd be re-watching movies. For most challenges, I'm trying to watch my unwatched stuff and the only exception to that would be if I'm in the mood to complete a checklist but I haven't bothered with that for a few years. I've also just never cared about the Academy Awards or other movie awards in general.
I kind of like themes and thought about doing them in past challenges I've run but I would have done a theme week instead of theme night. When every night in a month is a different theme, it just seems so rushed and if you want to partake, you have to keep up each night. With a week, there's no rush, it feels more casual, and I can have a relaxed fun time.
When it comes to the challenges I'd just rather watch what I want with the only direction being the challenge "theme" and then talk about it in the threads. All the other stuff *can* be fun but it's generally not my thing.
#868
Moderator
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I kind of like themes and thought about doing them in past challenges I've run but I would have done a theme week instead of theme night. When every night in a month is a different theme, it just seems so rushed and if you want to partake, you have to keep up each night. With a week, there's no rush, it feels more casual, and I can have a relaxed fun time.
Theme weeks sound good. Also add a subset movie that everyone can watch/discuss that week. If you wanted to add more flexibility, just run the theme from Mon-Fri and let the weekends be open.
Maybe that would solve the problem with the History challenge. I think someone mentioned they wanted it limited to War/Western. Week 1 - World War II, Week 2 - Spaghetti Westerns, Week 3 - Vietnam War, Week 4 - Classic Westerns. Then everyone that wanted to follow the themes would be doing War/Western movies. And everyone that wanted to ignore the themes could watch Mad Men.
Last edited by TheBigDave; 09-15-16 at 12:45 PM.
#870
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
Maybe that would solve the problem with the History challenge. I think someone mentioned they wanted it limited to War/Western. Week 1 - World War II, Week 2 - Spaghetti Westerns, Week 3 - Vietnam War, Week 4 - Classic Westerns. Then everyone that wanted to follow the themes would be doing War/Western movies. And everyone that wanted to ignore the themes could watch Mad Men.
#871
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I'm going to miss the old, easygoing, fun-loving Trevor (even if he was only a false front). Oh well, just another nail in the ol' DVD Talk coffin.
#872
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I think we can also do out-of-area special ordering, but at a cost (unknown) and with a considerable delay. Which may be useful in a general sense, but not as straightforward..
#873
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
I don't really know, because broadly - as mentioned - time barely allows me to skim the surface, meaning that I haven't the time for them, but my impression of how I see the initial differences between the two is in their PURPOSE.
i.e. largely in their focus on a particular grouping/genre of content.
The more major difference, I'd posit, is that a WAYW? thread is (seen as? IS?) more of a personal announcement - an individualized list post; discussion&comment allowed but not necessarily needed or invited. In essence, I assume that it's general purpose aligns most closely with a Challenge LIST thread, and not a Challenge DISCUSSION thread.
Thus, the major difference - as I see it in theory, without much comparative experience - is that the Challenges one-up generalised "watching" threads in two ways: focus, recommendation, etc. on the one hand and INVITING discussion (rather than merely allowing it) on the other.
If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But it seems one is more personal, for reading/ignoring by third parties and the other is inclusive and deliberately geared to being collaborative.
Exactly. Ultimately, my ppsition is simple (allegedly): Change, but change mostly by adding and certainly NOT just because things can be changed.
#874
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
And collaborative MYOCs.
And genre weeks within Oscars.
As a participant, I did/do like the differently-focused days of October and November.
#875
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Official" DVDTalk Challenges Compendium
Realistically, one involves ASKING, the other theory and guesswork...
Exactly. Discussion leads to recommendation & discovery.