Trevor

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.

Original post for OCD posterity:

Personal

Blank results table for anyone to use, just cut & paste as many rows as you need.

Trevor

DVDTalk Horror Challenge

DVD TALK HORROR CHALLENGE HISTORY

spoiler original table to show just how much Chad can improve things

Original links spoilered in case the table crashes.

Trevor

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenges (July)

Trevor

Academy Award Challenges

2006 Academy Award - Interest Check Thread

2007 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2007 Academy Award - Lists Thread

2008 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2008 Academy Award - Lists Thread

2009 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2009 Academy Award - Lists Thread

2010 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2010 Academy Award - List Thread

2010 Academy Award - Results Thread

2011 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2011 Academy Award - List Thread

2012 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2012 Academy Award - List Thread

2013 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2013 Academy Award - List Thread

2014 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2014 Academy Award - List Thread

The Monkees retires

2015 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2015 Academy Award - List Thread

2016 Academy Award - Discussion Thread

2016 Academy Award - List Thread

Trevor

Holiday Challenges

2005 Holiday - Discussion/Lists Thread

2005 Holiday - Results Thread

2006 Holiday - Discussion Thread Part 1, Part 2

2006 Holiday - Lists Thread, Partial

2006 Holiday - Results Thread

2007 Holiday - Discussion Thread

2007 Holiday - Lists Thread

2007 Holiday - Results Thread

2008 Holiday - Discussion Thread

2008 Holiday - Lists Thread

2008 Holiday - Results Thread

2009 Holiday - Discussion Thread

2009 Holiday - List Thread

2009 Holiday - Results Thread

2010 Holiday - Discussion Thread

2010 Holiday - List Thread

2010 Holiday - Results

2011 Holiday - Discussion

2011 Holiday - List

2011 Holiday - Results - n/a?

2012 Holiday - Discussion

2012 Holiday - List

2012 Holiday - Results - n/a?

2013 Holiday - Discussion

2013 Holiday - List

2013 Holiday - Results

2014 Holiday - Discussion

2014 Holiday - List

2014 Holiday - Results

2015 Holiday - Discussion

2015 Holiday - List

2015 Holiday - Results - n/a?

2016 Holiday - Discussion

2016 Holiday - List

2016 Holiday - Results

Trevor

Criterion Challenge Proposal Thread
2009 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2009 Criterion - List Thread

2010 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2010 Criterion - List Thread

2011 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2011 Criterion - List Thread

2012 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2012 Criterion - List Thread

2013 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2013 Criterion - List Thread

2014 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2014 Criterion - List Thread

2015 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2015 Criterion - List Thread

2016 Criterion - Discussion Thread
2016 Criterion - List Thread

2011 Comedy - Interest Thread
2011 Comedy Discussion
2011 Comedy Lists

2012 Comedy Discussion
2012 Comedy Lists

2013 Comedy Discussion
2013 Comedy Lists

2014 Comedy Discussion
2014 Comedy Lists

2015 Comedy Discussion
2015 Comedy Lists

2016 Comedy Discussion
2016 Comedy Lists

2010 Make-Your-Own - Discussion Thread
2010 Make-Your-Own - List Thread

2011 Make-Your-Own - Discussion Thread
2011 Make-Your-Own - List Thread

2012 Make-Your-Own Discussion
2012 Make-Your-Own Lists

2013 Make-Your-Own Discussion
2013 Make-Your-Own Lists

2014 Make-Your-Own Discussion
2014 Make-Your-Own Lists

2015 Make-Your-Own Discussion
2015 Make-Your-Own Lists

2016 Make-Your-Own Discussion
2016 Make-Your-Own Lists

2017 Make-Your-Own Discussion
2017 Make-Your-Own Lists

2010 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie - Planning Thread
2010 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie - Discussion Thread
2010 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie - List Thread
2010 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie - Results Thread

2011 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie - Discussion Thread
2011 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie - List Thread
2011 Results Post

2012 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Discussion
2012 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Lists
2012 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Results

2013 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Discussion
2013 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Lists
2013 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Results

2014 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Discussion
2014 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Lists
2014 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Results

2015 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Discussion
2015 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Lists
2015 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Results

2016 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Discussion
2016 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Lists
2016 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Results

2017 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Discussion
2017 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Lists
2017 Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Results


First Season
2011 TV - Discussion Thread
2011 TV - List Thread

Second Season
2012 TV - Discussion
2012 TV - Lists

Third Season
2013 TV - Discussion
2013 TV - Lists

Fourth Season
2014 TV - Discussion
2014 TV - Lists

Fifth Season
2015 TV - Discussion
2015 TV - Lists

Sixth Season
2016 TV - Discussion
2016 TV - Lists

Seventh Season
2017 TV - Discussion
2017 TV - Lists


2010 Animation - Discussion Thread, Anime Talk Thread
2010 Animation - List Thread
2010 Animation - Results Thread

2011 Animation - Planning Thread
2011 Animation - Discussion Thread
2011 Animation - List Thread
2011 Animation - Results Post

2012 Animation - Discussion Thread
2012 Animation - List Thread
2012 Animation - Results Post

2013 Animation - Discussion Thread
2013 Animation - List Thread
2013 Animation - Results - n/a

2014 Animation - Discussion Thread
2014 Animation - List Thread
2014 Animation - Results Thread - n/a

2015 Animation - Discussion Thread
2015 Animation - List Thread
2015 Animation - Results Thread - n/a

2016 Animation - Discussion Thread
2016 Animation - List Thread
2016 Animation - Results Thread - n/a

2017 Animation - Discussion Thread
2017 Animation - List Thread
2017 Animation - Results Thread

2012 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Discussion
2012 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - List
2012 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Results

2013 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Discussion
2013 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - List
2013 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Results - n/a

2014 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Discussion
2014 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - List
2014 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Results - n/a

2015 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Discussion
2015 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - List
2015 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Results - n/a

2016 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Discussion
2016 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - List
2016 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Results - n/a

2017 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Discussion
2017 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - List
2017 Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge - Results

DVDTalk's First Quadrennial Leap Day Challenge - 2012
DVDTalk's Second Quadrennial Leap Day Challenge - 2016
DVDTalk's Third Quadrennial Leap Day Challenge - 2020

Historical Appreciation Challenge - June

Numes

Cardsfan111

Nicely done, Trevor.

I believe it may be the first time the word Compendium has been used in a thread title.

Trevor

Thanks! I've always wanted to use that word. Tomorrow, my goal is to use "eccentricity" or "convoluted" in a thread title.

Back to this thread, I think that this might be a good candidate for being stickied or put in the FAQ.

I remembered using this site for information for years, but I didn't really feel like I was part of a community until I started getting involved with the Challenges.

InnocentBlood

i really love these challenges and have participated in them as much as i could. i even won something in a challenge once but i forgot all about it and never collected my prize from the kind soul who sponsored it

someone once mentioned doing a foreign movie challenge - that would be fantastic!

hindolio

tried for you.

that piques my interest as well.

Trevor

I'm slightly considering starting a Criterion challenge, or at maybe just looking for another volunteer to start it...

Edit to add: Thread is here if anyone is interested in providing input.

hindolio

excellent timing -lol-

Trevor

Five new Challenges tentatively planned.

April - B-movies/Cult/Drive-in
May - Make-Your-Own-Challenge Challenge
June - Western
August - Animation
September - Criterion

JerryKILL

There really needs to be a "Challenge" subforum. For one, you could organize the threads better. I've said this in the past, but with a separate subforum every participant in a challenge could have their own thread. The first post would be their list, all subsequent posts would be discussion and comment on that particular list. I think this would be much better than the current format of a long thread with lists by all participants.

WallyOPD

That would be a nightmare having to click on 30+ threads just to read everyone's lists and discussions.

Trevor

It's actually not that bad. At the bottom of every thread page is a "next thread" button. or you could just just open the 10-20 lists (that's about all the people that usually actively update) in separate tabs. It really wouldn't add more than a few seconds to your normal reading habits once you got used to it.

But yeah, people here don't like change (not singling you out Wally) and I don't think it would ever fly Jerry. I'm usually super-resistant to change, but I'd go for it, not that it matters.

JerryKILL

No more of a nightmare than reading through a multi-page thread of lists and discussion. I think you would get a lot more personalized comments and discussions on your particular list with this method. Most lists are "lost in the clutter" in the one-thread-for-all format. I usually just update my list and look at others on my page. I wish I could set up an example forum for this and you'd see how much better it would be.

WallyOPD

I think you overestimate how much discussion individual lists would generate, especially when people would have to take the time to click on every list separately. There might be two or three lists that would generate a small amount of chatter but that vast majority would be ignored and the individual discussions would likely mean less activity in the general thread.

Trevor

You bring up the point of why we should/could change our current system.

Right now, the list threads generate virtually no discussion. Sure, occasionally someone will see something in someone's list and bring a mention of it to the main discussion thread, but very rarely. It takes too much work to take things between multiple threads (not for me, but a general opinion I believe).

So right now, the lists threads are pretty useless actually. Sure, a few of us peruse and enjoy them, but most people just use it for their personal list and never interact with other's lists. So what's the point of even posting a list really? The whole point of DVDTalk is discussion. Jerry's trying to think of a way to encourage discussion, and I think we need to change something in "our system" too. His idea might be too radical for many, but I'm sure there are other options.

Lists mixed in the discussion thread? Not one list per person but weekly? Entire subforum for Challenges?

The Man with the Golden Doujinshi

I don't usually look at other's lists so if they were put in with the discussion thread, I'd just scroll past them. I imagine many would do the same. The only ones that catch my eye are ones that do a mini-review when they watch something. Other than that, it's boring and I'd rather spend my time watching something.

I also don't like idea of putting it in the discussion thread because those threads are longer and it can become a pain trying to find which page my list is on if I don't remember.

I don't think moving lists somewhere else will end up resulting in more discussion.

Trevor

Started a thread in feedback if you want to give your two cents.

The Man with the Golden Doujinshi

FYI: I'm moving the animation challenge to August.

I actually wouldn't mind if there was a challenge going on each month. When there's times I don't know what I want to watch, I can just do something from that category.

Trevor

Criterion Challenge now official.


I'm thinking that the Make Your Own Challenge should be next. Tentative plan is for anything involving 60 or more hours of viewing will count. So a personal goal could be to watch an entire TV series, every Laural & Hardy film, thirty Harrison Ford films, etc.

My plan is to watch every bit of every LOTR disc. All versions, all 18 or whatever commentary tracks, all featurettes, I'm a crazy fool.

Dimension X

"Make Your Own Challenge" I like that idea. Why didn't I think of that?

I think the only overall rules you need are; 1) the start and end dates, 2) don't duplicate an existing challenge, and 3) state what your challenge is (including rules) at the beginning of your list post in the list thread.

I'm looking for an excuse to knock out 50 or so Hitchcock films (in chronological order) in a month.