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Box Office Statistics The movie industry runs on money and tracking that money, day by day, is a very important part of the business. Aside from content, there is a lot that goes into the success of a film: the marketing , the distribution, the timing, and the publicity. The outcome of all of this is the box office stats, the numbers that show what's selling, what's not, and how things are changing. For example, just how much did each new film gross last weekend? How much did they cost to produce, and how much was spent on marketing? Take a look and you'll find a few surprises. For example, do you remember Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ"? Was it really a word-of-mouth spontaneous success? The stats show that while it cost only $30,000,000 to produce -- a relatively low number for such a successful film -- Gibson spent a whopping $20,000,000 to market it (that is, two thirds of the production cost). Such stories are not rare, and success in the film business is not as much of an accident as it often seems to be. Check out the numbers for yourself. Web:
Classic Movies In any art form, the works that are remembered are the ones with enduring value. This happens with only a small percentage of movies, when the screenplay, director, actors, editor and photographer are all excellent. If you are like me, you already have some favorite movies. However, isn't it wonderful to find and watch a great movie that is new to you? When you feel like exploring the world of film for something you have missed, visit these Web sites, where you'll find the classics: the movies you can watch over and over and over. Web:
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Comic-based Films Filmmakers need to get inspiration from somewhere, and what better place to look for ideas than the world of comic books? There are a large number of movies based on comic book characters, and if you are a popular culture junkie, you'll need to keep up on the latest news, info and rumors. Web:
Coming Attractions Anticipation is three-fifths to seven-eighths of the fun, so to maximize your movie-going pleasure, you can visit these Web sites to find out in advance what movies are going to be released and when. To make the experience complete, you can read about the rumors, the production news, the official hype, and the current status of what is filming right now. Web:
Cult Movies Talk and General Discussion No matter how bad they get, no matter how outlandish they are or how far away from their origins they evolve, you will go see the hundredth remake of a film. There are a few movies that have a cult following and fans feel so strongly about these films that they will see them at all costs. These Usenet groups cover cult movies in general and some in particular, such as the Evil Dead movies and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Usenet:
Filmmaking Talk and General Discussion Don't you hate it when you're sitting in a dark theater enjoying the movie, when the hero has just been blown 30 feet into the sky by a car bomb and the guy behind you announces, "Plastique does not have that sort of structured explosive radius. How unrealistic." Unfortunately, not everyone views movies in the same way. For some, film is art. For others, it is pure entertainment. It can also be a business or communications media. For amateur filmmakers, these Usenet groups offer sources of help and a way to connect with other filmmakers and learn about new equipment and techniques. Usenet:
Horror Movies It's great to scare yourself silly watching horror movies. And when you're not watching, what could be more fun than scaring yourself silly reading about horror movies on the Net and looking at frightening video clips? Web:
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Monster Movie Talk and General Discussion I love monsters. Even the bad ones. Monsters inevitably cause massive amounts of chaos, destruction, explosions and a variety of property damage, but that doesn't make them all bad. They are bound to be good for the economy in that they keep people employed -- construction workers, for instance. Check out the Usenet group devoted to the discussion of monster movies and get the real lowdown on Godzilla's family history. Usenet:
Movie and Film Resources If you are looking for something related to film, look no further. These resources will help you find information about movies, actors, directors, composers, the film industry, media, multimedia, movie reviews, filmmaking, and more. Web:
Movie Databases It's a horrible feeling when you are trying to think of a movie title and you just can't remember it. That never has to be a problem if you use one of the comprehensive databases available on the Net. Search for your favorite (or most hated) movie by the title, cast and crew names, cast character name, genre, and other more obscure methods. Web:
Movie Mistakes Do you like movies? Do you like watching other people's mistakes? Why not combine both your hobbies and double your fun? Enjoy the mistakes, bloopers and inconsistencies of the film world. Many of the mistakes have to do with geographical errors, film cutting and poorly framed shots that show cameras and other equipment. Web:
Movie News The movies are larger than life, so it is no surprise that we look at the people who make and act in movies as being very special indeed. This is why news about movies and gossip about these people are so alluring. Here are my favorite movie news sites, the place where I go to get my fill of what's new, exciting and full of hype. Web:
Movie Previews Previews (sometimes called trailers) can be a lot of fun. In my experience, previews are often better than the actual movies. So plan now for that hot date. Fix a few snacks, pull up a couple of chairs, download lots of movie previews. You'll be able to impress your date with your good taste in movies as well as your technological prowess. Web:
Movie Reviews Personally, I never go to a movie without first checking with the Net. After all, what a waste of time it is to go all the way to the theater, pay for a ticket, get settled into your chair with a bag of popcorn and a cool lemonade, only to find that the movie you have chosen is worse than a remake of "Titanic" starring the Muppets. There are so many good reviews out there, I never worry about being unpleasantly surprised. Here are my favorite places to look for movie reviews. (Hint: These reviews are also useful when you are looking for a good video to rent.) Web:
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Movie Reviews for Parents As a parent, you certainly don't have time to watch every movie that comes out. (For one thing, the popcorn bill would be prohibitive.) Still, when your kids want to go to a movie or rent a video, you need to be able to judge if their request is in harmony with prevailing local standards (that is, what you think is best). Web:
Movie Schedules in Your Area When I want to find out what movies are playing in my area, I use the Net. It's a lot faster than calling the theater, and I can get more information than in the newspaper. The sites are mostly for the United States, and they do not cover everywhere. But, even if your area is not covered, you can read the synopses of movies and look at posters and previews. Web:
Movies Talk and General Discussion Movies are fun to watch from the audience, but don't you wonder what it would be like to be in on the action? You can at least get in on the talk. Discuss movies and the making of movies from a creative or technical point of view. Fans and filmmakers frequent these Usenet groups. Usenet:
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Personal Movie Finder Have you ever been at the video store, looking at all the rows of movies and wondering what to rent? Out of all those movies, something will be just right for you, but how do you find it? At one time, I used to be able to ask John the Movie Expert for advice. John worked at my local video store. He was an articulate movie buff who knew everything there is to know about movies, and who had seen every movie ever made. Since John knew me and my tastes, it was easy for him to find something new for me to enjoy. Unfortunately, the store closed some time ago, and John is long gone. Oh, well. There's always the Net. Web:
Science Fiction Movie Talk and General Discussion Movies of the science fiction genre are getting better all the time. Special effects are more creative and technically seamless, and the movie ideas are more outlandish. Discuss current science fiction movies as well as the more classical features of the last few decades. Usenet:
Silent Movies Although silent films were often accompanied by live music, there was no sound in the movie itself. This meant that the actors and directors had to adapt their presentation accordingly. Silent films play to the drama and visual aspects of a situation and, as you might imagine, depend more on sight gags and overacting than do the films of the sound era. As a result, during the years 1917-1928, a unique genre of entertainment was produced that, even today, offers an enjoyable, refreshing counterpoint to the complex, formulaic creations that are the norm in today's film world. Web:
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