I’ve studied writing for quite some time now, and have recently tried writing my own fiction more as an extension of my love for the printed word than anything else. Early in my life, I was exposed to fairy tales and nursery rhymes and often wonder the effect those have had on me as an adult: my concept of morality, the decisions I make and my view of the world. I imagine where I would be today had I not been exposed to these things as a child.
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This movie is not on the list.
Bonjour!
A while back I dedicated one of my posts to books dedicated to managing your money, savings, blah blah blah. But then I thought to myself, wait a second, kids don’t read anymore! What am I thinking?
So now, I’ve decided to compile a list of movies that somehow include money in the theme of the film. Some are 100% about money, others are more so about realizing that life isn’t all about money and some are just about how shitty it is when you don’t have money. I’ve mixed the up list with comedies and dramas, a documentary and a musical. (more…)
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Film festivals exist for the sole purpose of putting filmmakers in touch with a larger audience and film distributors, who can help take a film from relative obscurity, to a larger audience that could help it make some real money. Withoutabox is a service that helps filmmakers submit their films to festivals electronically, using an inventory-free service that saves you the postage, which can go a long way; especially if you’re submitting your movie to every festival under the sun.
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Dodge Superbee Salt Flats color test by Vita Brevis Films from VITA BREVIS on Vimeo.
Cinema will be undergoing a revolution in the next few months and it has culminated in the release of the movie, “District 9“, directed by Neill Blomkamp. The movie was made for a budget of $30 million (small for a film of this magnitude) and has since made back its budget on the opening weekend alone. I believe there will be a new trend in cinema that will allow filmmakers to shoot at lower budgets, while maintaining film quality, all thanks to the RED camera, developed by Jim Jannard and Co.
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You Keep Me Hangin' On
This has not been a great week for me. Bills seem to keep piling up, looking for a second job has all but destroyed my faith in the online job application process (do those applications disappear into some dark vortex?) and worst of all, I feel like I’m the only one in a veritable storm of uncertainty. (more…)
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September is a little over a month away but let’s not think about that. There’s still a lot of summer left to enjoy!
Here’s some fun cheapness to take advantage of this week:
Movie Night! —If you’re out east, head over to the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk on the 31st for an outdoor screening of Harold And Maude. It’s shown on an inflatable screen, how cool is that! Admission is only $5.
Festival Of The Caribbean—Toronto’s 42nd Caribana festival is upon us this weekend. There will be a ton of free events, unique vendors and a really awesome parade. The festival brings over 1 million participants into the city making it a tried and true Toronto tradition.
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My first time on a “Youtube Date” was a couple of years ago when I was living across the country from the lady I fancied. At that time, we were limited from going out because of distance but I think The Youtube Date also applies to challenges related to affordability.
So how does it work? (more…)
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Let me lay it down for you. Recently I needed some quick cash and was all out of places and people to borrow from. It’s not that people don’t trust me enough to give me money (some may disagree), it’s that all my friends are as dirt poor as I am. So, I looked around my apartment for things to sell. Now, I have a lot of stuff: guitars, books and my prized DVD collection. I have over a thousand movies, most of which I have never watched. Why, you ask? Well, I tend to buy things because of the future benefit they could provide me, without thinking of the consequences that said purchase could have on my wallet.
As I was looking through my overstuffed bookcase full of movies, I was embarrassed to see lots of these films were still in the shrinkwrap. It was a moment of shame, I must say. But the same idea that started my Gandalf blog the other day helped me realize that I’m going to have to make some tough decisions if I’m going to make ends meet. That, and I think I was keeping the movies around more for sentimental reasons than for any real purpose: like watching them. I’m sure you’ve done stupid, impulsive shit yourself more than once, but when it’s staring you in the face in movie form, you either have to fess up or continue living in denial of your own sheer idiocy.
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Watch 72,000 movies without having to leave your home. Lazy ass!
How often do you rent movies? Whether you are cuddling next to your partner or laughing alongside your family, renting movies now a days can definitely put a dent in your wallet. The other day I almost spent the same amount of money renting the movie as I could have going to the actual theatre when it was out, and I didn’t even have the option of buying my favorite nachos and cheese. I was not a happy camper and it will be very long before I rent another movie from the store. Zip.ca has definitely persuaded me to try their service. I figured it would be valuable telling you about it now before you make the mistake of renting another movie. You’re probably thinking, what the heck is Zip.ca, right?
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I’m a movie guy who doesn’t go to the movies. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the stimulating experience of being seduced by the smell of popcorn and escaping to another world. In fact, as an outlet for escapism, movies are one of the few industries that enjoy recessions because a lot of us want to get away from the everyday. But here’s the problem: escapism is expensive. So expensive, in fact, that long before the recession I had completely cut down on going to the movies. I still watch a lot of movies but I don’t experience that level of escapism or enjoyment that you get when you go to a cinema. To me it’s kind of like the difference between seeing a sporting event live and watching it on TV. It’s just not the same.
By doing research for this piece, however, I found several recession friendly solutions for us to explore. The first I stumbled upon last week when I attended a screening at the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto. I didn’t have the greatest impression of documentaries but with traditional media finding itself in crisis, documentaries provide us with an alternatively real and credible look at society. Hot Docs actually finishes this weekend, but film festivals are not specific to one area so you should be able to find one where you live. There isn’t a great price difference compared to regular cinemas but film festivals give you a more sublime experience by providing the opportunity to interact with the film’s creators and actors/actresses after the screening.
The issue with festivals is that you’re not going to find the Wolverine, Up or Star Treks of the world at them. If that’s the case, a growing number of cinemas have brought back cheap Tuesdays where both the admission and popcorn prices are slashed in half. Just make sure to confirm in advance that the cinema offers this but as a rule of thumb, major multiplexes are not likely to offer this discount (they have to pay for all those flashing lights, of course).
Speaking of multiplexes, if the cookie cutter cinema isn’t cutting it for you, seek out the Rainbow Cinemas in your city. These guys play current films in small, old and character driven venues for as low as 4.00 a show. They’re so authentic that their screens still crackle when the film is starting.
Finally, with the summer approaching Drive-In movie theatres are back and their double-billing means that you get double the fun for a reasonable price (they also have cheap Tuesdays). Drive-Ins are a truly social experience because you’re not confined to one spot, so it’s an awesome solution if you’re looking to get a group together. Escaping, after all, is way more fun when you have others to share the adventure with.
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