Dinner and a movie

This from the February 7 issue of Libewire, of the Springfield-Greene County (MO) District Library:

"'We work with such neat people and rarely get to talk to staff from other branches and I've been wanting to do this for years,' said Library Center manager Lorraine Sandstrom.

"Shell host staff from all the branches at Dinner and a Movie at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 28. A potluck dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the movie Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings at 7 p.m. on the big screen in the Library Center auditorium.

"'We are planning to show the extended version DVD - yes, all 3 1/2 hours,' said Lorraine."

Gosh, that certainly was a good idea, Lorraine, and I hope it all went well for all of you, and you didn't get a visit from the licensing police. Unless I'm wrong, tapes and DVDs are sold and licensed only for home use, at least the recent ones. If you show them to a crowd in the equivalent of a theatre, the film owners figure they aren't getting a piece of what should be an admission price.

I remember years ago a local nursing home was showing videotapes they had borrowed from the library to their residents, as a group. That was determined by those who keep track of these things for the moviemakers to be a nono, and it had to be stopped. I guess it would have been OK for one resident to see it in his/her room, maybe with a friend.

Well, anyway, Lorraine, it was a smashing idea and I hope it went well. "Neat people" don't get recognized enough. And I'm sure everyone enjoyed the food and the potluck.

Charles W. Robinson

Director Emeritus, BCPL Editor geezer@bcpl.net

Copyright BCPL Foundation Mar 2003
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved

Movie Madness - cancel your stolen video rental card

THEFT | A lost or stolen VIDEO-RENTAL CARD can empty your wallet. Cancel it ASAP.

IT MAY SEEM innocuous, but a lost or stolen video-rental card can pose more of a threat to your financial well-being than a passel of stolen credit cards. Why? Because federal law limits your liability to $50 for unauthorized use of a credit card--and Visa and MasterCard waive even that amount. But there's no similar protection for a video-rental card. If someone uses your card to rent a half-dozen movies or video games--and absconds with them--you could be on the hook for hundreds of dollars.

Marine sergeant J Ferrese of Camp Lejeune, N.C., knows what it's like to fight this battle. Late last year he received a notice from a local Blockbuster store calling on him to return six overdue videos. Problem was, Ferrese hadn't rented the movies. When a quick check led to the discovery that his card was missing, the sergeant called to try to straighten things out. A couple of days later he visited the store and, with the manager, watched a surveillance video showing a stranger use his card to rent six tapes.

Ferrese thought that ought to have settled things, but he was sorely disappointed. The store manager enforced Blockbuster's policy that holds members responsible for any rentals prior to the company's receipt of written notification that a card has been lost or stolen. Ferrese was charged $187 for the missing tapes.

Because he was about to be deployed to the Sierra Nevada mountains, Ferrese couldn't risk the damage to his credit record that could result from refusing to pay. So he paid up. But he hasn't given up. He has protested the fee up the Blockbuster corporate ladder, so far to no avail.

Blockbuster media-relations officer Randy Hargrove says that the local store manager did give Ferrese a break because the $187 charge was only a fraction of the actual cost of replacing the videos. "We ate a significant amount of the cost," he says. (Movies purchased for rental often cost more than the tapes made available for sale to the public.)

Protect yourself. Hargrove reports that unauthorized rentals on lost and stolen cards are rare, as does Ross Flint, the owner of Video Station Superstore, in Taylor, Tex. In his nearly 20 years in the business Flint has encountered only one instance of someone trying to use a stolen card.

To protect yourself from becoming a victim, take the same precautions as you do with a credit or debit card. Write down your account number and the phone number of the store to notify if it is lost or stolen. If a card turns up missing, file a police report. That might sound silly, but it can help convince a video store that charges were unauthorized. Call the store to either close your account or ask that positive ID be required before anyone is allowed to use your card. Follow up with a letter making the same points.

COPYRIGHT 2001 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group

Warner Bros and CinemaNow sign movie download agreement

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
Warner Brothers has signed an agreement to provide movies for online download to CinemaNow.

The service will allow users to download films from the back catalogue for USD3 and recent films for USD4. Once downloaded the movies can be stored for up to 30 days or 12 hours from when they are first watched. After this period the movies will reportedly self destruct.
CinemaNow and Warner Bros will split the proceeds and CinemaNow is reportedly hoping that the deal will encourage other companies to follow suit, breaking the monopoly of rival MovieLink.

The service is only available to broadband customers.

((Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com))

COPYRIGHT 2002 M2 Communications Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group

Dinner and a movie set

It's the ultimate movie tie-in: When in Havana, you're invited for dinner in the fourth-floor apartment where fictional gay hero Diego argued politics with hetero Communist David in the 1994 Cuban film Strawberry & Chocolate. The movie location now houses a private restaurant named La Guarida (the hideaway), decorated to resemble Diego's kitschy movie-memorabilia-filled home.

In a review in the U.K.'s Guardian in October, travel writer Gavin McOwan described how "chandeliers, an old film projector, antique furniture, and the original big blue fridge from the film (Diego would talk to it) compete for space" while diners in the flat's four dining rooms enjoy "some of the best seafood in Havana." Dessert is homemade ice cream: "The most popular flavors, it goes without saying, are strawberry and chocolate."

COPYRIGHT 2005 Liberation Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

Alfresco films: how to host your own backyard movie party

A late-summer evening is the perfect time to invite a few friends over for a little stargazing--think Clint Eastwood, Kim Novak, or Bugs Bunny. It's surprisingly easy to turn your patio into an alfresco theater where you can project your favorite films, serve hot popcorn, and snack on hot dogs right off the grill. What could be better than a stay-at-home drive-in?

You may already own most of the electronic components: a DVD player (or laptop computer), amplifier, and speakers. The key missing ingredients are a good-size screen--which you can make yourself--and a video projector, which you can find at an audiovisual rental store. (One-day rentals range from about $150 to $250; prices for a good-quality projector start at around $1,000.) Amps, speakers, screens, and DVD players are also available for rent.

Snack bar strategies

Movie-appropriate fare and clever presentation add to the ambience.

Candy buffet. Fill glass apothecary jars with colorful loose candies.

Casual choices. Serve freshly grilled hot dogs with all the condiments and sodas in wax-coated cups. Or indulge your gastronomic inner child: Party-rental stores usually have cotton-candy makers, hot-dog steamers, popcorn carts, and nacho machines on hand.

Gourmet options. Make it a foodie affair for grownups with champagne on ice, a platter of prosciutto and melon, take-out sushi, crostini and dips, and espresso.

Popcorn. Set out fresh popcorn in paper cones and offer an array of salts and toppings in jars on a spice rack (two-shelf rack from the Container Store, $20; www.containerstore.com or 800/786-7315). Here are some seasonings to try.

* Barbecue spice blend

* Butter powder

* Cinnamon sugar

* Curry powder

* Herbes de Provence

* Hot chile flakes

* Rosemary salt

* Seasoned salt

* White truffle oil

The setup

Atmosphere counts in an outdoor theater. Decorative touches such as vintage movie posters, a mini marquee, director's chairs, and overhead lanterns or strings of lights create the right mood.

Wiring. Plug the projector, DVD player, and amplifier into a power strip with a surge protector. For safety, run the extension cord from an outdoor electrical outlet with a ground-fault circuit interrupter.

Comfort. Devise amphitheater seating with different levels: pillows and blankets on the ground, benches or comfortable fold-up chairs behind them, and, at the back, taller director's chairs (from Classic Party Rentals, $15 each; www.classicpartyrentals.com). On cool evenings, remind your audience to bring layers of clothing, and serve warm drinks at intermission.

Screen. We used a 4- by 8-foot sheet of foam-core board purchased at an art-supply store, but you could substitute a piece of plywood, a large bedsheet, or simply a smooth wall. Our screen is taped to two 6-foot 1-by-2s rising from a pair of gravel-filled flowerpots. We screwed short 1-by-2 crosspieces near the bottom of each leg, burying them in the gravel to resist tipping.

DVD Movie Rental - The Cure for a Boring WeekendBy Christopher Luck

What am I to do when I find myself with nothing lined up for the upcoming weekend? I have those weekends, we all do, where friends are out of town or unavailable and I just feel like staying in for the night and hanging out. Those weekends are perfect candidates for a DVD movie rental. I can watch what I want, I can watch it when I want, and I can just order a pizza and relax on my sofa. There are a couple of ways you can go about making your DVD movie rental, but the goal is just to make sure you have a good time.

How much a person rents DVD’s obviously varies between individuals. If, however, you are someone who just cannot get enough of DVD movie rentals, there are services you should consider. Netflix and the like will allow you to sign up for DVD movie rentals in advance. They mail you the movies and you watch them whenever you want. Mail them back, with no late fees, and you will get another off of your list in return. It is a great deal, with monthly fees depending on the company or service you choose, that is perfect if you rent DVD’s often or are a real movie buff. If you don’t rent often, then the service will likely cost more per month than it is worth to you.

If you like a good DVD movie rental, but only do it every so often, then you should probably stick with traditional movie rental services. Movie rental stores will have a plethora of movies on shelves lining the walls and all over the floor. With what is likely a free membership card, you choose the movie you want and pay a rental fee. The fee is generally based on how new the movie is and how long you will have it. If, however, you keep your DVD movie rental too long, you may be charged a fine. Again, there are companies out there who do not charge late fees, but rather sell you the DVD instead. Just make sure you check out the business you are going to be using before making it your DVD movie rental destination.

After a long day at the office or at school, you may find yourself just too tired to hit the night scene of your city or town. You may want, more than anything, to spend some time alone at home and regroup. Nothing can be more entertaining in a passive manner than a good DVD movie rental. Depending on how many times a month or week you rent a DVD, you may want to look at some options. You can rent through a mail service that will charge you a monthly fee to send you movies that you can keep until you are done and send them back. Your other option, and one that is more traditional, is to rent from a DVD movie rental store. No matter how you choose to go about your rental, enjoy your weekend alone and take the time to recharge and enjoy a good flick.

If you would like the latest information on dvd rentals, or find more of my personal articles like the one you just read, visit my movie site! More resources for movie rentals at http://www.getmovierentals.com

5 Steps to Awarding the Oscars

Are you a fan of the movies? Then you may be wondering about the process that’s involved in selecting the best actors that are awarded Oscars by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Indeed, the manner in which the best actors and actresses are chosen for Oscars is a rather complicated process on some level. With that said, the nomination and election process for movies, actors, actresses and the like within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been in place for years. The process seems to work well although some recent complaints have been voiced in regard to the advertising campaigns that now surround the awards process following the announcement of nominees.

1. The first step in selection the best actors in movies as part of ultimate awarding of the Academy Awards or Oscars is the nomination process. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is made up of men and women who are professionals in fields related to the making and production of movies. A slate of nominators is appointed by the Academy to come up with the names of the actors and actresses who will be put before the enrolled members of the Academy as nominees for Academy Awards. The actors and actresses are nominated for their work in movies that were produced and that were presented in theaters during the preceding year. Needless to say, a nomination for an Academy Award is one of the highest honors that a person who works in the movies can receive at any time in their lives.

2. Following the nomination process, voting by select members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences occurs. The voting process employed by the Academy when it comes to rewards for movies is rather interesting and unique. For example, all of the actors who are enrolled members of the Academy vote on the slates of best actors and best supporting actors who have been nominated for Oscars for their roles in movies. Likewise, directors vote on the directors prize, screenwriters on the screenwriters prize and so forth. All members of the Academy are able to vote on those movies nominated for best picture.

3. Prior to the actual voting process, a very active promotional campaign takes part on behalf of the nominated actors from various movies. In recent years, significant advertising campaigns have been mounted in support of the different actors, actresses and other professionals involved in movies. Ads are taken out in the trade publications. Banquets are held promoting different movies. Thousands and thousands of dollars are spent promoting the nominated movies, the actors, the actresses and the nominees in a variety of other categories. Indeed, the campaigning for Oscars has become one of the most competitive ventures in all of Hollywood -- even more competitive than the scrapping and clawing for roles in movies.

4. Once the voting deadline passes in regard to selecting the best actors in movies for the year, the ballots are tabulated by an independent accounting firm. As each vote is cast for the movies and professionals under consideration, the ballots are sent to an accounting firm that holds them in a secure location. The accounting firm tabulates the votes relating to the various movies in secret. For years, the accounting firm that handled these magical movie awards was the venerable agency of Price-Waterhouse. Not even the men and women who serve as officers of the Academy know who the winners are in advance of the award ceremony itself.

5. On the night of the televised awards, the winners from the various movies in the best actor, best actress and other categories are announced. Essentially no one knows who the various winners are prior to the announcement of the various awards during the award show presentations for the various movies, performances and the like.

In conclusion, and as an interesting aside, the Academy Award statuette was not always known as “Oscar.” In fact, it was screen legend Bette Davis who dubbed the Academy Award statuette “Oscar.” During an Academy Awards ceremony some years back Bette Davis remarked that the statuette looked exactly like her husband … who was named “Oscar.” Oscar stuck.

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About the Author:
Publisher & Author Raymond DeChampfleur - You can access detailed articles, news, & more relevant resources along with great information and services on the movies and music world at Muzic-and-Moviez.com