Pros: Knowing that someone out there appreciates your work
Cons: The terrible, awesome responsibility of passing the award on to other worthy blogs
Recently I've been getting out more into the movie blogosphere, checking out some new (to me) blogs, being more social, commenting (and being commented on in return), liking (and being, gulp, liked in return -- "You like me, you really like me!"), and just generally not settling for the same old, same old. (Those who knew the old, cantankerous, anti-social Brian best are wondering what the aliens did with the body, and how they should handle this obvious impostor -- Hand grenades? Flame thrower? Installing a million volt electrical grid in the hallway outside of its office and luring it out to be reduced to a smoldering pile of ash?)
Anyway, in my explorations, I had come across mention of this thing called the Liebster award, and a graphic that looked something like the UL Underwriters Laboratories' Seal of Approval for blogs, only pinker (and with a cute heart in the middle). Just as I was starting to wonder what it was all about, bingo!, I got an email from Karen at Shadows and Satin (check it out!) nominating my blog (as well as 10 other very worthy endeavors) for the Liebster. It quickly dawned on me that this was not your usual garden-variety award that just sits there collecting virtual dust, but rather something dynamic and brilliant that helps struggling bloggers "pay it forward": to be appreciated, and to appreciate in turn in an ever-widening circle of fellowship and community. And of course, to get to know the people (or the alien impostors) behind the blogs just a bit better.
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| For some reason, whenever I encounter the term 'blogosphere,' an image like this pops into my head! |
Eleven random facts about yours truly
1. I vowed never to join Facebook right up until about a year and a half ago, when I joined. Now, in addition to my personal page, I maintain a companion page for this blog. Can someone give me some advice on how I can gracefully extricate myself?
2. My wife and I love animals, period. At one point, our little family was up to 3 dogs and 3 cats. We love them all dearly, even as we spend hour upon hour trying to get the pet hair out of our clothes, the furniture, the rugs, etc.
3. In junior high school, I published two spectacular issues of a science fiction fanzine, Fanactic. I regularly corresponded with Lisa Tuttle and Darrell Schweitzer, two fans who would later become celebrated science fiction/fantasy writers. Tragically, I did not become a celebrated writer (until now).
4. Related to the above factoid, I also corresponded with Dean Koontz, who at the time was an up and coming writer and still teaching public school in Pennsylvania. When I reacted ambivalently to one of his books, he sent me a scathing 3 page, single-spaced letter, and I never heard from him again.
5. I am a huge baseball fan. I love putting on the cap and jersey, going to the park, and guzzling down outrageously over-priced beer and hot dogs. Tragically, 2 balls have been hit directly to me in the stands, and I muffed 'em both.
6. As a kid, I wrote and performed plays in my parents' garage based on the Universal monster movies that I was glued to on Saturday nights. Later, I made Super 8 monster movies with friends. Tragically, I did not become another Steven Spielberg or George Lucas.
7. I love German Expressionist art, and I especially appreciate its influence, courtesy of expatriate German filmmakers, on American horror films and thrillers of the '30s and '40s.
8. I have long been on the cutting edge of technology -- for example, I was an early digital photography adopter. But I'm older now, and the desire to be the first on my block with the latest techno-gadget now competes with my instinct to save for retirement.
10. When I was younger, I made fun of old folks (including my parents) who retired to places like Florida and Arizona. Now I'm not sure I can make it through one more snowy winter.
11. I love doing backyard movie parties, with a projector and roll-up screen. I did two last year, and am looking forward to getting the equipment out again when the weather warms up.
Thoughtful Answers to Karen's Questions
1. What movie do you watch every time it comes on TV?
The Big Heat (1953): Fritz + Glenn + Gloria + Lee = must see movie TV (hey, that rhymes!)
2. What’s your favorite movie musical?;
My Fair Lady (1964). Love the music! Love Audrey! Love Rex! (in a very detached, manly sort of way).
Vincent Price -- for his erudition, his love of art, his cooking -- an all around Renaissance man!
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| The Duke, Malcom and Esmeralda, cast of 'Gravesend Manor' (Claude not pictured) |
An autographed picture of the Duke, Malcolm and Esmeralda from the Saturday night horror host show Gravesend Manor, broadcast in central Iowa back in the mid-sixties. A grade school friend's dad worked at the local TV station.
5. If you could make a living doing whatever you wanted to do, what would that be?
Running a classic film revival theater in New Orleans.
6. What’s your favorite movie western?
Man of the West (1958), with Gary Cooper, Julie London and Lee J. Cobb. Intense, gritty, surprising -- the last great film for both director Anthony Mann and Coop.
7. Have you ever had an encounter with a movie or TV star?
A long time ago in a universe far, far away, Margot Kidder did a benefit appearance for a congressional candidate I was working for. I got to drive her to the airport. She was friendly, gracious and down-to-earth -- just delightful!
8. If you could program a perfect day of movies on TCM, what would be the seven films on your schedule?
I'd do a Fritz Lang retrospective: Metropolis, M, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Fury, Scarlet Street, The Big Heat, and While the City Sleeps
9. Who are your top five favorite fictional characters?
Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Bosch, Alex Delaware
Forbidden Planet (1956). I shed a tear every time for poor Morbius.
11. Bette Davis or Joan Crawford?
Joan Crawford. What can you say about a career that includes The Unknown (1927), Mildred Pierce (1945), Humoresque (1946), The Damned Don't Cry (1950), Strait-Jacket (1964), and Trog (1970)?
Now, to pass on the Liebster to the next set of insightful, worthy blogs that you'll definitely want to check out:
Classic Film and TV Cafe
Journeys in Classic Film
Krell Laboratories
The Last Drive-In
Outspoken and Freckled
Random Ramblings of a Broadway, Film, and TV Fan
Scared Silly: Classic Hollywood Horror-Comedies
She Blogged by Night
Tales of the Easily Distracted
Thrilling Days of Yesteryear
Wide Screen World
And, if they're so inclined, my questions for them:
1. What is your guiltiest movie pleasure?
2. What is your favorite character actor/actress?
3. What movie would you show to an alien visitor to best illustrate the meaning of life on earth and being human?
4. What movie made prior to 1970 would you show to a teen or twenty-something who insists that nothing that old could be any good?
5. What movie or actor/actress that you were indifferent about or maybe even disliked at the start, has grown most in your estimation over the years?
6. What movie or actor/actress has declined the most over the years?
7. What actor or actress is most like you?
8. Which would you prefer to do: direct, produce or write?
9. What 3 neglected, underdog movies are most deserving of a revival on TV, DVD and/or online?
10. Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi?
11. What unfamiliar movie genre terrain are you most keen to explore?
