Post your ideas on how to improve the Marathon. Your suggested film titles and what have you.

October

I don't know about October as there are many local Halloween events including horror marathons by the Coolidge and the Somerville as well as Rock and Shock horror weekend in Worcester.  Many folks that attend our thon also attend one or more of these other events.   

Okay.
September.

Patriot's Day. Saturday - Sunday.

L.A. Connection wrote on Feb 17^th, 2015 at 8:54pm:

Patriot's Day. Saturday - Sunday.

Might not be a bad date.
Good weather, a local holiday weekend plus it's a nothing time for Hollywood films.
Heck we may even get lucky sometime and get one of the studio's to give us a sneak preview of a film opening in May.

April used to be a dead zone, but not so much any more.  Plus, it's already a crowded day on the schedule.

Weather is going to be foremost on our minds, but I don't think it's something that needs too much worrying about.  This winter has been a crazy outlier, and the chances of storms hitting a relatively small target like the thon versus a larger one like the festival are not big enough to upend things for.

The marathon is pretty much fine.  I think we had one of the strongest line-ups in recent memory, which would have been even better if the festival selection had been Boy 7 as was planned.

The festival, on the other hand, still needs a lot of work, and I'm losing patience and any sort of confidence here.  I mean, how am I supposed to when Garen flat-out responds to me saying that the people who pay money to attend deserve good movies with comments that there should be some crap, and that them booking Blessid means it plays some European festivals is just as important. 

He said this to the four or five us who were there on Tuesday, despite the weather, in practically the same breath as telling us we wouldn't be able to watch that night's movie because somebody left it at home, the night after the two of us who were there watched a Dutch movie without subtitles.  That the fact that those in the audience paid good money doesn't mean we deserved to see good movies, while at the same time castigating me for not respecting his investment.

I mean...  What are we supposed to do with that as attendees?  What are we supposed to do with him introducing movies opening night talking about how they weren't exactly great?  Am I being unreasonable for comparing the festival to BUFF, Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, and all the other great genre festivals out there and wanting to feel like ours even aspires to that, rather than just being a means to other ends?

Remember it is Patriots Day WEEKEND not the day itself so it wont be fighting that other marathon nor the annual Sox game. And  this winter isnt a fluke. If you look at the weather stats all the local channels keep posting many of the greatest storms and monthly snofall records have come in the past decade or so. We seem to be in a long range bad winter era.

Jay Seaver wrote on Feb 17^th, 2015 at 11:51pm:

April used to be a dead zone, but not so much any more.  Plus, it's already a crowded day on the schedule. Weather is going to be foremost on our minds, but I don't think it's something that needs too much worrying about.  This winter has been a crazy outlier, and the chances of storms hitting a relatively small target like the thon versus a larger one like the festival are not big enough to upend things for. The marathon is pretty much fine.  I think we had one of the strongest line-ups in recent memory, which would have been even better if the festival selection had been Boy 7 as was planned. The festival, on the other hand, still needs a lot of work, and I'm losing patience and any sort of confidence here.  I mean, how am I supposed to when Garen flat-out responds to me saying that the people who pay money to attend deserve good movies with comments that there should be some crap, and that them booking Blessid means it plays some European festivals is just as important.  He said this to the four or five us who were there on Tuesday, despite the weather, in practically the same breath as telling us we wouldn't be able to watch that night's movie because somebody left it at home, the night after the two of us who were there watched a Dutch movie without subtitles.  That the fact that those in the audience paid good money doesn't mean we deserved to see good movies, while at the same time castigating me for not respecting his investment. I mean...  What are we supposed to do with that as attendees?  What are we supposed to do with him introducing movies opening night talking about how they weren't exactly great?  Am I being unreasonable for comparing the festival to BUFF, Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, and all the other great genre festivals out there and wanting to feel like ours even aspires to that, rather than just being a means to other ends?

How did the Dr Who double feature do? Maybe the fest should add more rare screenings rather than try to do almost all new films.
I also suggested doing a night of Silent Sci-Fi to Garen who thought was a good idea.

da_Bunnyman wrote on Feb 18^th, 2015 at 12:56am:

Jay Seaver wrote on Feb 17th, 2015 at 11:51pm: April used to be a dead zone, but not so much any more.  Plus, it's already a crowded day on the schedule. Weather is going to be foremost on our minds, but I don't think it's something that needs too much worrying about.  This winter has been a crazy outlier, and the chances of storms hitting a relatively small target like the thon versus a larger one like the festival are not big enough to upend things for. The marathon is pretty much fine.  I think we had one of the strongest line-ups in recent memory, which would have been even better if the festival selection had been Boy 7 as was planned. The festival, on the other hand, still needs a lot of work, and I'm losing patience and any sort of confidence here.  I mean, how am I supposed to when Garen flat-out responds to me saying that the people who pay money to attend deserve good movies with comments that there should be some crap, and that them booking Blessid means it plays some European festivals is just as important.  He said this to the four or five us who were there on Tuesday, despite the weather, in practically the same breath as telling us we wouldn't be able to watch that night's movie because somebody left it at home, the night after the two of us who were there watched a Dutch movie without subtitles.  That the fact that those in the audience paid good money doesn't mean we deserved to see good movies, while at the same time castigating me for not respecting his investment. I mean...  What are we supposed to do with that as attendees?  What are we supposed to do with him introducing movies opening night talking about how they weren't exactly great?  Am I being unreasonable for comparing the festival to BUFF, Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, and all the other great genre festivals out there and wanting to feel like ours even aspires to that, rather than just being a means to other ends? How did the Dr Who double feature do? Maybe the fest should add more rare screenings rather than try to do almost all new films. I also suggested doing a night of Silent Sci-Fi to Garen who thought was a good idea.

It was rather poorly attended.  Maybe 20..... maybe.

Frank wrote on Feb 18^th, 2015 at 2:26am:

da_Bunnyman wrote on Feb 18th, 2015 at 12:56am: Jay Seaver wrote on Feb 17th, 2015 at 11:51pm: April used to be a dead zone, but not so much any more.  Plus, it's already a crowded day on the schedule. Weather is going to be foremost on our minds, but I don't think it's something that needs too much worrying about.  This winter has been a crazy outlier, and the chances of storms hitting a relatively small target like the thon versus a larger one like the festival are not big enough to upend things for. [clipped - I agree with everything said ] How did the Dr Who double feature do? Maybe the fest should add more rare screenings rather than try to do almost all new films. I also suggested doing a night of Silent Sci-Fi to Garen who thought was a good idea. It was rather poorly attended.  Maybe 20..... maybe.

I was at the second Doctor Who movie (more on that below) and saw maybe 10 people. 11 if you count the guy loudly snoring through the whole movie in the corner.

The biggest issue with the festival from my experience was lack of coordination on timing. It's good that Garen got someone else to curate the shorts, but the schedule throughout assumed that people would attend shorts OR movies and not want some of each. This was an issue for nearly every night and would have been fixed with 5 minutes of Garen and the shorts curator comparing notes and runtimes.

Example - the second Dr Who movie started at 9, a full ten to fifteen minutes before the shorts that started at 730 were over.

It would be easy to move it ahead a little to allow people to walk down the hall, but somehow no one looked at the schedule and saw the issue. Because of this, a friend of mine bought standalone tickets (spending something upwards of $30 for one night) and missed the beginning of the movie.

Nearly everyone missed the beginning of the very first movie, The Well because... Hell if I know, it just started 20 minutes early and no explanation from anyone. At the time, I went, found Garen, pointed out the time and that the film had started early. Never got any response at all.

Overall, I feel I got my money's worth for the additional cost of the fest ticket. But I won't be back and I won't ever recommend anyone I know attend a stand-alone screening until the showings are better managed.

I generally went to shorts rather than features, and what I saw was markedly better than previous years in terms of overall quality. There isn't a single short film I saw that I wouldn't want to see again.

The films.. Garen does seem to have a weakness for military SF and it's getting old.. Alien Outpost was pretty awful. Robot Overlords and I Was A Teenage Superhero Sidekick were both good fun, and Fade To White and Uncanny were the highlights for me

I feel I do need to call out Garen in a positive way for the showing of The Noah and the gathering afterward -- everyone at the movie was invited to Orleans and got some excellent free food and a chance to blow off a little steam and socialize with each other and the director. That doesn't quite top getting to see WD Richter in person, but it's right up there/

It would be nice to go to the fest, but it's a long drive, so we never do. 

Suggestion for a future thon: between the first few movies, show the opening credits of some sci fi tv shows.  Star Trek, Lost in Space, UFO, Space 1999, Buck Rogers, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, etc.

A couple of points.  While a Saturday-Sunday 'thon works for the event, it means that the theatre must give up a Saturday night rather than a Sunday night.  That's far less attractive from the theatre's perspective.

Also note that in 2017, 2022 and 2025 Patriots Day weekend is also Easter weekend.  Not an issue for everyone, but it could be a problem for enough folks to impact attendance.  Also 2020 and 2023 have Easter weekend at what would be the opening weekend of the Festival.  Easter and Mothers Day are dates I'd try to stay away from. 

We need to move the marathon to warmer weather. And someone needs to finish writing Bruce's "If the Marathon Stops We All Freeze and Die" song, complete with hand gestures. We will sing it every year before Duck Dodgers so future generations will remember why we don't hold it on President's Day anymore.

Metaluna wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2015 at 3:46pm:

We need to move the marathon to warmer weather. And someone needs to finish writing Bruce's "If the Marathon Stops We All Freeze and Die" song, complete with hand gestures. We will sing it every year before Duck Dodgers so future generations will remember why we don't hold it on President's Day anymore.

And, if he have to move the date one week up to avoid a conflict with a religious holiday, so be it. What's more difficult, freaking out about the weather and whether there might be a postponment or having a WHOLE YEAR to get the date out in public?!

Heck, we got the word out that the Marathon was starting at 4pm rather than Noon in less than 24 HOURS, let alone 52 weeks!

P.S. And, I talked to Ian and he seems amenable to Saturday-Sunday (which we have done before), so that's not a huge issue.

L.A. Connection wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2015 at 4:19pm:

Metaluna wrote on Feb 22nd, 2015 at 3:46pm: We need to move the marathon to warmer weather. And someone needs to finish writing Bruce's "If the Marathon Stops We All Freeze and Die" song, complete with hand gestures. We will sing it every year before Duck Dodgers so future generations will remember why we don't hold it on President's Day anymore. And, if he have to move the date one week up to avoid a conflict with a religious holiday, so be it. What's more difficult, freaking out about the weather and whether there might be a postponment or having a WHOLE YEAR to get the date out in public?! Heck, we got the word out that the Marathon was starting at 4pm rather than Noon in less than 24 HOURS, let alone 52 weeks! P.S. And, I talked to Ian and he seems amenable to Saturday-Sunday (which we have done before), so that's not a huge issue.

Thing to remember is that the Somerville is a multiplex and the fest & thon only takes up 1 house. Summer starts in May for Hollywood so April is usually a slow month anyway.

If April is too late and not "Wintery" enough, how about the first Saturday-Sunday in March? Sure, there might be some inclement weather, but, it should be much safer than 2 to 3 weeks earlier in the teeth of February.

I really don't care for Saturday-Sunday. I like the long weekend as it gives me a full day for preparation.   

Frank wrote on Feb 24^th, 2015 at 3:52pm:

I really don't care for Saturday-Sunday. I like the long weekend as it gives me a full day for preparation.

But, a lot of folks don't get Monday off, either. I know a few folks who have missed the Marathon because of work and college. NO date is perfect.

L.A. Connection wrote on Feb 24^th, 2015 at 4:02pm:

Frank wrote on Feb 24th, 2015 at 3:52pm: I really don't care for Saturday-Sunday. I like the long weekend as it gives me a full day for preparation.    But, a lot of folks don't get Monday off, either. I know a few folks who have missed the Marathon because of work and college. NO date is perfect.

It's been a three day weekend affair since the 70's no need to change that.  Most folks do have Monday off.  Change it so that those who can't make Monday can now make it and those that can't make Saturday are now screwed.  That's just silly.  I have yet to hear a convincing reason for changing it and the cold or possible storm is not enough for me.   

The 100-150 people who may be out $65 because they couldn't make the 'thon might think that a date change is in order (and that doesn't even count the travel and other inherent costs involved with the marathon). And, that doesn't even take into account the risk to their lives that dozens of folks took in order for them to make it this year.

Not saying this is a must, but a MUST-CONSIDER, that is all.

Haven't missed one in 40 showings.  Don't really see the need for a change, just better planning.  And please don't try and make ME feel bad about loss of money.  That dog won't hunt after what I went through. 

I've brought this up a couple of times in the past, what would you think of as a bonus for early ticket buying you get a reserved seat?
Should be do-able, there are folks who get reserved seats for working for the 'thon, but this would be a way to encourage early ticket sales.

I have attended Marathons through blizzards, -10 degree weather and with snowfalls that required a half hour to dig my car out, post event. My point is that all of these things occurred  in my own town. You know how to adjust if you are more or less at home. Welcome to Cleveland.
Frank is right on the money about planning, IF you  assume that the Boston is the home of the large bulk of Marathon aficionados. You lost me, but not five other Ohio attendees, well before the shitty weather arrived.
So, no New Hampshire attendees? Nobody from Worcester?
And microscopic attendance at the Festival?
I will be there every year in the future should you change the date to somewhen that I can be assured that I can plan on being able to make it. And it is extremely sad that people who were fans to the extent that they paid ahead, got shafted. Not by the Marathon, but by the change in the jet stream due to Arctic warming. Can't cure Mother Nature, but can adjust.

Well folks with tickets who could not attend are being offered 1/2 price off SF41.

How about a FILM suggestion?

Proposed: NO films from the 1950s next year -- UNLESS they have never been shown at the Marathon before?

L.A. Connection wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2015 at 3:06pm:

How about a FILM suggestion? Proposed: NO films from the 1950s next year -- UNLESS they have never been shown at the Marathon before?

That certainly leaves quite a few 50's films to be shown, most notably Creature From The Black Lagoon but some good ones like Magnetic Monster, Man In The White Suit, Invisible Invaders, Target Earth. Plus interesting schlock like The Twonky or Tobor The Great.

Some neglected superhero films like The Rocketeer, The Watchmen, Dredd.

Godzilla Final Wars
The Mist

Shaolin Soccer (a stretch for sci-fi)
Sunshine
Space Battleship Yamato (live action)
Chronicle

Just throwing titles out at random right now but its a start.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/Mr_Peabody_%26_Sherman_Poster.JPG
Or at least all but the last 10 minutes.

pogo wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2015 at 5:52pm:

Mr. Peabody & Sherman http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/Mr_Peabody_%26_Sherman_Poster.JPG Or at least all but the last 10 minutes.

What happens? Does it go all LEGO MOVIE meta at the end?