Time Tunnel Monster Movie Show

[ICEMANN333]

TOY RANCH........I ALWAY TRY MY BEST........THE SHOW HAS MANY FANS NOT ONE OTHER FAN HAS CAME FORWARD OR SAID ANY THING BAD ABOUT WHAT WERE DOING..IM ALWAYS THERE AND ANSWER AND GREET EVERYBODY  ASK BARLOW..........90 PER CENT OF THE MOVIES THAT ARE PLAYED ARE ASKED TO BE SHOWN BY THE FANS.... THIS IS ONE PERSON WHO JUST DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HE STANDS ALONE  OR WITH ONE OTHER PERSON....I WOULD NOT STOP THE SHOW FOR TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MAYBE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO TRY TO RIP A GOOD THING DOWN.......YOU JUST CANT MAKE A HORSE DRINK WATER IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO.........

[ICEMANN333]

TOY RANCH.YOU SEEM TO BE A LEVEL HEADED MAN...I HEAR GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU ..WHY WOULD UMA MEMBERS HAMMER FAN AND BARLOW SAY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE SHOW TO LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT IT TO COME AND HAVE A GOOD TIME IN THE LOBBY WITH DEALERS BUY SELL TRADE MONSTERS...SHOW PICTURES OF THE SHOWS.......**.NO NAMES HERE.**.NOW JUST MAYBE TWO LONELY UNHAPPY PEOPLE TRY TO RIP IT APART FOR ONE MOVIE .WHY NOT SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT IT .NO THEY WONT ...THEY WOULD RATHER RUIN IT FOR EVERYONE......TOY RANCH ITS JUST LIKE WHAT YOU DO ON THIS SITE YOU BAN OR STOP THE BLEEDING BY REMOVING THEM...THE BAD APPLES ARE HERE AS I MUST DO AT MY SHOW REMOVE THEM...ONE PERSON WILL NOT RUIN FOR EVERYONE ELSE.......THANK YOU  ... THIS IS LIKE A TOY PLAY WITH IT OR DONT......

[Toy Ranch]

Icemann, fair and honest criticism is welcome here.  Just because someone doesn't like your show does not make them "lonely, unhappy people".  That's the kind of thing that isn't welcome here, insults.  Whether you are naming anyone or not.

We don't ban or remove people for sharing their opinions. 

[ICEMANN333]

TOY RANCH ....TELL ME WHAT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THEM..........IF YOU DONT LIKE THE SHOW STAY AWAY.......RIGHT.......WRONG.......WHATS THE ANSWER......

[ICEMANN333]

THE LITTLE SHOW YOU WENT TO AND SEEN THE LITTLE KIDS SEE THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY.........AT MY SHOW ITS JUST NOT KIDS HERE THE ADULTS ARE THE KIDS CLAPPING THERE HANDS AFTER EACH MOVIE......PRICELESS......

[Toy Ranch]

I do have an axe to grind when it comes to DVD projection in this type of venue. I've had some amazing film experiences at The Portage over the years that have been hosted by a variety of different cinemaphile groups, particularly their silent film society that runs selections with live organ accompaniment.

Sadly, we live in a time where it's become commonplace to steal music online and plagiarize other peoples creative product without batting an eye. My disappointment over seeing a bootleg movie copy shown on a big screen (for profit) is clearly not shared here.

I want to address this.  Over the past few years, I've been to many horror/monster shows and conventions.  I can't recall a single one that didn't have dealers set up selling gray market DVD's (gray market meaning titles that aren't in general release), copies of movie posters, T-shirts with artwork and scenes from movies, etc.  Things that are probably in many cases or certainly in most cases infringing on someone's copyright.  I've been to large conventions where things like Milton the Monster cartoons from  gray market DVD's have been shown on screen for hundreds of people.  I don't know what rights were or were not secured for showing these things.  If you have a problem with this show and it's licensing, you need to take it up with someone who has the ability to enforce that.  There are a number of entities which enforce film copyrights.  If your rights are being infringed, that's a different matter.  The UMA isn't going on a copyright warpath against every monster convention in the country.  Although they can't say it publicly, many of the rights holders understand that small shows like this can't afford to license showings of their films, but when they do, people who enjoy them often purchase the DVD's of films they see and enjoy.  I have spoken with DVD distributors and rights holders who have expressed that.  I'm sure not all of them feel the same. 

[Toy Ranch]

TOY RANCH ....TELL ME WHAT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THEM..........IF YOU DONT LIKE THE SHOW STAY AWAY.......RIGHT.......WRONG.......WHATS THE ANSWER......

If they go back and come back again to complain, then you have a point.  Going once and expecting something other than what they got and saying that is fine.  Go look in that Wonderfest thread and read some of the comments from a member who didn't like the UMA exhibit this year, that we spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars (many of which were donated by UMA members either outright or through the purchase of our premium items) to bring to Wonderfest without receiving a dime for doing.  He's not banned or called names.  We may not agree with him, and his comments may be hurtful to us, but he is free to make them, just as Gillman is here.

[ICEMANN333]

TOY RANCH....... I HEARD MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT WONDERFEST .BUT ALSO MORE NOT SO GOOD ABOUT THE FEST.......OVERPRICED ..OVERRATED NOT AS MANY DEALERS AS THERE WAS.....DEALER TABLES THAT DEALERS CANT AFFORD.........DEALERS TRYING TO SELL AUTOGRAPHS BASIC AT ANY SHOW ..LOTS OF MILES FROM HOME........10 OF MY FANS FROM MY SHOW WENT AND ALL SAID THE SHOW IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE........THEY WOULD HAVE RATHER STAYED HOME IF THEY KNEW TO WAS GOING TO BE LIKE IT WAS..........HOWEVER I CANNOT JUDGE THE SHOW FROM HERE SO I CAN NOT KNOW HOW IT WAS .....SOME SAID THE UMA DISPLAY HAS NOT CHANGE IN YEARS ...I DONT KNOW I NEVER SEEN IT ........***.I CANNOT JUDGE IN THE BLIND NOR WOULD I  IF YOUR DOING THE BEST JOB FOR THE LOVE OF MONSTERS THATS WHAT MATTERS.****.............

[Elizabeth]

Again... Gillman Fan and I have never personally met-- or met in person, however that is phrased.  Really, honestly.  (And when I say really, honestly, I do mean it.)  We have corresponded by email, through the Svengoolie fan group.  I joined the group in 2005, and have known Gillman Fan since he joined the fan group the following year-- but our interactions (up until now) have been via email.  I would not know him if he passed me on the street.

I don't know when I joined the UMA...  I lurked and read the archives for a long time, I think, before I gave up and joined and was assimilated into the collective.

But I keenly remember the Matt Jaycox Magic Slate Ebay Imbroglio (say that ten times fast) here at the UMA, which took place at the old Yahoo group, back in June/July of 2007:
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/UniversalMonsterArmy/messages
(And, to restate the clarification Matt has made before whenever his name is tied to this-- he was not involved in the selling of his creation on ebay-- his name is solely attached to this story as the artist who originally created the piece.)

Folks here have a long memory... which is why, as Toyranch said, this story lives on in infamy here at the UMA, and is mentioned in posts at this new site from time to time.  (I'm not sure Icemann made the connection that this message board is directly tied to that old Yahoo group, and is comprised of the same folks who raised the red flags on that auction over at ebay.)

Back when I initially posted in this thread (after the April event), my frustrations were that the descriptions I was reading here were not quite in line with my show experience.  I have a very dear friend here at these boards (Creepy Jeff) who will sometimes buy a booth at a Chicago area toy/collectibles show.  We were chatting by phone, and he repeated some of what had been posted here, saying he was sorry he'd missed the show-- and that is how I first learned of this thread.  My concern was the posts here did not accurately reflect the inequities in vendor booth conditions/positions, nor did they accurately reflect the attending crowd size-- which are both very legitimate considerations when someone is plunking down hard-earned money for a vendor booth.

I think Toyranch has said it well... if you want to advertise here, that is fine, but please identify yourself as the person hosting the event (which is what BOTH Iceman and Hammerfan were as applies to the April model show), or as a vendor AT the event... because testimonials from folks attending are different from advertisement from vendors/hosts.  It's fine to advertise here, just be truthful about it.  (Kinda like an ebay posting saying a magic slate is a fantasy recreation, not implying it's a rare, vintage piece... )

What Gillman is saying, Icemann, is that if you want to promote these events as film festivals, and attract film fans and cinephiles, and increase participation and crowd size, the quality of the prints should be worthy of a glorious barn of a place like the Portage.  Screen the movie first to make sure it's sharp and clear and easy to see.  Make sure the picture is not distorted.  Ideally, get prints.  It's a totally different feeling when the cameras are flickering in the projection booth, as opposed to an overheated DVD projector doing its best to keep up. 

Toyranch is also right when he says fans compare experiences.  I have, in recent years, attended classic movie screenings at the Portage, the Music Box, the Tivoli, the York and Hollywood Boulevard in the Chicago area.  (And just saw Alien at a theater in Louisville.)  I've had good experiences and disappointing experiences. 

I live probably 35 miles away from the Portage.  However, I can be enticed to drive into the city, pay to park and pay $10 at the door for classic horror/sci-fi.  But that evening is going to cost me more than just $10, factoring all that together.  (Plus if I buy something at the concession stand, to help support the Portage itself-- which I am also happy to do.)  If I am going to do all that, and spend that time, energy, gas and money... I do want an movie experience that is more than something I could have staying at home, sitting on my sofa watching a mediocre dollar store DVD of a public domain movie.

These are just and useful suggestions, that could help take a nice idea and really make it great.  Gillmanfan and I are both solid Chicagoland horror fans.  We are neither of us collectors, but we are both film fans... so I would think that makes us target audience members for the movie part of your show.  We are both experienced attendees of film festivals.  I've been to a fair number of conventions and model shows.  You are offering a product, and we are giving you feedback and telling you we'd like changes.  Responding to our disappointment, frustration and suggestions in a mocking and dismissive way is not good business.  We are the kind of customers that bring friends when we go out, spread the word when we like something, and put other rear-ends in seats. (I'm the kind that brought folks to your store.) 

Don't ever think we stand alone. 

[Gillman-Fan]

Really, the main conflict for me is that I really want to enjoy and patronize these local events.

There are several things I think TTT could do to improve . . . and not posting in all caps would be a great place to start. A simple "* All movies shown via DVD projection unless otherwise noted." on their handbills and other promo material would go a long way to clearing things up as well. So far, neither of these suggestions would cost anyone a dime. Also, TTT, don't promote your events as "family friendly" and then have your half-assed MC drop some sleazy humor while introducing the movie . . . save that for the later screenings if you must.

The people I sympathize with the most in this matter are the folks who run The Portage Theater itself. Times are tough and they're in a position to take any booking that comes along. Every time I attend events there I make a point to load-up at the snackbar . . . they also sell beer and wine, which is awesome.

What this entire situation leaves me with is a feeling that these events could be so much more satisfying if certain people's decisions weren't dictated by the money they might make selling collectibles and other ephemera. We're talking about a venue that can be secured for about $500. Film prints can be obtained for virtually nothing if you do your homework.

[Elizabeth]

No fretting that I am lonely or unhappy either.

Opinionated and feisty, perhaps.  Lonely and unhappy, no. 

[hammerfan]

Yes the Portage does have many opportunities for different venues. Like the recent showing of "Blood Scarab" with Don Glut. Wow I think there were a whole 7 people who attended.

[Gillman-Fan]

What's you point?

Sorry, the fact that you're not schilling for TTT just threw me a little.

[Elizabeth]

It's a shame, though, when that happens.

Low audience turn out could mean the event was not properly promoted and/or the material is unappealing to fans.  Bad weather can be a factor, too, or timing... which might have been a factor with screening an indie horror movie the day after Thanksgiving.  

They also had premiered the movie at the Music Box in April... so maybe the Chicago audience that wanted to see it already did.

[ICEMANN333]

UMA FANS ..........LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES ......16 MONTHS OF SHOWS .AND OF ALL THE FANS ......TWO DONT LIKE IT.......I HAVE NOT HAD ONE OTHER PERSON COME TO ME AND ASKED TO CHANGE ANYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING.......BUT TWO OUT OF MANY ....IM SORRY FOR THE SHOWS YOU DID NOT LIKE HOWEVER YOU ARE NOT FORCED  IN ANY WAY TO COME TO THEM.....IN LESS TO SPY OR START TROUBLE........FILMS ARE VOTED BY FANS NOT US......WAS DOES SCARY MAGAZINE SUPPORT ARE SHOW........WHY DOES OTHER SITES SUPPORT US.......FOR THE LOVE OF MONSTER ...IN DVD..BETA...16 MM 8MM FILM PRINT.....ITS ABOUT A GOOD TIME AND SEE IT ON THE BID SCREEN ..YOU CAN STAB ALL YOU WANT.......I STAND WITH MY LOYAL FANS AND FRIENDS WHO WILL SUPPORT ME AS THERE ARE ON THIS SITE A GREAT SITE ITS ABOUT MONSTERS AND FAMILY FAN..YOU SAID YOURSELF THERE ARE KIDS IN THE SEATS .WHY FOR THE FUN AND THE LOBBY WITH OUT DRIVING MILES FOR SITE SEEING AND COMING BACK WITH NOTHING..  THIS IS LAND OF THE FREE..MY SHOW WILL GO ON WITHOUT YOU OR YOUR UNHAPPY FEELINGS TWO OUT OF MANY .I WILL STICK WITH MANY THEN TWO............TO MY MANY FANS LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE NEXT SHOW.OH YES GET READY AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR A BIGGER AND BETTER THREE DAY SHOW.........THANK OYU