"There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know.
There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know.
But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don’t know."
-Don Rumsfeld/Former Defense Secretary/a.k.a. "Rummy" a.k.a. "That Guy with the Pained and Creepy Grin"
Yeah, I never thought I'd see the day when I was quoting THIS guy in connection with the Marathon. But strange times call for strange measures, no?
So without further ado, here are my known knowns when it comes to all things Marathoid:
*As Aaron has so succinctly and accurately stated, the experience of the event is really what has kept folks coming back for all of these years. If these Marathons had just been 12 films shown with none of the accoutrements (trailers, host organisms, intermission music, t-shirts, programs, etc.), they'd have died a long time ago. In keeping with this known known, it can safely be said that a great experience can overcome a less than stellar lineup.
*HOWEVER, no matter how great the accoutrements are, the film lineup ultimately does count. Trust me, from a marketing perspective, it's much easier to draw newbies to the Marathons by enticing them with a cool slate of films, and then really setting the hook with the rest of the experience. And as far as the veterans go, sure a less than stellar lineup probably doesn't kill your commitment to the cause. But damn, think of those times when a Marathon has had a REALLY killer lineup. Think of how much it stokes your excitement even more in the days and weeks beforehand. Because after all, this is still a filmic event, and the films are part of what drives the overall experience. Yeah, it can come across as a bit of a chicken and egg argument, but over years of planning the Horror Marathons, I've definitely found that the lineup still counts. You, the vets would mostly be sold no matter what; but there are many others out there who need a bit more motivation to make it their first time...or their second time...or their eighth time.
*As the years have passed, the advance planning of the Sci-Fi Marathons has become more and more fragmented. No opinion there, just a factual statement. And almost none of that deterioration has been due to Bruce. Yep, we've had this discussion many times on this forum (including a few times this year), but the Drexel still holds the ultimate decision making power in this endeavor. Don't get me wrong: Bruce is still the driving creative force behind much of the event, and there have been years when you can really see his fingerprints all over it. But there have also been years (more recently than in the past) when he's been severely limited in his contributions because, hey, the Drexel ultimately has final say on what films are booked, when the event is held, etc. etc.
*I'm all for emphasizing the positives of this event. And yes, it can be easy to bitch and moan about things along the way. Don't like a few films in the lineup? Join the crowd, my friend, because we've all had that experience over the course of our Marathon-going experience. Like any event of this kind, there will never be 100% audience satisfaction with the lineup, a sentiment that's probably not helped by the broader culture's increasing shift toward maximum personalization (but that's probably a discussion for another day...and another thread.)
That being said, there are many of us who deeply care about these events. And ultimately, we ARE the event. Without us (and by that I mean the entire audience), there would be no Marathon. It's quite easy to advocate loyalty to the event no matter what, but realistically that can only go so far. 'Cause I'm here to tell you folks, if the attendance always stays about the same, if no one ever really votes with their feet or their dollar, the Drexel really has no motivation to shape up their role in the planning process. (See Frog Slowly Boiling in Water adage.)
*So what am I saying? Well, like we've repeatedly stated this year, if you have a deep problem with how parts of this event are being run, go to
www.drexel.net and send them your complaints in e-mail form. It might not do a whole bunch, but at least you'll know that your voice is out there. I can vouch for those of us behind the scenes (even though Dave Z., Jen C. and work in a more limited form on the SF Marathon) that Bruce and the three of us are doing all we can to make this work. But as long as the event stays at the Drexel, they're the ones calling the major shots. Volunteering to help with the event, or offering help to Bruce is great and recommended. But all the volunteering and help in the world won't change things if the Drexel continues to plod along as they have.