The Ohio Sci-Fi and Horror Marathons

Yet again Infa-Kid misses the point. Bruce have to get prints from legal film distros. There are legal reasons for doing so. The Drexel is a commercial business they can only screen prints through legal channels. In my opinion that he doesn't have the basic understanding on how the movie theater business works. They can't screen a movie from some private collector unless it is in the PD. It is time for Infa's to grow up and stop having these tantrums.

I don't think Infra-Kid is throwing a tantrum of any sort. He is free to express his feelings in any way he chooses. Personally, I like to use this forum as a celebration of what the marathon is and what it means to me and I prefer not to lament on what it is not or what it "should be."

Take a good long look at all the lineups from past years and put them into the perspective of the year they were shown. Strictly looking at them as a list of films, those lineups aren't much different than they are now.

If you truly feel that the marathon has "lost it's path," then not buying a ticket is absolutely a way to make your voice heard. As a consumer, I am always concious of what my money is supporting, and I wouldn't want to lend my support to a bad business model. I am in no way hoping for poor attendance, but I suspect there are more than 2 of us who still feel the marathon is worthy of our support.

And just because we don't hear from them often doesn't mean that the people closely involved with this thing aren't listening to us. But throwing out vague generalities like "lack of passion and not trying," or complaining that some obscure stuff didn't get booked is not a way to steer this thing in the direction you want it to go.

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Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

Wow, hey guys, let's keep it civil. We all care about the event, otherwise none of us would take the time to show up here.

I can't speak for the organizers (Mongo only pawn in game of life,) but I can tell you that Bruce, Joe, Jeff, DaveAndJen, and anyone else who puts on this kind of event is legally (and morally) obligated to confirm presentation rights for everything that they want to show, print availability or not, unless it's very clearly in the public domain. (And sometimes even then it's worth checking.)

That process is a nightmare all unto itself that I wouldn't wish to tackle. It takes time, and it can fall out for a wide variety of reasons (I've seen it happen more times than I care to comment.)

The Organization (as it will heretofore be known) does listen to everyone's opinions on the matter. Including, believe it or not, a wide audience outside of the people on this Forum. Comment cards, talking to people in line, coming and going from the theater, there are a lot of opinions to hear. The one fundamental rule everyone should keep in mind is, "Absolutely no lineup will satisfy everyone. Period."

Bruce does his best. Sometimes he tries new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I think he's batting way above .500, though. I'd give our Marathons a much better overall track record than CWRU, for example.

But what do I know? I'm a bear! I suck the heads off fish!

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David A. Zecchini; Creature of the Wheel, Lord of the Infernal Engines
"Damnati Im Ludum" (VitruvianZeke@att.net)

Those are very good points, Dave. And I hope I don't come across as not being "civil." I have nothing against anyone on this forum or anything they have to say. I am in no way discouraging anyone's opinions. I just feel it is going about it the wrong way to dwell on the negative.

And is it true there is actually a wide audience outside of the people on this forum?! That's encouraging! I wish some of them would poke their heads in here every once in a while...

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Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

There absolutely is. Of the group of people I normally attend the marathon with (my brother, his wife, his best friend, my wife and myself), I am the only one who frequents the forum - and even I am not one of the most regular posters.

Similarly, several of the people I routinely look forward to talking to and chatting with in line (including some members of the 6 a.m. club, like Bob) don't get on the forum.

So - there is an audience for the marathon outside of those of us on the forum.

I don't think I was being negative,just informative. Being an observer from the first marathon to now I just chimed in on a few things. I was just agreeing with LA Connection. Why is everyone ganging up on me? He was the one who stated the state of this marathon. And he has been involved since the "old days" as well. I guess we're just all big horror and sci-fi fans trying to have the best lineup possible. I remember the comment from last year from one of the posters that he wasn't going to travel to see "The $5 Bin From Walmart". I hope our beloved marathon doesn't come to that.
I will be there and enjoy the marathon as always but I think some more promotions should be in order. I'd be glad to drop up some flyers at Cinema Wasteland if they are ready by then. Anyway to help. I have posted many of my ideas and opinions through the last couple years if anyone wants to check them out so I don't repeat myself.
I'll just be there early Saturday morning to enjoy many fine features and food over a 24 hour period. Despite some of my ramblings I do enjoy these events every year and hopefully will continue to do so.

As I wait for the final lineup that I agree with the previous posts. Last year I have my issues with the lineup, I express them, and went to the Marathon. It is true that some of the lineups is not to every liking. Since my first Sci Fi Thon at the Arena Grand I attend ever since. I'll be there like the past years around 6:20-6:30am. Eating my breakfast I get at the McDonalds at Grant and Main, complaining on how DC Comics is once again a mess.

Absolutely not. If you think something is wrong, that won't change things for the better. It will contribute to the death of something we all love. We're all adults and should be able to have a well reasoned conversation. If you think something is wrong, explain the problem here and convince others. If a large enough group thinks something is wrong, I would hope it would change if that change is possible. If it doesn't, then I would expect people to stop buying tickets and the marathon would die. Voting with your wallet is a drastic action when we have such a good method of communication as this forum.

Edit: For some reason, I read into the original quote something that may not have been intended. The word absolutely made me think this was intended to be the best way to make your voice heard. I now realize that may not be exactly what was meant, but I think my point is still valid.

Yes, your point is very valid. I am in no way discouraging attendance. My original argument is that I don't think the majority of us marathon goers has any problem with the official so-far lineup. Saying something along the lines of "well, all of the selections you have chosen so far all stink, but I love the marathon anyway" just makes you sound like Ellen DeGeneres.

You say "if you think something is wrong, explain the problem here and convince others." So far there have only been exactly two posters who have a so called "problem" with the not yet complete lineup. So if any other posters out there think LAConnection and Infra-Kid speak for all of us, then by all means speak up and agree with them.

Again, I will steer the conversation back to Automatons. Generally agreed to be the worst marathon movie ever, yet it is smack dab in the middle of one of my favorite marathons in recent years. The marathon is a unique experience that should only be judged by the sum of it's parts.

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Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

I've always seen the Marathon as the main event itself and the lineup as secondary to the event. I don't really care what is playing. 24 hours in a theater with a few hundred people who like sci-fi movies is what I'm there for. I have never had any problem with the lineup. Sure, I've skipped out on a few films, like Automatons and few others, but I end up socializing with other sci-fi fans, so I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

I don't have a problem with the lineup at all. I may sleep through Star Trek since I've seen it three or four times, but I would never complain about something that is playing. That anything is playing is good enough for me. I even like the bad movies. The Apple is one of my favorite terrible films. I never would have seen it without the Marathon. Now, if they start playing only movies that I would want to skip or sleep through, then I'm going to start posting about my complaints. I highly doubt that could ever happen. I could seen having small complaints about minor issues, but I can't imagine ever complaining about the lineup. I don't even really need to see it ahead of time.

I've been going to the scifi marathon from 1988 to about 2000. I've usually had a good time. 2009 was the first year that I came back to the scifi marathon and w/the exception of Tokyo Gore Police, I thought the line up was pretty good. Other than the changes of venue, the only thing that seems to be lacking compared to previous times is the promotion of the marathon itself.

I can remember winning tickets to the marathon one year on a radio call in contest. Jeff Frank was recently on NPR/OSU 820am w/the All Sides Considered program and brought up the fact that films/events suffer due to lack of promotion.

The marathon is fine, but it needs to be hyped up a LOT more to get more newbies in on the fun.

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mmmmm....cryptobiosis

Superman died AGAIN? Geez, I seriously haven't read DC in a while.

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mmmmm....cryptobiosis

I couldn't agree more. I even had a blast hating that film with 300 people. Some lineups are better than others. I don't love this years lineup, but I wish I could go. I can't get out of work, let alone travel 6 hours each way. But if I didn't freelance and could take the time off, I'd go to this in a heartbeat. It's the marathon I go for and the films are close 2nd. Besides, there's about 4-5 more films to be announced and they could be your favorite films for all you know. Damn, I wish I could go.

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"I came here to chew bubble gum and kick a**. I'm all out of bubble gum."

Interesting.

To me when I hear people say that the films are secondary or that they don't even matter it just sounds rather silly to me. Without the films there is no marathon. Unless sitting in a theater for 24 hours with nothing playing on the screen is appealing to someone. It isn't for me.

That and saying that the film lineup is redundant kinda seems like a slap in Bruce's face to me.

To each their own I guess.

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