Travel Ideas

by: Scott Foreman

You love movies. That?s obvious or you wouldn?t be here. You?ve got a good system where you can watch your movies. That?s also obvious. Now comes the fun part, what do you watch? Because you?ve seen so many movies, the local movie rental store may not be giving you a decent supply of films.
Besides, who wants to drive to the movie store, pick through the (possibly) meager selection, wait in line, drive home, and still be saddled with late fees because you didn?t want to do that all over again in a few days?
In steps the online movie rental site. No driving, no late fees, and a selection to die for. Plus, for a flat fee you rent what you want as often as you want. There?s no doubt that for the busy (or lazy), online movie rentals are the way to see every movie on your ?must see? list.
Just in case you?re unfamiliar with online movie rentals, here?s a brief summary. For a monthly fee, you can rent a certain number (many times, unlimited) of movies per month. You can only have a few DVDs out at any one time, but as soon as you send one back, the company will automatically send you the next movie on your preference list. Almost always, there are no late fees. You can hold the movies as long as you want, but realize that you don?t get new movies until you return the old ones.
Here are some of the most common questions (and their answers) concerning online movie rentals.
How do I pick movies? The DVD movie rental website will list all of their available DVDs to rent. When you open an account, you set up a preference list of 10-50 titles that you would like to see. Setting up the preference list allows the movie rental company to know what to send you next, without having to check with you every time. If the first selection on your preference list isn?t available, you?ll receive the highest DVD on the list that is available.
What do I pay for shipping? All of the companies that I have reviewed pay the postage to send you the movies. Likewise, they all send a return envelope so that you can return the DVD without having to pay for postage.
How long before the movies arrive? Each company has a different policy. Depending on where you are located in relation to one of the company?s distribution centers, the shipping can take anywhere from 1 to 6 days.
How long can I keep the movies? The simple answer is, as long as you want. That?s the beauty of online DVD movie rental. Whenever you return a movie, the company will automatically send you the next movie on your list. As noted before, while there are no return deadlines, for as long as you keep a movie, you?ll never get a replacement for that movie. Likewise, because you pay a flat monthly fee, the more often you exchange one movie for another, the higher the value of the service.
As you can see there are a number of advantages to using an online rental service. With monthly plans starting at just over $10, you?re sure to find a deal that fits your budget.
Just to recap, online movie rental services might be for you if: -You rent more than 3 or 4 movies per month. -You tend to rack up late fees for your DVD rentals. -You are looking for movies that your local rental store doesn?t carry. -You can plan ahead just a bit in order to get the movies you want at the right time. -You?re too busy or lazy to drive to the local rental store.
Now that you?ve got the basics of online DVD rentals, make sure you check out the list of the best rental sites online.
See our list, plus more frequently asked questions at: http://www.home-movie-theater-guide.com/DVD-movie-rental.html
In the mean time here’s wishing you success, fun, and happiness in doing that which you love.
Scott Foreman mailto:scott@home-movie-theater-guide.com
This article may be reprinted for use in newsletters and websites provided that the information box is kept intact. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: articles@home-movie-theater-guide.com

About The Author

Surround Sounds, Stereos, Sofas, and Screens. A Home Movie Theater takes us to another world. Thrill with the Ultimate in Home Entertainment. Lose Yourself in Movies without ever leaving Home at Scott Foreman’s http://www.home-movie-theater-guide.com
scott@home-movie-theater-guide.com

It’s A Wonderful Movie

by: Stephen Schochet

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) began as a short story called “The Greatest Gift”. Writer Philip Van Doren Stern was unable to sell it to a publisher, so he sent the tale out as a long Christmas card to friends. His agent subsequently sold the fable to RKO pictures, where it went through several transformations. In one version a losing political candidate contemplated suicide, only to have an angel convince him to stick around and do good works. Finally it fell into the hands of Director Frank Capra who cried when he read it, said it was the story he had been looking for all his life, and purchased it to be the first project for his new production company, Liberty Films.
To play the unassuming savings and loan clerk, Capra wanted Jimmy Stewart who he had previously worked with in You Can’t Take It With You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939). But coming back from World War II, the thirty-seven year old Stewart was no longer the easy going man about town he had been in the thirties. The former Academy Award winner for The Philadelphia Story (1940) had led a thousand men in bombing missions in the European theater in hard to maneuver B-24s. The loud engines damaged his hearing, in later years people when people would greet him and he would fail to respond, some would mistake his deafness for a cold personality. He was uncertain after five years away from the screen if he still wanted to be in the movies. Sometimes the profession seemed so humiliating. In 1943 when Stewart had tried to stay in the best hotel in Madrid, he was turned away because he was an actor. He went back to the air force base, got his Lieutenant Colonel’s uniform and then they let him in.
When he returned to Southern California in 1945 Stewart took things easy. He refused to re-sign with his old studio MGM, despite tearful requests to do so from the hammy Louis B. Mayer. He was content to spend time flying kites and building model planes with Henry Fonda. When Capra came to make his pitch Stewart looked bored, out of it, causing the Director to lose confidence. “Well Jim, it’s about a savings and loan clerk who wants to commit suicide. There’s an angel named Clarence who shows him what life would have been like without him. . . aw forget it, it’s a stupid idea.” Capra was turning to leave when Stewart put his hand on his shoulder. “Frank, if you want me, I’m your man.” At least that’s how the film’s publicists told it.
Stewart was morose and insecure as filming began. Since he went off to serve, Hollywood had found new leading men like Kirk Douglas and Gregory Peck who were seven years younger than he was. Some scenes called for the now graying actor to still be in high school. He felt ridiculous and considered plastic surgery. But he was helped greatly by his co-star Donna Reed who encouraged him throughout. In the romantic scene where George (Stewart) and Mary (Reed) declared their love for each other, Capra joked that Stewart was so nervous he wrapped a phone chord around them so he wouldn’t run away. James was also helped by the film’s villain Lionel Barrymore who was confined to wheelchair because of crippling arthritis. “Son, I want you to cheer up. Don’t you know you make people happier being a movie star than you ever did shooting at them in a plane.”
In the 1930’s Capra had toiled at Columbia Pictures which was ruled by the autocratic Harry Cohn, long considered the meanest man in Hollywood. The Mogul kept the entire studio electronically bugged, displayed a huge portrait of Mussolini in his office, and used an electrified chair to give unsuspecting victims sudden jolts. Capra had sat in it once, received a shock and angrily smashed the chair to bits. When filming began on It’s A Wonderful Life, Capra was happy to be free of Cohn, but nervous. Now his own money was part of the investment. Known for making movie sets fun places to work, he was at first crabby and irritable with his cast and crew. Filming a snowy, Christmas movie in over one hundred degree heat in Encino did not help morale. Many of the heavily dressed actors fainted. But there were nice moments. One scene required Mary to throw a rock through an old mansion window and make a wish. Capra had a marksman ready off camera but to his delight Reed shattered the glass on her own. She turned to him and said,” Why so surprised? Don’t you think an Iowa farm girl would know how to play baseball?”
As the shoot progressed Capra regained his confidence. He disdained special effects when Clarence Oddbody the angel (Henry Travers) did his magic, preferring to tell the story through his actor’s faces. The Director started to believe he was making the greatest movie ever. As his mood lightened the Company enjoyed picnics and singing on the set which were hallmarks of Capra’s earlier films.
Too dark, the Country wanted comedy like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Too dated, Wonderful Life came off like a depression film rather than a post war movie. For whatever reason the three million dollar production failed to make its money back. Capra chose to fold his tent shortly after the movie’s release calling Liberty Films,” The quickest way to go broke a man ever devised.” Stewart panicked. The ex-war hero received a phone call from his agent. “Donna Reed loved working with you. She wants to do it again.” “No way. That girl is jinxed.” June Allyson became his leading lady of choice playing his wife five times. Decades later he would praise the performance of a bemused Donna Reed for making Wonderful Life great. “My God,” she told her friends. “He sure didn’t say that when it came out.”
Years passed. From that point on Capra, unwilling to either risk his own money or work for somebody else directed very few movies . Stewart decided to portray a stronger image on screen. He refused to play in war movies saying they were unrealistic, choosing instead hard, gritty Westerns like The Man From Laramie (1954) which helped to make him rich and surpass John Wayne as the nation’s number one box office star. Reed restored her career by winning an Academy Award for playing a prostitute in From Here To Eternity (1953) and then became one of television’s most wholesome mothers. And It’s A Wonderful Life fell into the public domain in 1973 because no one renewed it’s copyright. The forgotten film was shown repeatedly on almost every cable television station, finally got a huge viewership, and became a perennial Christmas Classic.

About The Author

Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks Fascinating Walt Disney and Tales Of Hollywood. The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says,” these two elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining.” Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at http://www.hollywoodstories.com.

orgofhlly@aol.com

How To Tell If It’s A Swell Motel

by: Ed Williams

Lately, I?ve been doing a lot of traveling in connection with my writing. The past three weekends alone I?ve driven to Sylva, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky, and Destin, Florida. Overall, I?m holding up reasonably well, except for the fact that my rear end is starting to closely resemble the upholstery pattern of my car seats. I?ve also learned that you don?t want to drink a twenty-four ounce Diet Mountain Dew in a plastic bottle just before you drive up to Atlanta. Doing that can give the term, ?the Foggy Mountain Two Step,? a whole new meaning.
When you travel a lot it gives you the opportunity to stay in motels. Lots of motels. And I?m learning very quickly which ones are the good ones and which ones are the ones you need to avoid like a polecat. Believe me, even in this day in time there are as many fleabag motels as there are fire ants, and if you?re not careful you can easily find yourself in one. Like the one I found myself in recently where the showerhead was level with my chest. I honestly had to bend over so far to wash my hair that I felt like a human parentheses. Or the one that I stayed in a couple of months back that had a TV with maybe four viewable channels, and the remote had no batteries in it. Oddly enough, right there on the nightstand was a little sign telling you that they had batteries for sale in the lobby for only three dollars apiece. Isn?t that classy?
Because of experiences like that, I?m going to do a little public service column for y?all this week, and point out just what to do look for so that everyone can avoid all the fleabag and clip joint motels that are out there in travel land. Just consider the following:

If it costs less than thirty dollars a night for a room, avoid it like a beet casserole. Think about it - going to a movie nowadays costs maybe fifteen or twenty dollars for two people. Snacks like popcorn and cokes can easily double that cost. Altogether, a couple could very easily spend thirty dollars or so for a movie. Common sense tells me that any place that will let you stay overnight for less than it costs for two people to attend a movie has got to have something wrong with it. Maybe something major wrong with it, like a door that won?t lock, or towels that smell like a bass. Just a hunch, mind you, but less than thirty, it?s gotta be dirty. Find another one.
If a motel deliberately misspells its name, avoid it like a cash strapped relative. Y?all know the types I?m talkin? about - motels that have names like, ?Thriftee Inn, ?Sleepee Inn? or something else disgustingly similar. The folks running those joints want you to think they?re one thing, but, when you lay down and find that Mr. Cockroach and his family are in bed with you, it?s too late. Hard to sleep when you?re perched up on top of a nightstand for the rest of the evening.
A ?pay per the hour? option is offered. No need to say a whole lot more about this, but if you still go ahead and book one of these joints you?ll find that the bed in the room is in real bad shape, but the furniture is in near perfect condition. Go figure.
If the place offers adult movies on their TVs, and you decide to watch one and it seems like the action is occurring in a room that looks a whole lot like yours, consider writing off the rest of the evening, packing up, and quickly riding on down the road. If you don?t, not only might you become an accidental adult film star, but you might also discover that some of these ?reality based? adult films feature haints that not only shouldn?t be filmed, but probably shouldn?t even be allowed outdoors in the daylight. Just my opinion, though.

And there you have it. Practical guidelines for keeping a fleabag joint out of your moteling future. I?d write more, but I?m doing this on a laptop computer out on the road, and this motel I?m staying in is charging me a dollar a minute for electricity, and don?t even ask me about the eight dollar rolls of toilet paper…..

About The Author

Ed?s latest book, ?Rough As A Cob,? can be ordered by calling River City Publishing toll-free at: 877-408-7078. He?s also a popular after dinner speaker, and his column runs in a number of Southeastern publications. You can contact him via email at: ed3@ed-williams.com, or through his web site address at: www.ed-williams.com.

by: Stephen Schochet

Studio executives in High Concept Hollywood have very short attention spans. When pitching a film idea, many believe if you can’t do it in one sentence it is an unmarketable product. For example Planet Of the Apes (1968) starring Charlton Heston was pitched by producer Arthur Jacobs as “Moses Talks To Monkeys”. Passenger 57( 1992) with Wesley Snipes was known as “Diehard On a Plane.” Director James Cameron, despite a strong track record with films like Aliens (1986) and True Lies (1994) knew he would have a tough selling job after he went deep sea diving with Dr. Robert Ballard to glimpse the remains of the RMS Titanic. He became so emotionally involved by the experience that the sinking of the famous luxury liner in 1912 had to be the subject of his next picture. His pitch to the nervous executives at Twentieth Century Fox was,” Romeo and Juliet on a doomed ship.” There was a tense pause and Cameron said,” Also fellas it’s a period piece, it’s going to cost $150,000,000 and there’s not going to be a sequel.” Fox, a studio which had known great success with both The Love Boat (1977-1986) TV show and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) was dubious about the idea’s commercial prospects. But wanting a long term relationship with Cameron they gave him a green light.
Previous movie versions of the Titanic had focused on the historical aspects of the ship hitting the iceberg, so Cameron decided to play up the fictional love story. After Gywneth Paltrow turned down the female lead, Kate Winslet campaigned for it heavily by sending Cameron daily notes from England stating, “I’m your Rose.” Her persistence led Cameron to invite her to Hollywood for auditions. One of her screen test partners Leonardo DiCaprio, impressed her so much she whispered to Cameron,” He’s great. Even if you don’t pick me, pick him.” Cameron picked them both, but Leonardo was harder to convince. Playing a romantic lead in a blockbuster just didn’t seem cool. Cameron told him,” I know what you want. You want to play him with a deformity or a limp. Well, it’s lot harder playing a nice guy like Jimmy Stewart then one of those freaky, weirdo characters.” Freaks and weird character portrayals often take home Oscars, but DiCaprio agreed to play the part.
For a major Hollywood production the star salaries were relatively low, DiCaprio made the most at $2,500,000. The biggest expense of the film was building the ship, it required the construction of a entirely new studio in Rosarito Beach. Cameron’s attention to historical detail was evident down to the carpets, the grand staircase, the Picasso paintings and the 1911 touring car that Jack and Rose made love in. But other aspects of the film were less accurate. There was no evidence that on the real life Titanic people in third class were blocked from reaching the upper decks and the lifeboats, the emphasis was on rescuing the women and children, the richest man on board the ship actually died. In the film, First Officer William Murdoch was portrayed as a coward who shot passengers, in real life he was a hero which caused James Cameron to apologize to his surviving relatives. And Leonardo’s character Jack was based on an unattractive coal miner, who never left the bottom decks, let alone met someone like Rose.
Cameron, temperamental in the best of times, was surviving on three hours sleep and saved most of his screaming for the film crew. His philosphy was you couldn’t get great perfomances out of the actors by yelling. In one scene, Winslet and DiCaprio were running away from a huge wave on one of the decks and the actress was submerged and nearly drowned. Moments after she was rescued Cameron calmly said,” OK. Let’s do it again.”
As the costs began to mount along with the stories of the director’s slow pace and temper tantrums, the Fox executives began to freak out. They suggested an hour of specific cuts from the three hour film. They argued the extended length would mean less showings thus less money. But long epics are more likely to help directors bring home Oscars, and Cameron was more defiant than DiCaprio. “You want to cut my movie? You’re going to have to fire me!” You want to fire me? You’re going to have to kill me!” The executives, knowing that starting from scratch meant their entire investment would be gone, did neither. They also rejected Cameron’s offer of forfeiting his share of the profits as an empty gesture; they were sure there wouldn’t be any.
With more special effects being added Titanics’s release date was moved back from summer to Christmas 1997. At one point Cameron visited the Twentieth Century Fox studio headquarters to request permission to shoot additional footage and ran smack dab into company chairman Rupert Murdoch (no relation to William) in the hallway. After months of fiercely ordering people about, the self proclaimed “King of the World” could not look his real boss in the eye. “Uh hi. Uh I know I’m not your favorite person spending all your money. But I guarantee you the movie will be good.” Murdoch, with a glint of steel in voice, replied. “Young man, it had be better be better than good!”
Thanks largely to repeated viewings from young girls, the film made more money than any other picture in history. It tied Ben Hur (1959) for the most Oscars (11) although it was not even nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The Fox Executives were more relieved than euphoric and promised no more $200,000,000 movies, they felt like they had dodged a bullet. DiCaprio who infuriated the studio by refusing to promote the film and show up at the Academy Awards, became a $10,000,000 per picture star, was chased down streets by adoring young females, and later called the whole Titanic craze,” kind of an empty experience”. Winslet, who at one point during the shoot woke up and said, “God I wish I was dead”, moved back happily into smaller independent films. Cameron got his original profit share and continued to lose his temper, suggesting a film critic who panned Titanic be impeached. He reflected later that movie prices had to be raised to fifteen dollars to pay for overblown budgets. “People would be mad for six months and then they would come back. Of course I wouldn’t want one of my movies coming out during those six months.”

About The Author

Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks Fascinating Walt Disney and Tales Of Hollywood. The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says,” these two elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining.” Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at www.hollywoodstories.com.

orgofhlly@aol.com

Dare to Dream: The Vacation of a Lifetime In A Timeshare

by: Dana Randolph

What are your chances of getting the vacation of a lifetime without having to save for a lifetime?
Renting a timeshare may be the answer to your dream vacation without having to make a long-term commitment. Many individuals are willing to rent their allotted timeshare week to you. Because of an inconvenient date or some other personal reasons, many times owners are unable to use their timeshare and are willing to sell their time period to you. With a little research either on the Internet, local newspapers or even visiting with realtors, you may be able to step into a dream vacation. Exotic places wait for you and your loved ones.
Timeshare companies and timeshare owners offer an alternative to the overpriced hotel and motel rooms. Virtually every year the costs of hotels go up. You can usually control the price tag of your vacations by utilizing timeshare resort rentals. Timeshare owners normally charge a set price for their rentals, and they do not need to increase prices to pay for labor and other usual expenses incurred by hotels. This keeps the price of a vacation rental on a more consistent level each time it is rented.
Timeshare resorts are located in incredible destinations around the world. Where have you always longed to go, but thought, “Wow, it would be too expensive to stay in a place like that!”? Mexico? Hawaii? How about Europe? Sure, those destinations can be expensive, but with a timeshare rental, you can get into incredible resorts for a fraction of the costs of a hotel vacation.
In most cases, hotel and motel rooms are undersized, have few amenities, and cost more than a timeshare rental. Typically when you rent a timeshare unit, prices are for seven nights, not per person. The units can sleep anywhere from 2 to 10 people. You choose the type of room and amenities you want! Studio, 1, or 2 Bedroom with kitchen, dining and living area units are all available.
No matter how nice the Hotel or Bed & Breakfast….. it still is just one small room! Why spend one or more weeks on vacation in a cramped hotel room and have the extra expense of eating out for every meal. Enjoy the spaciousness and freedom of a completely furnished resort condominium and save money all at the same time! And you will not be required to attend a timeshare sales presentation.
Put your vacation plans into motion and start your search for the ultimate spot you’ve been dreaming about. Whether you have dreamed about walking barefoot on an island or skiing down a mountain in another country, there is a timeshare available to you at a more than reasonable price. It takes only a little time to put the details together and make your dream vacation become a reality.
Timeshares are a proven concept for vacationers in many countries, and holiday planning is one of the top growing segments of the leisure time industry all over the world today. Why not begin your search today by perusing newspapers and travel magazines, or logging onto the Internet and searching for “timeshare rentals?” Dare to dream!
© Copyright 2004 by Dana Randolph. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Dana Randolph

Looking for information about timeshares? Go to http://www.atimesharesz.com. A Timeshares Z is a timeshares and vacation, resort and condo rentals and resales directory.
webmaster@atimesharesz.com