The Hunger Games

Hi guys. I want you to peer over to the top left at the box office gadget. Yes, that number is not an error; the Hunger Games has opened to 155 million, the third highest opening for a non-summer, non-sequel film. I'm absolutely certain this was due to its heavy promotional campaigns. There wasn't a single website, network, news station or billboard that didn't run an ad for this movie. It was so in-your-face that I got fed up of HG at one point.

There are a lot of excellent movies that never got half the publicity Hunger Games got, and I want know why?

My theory is this: We are, in fact, sheep. Our buying habits are influenced by trends and has very little to do with preference. For the last ten years or so, we, the avid movie goers, have been led to believe that there will always be a blockbuster franchise to keep us salivating with anticipation. First it was Harry Potter and then Twilight. Now that these two have ended or are coming to a close, we, the sheep, will soon have no one to herd us. What is a poor sheep to do?

BOOM! In comes Hollywood (the herder). They can't lose the sheep to the wolves (independent thinking) so they scramble to lead us to greener pasture. And what is this pasture? Why, Hunger Games of course! 

Hollywood needed a new franchise--and fast. They knew they had to hook that core audience created by Twilight and Harry Potter and since most of that demographic were girls 14-25, they were aware that shiny new pasture had to come from a young adult novel. A search here, a jump there and (ta-da!) the most anticipated movie of 2012 was found: The Hunger Games. 

I am all for blockbuster franchises (it gives the sheep something to look forward to and spend their money on), but why just one? I am pretty sure there are a lot of FANTASTIC YA novels out there that have great stories just like the Hunger Games, so why over-hype one and not the other? You tell me 'cause I don't know. But I will say this though: a lot of writers will now hope their work will get the same treatment as the Hunger Games, and I must sadly inform you that this is delusional. These blockbuster movie franchises aren't created based on quality or even likability, it's an industry employing the full use of its power to maintain THE TREND. Another important factor is time. Breaking into a market at the right moment is crucial. It can make stars and shatter dreams. In this instance, the Hunger Games had a perfect storm of industry backing and near impeccable timing.    

An Award And A Question

I was fortunate enough to be given this award by two amazing people: Nick Wilford and Elizabeth Seckman.
Elizabeth wanted to see this cheerful image juxtaposed against the gray banner of the Lich King, so consider your wish granted!

Here are the rules:



      *   Thank the person who gave you the award and provide a link.
      *   Write a post about it
      *   Answer the questions below.
      *   Pass it on to 10 bloggers who you think really deserve it and let them know
      *   Answer 10 Questions:

Favourite colour: Black

Favourite animal: Lion

Favourite number: 12 (lots of reasons for this)

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Gatorade

Facebook or Twitter: Facebook (I don't really like Twitter)

My passion: Writing and Computer Technology

Getting or giving presents: Both.

Favourite pattern: No idea.

Favourite day of the week: Friday, because I get to party rock!

Favourite flower: Ur... I have no idea. Never thought of it. Does that make me dense?



There are three people I would like to present this award to:


Tabitha Olsen
Michael Offutt
Ryan Field

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If I were not a liberal and despised the Democrats, and if I absolutely had to choose a candidate (don't really fancy any of them) for the Republican party, it'll have to be Mitt Romney. I like his plans for Jobs and Economic Growth:

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As well as some other agendas including his Foreign Policy and Health Care reforms. I, however, will never ever consider Newt Gingrich because he might be elected to the White House and sleep on the job. Don't believe me? Watch:

I know he was indeed tired from working so hard, but the role of the President is very taxing and if you can't handle it (or sleep management) then, sorry, you are not fit to be in office. 

If you absolutely had to choose a republican nominee (you don't have to), who would it be? 

The Lucky 7 Meme And...

C.M. Brown invited me to play along in this awesome game.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:


1. Go to page 77 of your current Manuscript.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 authors.
5. Let them know.

I have not reached that far in my current WIP, so I'm using work from my MG Fantasy instead.

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"These kids must be crazy!" they whispered.

Whether or not Bane and Styx heard, or cared, really didn't matter at that point. Twenty four hours had passed and only three minutes were left before all their effort and money was destroyed.

Bane dashed to the counter and skid to a halt. Styx came crashing into him and they both fell onto their sides. They rolled and stepped on each other as they edged to the cupboard--only a few minutes remained and all would be lost.

"Get it! Get it!" Styx said.

Bane slid his hands beneath the crate and gently lifted it onto the table. He hobbled to his feet with the jerks of Styx's eager head pushing him to the side.

Was it too late? Had he failed to make magic?

His respiring hastened as he placed his hands on the white lid and slowly lifted it. The moment had arrived--mere minutes remained--Styx gasped--he gulped--and then--

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Facebook is the biggest social network on the planet and things can get a little, um, mixed up because of it. 

This is the image my ten-year-old cousin found in his inbox. From Facebook. He sent it to me with the caption, "LOL at Facebook. They think I'm a girl." Apparently this is an ad campaign for yogurt. And might I add, a very risque one at that. 0_0

The cream on this dude's body looks like some other white stuff men have (or is it my dirty mind?) and if that barcode were any smaller, this would be an ad for the porn company Vivid Entertainment.     

It's actually quite an effective image for its target audience, I think (which does not include the likes of ten-year-old dudes). I can imagine opening this up as a girl and going crazy: "Damn I want some yogurt! And some other white stuff men have." (Or is it all in my dirty mind?)

Have a great day guys!

To Leash Or Not To Leash?

I was in the mall yesterday with some friends and this woman sauntered by with her two sons and daughter on a white dog leash. I about died. It was the first time I had ever seen anything like that and I immediately went over there and asked this frizzy haired, heavyset, forty-something-year-old lady what was the deal?

"I don't want them running around and causing trouble," she said. "This is easier for me."

So you don't care that you treat them like wild dogs?

She laughed. "Nope. They're my kids and if I didn't do this they'd get lost or break things."

I sympathize with her, I really do, but I think there are better ways. Good behavior starts at home--I'm old school like that. If you set boundaries for your kids and discipline them the right way, then they'll understand that mommy is in control and if I do this and that there'll be consequences. You also have to set rules when you enter a public place. Pull the children aside, kneel at eye level and inform them that mommy or daddy wants good behavior; tell them that they could get lost and mommy and daddy might never see them again; make them aware that they are not to touch people's property without consent; and last but not least, reward them with a treat if they follow mommy or daddy's wishes.

I'm no expert but this is how I would do it. Me and my sisters were never rowdy kids because we knew if we dare stepped out of line, our ass would be on fire when we got home.

But I digress. In my humble and everyday-guy experience, kids on leashes is a lazy approach to parenting. Not to mention, visually appalling. There are many who agree and there are some who don't.

Here is an expose on this very issue by ABC.

What are your views on this issue? To leash or not to leash?

Second Campaigner Challenge - Part 2

Sorry for missing yesterday's post, things got a bit hectic but I'm here now. :)

This is the follow up to the logline. What path will Haysus take? Let's find out.




Haysus stole watches, clothes and food from the people in his village. At the tender age of nine he had seen the inside of a jail cell twenty times. One more strike and he would be banished for life.

"Why Haysus?" his mother said, crying on her knees  "Why must you be this way?"

"It's because of you!" he replied. "Because of you I'm poor--because of you I have to scrunt like a dog!"

On his way to steal from the mayor, Haysus heard a loud Crack behind him.

"I've been watching you Haysus," said the bony man with red eyes. "I am Lucif--ahem--Merchant Aknem, and I am here to make you a wealthy child. All you have to do is sign this contract and then build a house, marry a girl and, last but not least, kill a family. However, you only have one hour to do so--or else..."

Haysus' eyes widened with glee. "I agree!"

So off he went to complete the first task. He stole lumber from the lumberjack but realized he had no clue how to build a house. He paced up and down for a while, then a pair of events happened at that instant: he could see though his hands and he got a brilliant idea! Haysus ran to the river and built a one foot sand castle. Now the next challenge was a bit tough, considering thirty minutes had passed and he was completely transparent. All the girls he approached ran away in shock, so he couldn't ask them. Once again, Haysus got an idea. Instead of a living girl, he stole a doll and asked the local priest to marry him.

Two down, one to go. And the last was the easiest by far.

Haysus sneaked up behind his family while they were eating lunch and raised his dagger to kill his mother. He lingered there for a moment. He couldn't do it. He ran to the backyard and cried. No one could see him now. The family pigs all gathered near his sobs and at once he did the unthinkable.

Crack!

"Very clever of you to improvise, Haysus, but you failed the final test. Your soul, dear boy, is mine forever!"

Haysus knew his life had come to an end, but--

"You owe my family the riches I will never get."

"How so?" asked Merchant Aknem.

"I did kill an entire family. I killed the family pigs!"

Haysus couldn't steal his family's life that day, but he left them with riches he will never see.



I hope you enjoyed this one. I look forward to reading your thoughts and critiques.

Have a great day everyone! ^_^

Second Campaigner Challenge

Hi everyone!

I'm back after a long week of working like a bee, and I'm ready to give this second challenge my all! Before I explain what I'll be doing for this contest, let's have a brief summary of the rules shall we?



Prompt 1: 

Two people are sitting together under the remains of a concrete bridge. Their backs are against a rusted bridge support. One person’s leg is cut. The other person has wet hair. 

Prompt 2: 

(Source)

Prompt 3

(Source)

Prompt 4

(Source)

Prompt 5

(Source)

Second Campaigner Challenge

Do one or more of the following:

1. Write a pitch/logline for a book based on the prompts (less than 100 words)
2. Write a short story/flash fiction piece of less than 200 words based on the prompts
3. Write a poem with a twist using the prompts as inspiration (in less than 200 words)
4. Write a story/poem in five sentences, each sentence based on one of the prompts
5. Write a poem/flash fiction piece (in less than 200 words) about the water pear *without* using the words “pear”, “spoon”, or “droplet”.

I'll attempt two out of five prompts and I'll post one today and the other on Wednesday. The first will be the logline, as it's a nice change of pace, and the other will be a short story. I might change my mind and do one more, it all depends on how my work week goes, so you never know. :)

My logline is based on the image with the poor kids. Allrighty then, without further diddlying, let the challenge begin!

One Hour To Live

Haysus has nothing but wants everything, so when a strange merchant promises to shower him with riches, he doesn't hesitate for a second. All he has to do is complete three tasks:  build a house, marry a girl and kill his entire family. Sounds easy enough, except he only has one hour to finish...or disappear forever.  


And that's it!

I want you guys to critique this every which way. Be as critical as you can, be as kind as you can--aw heck just critique the darn thing!

This was fun and I can't wait to see what you guys came up with!

Have a great day!