What's Playing At The Roxy??

I would like to think that I watch a significant amount of movies. I go to the movie theaters about five times a month, I am an AMC Gold Card Member (I got it back when movies were like $6 a ticket), my DVD collection takes up two tall five-shelf bookshelves in two different locations and I have two 120G external hard drive that only contain movies….yea, I like movies.

How did I get that way? My sister. She is the one who turned me on to the deeper meaning in movies. She took a film critic course at GA Tech and we talked about every movie she had to watch and after the class the critiquing continued. Although she and her course taught me to see the sense of the movie, my joy came from the unification of most movies. The people different people that go to see it, the conversations/debates that are started when friends and family realized they saw the same movie. It brings back a small sense of community to a group of people.

Although I go to the movies often and watch them on my PS3 (because really, who has a DVD player anymore) I prefer to watch my movies on my external hard drive on my computer. It’s quicker and easier to operate. Sometimes I don’t want to see the whole movie, just a quick part, so I skip to the part I like and exit when I want to. And to be honest, I don’t like watching movies on TV. There are just too many commercials and most of the time, so that the station can keep the movie within the two hour time limit, they will cut some parts out…most of the time, it’s your favorite part that gets cut.

And of course, thanks to the great invention that is Netflix, I can now watch all those old movies that my older friends and parents said were so funny (but the really aren’t) for a low low price. And another invention that is helping my addiction is Red Box. Rent a movie (or game) for a $1 a night every time you have it until you return it to the box…what broke college student doesn’t love that idea? J

~Give Me Room to Stand, And I Will Move the World~

Will There Be One?

Well, for my project I decided to interview a couple of people and to start it off I interviewed a colleague of mine. She attended Georgia Tech and in high school played the very sport I'm writing about. Jewel Welch (my big sister) played for the Lady Bulldogs of Decatur High School in downtown Decatur for four years. She helped lead the Lady Bulldogs as close to the state championship as any team has ever gotten, and after her graduating class, the success of the Lady Bulldogs went down hill. She gave me her thoughts on the topic of the WNBA

...

Me: The WNBA was created for women and yet women are the last to watch it, why do you think that is?

Jewel: First of all, sports are only attractive to athletic people. The WNBA was created for women yes, but only people who like sports and are athletic would be interested. Then you narrow it down to only athletic women and from there, narrow it down even more to athletic women, who like basketball. You come to realize that the target audience is very small.

Me: Why do you think the WNBA is not as popular as the NBA?

Jewel: They don't dunk. Limited genetics prohibit [women] from doing the very thing that we all love in basketball. The average women does not grow past 5'9", then add in the factors that we cannot jump as high as men and not built as strongly.

Me: Would you say this is why the WNBA is not as entertaining?

Jewel: Yes! Entertainment is all about what can sell tickets. You're not gonna sell tickets by showing off slow, fundamental basketball. But father a fast pace, throw an alley-oop in the air and dunk it basketball.

Me: What do you think can help improve the knowledge sales tickets of the WNBA?

Jewel: For one, I think advertisement. I can't remember the last time I saw a commercial for the WNBA, but I saw like nine in one hour of watching TV. Constant advertising.

...

It was a short interview, but I learned a lot. So, from an old basketball player herself, the WNBA is not even appealing. I can only imagine what my non-athletic associates have to say.

~Give Me Room to Stand, And I Will Move the World~

Find a Show That's Right For You...

When I'm watching TV, it's not the channels that attract me but more the shows. I find a show that I like and I watch it...no matter what channel it is on. For instance, I love Family Guy (don't ask me why, I just watched it for kicks and giggles one day and fell in love with it). Now, Family Guy is produced my FOX network, so whenever a new episode comes out (Sundays at 9 p.m.), it airs first on FOX. Then a few years back Adult Swim (Cartoon Network for grown ups) bought the first and second seasons of episodes and plays it every weekday night from 11 p.m.-12 a.m. And then TBS got a hold of how successful the show was and bought some episodes also, and they air them Mondays and Wednesdays 8 p.m.-11p.m. and 8 p.m. -10 p.m. respectfully. I watch all of those airings; anytime it's on, I'm turning my television to watch it.

Now, I say that I like show and not the actual cable channel because some of the TV shows that come on the same channel as a loved show of mine I can tolerate but then there are other shows that are just...not my cup of tea. Example, I mentioned I like Family Guy, and its sister show is American Dad, which is a decent show, but Aqua Hunger Teen Force, which airs on Adult Swim with American Dad and Family Guy, is just ridiculous. I mean, if talking cups and chunks of meat is your thing, then go ahead and be happy, but I'll be happy for you...from a distance.

If I had to pick a reason why I'm attracted to certain channels, it would because the shows that they produce make me laugh and leave me caught in their drama. I can enjoy a good comedy any day of the week, so if your shows make me laugh, I'm watching it. I return your attention to FOX. Glee is one of my top favorite five shows; I watch it every Tuesday. FOX also produces the show New Girl, Bones, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. Granted the latter three are more serious themed shows, I enjoy them more for their drama than their comedy, but the attraction is there and powerful. It looks like after righting this blog I do have a favorite cable channel: FOX Network.

~Give Me Room to Stand, And I Will Move the World~

Don't Worry... I've Got TiVo...

I remember when (back when the remote didn’t have a ‘Previous Channel’ button) I would clear my entire schedule (no phone calls, no texts, no Facebook, no homework) just to watch 48 minutes of Law and Order SVU. I would use the commercial breaks to grab snacks and talk, because when the show came back on it was all quiet. Now, I just set of TiVo to record it, I don’t have to be there as it records, watch it later that night and fast forward through the commercials.

TiVo changed everyone’s life (even the ones who don’t own it). The ability to save an episode or an entire season and have a personal marathon whenever you wanted caused people to continue with their lives. What I mean by that is, I know people who would be out having fun and leave the festivities just to make sure they got home in time to see the latest episode. But before there was Tivo, there was Hulu, the internet version of TiVo (almost). If you missed your show, don’t worry because by the next night Hulu would have it up and you could watch it…from the beginning! The only problem with Hulu is everyone would be one at the same time (at night, after work/school) causing it to run slowly. Then they added commercials and that was the end of that.

TiVo came and then after that Netflix. Netflix gave people the ability to have an entire series of tv shows (and movies) for lower than the cost than cable. Six to eight seasons of your favorite show, 22 episodes per season, all for around $10 a month. Still giving the ability to watch when you had the time, Netflix became more desired than cable. So if you had to work late, don’t worry…your show will be there on Netflix waiting for you. Then, to top it all off, all of these opportunities were offered to you on your hand held device; making it able for one to watch on the go. So, if you’re waiting for your dentist you could watch a quick episode of Lost or Cake Boss.

Are habits are changing in the simple fact that there is no more community when it comes to watching tv. People use to gather together at someone’s house to watch the season premiere of a show. But now, people just watch on their own time, when they have the time. And if you fall asleep, don’t worry, you can rewind Tivo.

~Give Me Room to Stand, And I Will Move the World~

It Only Took 15 Years...

On the heels of a much publicized gold medal run by the 1996 USA Basketball Women's Team at the 1996 Summer Olympics Games, the WNBA began its first season on June 21, 1997 to little fanfare. With currently twelve teams, the WNBA just came out with the first ever WNBA video game...hoping to attract "the target audience in a different manner." But is it really worth the buyers time?

One YouTube, I found a video that is essentially showing off the video game played to Beyonce's "Run the World"

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdrwBbymsdE>

As you watch please notice the horrible graphics and non-complex moves the players make (no alley-oops or cross overs, just basic dribbling and maybe a spin move). This type of media is actually a turn off for a gamer such as myself. The first the scenes of the commercial did not grab me at all.

I think the commercial is just trying to help a player imagine what it would be like to be their favorite players and win a game or maybe even a tournament, but the lack of visual stimulation is actually causing this game to seem less desirable than they intended.

Overall, I feel that this commercial did it's part to get the word out there that there is this video game out and we want you to buy it, but as far as making me, or any other viewer, more interested in the WNBA I think it failed. If I wanted to see horrible playing I would actually watch the WNBA, not play a video game.

As far as engagement is concerned, i'm staying away from this game. The commercial did it's job for me, caused me to really not want to waste money on this game. But when one think of engagement from the controversial standpoint, this game is targeting the lesbian audience. Never have you heard a homosexual remark about men playing ball together (even when it's street ball and less clothes are being worn) but put five girls on a court with short on and it's The L Word all over again.

Another commercial for the WNBA (not the video game), this one actually shows some players, just for your viewing pleasure.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X640QFzxl94&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL2990AC6D36E29F22>

~Give Me Room to Stand, And I Will Move the World~

"That's My Jam, Turn It Up!"

I cannot remember the very first time I listened to the radio or the date or how old I was, but I do remember what was playing. My daddy and I have a love for Christmas; really it’s a passion maybe even borderline obsession. We are like two kids with Toys R U gift cards…ready to go wild. When I was younger (and to be fully honest, to this day), after he go home from work we would lay sitting room in the dark and listen to Delilah on B98.5 play Christmas songs for hours. There is something about Christmas that unifies people. And for foreigners like us, we can imagine our family listening to the same song, whether on their radio, and it us really warm inside. Sometime we would lie there so long he would forget I was there and forget I had school in the morning. “Don’t tell your mother, now run upstairs,” he would tell me. And at the top of the stairs, listening to the same station in her room was my mom, shaking her head and smiling.

I had to do a little research on its call letters, which are WSB, and I still did not get a clear answer. But I read that Monica Pearson, from 11 Alive, said it stands for Welcome, South Brother, but that could just be her special phrase for it. I listen to B98.5 for the simple fact that they play good music. They, when it’s not Christmas time, play the “best songs from the 80’s, 90’s and now.” But that translates to me is the best songs from the best era of music, music that I grew up with and music that I like now. Plus they are clean, so I can keep my spirit man happy also. When I hear the music in the car, all I can do is turn up the volume and enjoy!

~Give Me Room to Stand, And I Will Move the World~

You Can Hate On Me

Jill Scott is a wonderful artist who has found a perfect mixture of jazz, spoken word, R&B, and hip-hop. Her soft toned lyrics plus "black girl power" attitude is what first attracted me. Jill Scott demands your attention and respect without even uttering a word. When I first heard Scott I was a preteen...I didn't think I was cute, didn't think I was smart and I just figured I'll just live my life and stay out of the way of others; just let life run right by me. But after hearing "Golden," a song that speaks about appreciating your life (your freedom) and living your life to the fullest, but most importantly enjoying the ride as you go, my mentality about the life I was graciously given changed. She gave of the vibe that she didn't care what anyone thought about her because she loved herself. I continued to listen to Jill Scott and I felt myself gaining strength; realizing that the special thing that is in me is desirable to someone and it's worth showing off. Then songs like "The Way," "Cross My Mind," and "A Long Walk" inspired me to love in a way that was extraordinary. Most of these songs are directed to one gentleman, but I broaden the view to see the bigger picture. Causing me to grow and learn thus providing the world with this sarcastic loving young lady that you see today.

Her neo-soul song "Hate On Me" is the most influential song of her collection for me. I have actually dedicated it to be one of my theme songs for life. The lyrics basically express her feelings, toward yet another gentleman (but let's think outside the box) as to how she could make everything right in "your" life and "you" would still complain....so, you can just hate on me. :-) This song sealed how I wanted the world to view me; I will give you 110% to anything I do, but if you don't like it, that's fine by me...hate on me.

Because of Scott's music, lifestyle and lyrics I have grown and matured into an independent minded, seriously devoted young lady who will work hard for what she wants. You might not want to stand in my way, because I'm not stopping until I hit the top. The most important thing about her music is the positive message. Never does she slander anyone's name or make a group of people feel bad for being different, but instead she gives you her point of view and her emotions and that's it.... what you have to say about it is simply your opinion and nothing more.

"I don't need your love if you don't want to give it, I'm the president of my own fan club!" -Me

~Give Me Room to Stand, And I Will Move the World~