Topic: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Right off the bat, we heartily recommend that you don't listen to this episode. Who needs to be reminded, right?

But if you do...

Firstly, here's Ryan's mashup of the 2009/2010 Down in Front moments, as heard on the show.

Secondly, here's the slightly more racy, rude, and profane other mashup of the same period of time. Same format, entirely different sound bytes.

Furthermore, this is available in a handy dandy embeddable YouTube video on Dorkman's channel.

Fourthly, here's how the show breaks down in terms of topics, so you can skip stuff you don't care about.

0:00-2:48 - Intro

2:48-9:34 - Ryan's insanity. (The mashups.)

9:34-40:15 - What we got wrong. (Episodes that never made it to air, revisiting points we made and disagreeing with ourselves, and why Trey isn't pro-Apartheid.)

40:15-58:53 - Seth's problem with The Prestige, and our thoughts.

58:54-1:07:57 - Trey on the VFX bakeoff this year, and visual effects Oscars.

1:07:58-2:30:21 - Dorkman runs us through the 10 Best Picture nominations, and discussion for each ensues. (This is the bulk of the episode.)

2:30:21-2:36:11 - What have we learned, what has surprised us in one year of Down in Frontery.

Because we asked so much of you this week with this admittedly self-indulgent non-commentary episode, we have a very special episode coming up next week, returning to another year of the commentary form. Any guesses?

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Since Teague's done the show notes for this week, this space will remain blank.

Happy Birthday Down In Front!  Thanks for letting me tag along for the ride.

Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Matt "Fayda" Vayda, everyone. You'll hear his voice again soon enough.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Listening to it all now. But speaking from experience of audacity. If your on windows XP...Perfect, you won't find a better program. If you are on vista or W7, DON'T USE AUDACITY.

I too have lost many episodes that have needed to be rerecorded from that. Use Goldwave instead.
I will now continue to listen to the show tongue

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Goldwave? Good to know.

For the record, we record on a Mac, OS X.

As we say in the episode, if we had money, we'd do almost everything differently. As it stands, OS X is what we have. Plus Audacity, plus a USB external harddrive.

Plus a $100 Guitar Center mixer board.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Ok here's my first thought. Trey: Personally, I listen to all of these without watching the movies at the same time. Most of the movies I have seen, and some I've not seen, but I listen anyway. Why? 1- I like listening to you all talk about movies, and interact with each other with your various points of view. 2- If I've not seen a movie, hearing you guys talk about it helps me decide if I want to see it, in some cases. If you think it's really good, I'll check it out. If you think it sucks, I might check it out to see if I agree with you. Either way it's fun to hear you talk about it.  3- In the case that one of you you actually worked on one of the movies you're discussing, it's that much more fascinating to hear your thoughts on that making-of process. For example, The Abyss is one of my favorite films & getting that extra insight from Trey, who was on-set, makes it that much better. Your commentaries are always good; that part is just an added bonus.
-My next bit of feedback is coming soon.. ; )

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

why this episode was good

I'm generally fascinated by making-of content and since i like DIF already, it's a bonus to hear some of the process that goes into making it; good and bad times. It's good that so much thought goes into what you do and that you're concerned with making everything better and learning from yourselves. You're all interesting (and hilarious) people, and that helps makes you enjoyable to listen to. I've heard other podcasts during which I want to punch my ipod lol

While your pov on a film is just that, it was cool that you reflected on how your views might have changed since a given podcast. In fact it's interesting, *during* a commentary, when any of you end up changing your opinion of a movie by the time you're done watching & analyzing it.

With Seth, it was cool that you'd brought (a listener) on and discussed his input as a listener. Also, since I don't personally spend a lot of time on forums in general, (and I mean at all) having a bit of feedback be part of the podcast was fun. In fact, it would be interesting if you incorporated feedback either into the podcast in some way, or maybe an occaisional podcast just to discuss feedback about a particular commentary & what you think about it. (That might not work, or it might end up being a good argument/discussion.) I know that's what the forums are meant for, but just a thought for the sake of bringing it up.

I enjoyed hearing your thoughts about the Oscars. You're all filmmakers and film lovers and it shows. You know what you're talking about and love what you're talking about, which again, keeps it interesting. You're not afraid to disagree with each other on things and It's cool hearing you guys all go off and speak your mind about everything.

why your podcast is good in general-

First off, I love commentaries. Whether fan-made, or "official", I love hearing people talk about movies. Your personalities all fit together and contrast well & I like the combination of Trey and the rest of you as far as the pov of 2 different generations of filmmakers. You always have a lot to say and it's smart & interesting & funny. It's also fun when you have Ryan, Eddie, etc on because they're also cool to listen to, & for when one of the "regulars" can't make it, it's a good alternate perspective. -  Aside from that, see my last comment ; )

I appreciate the time you guys take to do this stuff; It's fun and I always learn from it wink

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

cinebo wrote:

Also, since I don't personally spend a lot of time on forums in general, (and I mean at all) having a bit of feedback be part of the podcast was fun. In fact, it would be interesting if you incorporated feedback either into the podcast in some way, or maybe an occaisional podcast just to discuss feedback about a particular commentary & what you think about it. (That might not work, or it might end up being a good argument/discussion.)

I think it's a good idea. It's like when the Mythbusters go back over old myths that the viewers had problems with.

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Congratulations on your first anniversary!

Enjoyed the show, as always! You're part of my Monday routine and I get a little depressed if you've done a movie I haven't got round to seeing yet. If I don't have the DVD I'll listen around the house while doing other things, but if I'm watching along I tend to do it in bed. There's an image you may not want while recording your next commentary smile

I think the reason I like your show is that I don't have very finely tuned critical faculties (hear me out - I'm going somewhere with this). I know whether I like a movie or not, but I've realised that I don't often know why I feel the way I do. I've found it interesting which points you guys bring up that I agree or disagree with. I usually end up feeling like I know the film a bit better. Or I fall asleep just before the end and have to catch up the next day.

Anyway, thanks for a year of great commentaries. If I had to rate you, I wouldn't know whether to use the Goldblum Scale or the metric Walken.

P.S. Have you guys stopped doing PAL versions of the commentaries for good? I think some of the older ones weren't quite the right length - they seemed to drift off by a few seconds towards the end, but that could have been my computer. I roll my own with Audacity now anyway (Change Tempo with a percent change of 4.271).

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

I like that you guys went out of your way to disavow any connection to apartheid, and in the process confirmed that you are totally in favor of cultural genocide.

Eep.

Posted from my iPad
http://trek.fm

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Uh, how?

Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

No Down in Front episode would be complete without Gregory totally missing the point.  Which we've now explained twice.   Happy anniversary!

Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Trey wrote:

No Down in Front episode would be complete without Gregory totally missing the point.  Which we've now explained twice.   Happy anniversary!

What point did I miss? Apartheid bad, everyone being the same good.

00:39:45
"The ultimate way to solve the problem is for people to not be different anymore."

00:40:05
"The melting pot only works when the melting starts happening. You get to the point where you've eliminated the different because everything's blended and everyone's on the same page."

Cultural genocide has been defined as:

"Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities"

You don't fix the problem by making everyone the same. You fix the problem by Whitey no longer having a problem with people being different.

It's like saying you're going to solve the gay marriage 'problem' by turning all gay people straight.

Last edited by Gregory Harbin (2010-03-09 02:35:26)

Posted from my iPad
http://trek.fm

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Gregory Harbin wrote:

It's like saying you're going to solve the gay marriage 'problem' by turning all gay people straight.

To which I say - yes,  that would in fact solve the "problem".     Would it not?  But I gather you think that it's bad to force people to change in the interest of greater harmony.   

In fact, so do I.  But that doesn't change the fact that eliminating gay people would eliminate the problem of gay discrimination.   

And (for the fifth?  sixth? time) I am not advocating this policy.  I am merely stating that it would work.  Facts are facts, no matter how frowny they make your tummy feel.

Gregory Harbin wrote:

You don't fix the problem by making everyone the same. You fix the problem by Whitey no longer having a problem with people being different.

I get it. Rather than change the gay people, you want to change the people who don't like the gay people.   You do realize that people can - and do - object to homosexuality on cultural grounds?    But you have seem to have no problem advocating a change to that culture...

And that's the problem - Everyone knows life would be better if those "other" people would just change their ways.  Worse still, everybody's right. 

You've just illustrated why multiculturalism is difficult to achieve, though I don't think you did it on purpose.

Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

This was a lot of fun, guys. Congratulations on the anniversary and thanks for all the great discussion!

In my own defense, Eddie specifically said his mom was on the cover of Newsweek in February 1980 with the story "Women in the Military." It's not like I had to do anything more than Google that phrase.

The Prestige is one of the better M Night Shyamalan movies. [ducks]

It was Prince of Tides (not Yentl) that garnered noms for all kinds of Oscars, including Best Pic, but not Best Director.

Avatar stank. I was ready to love it, but the story is vintage '80s guilt, and the aliens are poorly-motivated blue humans with big eyes and kitty cat noses.

I'm in total agreement about Inglourious Basterds, Pan's Labyrinth, and the Coen Brothers.

I like Cars, but the story is fighting itself. Is it a city-boy-falls-in-love-with-small-town-life story or a young-maverick-learns-the-secret-of-winning-from-old-timer story? The ending is a mess.

I hardly ever listen to a commentary without watching the movie along with it, especially when it comes to Down in Front.

Last edited by Zarban (2010-03-09 15:53:55)

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

Zarban's House of Commentaries

Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Zarban wrote:

It was Prince of Tides (not Yentl) that garnered noms for all kinds of Oscars, including Best Pic, but not Best Director.

Aha, yes - you are correct of course.  Yentl was nominated for a few Oscars too, but it was Prince that was up for Actor, Actress, Picture etc... but not director.   Sorry, Babs.

Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

My guess for surprise movie is Pet Sematary II.

Last edited by TrowaGP02a (2010-03-09 07:38:16)

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

For some reason, Trey, you think I'm responding only to you, even though, as you keep stating, you never actually say what your opinion is, so it's impossible to pin you down and figure out what you're trying to say.

The quotes I was responding to were from Brian, and he and I already had a rather productive conversation on the topic, so I think we can just move on.

Posted from my iPad
http://trek.fm

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

The only reason I can think off Watching this with out watching the movie is its like hearing anime in another room, it sounds like porn.....so listening to it with out the movie i suppose would be its pleasure to the ears, sweet sweet pleasure..... big_smile

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Alright! We're like porn!

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Great year guys!
I also normally dont watch the movies with the commentary. Most of the movies you guys do are very popular and I have seen them 3x plus. You guys also do a great job of talking about scenes and not individual lines.

I also found you guys through zarban.com about 8 months ago. Your production quality and general style is much stronger than most of the other commentaries out there.  DiF really focuses on analyzing movies compared to other commentaries. Most try to mst3k and that gets old really quick.

Congrats guys!

P.S. - Who had the TN connections? I live in nashvegas.

Last edited by Twig24 (2010-03-13 20:43:54)

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Grats on the 1 year anniversary guys

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

I lived in (and folks still live in) the Memphis area, I think that Trey is from Tennessee (Nashville I think), and Lowell Cunningham on the MiB commentary is from Nashville as well.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

Man this is really weird, I would have totally bet that I was in the majority of the listening population. You know the one that watches (Or at least tries as hard as possible) to watch the movie WITH the commentary. But I guess it's totally  the other way around.

Anyways, great ep. guys.

On the subject of stuff we have learned over this year: I have come to realize how little I critically think about what I was watching. At least on a level even approaching what you guys are at.

And as far as the big surprise commentary this week, I'm gonna place my bet on Titanic tongue

ZangrethorDigital.ca

Re: Down in Front: Anniversary Show 2010

I'm the Nashvillian, born and raised there until the age of 9, followed by a brief stint as a Memphis resident.     Then Maryland until high school graduation and Los Angeles ever since.   So now you know everything.

maul2 wrote:

On the subject of stuff we have learned over this year: I have come to realize how little I critically think about what I was watching. At least on a level even approaching what you guys are at.

Well of course the average person isn't supposed to dissect a movie while watching it, they're just supposed to (hopefully) enjoy it. 
   
However, for folks who are interested in the process, or are in the business themselves, or hope to be, analyzing why a particular movie did or didn't "work" is part of the job.   Really, it IS the job.

We realized early on that we couldn't do the MST3K/Rifftrax thing (while those may seem improvised, both were/are actually carefully timed and scripted beforehand by professional comedians, which we are not).  And the best "making of" info would be invariably be found by listening to the DVD's actual commentary track and not to us.   

So we eventually took to deconstructing the movies and looking at the working parts as the main focus of whatever the heck it is we do.