Oscar Shorts Swanking - 2011

[LSPoorEeyorick]

It's time for that annual tradition of seeing, ranking, and yapping about the Oscar-nominated short films over dinner.

Please select all times you would be available, if you'd like to come.

Looking forward to it!

[Ghoulish Delight]

I can add a poll, let me know what the options should be.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

8 options:

- Saturday Feb 12 at the Nuart (West LA)
- Sunday Feb 13 at the Nuart (West LA)
- Saturday Feb 19 at the Nuart (West LA)
- Sunday Feb 20 at the Nuart (West LA)
- Saturday Feb 26 at Laemmle Sunset 5 (Hollywood)
- Sunday Feb 27 at Laemmle Sunset 5 (Hollywood)
- At the TodiMooers pad, via Video On Demand
- Keep your shorts to yourself

Thanks, Greg!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Poll added, made it multiple-selection so people could indicate any day they might be available.

[mousepod]

Leaving the Egyptian out of the poll?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm going to say we're possible on the Saturdays in question though I beg you not to count on us. The Egyptian is a Friday so we wouldn't be able to make it anyway.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm out of town Valentine's Weekend (Feb. 12, 13), but otherwise am available and don't want to miss out on this annual tradition.

SO DON'T DO IT ON VALENTINE'S WEEKEND. :blush:

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Left out the Egyptian because it's on a Friday and many people can't make it up to Hollywood by showtime. We usually go on a Saturday or Sunday.

And, d'oh, I have managed to make my second poll error of the day. I accidentally voted Sundays instead of Saturdays outside of VD weekend (so as to catch both Happy Haunts and iSm.)

Right now, I'm leaning toward either Saturday 1/19 or Saturday 1/26, either at the theaters or at our place (which involves only paying the PPV price once.)

[innerSpaceman]

Much as I love a visit, I think I personally would like to continue the theater tradition. Well, the poorly-projected DVD on a theater screen in an auditorium tradition.

That's just me. I'd be more than happy to have a TodiMooers Pad shindig!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

We're good for theater too, but open to hosting...

[Ghoulish Delight]

To update our availability, Saturday the 12th is not workable for us, but the other Saturdays are.

[mousepod]

I should probably point out that the 27th is actually the day the Oscars are aired.

[lashbear]

Look! Some bastard voted the "Keep your shorts to yourself" option.

What sort of killjoy would do that !

[innerSpaceman]

Results?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Looks like one of the Saturdays worked best for the majority of people. 19th or 26th. Any last requests?

[innerSpaceman]

Well, the 19th is going to be a Lucent Dossier event, so my personal vote is for the 26th. Oscar fever at a pitch that day, too!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

26th it is!

[mousepod]

I probably won't make it the night before the Oscars - because I'll be cleaning the house and preparing the house for the Oscar party (that's right - you're all invited).

I do have tix for the Branagh thing, so I'll probably be with you in spirit.

[Alex]

Saw the animated shorts yesterday.

Nothing spectacular in the group and it probably isn't a great sign that of the 7 shorts shown (2 bonus shorts are included to fill out time) my favorite was not one of the nominated ones.

If forced to choose I guess I'd go with "Madagascar: A Journal Diary" as while it has no story it does something interesting with the animation. I'd forgotten I'd already seen the Pixar short "Night and Day" and was surprised how little it did for me as I remember enjoying it the first time.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm not seeing the screenings listed on Laemmle's site. Is there info, ticket sales anywhere yet?

ETA: Hmmm, according to This page (http://www.laemmle.com/comingsoon.php), they're on Friday the 25th at not at the Sunset Laemmle, not the 26th and 27th.....

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Ach, they changed their release locations.

According to the site, it starts on the 25th (doesn't end) - but it'd be Pasadena, not Los Angeles. (Though their times/ticketing isn't available yet.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Ah okay, I was reading that as a one-day thing, not a start date. Phew. Well, pasadena works (as would Encino).

[katiesue]

Do we need to get tickets?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

We do, and they finally released the showtimes for Saturday (http://www.laemmle.com/viewtheatre.php?date=02262011&thid=6).

I propose 3:30 for animated, 5:30 for live action, after for dinner. In favor, opposed?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Aye

[katiesue]

we're in - getting tickets now

[BarTopDancer]

Is this the same theater we went to last year or the year before?

[katiesue]

ok our tickets are purchased. 3:30PM animated and 5:35PM Live Action. Can't wait I've missed out the last few years for various reasons.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm in if there are tickets left on Friday.

What are dinner suggestions/budget ranges? I remember some awesome places the last time we did a screening in Pasadena but I have no idea if it's the same place.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It is the same location as the previous time we did it in Pasadena where we had tapas afterwards. Hopefully they do a better job of projecting it this time!

[Not Afraid]

We are going to be in Costa Mesa getting rid of furniture, so we're out.

[innerSpaceman]

It is the same location as the previous time we did it in Pasadena ... Hopefully they do a better job of projecting it this time!

Can we go to Encino?


Seriously, I don't think I'm interested if it's that same dumpy theater in Pasadena.

[BarTopDancer]

Kathy (and it sounds like others) already purchased tickets.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Yup, tickets purchased. So fvcking excited to go out like real people! :D

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's not like the Encino Laemmle is some sparkling multiplex. Plus, I'll gladly trade some key stoning issues for the prospect of dinner in Pasadena vs. Encino

[BarTopDancer]

I'd love to go back to the 2nd place we went to. I remember bongos. It was either the name or they were playing them.

[Morrigoon]

Well, I'm out. Can't even guarantee being back in town by Saturday :/

[mousepod]

Saw 'em last night. This is a good batch. Sorry I can't join you all. See you on Sunday?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Tapas and Bongos, same place. La Luna Negra. I remember it being an amazing evening. Wanna go?

And even people who aren't going to the shorts should come.

[Tom]

It's not the same theater as last time. It's a different dumpy theater in Pasadena.

[BarTopDancer]

Tapas and Bongos, same place. La Luna Negra. I remember it being an amazing evening. Wanna go?
Ya! :D :snap: :cheers:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Tapas and Bongos, same place. La Luna Negra. http://loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/images/buttons/reputation.gif

[innerSpaceman]

Ok, so WHICH dumpy theater, location please - and what time? I might be willing to give a different dumpy theater a shot. ;)

[BarTopDancer]

Are we meeting for foodstuffs before too? Or meeting at the theater?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Post 18 24

[BarTopDancer]

That says what time the movies start. Not what time to show up. :(


I think we made a reservation at La Luna Negra last time. Perhaps we should take a count and make one (for inside since it's supposed to be storming)?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Show up in time for the movies! At the new dumpy Pasadena theater I linked to! And we look forward to seeing you all there!

[Gn2Dlnd]

My Saturday is now in flux, hope I can make it!

[Kevy Baby]

My Saturday is now in flux...They make a capacitor for that

[Ghoulish Delight]

Checking the elevation in Pasadena...850ft above sea level.

Dress warm folks!

[BarTopDancer]

I hope it snows!!!!!!!!!

(and I hope I can still go!)

Everything I've seen online says it's going to be in the 50s.

[Kevy Baby]

Pasadena weather forecast (http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Pasadena+CA+USCA0840) for Saturday is high of 51, low of 35 with rain in the forecast.

Unless you are going to Pasadena, TX (http://www.weather.com/weather/today/USTX1024), where the weather is going to be much nicer.

[BarTopDancer]

But they said the snow level was going to be 800ft. No fair.

[Gn2Dlnd]

3:30 for animated, 5:30 for live action @
Laemmle's Playhouse 7
673 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, 91101
626-844-6444

w/dinner afterwards @
La Luna Negra
44 West Green
Pasadena, CA 91105
one block south of Colorado Boulevard
626-844-4331

Izzat still the rundown?

[BarTopDancer]

Should we make a reservation for 730 or 8pm at La Luna Negra?

AccuWeather says 8pm rain and SNOW!!!!!!!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Eek, I just called for rezzies and they can seat us at 9. Is that OK with everybody? We could shop or step into a cafe in the meanwhile. Or we could go elsewhere. (I just know we all loved La Luna Negra.) I made the reservation, in case we want it.

[innerSpaceman]

I can't make it at all, sorry.


Not quite up to it yet. Going out lots last weekend was really bad for me, so I think I'm gonna save my zip for mouspod's oscar party (where, between missing the shorts for the first time in years, and all the other movie laziness this year, I will have seen the fewest oscar-nominated films EvAR.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yaaaaaay that was fun.

Good batch of nominees this year, really not a bad one among them. And it had the least depressing cancer short ever! We learned to never trust British school boys. And I move to ban all accordion music from future nominated animated shorts.

Dinner was yummy, if noisy. When we showed up there was the traditional flamenco dancing going on, but by the time we sat for dinner, it was an obnoxious Salina cover band. Yikes. Not even the bevy of hot women dancing it inspired was enough to dull the pain.

But no matter, the conversation was worth it all. What a great night out!

[Kevy Baby]

I voted for 2/12 - am I too late?

[BarTopDancer]

Does anyone want popcorn?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Here are the LoT Oscar picks and personal favorites. (Note, there were 8 of us there for the animated films and 10 of us for the live action.)

Animated: The personal favorite was Madagascar with 3 votes, While Lost Thing and Pollution had 2 votes and Gruffalo got 1. The Oscar pic was a tie between Madagascar and Gruffalo with 3 votes each while Night and Day got 1 vote.

Live Action: Wish 142 (we called it Cancer Boy) was the landslide personal favorite with 8 votes while Confession and God of Love got received 1 vote. However, the Oscar pic was spread out almost evenly, with Confession receiving 4 votes and Wish 142 and Na Wewe receiving 3 each.

I'm rooting for Madagascar and Wish 142 though I think Confession will take Live Action.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

BTW, if you have not seen the shorts, I think anyone that enjoys interesting animation MUST see Madagascar. Well worth the iTunes purchase. We're watching it again now and it's incredible.

[Alex]

Madagascar was the only animated nom I really liked. Let's Pollute was amusing I'll forget it. Neutral on Day & Night. Slightly bored by Lost Thing. Lani and I mostly (literally) slept through The Grufallo that repetitiveness may be good for 3 year old picture books but it put us out.

Didn't see any of the live action shorts, but if I had Wish 143 would actually have been the second "cancer boy uses his make-a-wish to get laid" film I've seen this year.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Agreed on all points on the animated. Except that I think the Gruffalo could have been saved by giving it some pace and life rather than the odd decision to make it a dull trudge.

Without getting too spoilery, that's not quite an accurate description of Wish 143. But more importantly it was really well done. Funny, emotional, and meaningful without being cloying or oppressive.

Na WeWe was weird. I started to think early on that it was a comedy, then I started to question it because, while it still seemed like they were delivering punch lines, I felt like I just didn't really get the joke. I mean, I think I got the bottom line point of it, but it felt like it was a bunch of inside jokes for locals.

God of Love I liked but I'm a little surprised it won.

[katiesue]

I agree on God of Love - it was cute but nothing special.

Is there anywhere that has all the shorts to purchase? iTunes has some but not all of them.

[Ghoulish Delight]

If I recall from our home viewing last year, not really. You can generally find some of them available for free online, some on itunes, some elsewhere with hunting. But they haven't done a great job of making them available in one easy location.

[katiesue]

A few years ago I got them all on one DVD but I can't find that they've done that the last few years.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Getting the rights to show them all at once is tricky enough - DVD rights are famously hard to get and almost impossible when you're talking about so many different companies. (Kevin Smith could never make a decent box set of his earlier films because they're all different companies, so he sold a very nice empty box that you can put the various DVD releases in.)

[BarTopDancer]

I found the promised pictures. They are on a hard drive that is about to fail. Said hard drive is not being touched until I can get a replacement.

sorry!

[Ghoulish Delight]

I blame David Lynch