The Athletic Nerd is now close to 3 years old and has evolved a ton over the years. Slowly, I’ve carved out an identity for this blog and the graphic look has been gradually improved along the way. Regular readers probably hopefully noticed a couple new banners, ads and post headers popping up over the last few months.
Branding is definitely key when it comes to first impressions. Long ago, my blog was hideous… It’s okay you can say it. With so many fantastic looking blogs out there, you have to be able to compete when it comes to design. So today, I’m unveiling the one thing I felt The Athletic Nerd was lacking. An official logo!
Graphic design is a tricky thing for someone with no training and no ‘official’ experience. For years, I’ve relied on tutorials online and my obsession with Photoshop to get by. I’m sure design professionals will spot flaws I’m unaware of but I like it. I wanted something simple that could be implemented in a variety of ways. For now, I’m sticking with the header image above and the odd advertisement but you’ll see it all over the place in time. In the end, I wanted something that could stand up next to the blog’s tagline:
Movies, Screenwriting & Independent Film
Hope you like the new logo. Stay tuned for a more updates including a brand new series which should be unveiled towards the end of next month!
Click here to check out my about page and email me at jason@17west.ca with any comments, questions or suggestions.
After I killed them I dropped the gun off in the Thames, washed the residue off my hands in the bathroom of a Burger King and walked home to await instructions. Shortly thereafter the instructions came through – ‘Get the f$ck out of London you dumb f$cking c*&#%. Get to Bruges.’ I didn’t even know where Bruges f$cking was…
… It’s in Belgium.
Opening voice overs… So many times they become too long and wordy. The bad ones are obvious and full of exposition. I know because I’ve written some pretty wordy ones myself. (They are collecting dust for a reason.) Needless to say, opening voice overs are difficult to pull off…
Many screenwriters stay away from voice overs. The same screenwriters have probably seen Adaptation (2002) and it’s portrayal of Robert Mckee’s thoughts on the matter:
“God help you! It’s flaccid, sloppy writing. Any idiot can write voice-over narration to explain the thoughts of a character. You must present the internal conflicts of your character in image, in symbol. Film is a medium of movement and image.” (‘Adaptation’ Written by Charlie Kaufman.)
In Bruges is most definitely an exception to the ‘rule’ which are meant to be skillfully broken. (Annie Hall is another fantastic example) I’m a big fan of the versatility of voice overs but it has to be done right especially if it opens a movie. It’s risky but it can also be unique.
Martin Mcdonagh succeeds where many have failed. He strings a couple sentences together and perfectly captures the spirit of the movie and the main character played by Colin Farrell.
It’s a fantastic movie and a perfect example of how a simple concept can be injected full or originality, humor and entertainment in the right hands. I’ve loaned it to so many people who skipped it.
If you skipped it, it’s worth a try. From an aspiring screenwriter’s perspective, it’s absolutely inspiring.
Check out these links for more on Voice Overs in screenplays:
People go to the movies for a cinematic experience. Video games can provide a similar experience with an added level of immersion and interactivity. Over the last few years, I’ve become obsessed with video games that play out like movies.
We’ve been given countless movie like experiences in video games but today I’d like to focus on the studios behind them. The top 10 cinematic game studios.
HONORABLE MENTION | NINTENDO: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, BETHESDA SOFTWORKS:Fallout 3, Skyrim
I’m currently wrapped up in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It’s been dominating most of my free time for a while. Giant RPGs are tricky because they don’t really present a single narrative but that’s also an advantage. The ‘movie’ is different for every single player depending on the choices they make.
The big draw in games like Skyrim is the world itself. Bethesda Softworks creates incredibly detailed and wonderful worlds to explore.
10. BLIZZARD – World of Warcraft
You hear stories about divorces being blamed on Azeroth. While I never got into World of Warcraft, I was completely obsessed with the Warcraft real time strategy games. It was worth it for the cut scenes alone. Blizzard has always created amazing animated cut scenes that weave their plots together between the action. These scenes have always been beautiful and compelling.
Is there a movie?
Sam Raimi has long been attached to a World of Warcraft adaptation but nothing concrete has come along in a while. If you want to follow the film (or the rumors) check out this site.
9. ROCKSTEADY – Batman: Arkham Asylum
In my humble opinion, the geniuses at Rocksteady created the best superhero video game of all time when they unleashed Batman: Arkham Asylum. At least until they topped it with an equally brilliant and fun sequel, Arkham City. These games are love letters to superhero fans with tons of hidden references and cameos. People want to be Batman and these games are the closest thing to it.
The real stand out here are the voice actor’s amazing performances. Especially Mark Hamill as The Joker.
Is there a movie?
You really can’t plan a Batman movie until Christopher Nolan wraps up his legendary trilogy when The Dark Knight Rises is released. Still, I’m sure Warner Brothers is already planning some kind of sequel/reboot/remake/re imagining… Thing. It’s not a stretch to think they have considered these games at some point. Though I’m thinking Nolan will return as a producer and the series will continue the amazing style and tone he developed and mastered.
8. SQUARE ENIX – Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is one of the most recognizable video game franchises on the planet. It’s a world that has already inspired numerous film adaptations.
Hideo Kojima is a legend. Of all the franchises listed here without a movie, Metal Gear is by far the most surprising. No movie yet? Come on Hollywood!
Is there a movie?
It’s listed on IMDB but right now it’s safe to say no movie will be coming any time soon.
6. BIOWARE – Mass Effect
I’m obsessed with the Mass Effect series. This is literally an infinite universe that Bioware has created full of amazing characters and massive battles. Not only is the series a blast to play but it allows you to carry your character over to the sequels. Nice! I can’t wait for my character’s third adventure aboard The Normandy.
Grand Theft Auto 3 changed the way we looked at games forever. It paved the way for so many incredibly deep sandbox games. Grand Theft Auto 4 raised the bar and with the anticipated 5th installment on the way, you would think Hollywood would capitalize on the franchise’s popularity right? Everyone loves a good heist movie and these games are packed with cinematic heist sequences. Not too mention cars, crime, violence and more. Somebody make a Grand Theft Auto summer action movie please?
Is there a movie?
A little digging revealed some rights issues behind the scenes but there hasn’t been a ton of talk out there about getting a production started.
4. IRRATIONAL GAMES – Bioshock
I would love to see the world of Rapture on the big screen. The original Bioshock had one of the best stories I’ve ever played through. I was totally captivated by the world, the art style, the Big Daddy/Little Sister relationships, the twists and so much more. (Jean Dujardin as Andrew Ryan? I don’t mean to type cast the guy but it could definitely work.)
Is there a movie?
A while back, Director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring) was on board and Bioshock was in the early stages of pre-production.
However, budget issues forced the project to the sidelines. This movie has to happen and it HAS to be R rated. I’m happy waiting as long as they don’t sacrifice the elements that made the game so memorable.
Halo redefined the first person shooter when it was released in 2001. It introduced us to an action hero made for the big screen. Master Chief. The game is full of imaginative and exciting set pieces that MUST be filmed eventually… Right?
Is there a movie?
Peter Jackson led a team that included director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) in a phenomenal pairing that every geek loved…
Unfortunately budget issues at Microsoft put a stop to it and they moved on. To date, no official word has surfaced on the Halo movie.
2. INFINITY WARD – CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE
The Modern Warfare franchise pretty much functions as a movie already. Each level is full of amazing heart stopping moments. I still go back and play the sniper level from the first Modern Warfare. Crawling on that grass hoping to avoid capture gets me every time. Great franchise.
Is there a movie?
Nope. Still no word in any official capacity. You have to assume that somewhere there is a studio agonizing over who would play Soap if they ever made a movie… All I found was a couple old articles on MTV and /Film. However, you can’t ignore the original games or the recent Black Ops either…
1. NAUGHTY DOG – UNCHARTED
THE cinematic video game experience. The Uncharted series has successfully blurred the line between video games and movies. When you play Uncharted, you ARE Nathan Drake and you are most definitely IN a movie.
Is there a movie?
David O. Russell was gearing up to direct Uncharted with Mark Walberg attached to star. The casting alone caused some controversy as many fans out there wanted Nathan Fillion to win the role. Just when people got used to the idea of David O. Russell’s approach to the material the project fell apart. What intrigued me were the rumors that Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci would potentially be involved.
This movie WILL happen especially after the huge success of Uncharted 3. It’s just a matter of when and who the artists behind the project will be.
We’ve covered that so it shouldn’t surprise anyone who reads this blog that I follow box office numbers closely. The only place I go for box office information online is Box Office Mojo.
Recently, I was checking the all time domestic numbers and decided to see if I could narrow the top 100 down to 10. Can you?
It may not be my favorite superhero movie of all time but it certainly paved the way for some of the most entertaining movies in history.
“Go web go!”
Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King
#12 – $377,027,325
It’s tough to pick one movie when all three are in the top 100. I look at the series and see one giant incredible movie but I had to pick one so ROTK was the winner.
Even though I absolutely hated the sequel, the original is one of the most entertaining popcorn movies I’ve ever seen on the big screen. It had giant fighting robots and some of the best and most complex visual effects ever created.
Will Smith is my favorite actor. I’m one of the reasons his movies always make 100 million+ in theaters. Independence Day will always be one of the greats. ID4 is a perfect example of a huge box office blockbuster. Big stars, big FX and big thrills.
I talk about Signs a lot on this site. I even thought about leaving it off this list to avoid ‘Signs fatigue’. However, I simply couldn’t bring myself to leave my all time favorite movie off the list.
The Matrix Reloaded
#41 – $281,576,461
It’s ambitious, it’s explosive, it’s cool and it’s confusing. It was once the record holder for most anticipated movie until it was toppled by The Dark Knight years later.
Twister may surprise some people but I’ve always loved this movie. When I was a kid, I used to be terrified of tornado warnings. This eventually ignited an interest in weather and this movie came along right in the middle of that childhood obsession. Twister is a fun movie. Plain and Simple.
Jurassic Park
#15 – $357,067,947
To this day, I’m still fascinated by how well the effects stand up compared to today’s standards. Such a fun movie.
The Athletic Nerd has truly become a big part of my life. Waking up each morning and posting something new from the world of movies was merely a dream a few years ago. I never thought I would make the time to keep up with the enormous amount of work a daily blog demands. Overall, 2011 was a fantastic year that saw the biggest jump in traffic, a brand new look and tons of original content.
When I thought about my goals for 2012 I couldn’t help but feel excited. But goals still need to be set, met and exceeded.
The Athletic Nerd, at it’s core, is a blog about the movies that inspire the aspiring filmmaker. It’s about the passion that fills the pages of a screenplay, the dedication that fuels a director on set and the commitment of an editor pouring over footage in the cutting room. Over the last 2.5 years, I’ve written about virtually everything in some capacity including marketing films, producing and how social media influences a new generation of artists.
I love to write about film. I’m excited to continue writing about my own filmmaking adventures but more than ever, I’m excited to write about the adventures of others. From featuring films in the latest edition of The Post to interviewing filmmakers about their work, I’ve covered tons of projects over the last year.
2012 will come with an increased focus on interviews and features. I’ve spent over 2 years developing a work flow for this blog and now I’m ready to refine it. 2012 will be the year I take the content to the next level. When I start a new screenplay, I challenge myself to be better. This blog is no different.
This post happens to be number 800 overall. 800 posts about movies, screenwriting & independent film. 2012 will see the arrival of my 1000th post. I recently received page hit number 500,000. Half a million! I can’t wait to find out which milestones I’ll be chasing next year.
I’m excited to share the projects that resulted from the fire sparked by the movies I love.
As always, send any suggestions, comments or links to your films to jason@17west.ca
