Where Can I Watch Movie Trailers

Where Can I Watch Movie Trailers
By Geraldine Oaks

The query where can I watch movie trailers is not an uncommon statement of curiosity for those who enjoy watching these types of videos. Admittedly, previews, although they primarily serve as teasers to the expecting audience as they grant a glimpse of what’s in store for the in the full length film, do have some sort of individual charm as a product of the multimedia industry as well. In other words, there are people who like to watch movie trailers as they are, not because they want to see what’s in the movie, but because they simply want to watch these videos that were originally intended for advertising a supposedly bigger media product.

The good thing about movie trailers is that if you keep in mind where can you can see previews you won’t be wondering too long. This is because they do not have strong copyright technicalities because they are meant for promotional purposes, which means that advertisers wouldn’t mind if people randomly took copies of these promotional videos for their movie and post them all over the internet. This way they can actually save on advertising expenses but get more than what they actually bargained for. It’s quite a coincidental commercial strategy.

If you want to watch movie trailers online you can practically find them anywhere on the internet. As a matter of fact, they are so much easier to find than other types of videos that are posted and streamed on the internet. Plus they are usually short films so you can easily download them if you want without necessarily violating any copyright laws.

Hot Costume Trends For 2008

Hot Costume Trends For 2008
By Heidi Loney

Pop Culture and Movies continue to influence costume trends and theme parties for this year. Costumes are not just for Halloween any more. Here are some of the biggest influences of the year:

Sex and the City

This is predicted to be the biggest chick flick ever! Theme parties and girls night out will never be the same. Of course, when dressing like Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha, it won’t be complete without designer shoes and handbags, jewelry and the latest fashion forward clothing. Wigs can make this even more fun with a Sarah Jessica curly style or a sleek Samantha coif. Don’t forget to add a Cosmopolitan.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

There was plenty of hype for this four times a charm flick, even when the hero is a senior citizen Leather whips, felt fedoras and leather bomber jackets will be all the rage. The era has been moved from World War II to the fifties with Russians as the bad guys. The black page boy will become a big hit this year fashioned after Cate Blanchette’s KGB resident naughty girl.

Ironman

This movie has already broken records at the box office. Robert Downey Jr’s Ironman is sure to be a hit - especially with the younger set. Disguise costumes is releasing a licensed costume for kids and adults that will be available by the end of the summer.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

This has been a very big franchise in the cinema world and it will continue to be very successful in 2008 with the release of the latest movie just after Halloween. Rubies offers a large selection of officially licensed Harry Potter costumes.

Hanna Montana

Can’t say I get it, but tweens are eating this stuff up. Miley Cyrus, better know as Hannah Montana, has girls scrambling to dress in her style of clothes, makeup and accessories.

Sweeney Todd

Pack up your Jack Sparrow costume! Pirates are out and killer barbers are in - largely due to Johnny Depp’s creepy murderer. Despite it’s 2007 release, Tim Burton’s vision of Sweeney Todd is sure to be a huge hit for all come this Halloween. Who thought that Victorian squallor could be so chic (dripping with lots of blood of course).

Star Wars - The Clone Wars

30 years ago, I dressed as Princess Leia for Halloween. Who’d of thought it would be as popular as ever. Star Wars will be huge again this year with the Clone Wars - an animated feature film due in August. Rubies has a full selection of Star Wars costumes for adults and kids. What’s new? Princess Leia sexy slave outfit.

Other hot items:

It’s too early to tell, but Batman and the Incredible Hulk both are releasing movies this year, so these could be big influences.

What’s out:

Pirates have been huge for the last several years, thanks largely to Pirates of the Caribbean. This year, that trend has come to a grinding halt. It will continue to be popular with the little ones. Also, Spiderman took a nosedive in 2007, and will continue to loose ground. Superheroes have great longevity - so we will see Spidy make a comeback.

Heidi Loney has worked as a costume designer and wardrobe stylist for theatre, film and television for the last 10 years. She currently owns Ms. Dress-Up, a Toronto based retail and on-line store offering quality kids and adult dress-up clothes. Check out her website: http://www.msdress-up.com/shop/index.php

Horror Movie Fan sites

vampire

• Drink Deeply and Dream: The
  Reality of the Modern-Day Vampire - Attempts to explain the realities of
  vampires, the truths and facts while dismissing the myths and legends.
  Includes largest real vampire-dedicated ezboard forum for personal
  interactions as well as real time chat.
• 
  Everyman’s Vampiric Community - Dedicated to providing a safe haven for
  real vampires. Numerous articles, a lexicon and personals are included.
• Living Vampires -
  Information and articles discussing things from the nature of vampires to
  the development of the vampiric community. Classifieds and links are also
  included.
• An Open
  Letter to Any Who Would Wish to Become a Vampire - If you wish you could
  be a vampire, please read this first.
• The
  Practice of Psycho-Magickal Vampirism - Dedicated to providing
  information on magickal psychic vampirism.
• Real
  Vampires - An article by Inanna Arthen which relates vampires through
  historical fiction to modern day realism.
• Sanguinarius.org for Real
  Vampires - Dedicated to providing a wide range of resources for the
  vampiric community including a support page, directory, community calendar,
  #Sanguinarius on IRC, and articles which provide tips and advice.
• SphynxCat’s Real Vampires
  Support Page - Support site for real vampires, those who think they
  might be, or those knowing someone who might be. Includes anecdotes, advice,
  support and many links. Everyone needs a starting point somewhere, and
  someone to say they’re not alone.
• St. Louis After Dark - The source for
  information on the vampire community in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.
  Also features articles on general, blood and psychic vampirism.
• Vampires - Collection
  of links and other resources about real vampires.
• Vampirism Information
  Archive - Includes information on psychic and magickal vampirism, a
  guide to bloodletting, theories and a historical timeline.
• VC Magazine - Monthly e-zine of
  the Vampire Church. Showcases dark-culture, featuring original poetry, art,
  stories and reviews of movies, music, clubs and websites. Extensive past
  issues archive.

• The
  Awakenings - Vampire Page - Article features a typology and description
  of different types of vampires. Includes links to related sites.
• Crimson
  Vision: Real Vampires - Information on various types of vampires with
  links.
• Dark Dreams -
  Dark poetry, short fiction and art. Articles on subjects such as dreams,
  real vampires, and earth religions. Links to other resources.
• The Dirty Divine Sinner -
  Information on a wide variety of vampiric issues.
• European Night - Gwennifer’s
  Guide to Vampiric Living - Dedicated to vampires and their lives with a
  particular focus on vampires in Europe.
• The Lleandracul
  Vampiric Research Center - Dedicated to the study and support of
  vampires, those who live the lifestyle, and those interested in them.
  Features classifieds and an article on myth versus reality.
• Psi-Vampire
  - Dedicated to information on psi-vampires. Includes various articles and a
  chat area.
• Shadow
  Vampire - Talks about and helps people understand real vampires.
  Includes message board.
• Shishain - One of a
  large group of people who have the fundamental need to exchange energy with
  others through various means: pranic, psychic, emotional, or sanguine.
• Sylnt Dreams of MidNyte
  - Information, support, and other resources for real vampires. Has a donor
  safety article.
• Twisted Reality - Information
  about psi vampires, sanguinarians, and various articles including feeding,
  protection and shielding.
• The Vampire Don - The official
  website of The Vampire Don Henrie.
• Vampiric Reality - Contains
  articles on vampirism, awakening process, types of vampirism, and the
  differences between sanguine and blood fetishism. Includes a lexicon.
  Separates myth from reality.
• Vampirism -
  A single page discussing psychic vampires and the dangers of blood-drinking.
• Vampsimans Vampire Page
  - Helping young vampires go through their awakening, lots of information on
  advantages and disadvantages.
• 
  Verthaine - Devoted to increasing understanding about those who both
  live the vampyre lifestyle and are into the aesthetic of it. Has information
  and articles on real vampyrism.

• Bloodlines International - An
  organization created with the idea of uniting vampires, donors, weres,
  witches and those who support vampires from coast to coast and from the
  street to the internet.
• Cerc Family
  - Cerc is a safe haven for all vampires. A place for support and
  understanding. Information on Psychic Vampirism provided.
• The Coven Organization
  - An international Vampire organization for the preservation and prosperity
  of the Vampyre community and culture.
• House
  Crimson Blade - Mississippi’s largest Dark Society, they welcome with
  open arms those that have been cast out by others. They have Basset, Blood
  Fae, Lupin, Pranic, Sanguines and a few others thrown in the mix.
• House Eclipse - This is the
  official home of House Eclipse, a Vampire House located in the Greater
  Washington, D.C. and Baltimore region. Here you will find information
  pertaining to modern sanguinarian and pyschic vampires, and various occult
  and magical information.
• House Saint Germain - A
  small Vampyric House based out of New Orleans, La. that concentrates on
  teaching the true nature of vampyrism and their Kin. HSG Creed “To Know, To
  Learn, To Teach”.
• House Scarlet Moon - House
  Scarlet Moon prides themselves as NightKyn, true to their natures and
  balanced with a full life, career, and family.
• House Sekhemu - A Luciferian-based
  order with a heavy magick and esoteric flavour.
• House St. Germaine -
  Devoted to promoting the studies of alchemy, astral travel, magick, and
  vampirism..
• National Vampire
  Association - For members of the NVA only. Offers members newsletters, a
  member listing by state, and message board. No non-member content. For
  vampires to share information and socialize.
• New Jersey
  Association of Real Vampires - A real vampire’s guide to NJ, NYC,
  Philly, and the surrounding areas. Resources, events, organizations, and
  links.
• Order of
  the Crimson Tongues - This Order has been founded upon the idea of
  preserving free speech within Vampyre / Vampire Communities.
• Temple of the Vampire - An
  international church devoted to the immortal vampire religion. Their mission
  is to find those kindred vampires not aware of their true heritage of
  potential immortality and power.
• Vampire Church - An
  international group. Includes articles, regular chats, forums, and a monthly
  newszine.
• Vampyre Sanctum -
  The Vampyre Sanctum provides a safe haven and information for the real
  Vampyre and the Vampyre community. The VS also promotes unity within the
  Vampyre community.

• Lair of the SheBitch - Forum,
  erotica, stories, films and music, artwork, links, gallery, downloads and
  poetry.
• Tabula
  Rasa - Vampire Mythos - Article looking at the myth of the vampire,
  including its history and how it has been presented by David Carroll.
• Vampire
  Legacy Society - Dedicated to researching and recording the vampire
  legend, past and present, fact and fiction. Features a variety of
  interaction.
• Vampyre
  Resources - Vampire and gothic resources, postcards, moon phases, Edgar
  A. Poe writings, Druid and Pagan information, online tarot readings and
  vampyre subculture.
• Vampyres Only - Variety of vampire
  information including FAQs, forums, collaborative stories, books and films.

• Lair of the SheBitch - Forum,
  erotica, stories, films and music, artwork, links, gallery, downloads and
  poetry.
• Tabula
  Rasa - Vampire Mythos - Article looking at the myth of the vampire,
  including its history and how it has been presented by David Carroll.
• Vampire
  Legacy Society - Dedicated to researching and recording the vampire
  legend, past and present, fact and fiction. Features a variety of
  interaction.
• Vampyre
  Resources - Vampire and gothic resources, postcards, moon phases, Edgar
  A. Poe writings, Druid and Pagan information, online tarot readings and
  vampyre subculture.
• Vampyres Only - Variety of vampire
  information including FAQs, forums, collaborative stories, books and films.

• Simply Dark Vampire
  Connexion - Vampiric studies, communication, stores, community, fares
  and links.
• VampGirl.com - Vampire galleries,
  picture of the week, book of the week, software of the week, chat, links
• Vampire Research
  Society - A variety of research on Vampires. Includes FAQs, conspiracy
  theories, book reviews, vampire types and general information.
• Vampires Among Us - Serving
  and uniting the vampire/vampyre community. Fiction, folklore, real life,
  roleplay all covered. Information, news, chat, music, original art/writing
  by visitors.

• Cafe de Minuit - List of
  vampire fiction, clubs and music.
• Dark Fear - Sites organized by
  content, top 100, and search available.
• International Vampire -
  Amsterdam - A number of pages dedicated to vampires and the mystery of
  the undead.
• Melinda Hayes’
  Vampire Resource Page - Bibliography, literature links, journals,
  artwork and vampires in movies, television, literature and music.
• Queer Vampires - A
  sanguinary feast for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered. Learn
  about queer movies, books and sites, read stories, see pictures or talk with
  others.
• Sanguinarium - Network and
  directory of individuals, social organizations and businesses.
• Sultry Night - Books,
  music, travel, cafe de minuit, nightclubs.
• The Sultry Night
  - Books, cafe, clubs, movies, and music.
• Vampyre Exchange and
  Information Network - Organizations which cater for a variety of
  interests, locations and sources of “paraphernalia” and listings of events
  which is regularly updated.
• 
  Vampyres - The House of Wisdom - Variety of information including types
  of vampire, relation to cats, Nosferatu, guide to vampirism, humor and
  links.

• 
  David Reed Vampire Study Center - Artist David Reed’s collection of
  vampire lore. Reed compares vampire’s non-reflectiveness with abstract art.
• Dracula’s Ball - National
  gathering of vampire enthusiasts, held in a nightclub setting. Features live
  bands, DJs, vendors and general information.
• Famous
  Mormon Vampires - Affectionate list of famous Mormon vampires (or people
  who are nearly so), including Buffy star Eliza Dushku and shock rocker Alice
  Cooper.
• Vampyre Queen of the Week
  - A new Vampyre Queen chosen Sundays from scream queens, writers,
  webmistresses. Plus vampire art and poetry.

• Digital Vampiric Discs -
  Vampire movies on DVD. Information, reviews, release dates and discussions.
• Nosferatu on
  Screens Small and Large - Charting the history of vampires on screen,
  searchable by date or by title.
• Radu’s Blood Bath -
  Dedicated to Full Moon Pictures’ vampire movie series including Subspecies
  and Vampire Journals.
• 10 Stupid Vampires
  - Humorous look at the “Bottom Ten” vampires of film and elsewhere.
• Vampire Acid Mice - Offers
  vampire movie reviews.
• The Vampyres Film
  list. - Comprehensive alphabetized text listing of all vampire movies,
  including the year, director, and link.
• Vampyres Online - Vampire
  movies described and reviewed with complete cast information. Also Vampire
  postcards, images, and downloads.

Science Fiction Conventions 101

Science Fiction Conventions 101
By Leslie Halpern

So you want to find out the latest gossip about the next “Star Trek” spin-off television series. You need to debate the overlapping qualities between science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. You’d like to match trivia about the making of the Harry Potter film series. You’re excited about showing off the new Zorro costume you designed and hand-stitched. You can’t wait to “do the time warp again.” It sounds like you’re ready for a sci-fi convention.

You can choose from a large variety of science fiction conventions (either general sci-fi or catering to specific genre such as horror or anime). Nearly every weekend, there’s a convention going on somewhere in the country. The bigger ones offer gaming rooms, panel discussions, special guests, lectures, movie screenings, dances, singing, trivia contests, role playing games, interactive events, Q&A, dealer rooms, auctions, and a con suite (a hospitality room in the hotel or convention center with mingling and munchies). Just check your favorite search engine for “science fiction convention listings” or “sci-fi conventions” to find out some of the available options that suit your schedule and interests.

I’ve attended many conventions in recent years including large events such as Worldcon, Necronomicon, and Megacon. Whether it’s a one-day event or a three-day celebration, here are a few helpful suggestions for newbies attending their first sci-fi convention.

1) Besides the usual items, you might want to pack a costume or two. Some conventions have multiple costumed events (e.g., interactive “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” masquerade party, themed dances). Some attendees dress in one costume for the entire event (Darth Vader, for instance); others dress in different costumes for different events; and some choose to observe rather than participate in costume contests and events. Check the conference schedule for costumed events that interest you and then pack all the accessories (except the weapons) to make the outfit complete. Don’t be too disappointed when someone shows up with a better costume than you!

2) For the packrats out there, bring a tote bag, backpack, purse, or hip bag for carrying essentials like the program guide, camera, notepad, snacks, and freebies (given out at panel discussions or taken from the freebie table at most cons).

3) Wear a watch. Generally events are included on the schedule, but many overlap or run concurrently. Events are scheduled well into the night, so you’ll always need to know what time it is so you won’t miss anything you just have to see. Keep the program guide in a convenient place as you’ll be consulting it often.

4) Bring extra cash, checks, and a credit card for the dealer’s room. Try to support the on-site vendors. The dealers offer unusual sci-fi merchandise and rent the space to be there. Other vendors who rent tables near and around the con area are often panelists and speakers selling their books, magazines, and other merchandise. These vendors typically don’t get paid for attending the convention and offering their expertise during the sessions. Support them as well.

5) If you have a product or service of interest to sci-fi fans, bring your own give-away items (postcards, bookmarks, flyers, magnets, booklets, etc.) for the freebie table.

6) Upon registering at the convention, you’ll be issued a badge. Wear it the entire time you’re there. Even in costume, bring it with you. It’s your security clearance and free admission to everything.

7) If you’re planning on attending the convention simply for the gaming room, you can ignore suggestions 1-5. All you’ll need is a comfortable chair and an extremely large caffeinated drink until you emerge bleary-eyed, days later at the end of the event.

Most importantly at any sci-fi convention, bring a sense of humor. Most of these conventions are run by fans and attended by fans. And don’t forget that “fan” is just a few letters short of “fanatic.”

Copyright 2006 Leslie Halpern

For more movie news visit: http://home.cfl.rr.com/lesliehalpern/leslie_halpern.htm
Central Florida entertainment writer Leslie Halpern wrote the books “Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science” (McFarland & Company), an analysis of representations of sleeping and dreaming in more than 125 science fiction, horror and other movies and “Reel Romance. The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies” (Taylor Trade Publishing), which reviews date movies and suggests romantic ideas inspired by these films. Both books are available at Amazon.com (Leslie Halpern) and Barnesandnoble.com (Leslie Halpern)