The Room Comes to #YEG!
Listen you guys, over lo these many years of adulthood, I’ve grown accustomed to some degree of disappointment. As the old saying goes, you can’t always get what you want, and believe me, many a dream has been thwarted in my 70+ years on the planet. But today, I am so, so pleased to tell you that one of my dreams is coming true.
You'll be screaming with excitement over The Room.
That’s because Tommy Wiseau’s masterpiece, “The Room”, is finally hitting the big screen in Edmonton.
So who is the genius responsible for this? Who are these kings among men who finally made it happen?
Let’s all thank the Turkey Shoot guys. If you’re not familiar, Turkey Shoot has been around since 2008, and is a bit of an Edmonton tradition at this point. Each month, Dave Clarke, Jeff Page and friends watch and heckle the very best of the very worst movies, sort of in the tradition of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Anyway, this Wednesday, they’re taking on The Room, and Dave has even signed up on Twitter strictly for the occasion, just so he can live tweet the whole cinematic debacle. And in that spirit of livetweeting, I asked that Dave (who describes himself as a complete twitter “noob”) answer my questions in 140 characters or less.
SALLY: Tell me what Turkey Shoot is and/or how it started.
DAVE: Turkey Shoot, which for brevity I’ll call TS, started in 2008 at the Metro Cinema. It’s a live version of MST3K. Wait, only 14 left fuck wh
DAVE: K. TS is monthly event we make fun of movies,eg,top gun,ice castles. I’m Dave – actor & musician – the other guy is Jeff. Next THE ROOM!¥€•
SALLY: Why MUST folks come to the screening?
DAVE: Reasons to come. Only $10. 35mm print, Wiseau as MEANT to be seen. Share joy with other fans. Plus you r ENCOURAGED to txt during movie.
SALLY: What is “The Room?”
DAVE: The Room is a 2003 movie with a fast growing cult following. Coz it’s so good. Facebook Turkey Shoot has links. Sal you are mega fan I’m out
I don’t know about you jackals, but I’m sold.
Obviously Jeff and I are going to be there tomorrow night, so if you plan on coming, make sure to drop us an email and say hello. And if you can’t make it, watch for the live-tweeting frenzy that will unfold under hashtag #theroomyeg. The Turkey Shoot guys are even going to give Twitterville a heads up right before the movie rolls, just in case you, say, own an autographed DVD copy of The Room and would rather watch that while reading the live comments on twitter.
You found us!
If you could read my mind...you'd know that I wasn't dead. Oopsie by Canwest. (Great screen grab by ChrisD.ca)
What a day on the Interweb tubes!
First, there was the big Laura Secord story this morning. It’s back in Canadian hands, but we (people on Twitter) discovered that this chocolate has left town.
Thank goodness we have the awesome chocolate of Kerstin and Sweet Lollapalooza to fill our bellies. If it gets cold again I think some drinking chocolate from Kerstin’s is in order… (We’ve also been chatting up Edmonton chocolate spots at our Facebook page.)
Then, this afternoon, Gordon Lightfoot died. For about 25 minutes. Online only.
I love how people are blaming Twitter, an inanimate social media platform, for the rumours. Unless the machines are about to take over I don’t think “Twitter” was spreading rumours. I think people were. And they were using Twitter as they would their voice, e-mail or a pen and paper. Oh, and once you mix in some major news outlets, you get why this can spread. (Check the screen capture, from Winnipeg blog Chris D.ca, above.)
Where’s TMZ when you need them? Can Shaw buy that too?
But…onto what I actually wanted to ask you: How’d you get here?
I’ve recently aquired a sweet new BlackBerry, and my venture into the realm of smartphones has been great. I just got an RSS feed reader and I’ve never been more on top of my blog reading!
I also noticed, in our own visit stats (now Edmonton’s 93rd favourite blog), that more people are coming to our website and our stories via our RSS feed rather than just plunking theedmontonian.com into a browser. That blew me away! Until I got my feed reader.
So, I’m just curious, are you coming to the website directly, following links off Twitter, catching up with us on Facebook or waiting for your RSS reader to alert you?
There are no wrong answers. Heck, you could even be doing some combination of all of that.
But I want answers, Edmonton!
My Twitter is 1
This week, I’ll have been using Twitter for one year.
It seems like only yesterday I was sending out those first tweets about getting on Twitter, and not knowing what Twitter was, and saying “Hi” to the few people I knew on Twitter.
Now I smile when I see a new account and that person has their first “Finally on this thing…” tweet.
This blog has a lot to thank Twitter for. While I was on Twitter (Man, this could be a drinking game…drink whenever I say Twitter.) as myself months before the edmontonian existed, the micro-blogging service has been the biggest source of getting our word out.
Facebook has been good too. And every once and a while we kick up our YouTube channel. Heck, we’re even on Flickr (in name only right now). But Twitter has ruled them all.
It’s been great to send out links to our stories. And there’s always interaction on Twitter about our stories, it doesn’t all have to happen back here.
It’’s been even greater to chat with everyone in Edmonton. Yeah, that’s the best part.
People are always linking to the most hilarious memes.
Twitter didn’t seem to have any appeal to me, at first. Then a friend of mine jumped on, and I followed when I wanted to start blogging.
It’s been a great way to engage with all kinds of smart people I’d never have the chance of meeting in the day-to-day world. Not only did our paths cross online, I’ve since met many tweeps out in reality.
I think the conversations (yes, even in 140 character bursts) have been the best part of Twitter for me. I hope to continue the conversation with those I’ve talked with, start new talks, chat with new people, and keep pushing the great ideas that start at 140 characters into the real world.
Not on Twitter? Here’s where you go.
Twitter party, ya’ll
Do you want to know who likes to party?
I endorse this message. I endorse fun.
Twitter people (tweeple, or, tweeps) like to party.
Heck, we do it all the time.
We’re doing it tonight. Come on out.
Tweetups (see what I did there?) are one of the perks of being on Twitter. It’s like having a whole new group of friends. And, unlike Facebook events that nobody shows up to, the tweetups usually have a fair-sized group.
I’ve been a few tweetups now, and I always meet new people. Don’t you want to meet new and exciting people (without having to call late-night chat lines)?
And, while people are certainly tweeting about the latest celebritiy gossip, there’s actually quite a bit of intelligent debate and political discourse happening. Get your (smart) party on.
p.s. tonight’s tweetup is at Ceili’s Irish pub, at 6:30.
They’re reel and they’re fabulous
That headline remains my favourite Edmonton International Film Festival tagline.
Ignore the man reflected in the glass and focus on the MOVIES.
The EIFF has been busy picking and choosing films for your enjoyment and education.
They’ve got more than 150 movies, so you better hurry and start planning your schedule. Something to note; it sounds like they’ve got more international films than ever before.
There’s also the 24/ONE challenge. This is where people try to create a short film in just 24 hours. A juried selection of 10 will be screened October 2.
Being a film festival there are screenings and showings and parties and galas and more. So hit up their website, poke around the ONLY venue, City Centre Theatre, and get into the glam of movies.
If you’re looking for a handy hand-held Film Fest guide you can pick one up at Second Cups, TIX on the Square, the aforementioned Empire Theatre in City Centre and in the lastest SEE Magazine.
Don’t forget to tell us what’s good and what movies we should be seeing. Drop us a line in the comments or tell everyone on Twitter with the hashtag #eiff.
Scrambled #yeg
This is the second in a burgeoning series of Edmonton photos. Basically, I see stuff that’s weird, hilarious, though-provoking, or just plain Edmonton and it appears here every now and again.
There never seems to be a shortage of odd things.
That’s a nice basket of rocks you’ve got there.
The next one was kind of funny at first. Then we found a second cough syrup bottle at Clareview Station and it wasn’t as funny.
Spotted on the Clareview LRT grounds.
This cough syrup bottle was on the LRT tracks.
I’ve had this one for a while. This mask was found at the University. Surely that means it has something to do with education of some sort. Right?
In case of emergency, find this mask at the U of A.
Remember when this guy (and his pal) were on the main level of the City Centre mall? Now they’ve been relegated to the back corner of the smaller food court. Sorry buddy.
It ain't what it used to be, because they put you in the basement.
I think, by this point, our love-hate relationship with Commerce Place and its Jasper Avenue doors is documented. That they have but one door, of four, operational on the city’s main downtown street is funny, but not “ha-ha” funny. Oh, Commerce Place…
Two doors broken, one door saw-horsed. You're next, remaining door.
And for those wondering, #yeg is a Twitter reference. Get on Twitter, already.
Wowzer traffic delays
The story today is about the changes coming to Calgary Trail and 23 Avenue, as construction of the interchange continues.
Well, Chad certainly showed everyone (at least, everyone on Twitter) that things aren’t pretty down that way.
Yikes. This is totally one of those times I’m happy to be car-free, living and working in the centre of the city.
Get your Twestival on
Tonight is Twestival Local!
Don’t have any idea of the gibberish I’m talking about? Check this.
Now that you’ve got some idea of what it is (a get together of Twitter folk, to raise money for a local cause) you’ll know tonight’s event is a fundraiser for the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, as voted by Edmonton tweeters. This is a local version of Twitter’s fundraiser for charity: water from earlier this year, which was a world-wide effort.
Buy your tickets in advance here. You can also get in at the door, and you can also donate more money if you’d like.
For all of Edmonton’s Tweetups, follow the edmontontweetup account on Twitter.
Symphony Under the Sky
I have never considered myself smart or cultured enough to enjoy something as high end as the symphony. I envision any attempt I make to go to the symphony as being received about as well as Julia Roberts shopping for clothes in Pretty Woman.
“I’m sorry, Samsonow, We have nothing for you here. Please leave.”
But this weekend, there’s an event that may change my mind.
First off, “Symphony under the Sky” is in Hawrelak Park. So tuxedos and evening gowns (or whatever people wear to such events) are out. It’s a park, the weather is supposed to be decent (it better be, Classen!) and the atmosphere is casual. Interested? You’re interested. (more…)
Big Valley Stage Collapse
So by now, we all obviously know about the tragic scene this weekend at the Big Valley Jamboree. There’s not much to say about it, besides how deeply saddened we are that such a beloved event wound up costing someone’s life, and that there are now reports that the province is calling for a probe into what caused the collapse.
The thing I’d like to mention about Big Valley, which is kind of unrelated to the nuts and bolts news of it, is that Jeff and I actually heard about the stage collapse while casually checking Twitter. Over the course of the night, we watched as information was tweeted and retweeted from the concert site, including photographs of the scene and initial injury counts. People offered consolation to panicked family and friends, and other reconnected online.
This was particularly interesting to me because, regardless of the accuracy of the information being put forward, it allowed people to connect as a community during a really horrible moment. Not only could you check on your friend at #BVJ and make sure they were alright, people (myself included) who had no connection to the event whatsoever could feel like they were doing SOMETHING by re-tweeting information or offering their sympathies to worried onlookers. It was a lot better than watching the shocking scene unfold alone in my living room and feeling helpless.
There were also some claims that cell providers (specifically Rogers) had shut down cellular service, allowing only for emergency calls (we ourselves re-tweeted this one, figuring that even if it wasn’t true, it would go a long way towards easing the minds of frightened friends and family). Telus Mobility’s Chris Gerritsen says that, at least for Telus, this wasn’t the case. He attributes any difficulty getting through to a sudden influx of calls.
“We’ve got a robust network, of course,” he says. “But there aren’t an infinite number of lines.”
(Rogers Wireless never returned my call).
Anyway, for those following events on Twitter, much of the information from Big Valley came by way of Vancouver singer Jessie Farrell, who was there performing. I exchanged e-mails with her Sunday.
“I was using my cell,” wrote Farrell. “Most of my tweets were from the convention centre. We ran there from our trailer when we saw the stage collapse.”
“I’m very active online. I tweet and am on Facebook daily. Twitter was the easiest way to let people know what was going on. I know a lot of people I’m connected to had people they knew at [Big Valley Jamboree] so I wanted to let them know what I knew.”
She added that the response to her tweets were overwhelmingly positive.
“Mostly people were sending their prayers and wishes for everyone to be safe… The organizers and first responders were all amazing. They did a truly fantastic job. Of course I would return to BVJ. This was a tragic freak occurance.”
FTW – No Doubt Tickets
proof of tickets!
YES, my friends. It’s true. We have a pair of tickets to the Paramore/No Doubt show tomorrow night at Rexall place that we’re just itchin’ to give away. But before we get to that, I have to give you a little backstory.
So I’m in a band. And the drummer in that band is my good friend, Ryan Dunford. Ryan and his lovely wife, Miss Kristin Reeves, had tickets to see No Doubt. Good ones, too (Sec.122, Row 17, seats 22 & 23). But sadly, Ryan and Kristin can’t go – so they want you to enjoy it in their place. Thanks Dunfords!
In the interest of time and fairness (and acquiring more followers on twitter), we’re going to have a draw. And in order to qualify for the draw, you crazy kids have to get on twitter, and send out this message:
@theedmontonian GIVE ME THE NO DOUBT TIX! http://theedmontonian.com #dunfordisadrumgod
Don’t feel weird about this; trust me, HE IS.
We’ll make the draw at 3:00 p.m. – and we’ll announce the winner at 3:30 p.m. We’ll also notify the winner via twitter DM, and arrange for pickup.
As always, if you’ve won in the last 30 days, you can’t win this one. Sorry, winners. …can’t win ‘em all? (groan).
#makelocalmediabetter
Another beautiful photo from our BF Ryan @ grandefullbody (click photo for link to his site)
A quick question for you guys before we get started today: what would make local media coverage better?
Now, I’m after specifics here, not just “…it could be more …good?” Because you people are better than that. Also because that gets us nowhere. I’m a big believer that you don’t get to criticize without offering a better suggestion – so speak up, silent majority. We’re not mind readers, for God’s sake. What would you like to see that isn’t available yet, or at least isn’t available EVERYWHERE yet?
Help us, Edmonton. Help us to help you. Please leave your responses in the comments, or let us know on twitter, under hashtag #makelocalmediabetter.
