One of the Best Sci-fi movies?

Most, if not all, of the reviews in this page seem to realy like The Matrix. Could it be the geatest sci-fi movie movie/franchise of all time? This reviewer does not seem to think so. However, he did like it.

"So I saw the Matrix last night. It was un-freaking-believeable. One of the best sci-fi flicks I've ever seen. I was thinking about it in comparison to Blade Runner. I like Blade Runner, both the original and the director's cut, but I've never really been sure why I liked it."

He goes on to later say;"...but I just don't think it's a great sci-fi movie."

This brings up a question. Is Blade Runner a better sci-fi moive than The Matrix?
There are other very opinionated reviews in this page.

A Brief History of Zombies.

Like the Mummy, Zombies are a lumbering, staggering, Halloween and Horror presence.What makes zombies different is that they do not come from a European gothic tradition. Instead, the zombie story originates in Haiti, where West Africans were brought as slaves to work on the sugar plantations. As a part of the voodoo religion, Haitians believe that magicians, or houngans, can revive the recently dead, turning them into mindless, soulless servants. Believers in voodoo will guard the grave of deceased relatives until they are certain that it has begun to decay, for the magic only works on fresh bodies. Zombies are a greatly studied thing in our society today. Scientists have studied the zombie legend for some time now and have several explanations for this belief.

The Fort Dearborn Massacre

This one really makes you think. I always go up and down Dearborn St. shopping like nothing. To read this makes you take a second look around, especially at night.

Perhaps one of the most brutal events in all of Chicago history took place when the city was only beginning. The terrible incident has become known as the Fort Dearborn Massacre and memories of it still linger in the city today.

Chicago began as nothing but empty wilderness and open prairie. It first appeared on maps of the region in 1684 as “Chekagou”, which literally means “wild onion”. Despite these inauspicious beginnings, it became home to a trading post owned by Jean Baptist Point du Sable, a French Canadian trapper in 1779. He stayed along the Chicago River until 1800, before selling the establishment to Jean Lalime. As American’s spread further west, there was talk of a military garrison being established at Chicago as early as 1795. It finally came about in 1803 under the command of Captain John Whistler. He brought with him 40 men and they built Fort Dearborn. This is where the tragedy begins.
Very interesting story, check it out.

Haunted Restaurant

"That Steak Joynt formerly at 1610 N. Wells was the only Victorian restaurant of it's kind in Chicago. Once a Piper Bakery and partially damaged during the great Chicago fire of 1871 it was once located in the Old Town section of Chicago in Piper's Alley and right next door to Second City." This restaurant used to be haunted. It was haunted for a while, and many incidents occurred here, as well as some investigations. After closing down it reopened many years later to what is now Adobo Grill (where my brother works). But suddenly all the hauntings stopped, could it be that it was never haunted or did the ghosts finally find peace?

America's 1st Serial Killer

America's 1st known serial killer lived here in what used to be the outskirts of Chicago, in a town known as Englewood, in the southside. He went by the name of H. H. Holmes. He built a home/hotel which is now known as "The Murder Castle of H. H. Holmes" because this is were he kept his victims. "The first floor of the building contained stores and shops, while the upper floors could be used for spacious living quarters. Holmes also had an office on the second floor, but most of the rooms were to be used for guests -- guests that would never be seen again. " This is a very interesting article about his life, how he chose his victims, and how he died.

Zombie Movies

If you are a big fan of zombie movies or just want to see what these creatures really are, this website lists many of the different zombie movies that were created.

http://zombiejuice.com/zmovies/#Best%20Zombie%20Movies

Zombies!!

Zombie: A flesh eating corpse. We all know what a zombie is and have accepted that they are scary. What we don’t know are all the different types of zombies. Zombies aren’t only made up in some twisted persons mind, they have been around for a lot longer than anyone actually knows.

This link will give an explanation of the different types of zombies and where the idea for these zombies came from. The link also provides you with more external links about zombies.

Haunted Chicago

We always see on television “Most Haunted Places” and see that they are mostly in other states or even in other countries. What we rarely ever see are the haunted places of Chicago. Don’t be fooled, Chicago is also a scary place.

Here is a link giving examples of some haunted places in Chicago.

Bachelor's Grove Woods

I am from the south suburbs, and any one else that is usually has heard the multiple ghost stories originating from this spot. It is considered one of the most haunted cemeteries in/around Chicago, and in Illinois.

Early gangs, such as that of Al Capone are rumored to have buried the bodies of their dead in the lake that you can see on the south side of 143rd street, just east of Ridgeland.


This site has more information about the history and actual reports of paranormal activity in and near Bachelor's Grove.

What do you guys think?

--Anastacia

Chicago Ghost Investigations

This website is about a paranormal research group, that seeks out ghosts. The invite you to do the same with them. Their supernatural tours leave from downtown Chicago near the Magnificent Mile daily where they will provide you with a courtesy ride to one of several actively haunted houses in Chicago. If you have ever wanted to go and try to detect ghosts here is your chance. Just visit the site and they will give you all of the information that you need.

"Our paranormal investigators will be available during the investigation for guidance; however, in this case, you are the ghost hunter!"

What is and What is not a Zombie

The modern films most of the time portray zombies, as humans who have been effected by some sort of an epidemic and are now contaminating what's left of everyone who is living. Mostly everybody thinks that zombies are just a made up story, this is not true, zombies have been around for ages in the Haiti tribe folklore, where people using black whichcraft and voodoo created zombies to act as slaves.

Here is a site that explains a little about what zombies are and then talks about what they are commonly mistaken with.

Haunted Chicago Tours

From the looks of things there is team that dedicated their lives to research and find the most haunted places in Chicago. This team takes people on tours to the most haunted and famous Chicago places, and also to ones that are not as well known. The passengers are taken to these places and are allowed to explore them. Even though they don't guarantee that anything will happen, they do make a note that supernatural stuff has happened before.

Here is a link to the organizations site, if are ever interested in taking this type of tour.

Who loves ghost stories and haunted places?

This webpage is full of popular ghost stories and haunted places all around the chicagoland area. The main page has a few links to pages that contain lists of multipul haunted stories. From there you can click the links to go to an even more detailed page about the story or location.

And thats not all either, the webpage is loaded with spooky music! Who doesn't love spooky music?

Zombbiieessss

So where do all these movie writers get ideas for all those zombie films? Well of course there is an archetype that most go by. Zombies usually have specific characteristics that are displayed, otherwise they wouldnt really be a true "zombie" to the whole movie/film scene.

In the link provided, it goes on about zombies and a small list of common causes for zombies to appear. Then, after that, it talks about the characteristics that zombies usually portray within a zombie film.

A pretty decient link for those who don't know too much about zombies... Though im sure everyone knows at least one thing or another..

"The Most Haunted Place"?

The Oriental Theater is one of the most haunted places in Chicago. In place of the Oriental was the Iroquois Theatre which had a disastrous fire in 1903. This tragic fire claimed the lives of many.
"Over 1,900 people snagged a ticket for the performance in the "absolutely fireproof" building. What irony in those words."
The theatre, not far from the university, is located at 24 W. Randolph Street. The site has a good video of the story. Enjoy.

Haunted Chicago

This website offers a list of almost every city in Illinois that has a haunted setting. There are two places on the list that are about ten to fifteen minutes away from where I live. I drive by the Maryville Center For Medically Complex Children everyday when I am going to work. I know where the playground is that they are referring to on the website. Click on the link and take a look atthe list. You may discover something haunting in your own neighborhood.

Resurrection Mary

Out of the many hauntings that have happened in Chicago, Resurrection Mary is probably one of the most famous tales. Back in the 1930's is when this tale had began. Drivers that would pass through Archer Avenue, would encounter a young woman in a white party dress. Occasionally, she was offered a ride home after dancing at a ballroom. "When the car would reach the gates of Resurrection Cemetery, the young woman would always vanish." Read more about Mary's sightings.

8 Films to Die For

Each year there are movies produced, that are never seen by the public. Their content is considered too graphic, too disturbing, and too shocking for general audiences. Now, for the first time, one studio will defy the system to bring you eight movies you were never meant to see. A terrifying event for all horror fans across America. After Dark films presents "8 Films to Die For".........Horror fest. One weekend only, November 17th-19th. See one or see them all at a theater near you. These films are about zombies, ghosts, spirits...etc. These are the following theaters in Illinois that they will be played at:

ILLINOIS
Addison	Addison Cinemas & IMAX	Buy Tickets
Carbondale	University Place 8
Champaign	Carmike Beverly Cinemas
Chicago	Chatham 14
Chicago	600 North Michigan Ave.	Buy Tickets
Chicago	KrikorianCity North 14
Chicago Heights	Marcus Chicago Western Heights	Buy Tickets
County Club Hills	The Country Club Hills 16
Gurnee	Gurnee Mills 20	Buy Tickets
Joliet	Cinemark Movies 8
Naperville	Krikorian Showplace 16
Niles	Krikorian Showplace 12
O'Fallon	O'Fallon 15 Cine
Peoria	Rave Grand Prairie 18	Buy Tickets
Rockford	Krikorian Colonial Villages 5
Schaumburg	Woodfield 20	Buy Tickets
Skokie	Village Crossing	Buy Tickets
South Barrington	South Barrington 30	Buy Tickets
Springfield	Parkway point 8
Vernon Hills	Rivertree Court
Warrenville	Cantera 30	Buy Tickets

Tips to Write a Screenplay

I thought this was very helpful and direct. I looked at it as a guide when thinking up ideas for our screenplay. I found it on a "how-to" website.

Here's How:

1. Writing is about making choices. Decide if you want to write an original screenplay or an adaptation of an existing novel or piece of non-fiction. Original work is easiest to start with since you don't have to worry about obtaining rights.

2. 2. Brainstorm. Write down all your ideas for story and characters.

3. Do research. Rent successful indie films (you can find them on the About.com's Independent film Web site) and pay attention to the rhythms of the dialogue and the pacing of the story.

4. Start writing. Remember to keep things interesting and open to interpretation. This will make the screenplay more tempting to serious actors.

5. With every twist of plot or turn in the action ask yourself, 'Would this character really do that?' Audiences like surprises, but only if they're believable.

6. If this is your first film and you're planning on directing and producing it yourself, keep things low budget. Elaborate costumes, special effects, and exotic locations are expensive.

7. Keep in mind that the people you already know can make great actors. Write flattering, yet challenging roles with them specifically in mind, and they may work for free.

8. Include all the swear words and nudity you want, but don't make them gratuitous. [i]The Blair With Project[/i] was conisderably weakened by its constant use of the F_ word.

9. Don't worry about length. Post-production editing will take care of that.

10. Be funny, scary, romantic, angry, sentimental, smart, raw, and, most important, honest.

11. Don't include a happy ending just for the sake of a happy ending. This isn't a studio picture you're writing

Tips:

1. You can overhear great non sequiturs and bits of dialogues in coffee shops and diners.

2. Using an old manual typewriter might seem like a great idea, but it's a lot of work.

3. Go online and download scripts. You can learn from your favorites

Tips for All You Screen Writers Out THERE

When a screenplay is submitted into the marketplace, those who will be reading it fully expect it to conform to proper industry standards.

Therefore, it is important for a budding screenwriter to understand the techniques of screenwriting, from formatting to character development, before committing his/her story idea to paper. In the link below are a few books, suggestions and websites that will help you learn the craft.

AHHHHH.........