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Ever wanted to be in the movies? Well here’s your chance. Fresh Films, a national filmmaking project for teens, is holding a casting call this Sunday for a short film. Needed are males and females in their early twenties; a total of five roles are up for grabs. More info here but it says that previous experience is not required. A casting director as well as the teen filmmakers themselves will be present. The completed films will be judged by a jury of professionals, including industry heavyweights such as actor John Lithgow and Katherine Brooks of MTV’s “The Real World.” The experimental short film being made here in Chicago is described as a comedy about Lucifer’s son.
Speaking of the devil, let’s talk about Harry Potter for a moment. Some of us here at the Chicagoist offices will be lined up tomorrow at midnight, ready and eager to fork over the dough to buy a copy of the new tome. And some of us couldn’t care a flying fig. (Guess which group the writer of this post falls into). Judging from the “news” stories in the MSM you’d think that keeping the details a secret was a matter of national security, on par with the way Dick Cheney runs his office. In fact, we have a few words we’d like to get off our chest about this whole rabid anti-spoiler peer pressure phenomenon.
Truly great storytelling is rarely supported by the crutch of an eleventh-hour plot twist. A few examples from the world of movies. Knowing beforehand that Janet Leigh gets stabbed to death in the shower doesn’t make Psycho any less gripping, just as knowing beforehand that The Village actually takes place in modern times doesn’t make that film any less sucky. Hitchcock himself often pointed out that suspense is much more powerful than surprise; the shock of a plot twist or a revelation only lasts a few moments, but suspense, if skillfully handled, can last almost indefinitely. And even once the suspense is over, the story’s attraction shouldn’t be. Call us a bunch of meanies, but it’s our conclusion that if J.K. Rowling is worth her salt as a writer then there ought to be more enjoyment gleaned from reading the new book besides simply finding out who dies, who gets married, and who lives happily ever after. So spoil away.
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As a Harry Potter fan, I do agree with you that there should be (and in my opinion, is) more to the book than the plot twists. Does that mean that I want to find out what happens from some socially awkward teenager trying to gain internet cool points for knowing the ending two days before the rest of the world rather than from J.K. Rowling's own writing? No.
I have a big problem with sites posting spoilers with no warning whatsoever. What's the point? Let people have their fun.
The last HP book was spoiled for me by some 15 year old brat I barely knew who thought she was being cute. Guess what? She had two kids by the age of 18 with some coke-addicted guy that has two other girlfriends. Karma's a bitch.
Couldn't agree more that great story-telling doesn't rely on the "it was all a dream" endings. Nothing makes me more angry or reeks of laziness by an artist.
I don't read reviews beforehand - not because of spoilers - but because I don't want to go into a book or a story with any preconceived notions. The last time I read a review before going to a movie was for "Blow" and all I could do throughout the movie was obsess about the wigs that Johnny Depp wore because it had been mentioned in the review. I learned my lesson.
StephanieSays: so spoiling the ending of a book (which could have been done by any number of people) is on a par with being a teenage mother out of wedlock twice over? you experienced a temporary annoyance; her life is probably ruined. get some perspective.
Hermoine marries Weasley and gets pregnant, making Weasley very happy until he finds out Hermoine had an affair "with he how must not be named", which we all know is Valdemort. He storms off with Harry, who is even more pissed because he has been blown off by both Weasley's sister and the chinese girl, and the two of them come up with a magic potion spell that blows up Hogwarts. While the ministry of magic sends all its people to investigage, Harry and Weasley are busy clearing out Gringotts, and are armed with TEC-9's(no magic needed with one of these) to deal with any interference. They take the money, move to LA, and team up with Snoop to create some "magic chronic," which helps Snoop forget he pissed away all the money he made from Doggystyle in 1993. As this is the greatest spell of all, the book closes. In the epilogue, Snoop admits to killing Notorious BIG.
So now, you know the ending. You are welcome.
Hey man, some of us take Harry Potter VERY seriously.
Calm down. It was a joke.
Her life is temporarily fucked up (most of which was her own fault), not ruined (she has very rich parents who are taking care of her), and none of this has anything to do with Harry Potter.
In book 7, Harry catches a biography of UK frontman Liam Gallagher, the star of 1990's band Oasis. He becomes obsessed with the rock and roll lifestyle, and uses his magic to create Jack Daniels, cigarettes, and cocaine for him and his friends. He spends most of the movie drunk and saying things like "bugger me", 'back of the queue", and "i'm going out on the piss!"
However, when Voldemort appears (ably played by Robbie Williams) he really springs into action, creating a Wonderwall which prevents Voldemort from harming Hogwarts. However, eventually the whole country gets sick of the Wonderwall, and Voldemort takes over. Harry tries desparately to make more spells, but discovers his long lost brother Noel is the real creative force in spellmaking. So he begs Noel and his new wife Cho Chan to save the day. Noel creates the Live Forever spell, and Voldemort goes into a deep depression and dies. Weasley and Hermoine leave the group, as they were just filler for Harry and Noel anyway.
So now, you know the ending. You are welcome.
In book 7, Mayor Daley takes on a teaching position at Hogwarts. Harry becomes infatuated with the Mayor's blunt style, and immediately seeks office as student council mayor. He easily defeats underfunded Ms. Brown of Hufflepuff and Ravensclaw candidate Doc. Walls, and sets course on running the city.
However, soon after he takes office, the Hogwarts transportation system falls into disarray. Unfortunately, Potter is too distracted trying to lure the 2016 "Magiclympics" to Hogwarts that it is never fixed. Finally, prices are raised to 3 Gringotts Shillings, and the citizenry revolt forces Potter to confront the problem. He creates the "repairus" spell, which is perfect except Magic Minsister Albus Magicojevich cannot come up with the funding to make the spell work. Harry blames Voldemort, and continues on his mayorly path.