Hey, just a quick little post for a quick little reminder. The festival deadline to submit your bait is in 6 days! (I'll make it 8 if I don't get enough baits). The festival buzz is pretty good for a bait, just look at Cartel and it's BP nomination! Anyway, make sure to get your bait submitted in time.
Good Luck to all!!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
A Few Announcments...
Alrighty, well let's get right down to it, this is kind of a random announcements posting, but still it's nice to have some new life on our blog so here it goes...
1. The I! blog will be conducting an official April and May of 2006 Big 8 that Johnny has approved of. We hope that we will have enough votes and verification for this event to be successful. More details will be released in the coming days.
2. Our first topic in the 7 Best Series will be the 7 Best Best Pictures of the contests history. This should also arrive in the next couple of days.
3. There are a few other things roaming around in our minds and if there are any other developments in the previous 2 we will let you know.
4. Oh, and before I forget, I rarely write about anything other than the contest on the blog, but this is a rare occasion where I will. If you haven't already you MUST go see Enchanted. It is one of the best films of the year and is very charming, I personally enjoyed it because there were a lot of little Disney inside jokes that you'll get if you are a huge fan of Disney's classic animation, so I urge everyone to go out and see it, because it and Hairspray are my two favorite movies of the year. (James Marsden has had a good year!)
1. The I! blog will be conducting an official April and May of 2006 Big 8 that Johnny has approved of. We hope that we will have enough votes and verification for this event to be successful. More details will be released in the coming days.
2. Our first topic in the 7 Best Series will be the 7 Best Best Pictures of the contests history. This should also arrive in the next couple of days.
3. There are a few other things roaming around in our minds and if there are any other developments in the previous 2 we will let you know.
4. Oh, and before I forget, I rarely write about anything other than the contest on the blog, but this is a rare occasion where I will. If you haven't already you MUST go see Enchanted. It is one of the best films of the year and is very charming, I personally enjoyed it because there were a lot of little Disney inside jokes that you'll get if you are a huge fan of Disney's classic animation, so I urge everyone to go out and see it, because it and Hairspray are my two favorite movies of the year. (James Marsden has had a good year!)
Monday, November 5, 2007
Wow...
I really didn't know what to call this post, so I'll just call it WOW because I love that word and there's a lot I have to say. First off, I am so happy with the reaction that our Top 100 list has received and even though most is mixed, that is exactly because if we choose to do this again next year, then people will take the time to make sure we get it right and let's face it the AFI list brought some negative reviews when it first came out and so is ours. I also would like to announce a few things about the blog and my baits, so here are a few bullet points because I personally enjoy them...
- On the blog this month I am hoping to start a series called The 7 Best (ripped off lovingly from Brian's Oscar blog Oscar Obsession (oscarobession.blogspot.com)) where I will take 7 best things in the contest and rank them depending on how much I like them. For instance, I would pick the genre Musicals and decide my 7 favorite and rank them. I think it's going to be a lot of fun and I hope everyone has a great time with it.
- I also want to start a few other things, but check back on the blog later for a possible addendum , where I will announce these things.
- As far as my baits go, I am hoping to release the following baits, Green Grow the Lilacs based off the play by Lynn Riggs which was later turned into the musical "Oklahoma" the cast is still being worked on. I also want to release a bait called Out West which is about a young Cherokee boy who is sent off to an ivy league school to become a laywer and help better his nation, but upon his return from college he is informed that he must move out west with the rest of his tribe. My last bait of the month is based of the short story The Scarlet Ibis, which is about the relationship of a young boy and his younger brother. I hope everyone enjoys them.
So that's all I have for now, check back at the blog for more updates!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
I's Top 10 Baits of All Time!!!
I’s Top 10 Baits of All Time
Zgamer: Well, look where we are now. After many months of naming baits and dealing with delays, it’s finally time for the Top 10 baits of all time. We will recap the other baits at the end when we finish with the Top 10 (which we will have for the official awards page later). However, now it’s time for tonight’s section. Intro please!
Narrator: You voted for them. You’ve anticipated for them. You’ve spent months waiting for them. Now we will unveil the Top 10 Baits of All Time.
(Sweeping score tied in with clips from various baits on the list including “A Faith of One”, “iLife”, “Sandstorm”, “Once a Hero”, “Fresh Heir Vol. III”, “Luck Clover”, “Recoil”, “Fosse”, “Dominion”, “Balton Productions”, “Brain Damage”, “Gray Daze”, “Pygmalion”, “Glass”, “Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical”, “Negatives”, “E.L.”, “Sweet Black and Blue”, “Dragontown”, “Steamboat Disney”, “Freakshow”, “The Vampire Lestat” and “River City Blue”)
Narrator: And here’s your guide for the night, Zgamer.
(Zgamer walks up to the camera, where he is in the Hall of Baiting)
Zgamer: It’s finally here. We’ve gone through many baits this month, from the compellingly realistic to the genuinely surreal. From baits about political intrigue to baits on forms of mental issues. From biopics to comedies, we’ve covered so many baits on our list. Now we are at the final ten baits of all time, as voted by the baiting community. First off though, I would like to introduce the fellow authors who will comment on the baits on the list. More accurately, they will introduce themselves. These commenters range from previous BOTM winners to other acclaimed authors who have made an impact on the site. So, if you guys would be so kind:
Brian: I'm Brian Erickson. I've been on the site since April of 2006, and, like all of you, I am a movie fanatic. In addition to that, I am an aspiring screenwriter, avid tennis player and am interested in theater. But, let's get to the important thing: the baits. A sample of some of the baits I've written are iLife, Contemporary Comedy, The Road, Devil in the White City and Glitz.
Sergio: (His comments will be subtitled for his convenience so he may better express himself in his native language) My name is Sergio and I'm from Spain. I’ve been in this contest since October 2006 and my first bait was Spirit of Guitar. I found this contest by chance and I'm very happy to be a part of it. I'm an architect and cinema is one of my biggest interests too. I enjoy writing stories, viewing art and designing posters for the contest a lot, I won the best picture award in June 2007 and it was a great surprise for me. I never imagined it would ever happen and it made me very happy. This also gave me strength to improve with my English to write better baits in the future.
Bryce: My name is Bryce. I am the author of such baits as The Guy Who Owned The Store, Watts, Project Sin, The Courtroom, and the recent Field of Desire. I am also an assistant on the GG awards and currently heading the Bait Festival for November. I love writing baits, and I like experimenting with ideas, but when I do go the safe route I will write a story that I love. In simple terms, I like to write baits that I would be glad to write as a screenplay. I think if I wrote a bait I wouldn't like to make a screenplay of, then that bait just doesn't have the passion that is needed to be successful.
Maia: My name is Maia, probably the only woman in the contest right now, and I’m honored to have my baits A Child of Shame and Bootleg included on the Top 100 Baits of All Time countdown. I have been a part of the Bait an Oscar contest for more than a year. During that period I have learned many new things about writing and filmmaking (two of my biggest passions) from my fellow baiters, and I can only hope some of them have learned something from my baits.
D.W.: My name is D.W. Dillon, writer of the World's Longest Suicide, The Bang-Bang Club, Recoil, and Sweet Black & Blue. I'm originally from Chicago where I attended Columbia College of Chicago as a film major, until I moved to Las Vegas where I'm studying Political Science, and in my spare time I continue to write treatments and screenplays, most of which are based off of my well known baits.
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Zgamer: We’ve got a big profile group of commenters tonight and I can hardly contain my joy and gratitude for their participation. Enough stalling though, let’s get on to the main event. I will turn over the time to Michael right now to introduce our first bait.
Michael: Beginning our Top 10 we have one of the most raved about comedies of all-time. Written in July of 2007, Daniel came out of a long streak of writer’s block to release a classic. Ever since it’s debut in the festival, it was easily the favorite to win Best Picture going into the Oscars. However, everyone kept asking themselves, could Daniel win Best Picture twice? That was the big question that night and it proved to be true as A New Agenda came out on top.
Sergio: (Subtitled) This bait got the biggest prize little by little, without being heavily favorited from the beginning, but it was a bait that everybody liked. That is something very difficult to do and it's admirable. Without any doubt this is one of the best comedies in the contest.
Brian: Daniel's simple yet heartwarming dramadey took July of 2007 by storm. It is by far the baitiest comedy the site has ever had, and it very well may be the best. When I first heard the synopsis, I thought that this would be that one bait every month that I love, but no one else does. And now it's being honored as one of the 10 best baits ever written. And oh-so deservedly so.
Narrator: Opening to absolute rave reviews, A New Agenda easily won over the Academy and the Forums. There was always something the baiters found to comment about the bait, from its endearing and emotional synopsis to its witty awards to its well picked director choice. However, most everyone agreed that the bait’s cast was its strongest aspect, filled with great casting choices across the board.
D.W.: This is one of those baits where you could tell the author paid serious attention to, wanting to create a beautiful story. Full of lovable characters, wacky situations and a heartwarming theme. All the elements of a comedic best picture.
Maia: Daniel is the most successful writer in the contest and this James L Brooks comedy proves why. Only a writer with his level of sensibility, heart and technique could bring a trip-movie into this top 10!
Narrator: Starting out its ride with 7 Festival nominations, it would go on to win 4 of the awards, but did not win Best Picture. It received 5 Golden Globe nominations and would win 3, including Best Picture Musical/Comedy. It also earned 3 SAG nominations and a win Best Ensemble. At the end of July it received an enormous 12 Oscar nominations and would win 6 including Best Plot/Synopsis, Best Original Screenplay and BOTM (also including Daniel’s win for Best Author). One of the best dramadeies the contest will ever have.
Bryce: A very touching story, that is equally able to deliver the dramatic plot points and the comedic moments. The cast is beyond brilliant and the crew is just as good. It's the sort of bait that really inspires its readers.
Zgamer: I thought Daniel was going to go under after doing E.L., but all those negative thoughts were dashed once I read A New Agenda. Perhaps without intending to, Daniel has written one of the best and friendliest stories (on both Oscar and audience levels) that the Oscar Igloo has ever seen. It’s the ultimate James L, Brooks film, with the perfect story, cast and characters that would give him plenty more Oscars on his resume. Plus, his style of writing perfectly balanced the mixture of humor and drama that Brooks usually does so well. Now if only Brooks could just stop making stuff like Spanglish and make a movie like this.
Title Card: The #10 bait is…
A NEW AGENDA!
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Zgamer: Biopics are well known for being very powerful Oscar vehicles. Probably because their stories have more impact since they are real events. And as the next bait proved, sometimes the least known stories can be some of the most powerful. If you would Michael.
Michael: Written back in October 2006, D.W. proved how adept he can be when writing biopics with this thrilling bait. Based on the real life stories of the group its named for, this bait showed how powerful the media can be in affecting other but at the same time showed how their own ambitions can be self-destructing as well. With a powerful cast and crew backing it up, The Bang-Bang Club remains one of the site’s best and most underrated biopics of all time.
D.W.: Never have I written a bait before where I was so assured that I wanted to see it as a film. I'm very proud of the casting because it took tremendous research and thought, because I envisioned it in my head of how I wanted to see it and who I wanted to see in it. I'm honored that a bait of mine that was ranked 3rd of the month made the Top Ten.
Zgamer: Wow. I remember reading this back when it was released and not really thinking about it much at first. Then suddenly, I re-read it and I started imagining what the trailer for the bait would look like. That was the sign I needed to realize this was one of the best baits I ever read.
Narrator: The Bang-Bang Club was able to make a good impression despite being up against baits like iLife, Live From New York and Dali. Many praised its great subject, its quality writing and great crew. However, its cast was the most praised aspect, particularly lead star Keifer Sutherland and supporting star Daniel Day-Lewis as real life journalists Kevin Carter and James Nachtwey respectively.
Brian: If you were to discuss all of the baits with true substance, The Bang-Bang Club would probably be #1 on the list. I fail to see how anyone could read the bait and not think that D.W. had put a liberal amount of effort into making a truly unique, and very baity, story. Also, this is one of the only baits that I wholeheartedly believe was based entirely on fact. And to connect fact to storytelling is a crowning achievement on D.W.'s behalf.
Maia: I think this intriguing story needs to become a real film with top Hollywood talent soon. Its emotional and exciting, the way the best stories should be. D.W. at his finest!
Narrator: The Bang-Bang Club enjoyed a pretty good run with awards. While it wasn’t the awards juggernaut some of its other competitors were, it got continual praise for its cast. It garnered an SAG win for Day-Lewis and two GG nominations at the GG’s for him and Sutherland. At the Oscars, it earned 5 Oscar nominations, with a win for Day-Lewis. It also ranked #3 for the month.
Bryce: A brilliant cast, and inspiring directing choice, along with a touching story that is sure to hit some sort of nerve with readers. The author is able to create a realistic atmosphere to help give the readers a great sense of what the bait is all about.
Sergio: (Subtitled) Without a doubt this is a great bait that that really grew better over time. The topic is mature and coherent like its plot, with many great performances from its amazing cast. One of the baits I have seen in my mind as a real film.
Title Card: The #9 bait is…
THE BANG-BANG CLUB!
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Zgamer: Religion. It’s a very controversial topic, yet ironically it can make for some of the most compelling stories. And as Michael will explain, some of our authors can really utilize this subject very well.
Michael: James Somerton is by far one of the most acclaimed authors on the site, which justifies why he has two other baits left in the countdown, but this one is definitely deserving of coming in at 8th place. Starring Kate Winslet and Robin Williams, Midnight Mass was one of James’ first widely loved baits.
Sergio: (Subtitled) I never thought that this bait could be so high in the list, beating out other bait of the month winners, but I think that "almost bait of the month winners" have a lot of sympathy with the voters. This was one of the first baits that I read and I loved it, so I'm happy with its recognition.
D.W.: Often the best writers are the most vulnerable. They put all their feelings out on the table to be judged. They don't discriminate towards their emotions, which is why their art is often the most inspiring. James Somerton is one of these authors and Midnight Mass is a perfect example of an author letting go of the mere thought of criticism.
Narrator: Telling the story of the priest/rapist (Williams) and Winslet as a worried mother everyone fell in love with the captivating story.
Brian- When James began advertising the bait, I was expecting a rip-off of "Doubt." Boy, was I wrong. James took an extremely difficult subject and made an original, compelling and ultimately provocative bait. But what I liked most about the bait was the casting of Robin Williams as the twisted Father MacCaurthy. Very few people would resort to casting a usually comedic actor, but when you really think about it, he is the best choice for the role. Simply an excellent bait.
Maia: I think this is the best bait to tackle religion, immigration and abuse as serious, adult conflicts. It feels human and very powerful; it needs to be made a movie soon!
Narrator: Midnight Mass enjoyed a good amount of awards praise during its release. It garnered three GG wins for best picture, best director and for lead actress Kate Winslet. It also won an SAG award for Winslet. At the Oscars, it earned seven nominations and won two for its poster and for lead actor Robin Williams. It is James Somerton’s first most successful attempt at serious baiting and one his best.
Zgamer: It could have been just a lame remake of Doubt, but James Somerton really gave depth to this bait. The cast is first rate, the crew is spot on and everything has so much quality in it. It took me two reads at first, but this was easily one of my favorite baits of September 06.
Bryce: A brilliant cast, and inspiring directing choice, along with a touching story that is sure to hit some sort of nerve with readers.The author is able to create a realistic atmosphere to help give the readers a great sense of what the bait is all about.
Zgamer: It could have been just a lame remake of Doubt, but James Somerton really gave depth to this bait. The cast is first rate, the crew is spot on and everything has so much quality in it. It took me two reads at first, but this was easily one of my favorite baits of September 06.
Title Card: The #8 bait is…
MIDNIGHT MASS!
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Zgamer: Terrorism. It’s that thing no one likes to talk about, yet we really want to hear about it. However, what really inspires this heinous act? Well, let’s have Michael describe it. Michael!
Michael: In August of 2006 many very acclaimed baits were released that really showcased what amazing work could be done in the contest. So it is a very big accomplishment to have a bait from that month remembered as highly as Maia’s The Arabic Café was. With its incredibly baity story and great cast, it’s a true winner.
Bryce: It is very unique in style and structure, and has a story that could of been taken with much controversy but instead comes off with a great theme and amazing characters. The bait also has a great crew and a great leading role.
Zgamer: This is my absolute favorite bait of all time. Why? Well, when you think about it, it’s the perfect vehicle. The cast is flawless, as they have the balance of star power the bait needs to be considered realistic. The story is compelling and baity, which will give it big points at the Oscars. And simply put, I would pay to watch this if it was made. That’s how good it is and that’s why it is my personal favorite bait of all time.
Narrator: Being released to absolute rave reviews, The Arabic Café was one of the highest acclaimed baits of all-time. Everybody praised its great crew, compelling synopsis (especially given it is only a couple lines long) and all-star cast.
Maia: When I wrote this bait, I was hesitant to share a very personal story I had already written as an original screenplay a long time ago but I had to test it. I needed to see if others were able to understand the bait and relate to the inner conflicts of my main characters. I knew this bait was something special but I never expected the accolades it received. I thank everybody who voted for this bait and hopefully the next Best of All Time segment will feature your bait on the Top 10 as well! Keep on writing!
Brian: Maia truly proves that less is more in this groundbreaking bait. With only two sentences in the synopsis, she creates easily the most powerful story the site has ever had. In addition, the bait featured the spot-on casting of Jamie Bell and Naveen Andrews, as well as a unique and very likable feel that many baiters struggle to achieve.
Narrator: The Arabic Café proved to be a good success in the contest’s first precursor: The GG’s. It earned five nominations there and won an award for director Mike Nichols. As Oscar time came, it earned eight nominations, eventually winning awards for its awards campaign, supporting actor Ben Kingsley and a widely predicted win for director Nichols. This remains one of Maia’s best baits and is one of the most compelling stories on a controversial topic ever baited.
Sergio: (Subtitled) It has become one of the most commented and beloved baits of all time. It has a special touch joined to a concise and short synopsis. This bait has stolen the hearts of every contestant because it's clear and direct, without unnecessary adornments. Simply put, it’s just a great and baity story. This bait shows that, sometimes, to win is not the most important thing in this contest.
D.W.: This bait embodies everything a Press Section should be and should accomplish. Well-written, thorough, and introducing characters not even mentioned in the plot which is now considered a negative thing, but works here and works perfectly.
Title Card: The #7 bait is…
THE ARABIC CAFÉ
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Zgamer: I’ve seen a lot of baits on this list and it has been a joy commenting for them. However, I am really excited to have this bait be the next for commenting on this list. Michael, take it away.
Michael: February 2007 was probably the best month of the first half of the year of 2007 and part of this accomplishment is because of the release of Zgamer’s Jackrabbit. Starring Ryan Gosling as the infamous John Dillinger, it’s unique style of writing and fantastic casting led to this bait’s tremendous success.
D.W.: Zgamer pulls no punches with this epic biopic on the life and times of 20s bankrobber John Dillinger. From the carefully constructed plot to the admired casting choices, was a bait destined to be reckoned with, and like the many that tried to challenge fell short in just about every category.
Sergio: (Subtitled) A well thought out bait. With a very interesting plot and a unique atmosphere, Zgamer has elevated this story to the highest. He has shown everyone that he can do great baits, becoming one of the best writers of this site. This is a solid bait with the special touch from a great baiter.
Narrator: Jackrabbit opened to great reviews from the get-go in February. While some found its plot style a little strange, everyone had great things to say about its uniqueness and quality writing. It also earned a lot of acclaim for director Peter Weir and lead star Ryan Gosling, which is surprising given he was in many baits that month.
Brian: In February, I remember being on the festival panel and reading Jackrabbit. And immediately afterwards, I thought "why not just do this month's awards over the phone?" There is no reasonable way to question that this is, indeed, a baity story. It is also a captivating one. The bait came out amidst the "Ryan Gosling can do anything" phase, and yet he received virtually no criticism for being cast as notorious gangster John Dillinger, simply because he was the best choice. Zgamer knew exactly what buttons to push in order to earn his way to a BOTM win. And, in the process, he made an absolutely sensational bait.
Bryce: One of the perfect baits of 2007, zGamer was able to tell a story in an entirely different way. The story's set up keeps readers interesting and gives the story much more layers, but the story itself is very entertaining and once you start you are sucked into this amazing story, and care for the characters and what happens to them.
Narrator: Jackrabbit was the clear favorite to sweep the Oscars in the month of February and it showed as the precursors came around. Jackrabbit started its rise to power with a sweep of the Bait Festival’s top prizes, including best picture. Then it followed it with three GG wins for best picture, director and actor for Gosling. After an SAG win for supporting actor Alec Baldwin, Jackrabbit emerged from the Oscars with nine nominations and eventually won four for Best Plot/Synopsis, Best Tagline, Best Director and BOTM. One of the most unique biopics to be released on the site.
Zgamer: This was a very tricky bait to write. I went through several drafts to make it work and the version I finally picked went through a couple head arrangements to find the right way to distort the timeline. However, this was probably the bait I feel the most satisfied with. I put a lot of effort into it, I spent a long time debating the casting choices and I put a lot of thought into the director pick. And you know what, I am happy with it all.
Maia: I consider it the most groundbreaking bio-bait in the contest and the most accomplished story told by Zgamer, yet.
Title Card: The #6 bait is…
JACKRABBIT!
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Zgamer: We now move from one widely acclaimed biopic to another. This one, however, covers territory that the Academy may feel move at home with. Michael, if you please.
Michael: We now enter the Top 5 baits of all-time and in a normal month of the competition this would be considered the Best Picture category. So let me introduce our number 5 bait of all-time. December 2006 was the month that was destined to prove if the next year of the contest would be as successful as the first. When the baits finally were released, one stood among the crowd to silence any doubts. With its compelling topic, all star cast and unique plot structure, The World’s Longest Suicide remains a pinnacle for the contest’s biopics and one of D.W.’s best to date.
Maia: I love this bait, Its baity and everything this contest should represent!
Bryce: One of the best lead casting choice to come out of the contest, along with a great cast and an inspiring crew. The story is able to have a heart and soul, which is can be hard to do for biopics, and the press section creates a great visual for the bait's overall tone.
Narrator: Being hailed by some as the best biopic of all-time, no one could have expected the raves that the bait drew. It opened to unanimous praise from the readers. Whether it was for its intriguing plot, great director or inspired casting of relatively unknown actor Julian McMahon as legendary actor Montgomery Clift, there was always something to praise.
Brian: The World's Longest Suicide is to biopics as The Wizard of Oz is to children's movies. There is simply no way to beat it, so instead people just attempt to recreate it. However, without D.W.'s mind behind it, it's almost not worth trying. Casting like Julian McMahon as Montgomery Clift and such a concise, vivid synopsis is almost impossible to conceive. And yet, D.W. caught lightning in a bottle (as he has so many other times) with this superior bait.
Sergio: (Subtitled) D.W. is one of the best synopsis writers in the contest and this is probably the best plot because it's new, original and great. I enjoy reading all his baits because everyone has something unique and special within. This is a very complex bait and a great adaptation and it is worthy of being among the best.
Narrator: The World’s Longest Suicide proved to be D.W.’s most successful bait, though it had a rough start. While it did win a GG for lead McMahon, the bait struggled against stiff competition from rivals Ralph’s Food and Drug and The Golden Boys. However, the Oscars were much friendlier to the bait, as it earned eight nominations and went on to win for Best Plot/Synopsis, Best Casting Choice for McMahon, another win for McMahon for Best Actor and BOTM. It will go down in history as one of the site’s best biopics.
D.W. I felt while writing this bait that it had to be as creative and well-written as possible. Being a biopic with a story already in place, I felt the need to dazzle the readers and this is one bait that went through many drafts, until I was completely satisfied with what was written.
Zgamer: People comment Jackrabbit as being the bait that changed how the contest works, but I think that praise should go to this amazing bait. Heck, it was this bait that inspired me to write Jackrabbit, so that’s how influential it is. Simply put, it’s one of the best-written, best-casted and most compelling biopics ever written. Plus, it introduced the baiting world to Julian McMahon, which should give the bait even more credibility.
Title Card: The #5 bait is…
THE WORLD’S LONGEST SUICIDE!
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Zgamer: Where would the Oscars be without controversy? And where would some baits be without a good fan base? Michael will explain this.
Michael: In November of 2006, one author emerged from the crowd to become one of the most acclaimed authors the site’s ever had with one of the best months ever for a single author. With the release of his two baits for that month, James Somerton followed up the success of Midnight Mass with two of the most acclaimed baits ever written. Described by some as the most emotional bait to ever see daylight in the contest, James Somerton really hit a home run with the release of Silence, a story based off of his life. Released in the same month as Somerton’s other hit, The Wall, Silence was a bit overshadowed by the dramatic love story, but Silence has gone down in history as one of the best stories ever told in the contest.
Brian: Silence opened to lukewarm reviews, and over time it has finally gained the respect it deserves, shadowing "Citizen Kane". When I read the synopsis, I was left speechless. There was no doubt in my mind that this would make a highly acclaimed, Oscar-winning and brilliant film. James has often talked about his hopes to become a filmmaker, and if he makes "Silence", he'll become the next Spielberg.
D.W.: First of all, the poster is pretty much a masterpiece of teaseriffic proportions. The synopsis as well is very well constructed and beautifully written, setting the background that paints a picture in your mind. Not only that but it doesn't give everything away and leaves you wondering. The press section fills the holes that the reader is desperately anxious for.
Narrator: Premiering to absolute raves, Silence was one of the first baits that the entire forum seemed to be behind. Although, some were not prepared for its subject matter and thus brought Silence a little under the radar. However, over time the bait has emerged to receive a lot of critical praise from the readers, including some of its detractors. Most everyone agreed its synopsis helped with the success, while others also praised its stellar casting.
Sergio: (Subtitled) The greatest thing that could happen to a bait is to get such a group of loyal and dedicated fans. This story has got a lot of praises and honors and it's great to see people recognize it this way. It's a good story, difficult to forget. The plot is simple but its approach is complex, with a lot of moral exposition.
Zgamer: Definitely one of the best autobiographical baits of all time. James really pulled the wool over our eyes by writing two of the best baits of all time in one month. However, this bait is still able to succeed on its own terms just for its emotional value and its inclusion of one of the best posters of all time.
Narrator: Silence wasn’t a huge awards winner, as it had stiff competition that month, but it did enjoy good success. It earned three nominations at the GG’s, winning all of them for supporting star Kevin Kline, best screenplay and best picture. It also earned two nods at the SAG’s, earning Kline another win. While it only earned one Oscar nomination, it bested other baits by winning the award for Best Plot/Synopsis and placing #9 for the month. It also helped James Somerton win Best Author of the month. This will remain James Somerton’s best fan hit.
Maia: Jamie Summers' story is quite intense but to me, the real power in this bait comes from its fantastic awards section.
Bryce: You can feel how personal the bait is, and that is what makes the bait so great. It has soul, passion, and life behind it and in it's atmosphere and story, and it is probably the best bait on the site to stir up the emotions of it's readers no matter what sexual orientation they may be.
Title Card: The #4 bait is…
SILENCE!
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Zgamer: Humor has never really been a big favorite at the Oscars, but it always appreciates it when people express the serious lives of those behind the humor. Michael will now explain that.
Michael: When I say Best Cast of All-Time, what bait seems to come to mind. You guessed it! This classic bait is definitely one of Pat’s greatest. Pat had the daunting task of adapting a book on the most beloved TV sketch comedy of all time: Saturday Night Live. However, Pat proved in October of 2006 that he is one of the site’s best, as he gave it all the right ingredients needed to be a winning film. With a great directing choice, great writing and one of the best casts ever assembled for a bait, everyone knew Live From New York would become a classic ever since it first came out.
D.W.: Probably the most ambitious comedy to ever bait an Oscar. Vulnerable to a cast and crew that would be held up to tight scrutiny by any SNL fan, this is a bait that is unapologetic, confident and stands on it's own. A a real life soap opera amidst the laughs of the funniest comedians ever.
Zgamer: I am a huge fan of SNL, so it makes me excited when somebody does them justice in the way Pat did. With an inspired directing choice and one of the best casts ever assembled in a bait, this was really the first bait that made Pat one of my favorites on the site.
Narrator: Live From New York became one of October 2006’s most popular baits among the readers, earning praise everywhere it went. While it did get a lot of acclaim for its inspired directing choice and quality writing, the absolutely flawless cast Pat assembled will remain the reason why Live From New York was a hit.
Maia: Its Pat's masterpiece and one of the forum's darlings, deserves to be on this Top 10!
Sergio: (Subtitled) An interesting bait about a TV program that I didn't know about. A big surprise in the list, in my opinion, because this bait hasn't had the buzz like the other inductees. Maybe it was underrated a long time ago, and maybe it's living a second life now. A great adaptation with an amazing cast.
Narrator: Though loved by the readers, Live From New York unfortunately did not make a huge impression on the precursors. It managed to earn five GG and three SAG nominations, but did not win any. However, it proved more successful at the Oscars. With six nominations, Live From New York eventually earned wins for Best Awards Campaign, Best Cast and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also tied for #7 of the month with Zgamer’s Listening. This is easily one of Pat’s most loved baits and a truly underrated classic.
Bryce: A great and inspiring cast, with a perfect directing choice. This is one of those baits that just gets better with every read.
Brian: Live From New York is easily Pat's best bait. Though it is usually acclaimed just for its cast, it is refreshing to see that baiters have remembered that in between the greatest ensemble ever seen in a bait, there was the potential for a fantastic film. There is virtually no way that this bait could be improved upon. And it doesn't need to be improved on whatsoever.
Title Card: The #3 bait is…
LIVE FROM NEW YORK!
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Zgamer: We are now down to our final two baits. Before we name them, I want to thank everybody who made this list possible. There’s Michael, who thought of this contest; Daniel, for his great comments for each of the contest’s section; Johnny Alba, for his support of the list; and mostly, I want to thank the baiting community for their comments and support of the list. Ok I’m done. Let’s continue. Since I said too much already, I will let Michael introduce this bait.
Michael: Steven Spielberg is one of the hardest directors to bait for in the contest, and many previous baits have proven why. However, one writer changed all of that with this classic bait. In November of 2006, James recreated the contest in November when he pulled off the best 1, 2 punch ever to occur in the contest. While Silence helped a lot with this, it is this next bait that was the main reason why. With a realistic choice of Spielberg as the director, an extremely baity topic and a great cast, James Somerton finally wrote the Spielberg vehicle so many tried to do before. This is The Wall.
Brian: November of 2006 was a huge month for James; having written both Silence and The Wall in the same month. I really don't know what to say about The Wall. It's all there on the page. It is clear as day that it would not only make a great movie, but it would also become the highest grossing film of all time and sweep up at the Oscars. Certainly the best love story the site has ever had.
D.W.: This is a bait that succeeded through a thorough press section and a perfect crew. The story is Oscar at it's baitiest, successfully combining politics and love, not to mention a period piece in an era that offers up much intrigue.
Narrator: The Wall emerged as the most unanimously praised bait of November, with hardly any bad grades to detract it. While some criticized some of the cast, everyone agreed that this was the ideal Spielberg vehicle, with the right topic and the quality writing needed to make it work.
Zgamer: James could have easily just sat on the laurels created by Silence in November, but he one-upped that by writing one of the baitiest baits of all time. It made it so much better that it would totally be a project Spielberg would want to do. And that’s saying a lot given the less successful attempts at Spielberg baits (including my own). Easily James best bait yet.
Maia: The Wall is the best Spielberg bait in the contest and that makes it even greater. Its also one of the very few romantic baits in the contest but still, probably the most memorable of all. It's James Somerton's classic and a deserving Top 10.
Narrator: Though it wasn’t a huge success at the precursors, it still gained a lot of attention from them. While it earned no nods at the SAG’s, it did get five from the GG’s with one win for director Spielberg. The Oscars were much more friendly to it, as it earned an astonishing eleven nominations plus an aided nomination for James Somerton for best author. It went on to win two for BOTM and for James Somerton’s absolutely mesmerizing poster. It also helped win James that Best Author award. It will most likely remain for a long time as one of the best baits on the site and James Somerton’s greatest work.
Bryce: The directing choice is brilliant, the same goes for the cast. The story is touching and daring, and is able to show it's theme in a very effective way. The characters are interesting enough to care for, and the bait is beautifully written.
Sergio: (Subtitled) Without a doubt this bait defined the spirit of this contest. It was a great month for a baiter as great as James Somerton is, and now he gets his official recognition. Conceived from the beginning as a winner, it matches all the necessary elements to be a favorite: love story, political/social plot and a popular director with a well-known career. It makes a great base to raise this bait to the highest place in every poll.
Title Card: The #2 bait is…
THE WALL!
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Zgamer: I don’t think I can properly say what I should about this bait. So I think I should let Michael do so.
Michael: I think everyone has one word they are thinking and it has to be one of my favorite words of all-time, Wackos. Written by fairly new author Zgamer back in August of 2006, this bait surprised everyone with its great director choice, intriguing characters and cast and its very unique plot. This is considered Zgamer’s best baits and understandably so.
Maia: Its not only the funniest smart-comedy in the contest ever but it also has a lovely tagline to go along with: Help is a 4 letter word for therapy. That’s were the fun begins…
Sergio: I read it a while after it was released in August 2006. I wasn't in the contest yet and I read it because everybody talked about this bait in the forum. I have to admit that this bait has something special to it and I loved the characters.
Narrator: Wackos opened to great reviews at the beginning of the month. People had a lot to say about this quirky Noah Baumbach comedy, with praise going to its quality writing and especially to its stellar cast, particularly lead star Jeff Daniels and supporting star Amy Adams.
Brian: Since the second I read it, Wackos has been my favorite bait of all time. I have never in nearly 16 months fallen in love with characters in a bait as much as I did with this one. Truly Zgamer's masterpiece, and a story that withholds the test of time, and will continue to do so forever. Why? Because of its fascinating characters. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.
D.W.: I love this bait because it doesn't try to be funny. It doesn't try to go for laughs. You know the humor is there and where it will come inside this story that centers around a shrink who's life is finally challenged and changed by a string of unique patients. A spot on formula for a Baumbach project.
Narrator: Wackos became the contest’s first big winner at the GG’s. With six nominations, the bait went on to win four for lead actor Jeff Daniels, supporting actress Amy Adams, Best Screenplay and Best Picture. The Oscar proved to be on its side too, as it earned nine Oscar nominations including for best picture. It also holds the recognition of being one of the few baits to have two nominations for Most Original Character. It eventually won four awards for Most Original Character (for Jeff Daniels’s character), Best Tagline, Funniest Bait and Best Supporting Actress for Adams. One of the best comedy baits ever written on the site’s and one of Zgamer’s best.
Bryce: A story that fits it's director and has a great cast. The story itself promises laughs, and is also able to tell a very interesting story. It's one of those baits that a lot of people will flock to the theaters to go see.
Zgamer: I am surprised at how much people loved Wackos. Honestly, I think it was one of the baits I spent the least amount of time actually writing it. Of course, I had the idea brewing in my head for about two weeks before my speed write. While Jackrabbit is definitely the bait I feel most satisfied with for its plot, Wackos is the one where I simply love my characters the most. I’m just glad I was able to draw inspiration for this from one of my parent’s friends who has to deal with people like this at his own job (with a few exceptions).
Title Card: The #1 bait of all time is…
WACKOS!
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Michael: Well, I hope you have enjoyed the list we have put together and now back to regular programming on I! I would like to thank a few people…
-Zgamer- For being a fantastic partner on this project
-Daniel- For commenting on almost every section, it was lovely.
-All of our Panelists- Couldn’t have done it without you.
And last and not least
-Johnny- For creating the contest and letting us have so much fun with it.
Michael: And now, a final thought from the man himself: Johnny Alba.
Johnny Alba: "From #100 to #1, these are all the stories that make Bait an Oscar one of the most entertaining features of The Oscar Igloo; I can only express my greatest admiration for each one of our authors. Do not forget that you make this contest and you are the only ones who can keep the fun going! Congratulations to everyone who made this countdown and congratulations to Wackos for giving us a story that, if you follow your dream, we will eventually see on the big screen"
Zgamer: Well, we look forward to next years list. It will be interesting to see how the list changes. And now, here are the Top 100 Baits of All Time as voted by the baiting community (with descriptions on them so you know what they are):
1 Wackos- Zgamer’s quirky story of a psychologist dealing with very peculiar patients
2 The Wall- James Somerton’s emotional tale of two lovers separated by the Berlin Wall
3 Live From New York- Pat’s brilliant adaptation of the same named book detailing the lives of the early Saturday Night Live cast
4 Silence- James Somerton’s emotional autobiography of a tragic beating of a young boy
5 The World’s Longest Suicide- D.W.’s riveting biopic on the life of actor Montgomery Clift
6 Jackrabbit- Zgamer’s unique biopic on the life of gangster John Dillinger
7 The Arabic Café- Maia’s thrilling tale of two people who try to use terrorism for their advantage
8 Midnight Mass- James Somerton’s emotional story of a mother trying to expose a priest as a child molester
9 The Bang-Bang Club- D.W.’s take on the notorious Bang-Bang Club and the influence of the photos on the wars in Africa
10. A New Agenda- Daniel’s touching story of a group of people trying to fulfill a list compiled by a man and his recently deceased wife
11. Dali- Daniel’s unique biopic on surreal artist Salvador Dali
12. The Banality of Evil- Alex S.’s adaptation of “Eichmann in Jerusalem”, dealing with the trial of a Nazi officer
13. River City Blue- Ross’s intelligent thriller dealing with the crime crisis in Memphis, Tennessee
14. Bootleg- Maia’s compelling tale of the bootleg movie crisis
15. iLife- Brian’s witty satire on the influence of technology in the future
16. La Ventana- Brett’s moving story of a dying man observing the lives of others through his window
17. Cielo Drive- Brett and Dpac’s thrilling story of the Manson Family murders
18. Rivalry at 6 PM- Patrick D’s character driven drama of rival radio hosts
19. Sandstorm- Al’s engrossing story of soldiers in the Iraq War
20. Scartennow Juction- Pat’s unique Wes Anderson film on a family dealing with the sudden death of their father
21. Destiny- Harry’s emotional personal account of a boy dealing with suicidal demons
22. Ralph’s Food and Drug- Alex’s story of a controversy over a store managers decision to not carry a pill for abortions
23. Border Man- Pat’s exciting tale of border regulations and interracial relationships
24. Once a Hero- Matthew LaRusso’s biopic of the late Christopher and Dana Reeves
25. Lucky Clover– Sergio’s winning story of the terrorists attacks committed in Ireland
26. Recoil- D.W.’s dramatic tale of a man hunting down a criminal in the Old West
27. Dear, Mr. President- James Somerton’s poignant view on a woman protesting the policy of the War on Terror
28. Fresh Heir Vol. III- Part 3 of Brian’s wildly original political tale
29. Sex in the Oval Office- Brett’s humorous jab at a White House sexual scandal
30. Fosse- Alex’s compelling biopic on Broadway legend Bob Fosse
31. Little Miss Murder- Matt’s thought provoking tale of John Mark Karr’s trial
32. A Faith of One- Zgamer’s emotional drama on the religious conflicts within a small town
33. Ironic Nonfiction- Daniel’s humorous story of a man dealing with his unfortunately circumstances
34. Dominion- Tony’s riveting tale of a young man tormented by a disturbing voice
35. The Awakening- Gabby’s adaptation of the popular book on a woman’s emotional and sexual reawakening
36. Faded Red- Brian Erickson’s compelling biopic on the life of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin
37. Photograph- Pat’s riveting tale on the twisted business of the paparazzi
38. No Way to Treat a First Lady- Al’s humorous look at a First Lady accused of killing the president
39. The Vampire Lestat- James Somerton’s adaptation of the classic book about the “Brat Prince” vampire Lestat
40. Flashes- Tony’s tale of a troubled artist losing touch with reality
41. Rush- Ross’s tale of a photojournalist trapped in a nuclear power conspiracy
42. Freakshow- Tony’s bizarre tale of quirky characters on a reality TV show
43. I Am a Patsy- D.W.’s unique take on the life of Lee Harvey Oswald
44. Doubt- Brian (of Minneapolis)’s adaptation of the Broadway play on the molestation of a Catholic school boy by a priest
45. The Great Fitzgerald- Tom Houseman’s tale on the life of author F. Scott Fitzgerald
46. The Breadwinner- Connor Campbell’s story of a girl trying to survive in a Taliban controlled environment
47. The Valley of Ashes- Zgamer’s artistic tale of a man’s struggle to survive during the Vietnam War
48. Carter- Jordan’s biopic on the life of president Jimmy Carter
49. Imagine- Harry’s emotional biopic on the life of former Beatle John Lennon
50. I, Bergman- Daniel’s biopic on the life of actress Ingrid Bergman
51. Wildflower- Douglass Reese’s story of two troubled girls from different time periods
52. Wicked (March ‘07)- Al’s adaptation of the Musical on the Wicked Witch of the West
53. Steamboat Disney- Daniel’s classic biopic on the life of entertainment giant Walt Disney
54. The Rainbow Album- Jason’s story of a man aspiring to be an entertainer but struggling with AIDS
55. Bruised Boys- Douglass Reese’s controversial tale of two young homosexual boys
56. Jersey Boys- Pat’s adaptation of the musical highlighting the story of the music group Four Seasons
57. Dragontown- James’s intriguing Anime story on a Tokyo crime boss’s attempt to bring demons into the real world
58. Devil in the White City- Brian Erickson’s adaptation of the book dealing with a mysterious city
59. Record Man- Sergio’s humorous tale of a man trying to make it into the world record book
60. Sweet Black and Blue- D.W.’s surreal tale of a bizarre death in Las Vegas
61. The It Girl- D.W.’s biopic on the life of Clara Bow
62. The Iniquity Beyond- Tony’s eerie tale of a family with a dark secret
63. Between Elephants and Mice- Harry’s Woody Allen story about the troubled live of people in Manhattan
64. Internet Connection- Matt’s character drama on people drawn together through the Internet
65. Parvana’s Journey- Connor Campbell’s sequel to the Breadwinner, continuing the tale of Parvana’s attempts of survival
66. The Guy Who Owned the Store- Bryce’s tale of a town under control of the mob
67. E.L.- Daniel’s wonderful story on a woman author dealing with a sudden aphasia deleting her ability to read or write
68. Fresh Heir Vol. I- Part 1 of Brian’s wildly original political tale
69. I Do Solemnly Swear- Jamie Madden’s hilarious tale on a man’s complicated love life
70. A Child of Shame- Maia’s emotional tale on the lives of people surviving the Lebensborn project
71. Negatives- Ben’s hilarious satire dealing with a producer trying to get movie rights on a dying woman
72. Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical- Zgamer and Ryan’s witty musical satire on the celebrity rehab craze
73. The Road- Brian Erickson’s adaptation of the popular book detailing America after a nuclear war
74. Buster- Todd’s account on the life of comedian Buster Keaton
75. Glass- Marcus Dennis’s moving character drama surrounding the death of a homeless man
76. Dinah Was…- Brian (of Minneapolis)’s adaptation of the musical on singer Dinah Washington
77. Pygmalion- Michael’s adaptation of the classic play about the cultivation of an uncultured woman
78. Cigarette Burns- Ben’s quirky satire on an actress succeeding through her attempts to fail
79. Dear Andrea- Matt’s tale of the disturbed Andrea Yates
80. Flowers for Algernon- Connor Campbell’s adaptation of the classic book on a retarded man whose intelligence is tripled surgically
81. Gray Daze- Josh P.’s character tale of a man’s struggle with methamphetamines
82. The 27th Victim- Patrick D’s unique story on a detective tracking down a bizarre serial killer
83. Fresh Heir Vol. II- Part 2 of Brian’s wildly original political tale
84. The Wilder Side of Life- Corey’s biopic on director Billy Wilder
85. The Justices- Alex’s tale of a conspiracy against the Supreme Court Justices
86. Brian Damage- Tom Houseman’s quirky Charlie Kaufman story on a man with part of a woman’s brain in his
87. Standardized Test- Connor Campbell’s comedy on a school trying to cheat the school board for more funding
88. Fred & Ethel- Connor Campbell’s story of the lives of the actors on “I Love Lucy”
89. Glitz- Brian’s quirky satire on the bizarre lives of celebrities
90. Marilyn- Steven’s biopic on the life of Marilyn Monroe
91. Terri- Pat’s account on the Terri Schiavo story
92. The Curious Case of Phineas Gage- D.W.’s wacky tale about a man with a railroad spike through his head
93. Listening- Zgamer’s unique account of the lives of students at a Idaho high school
94. Balton Productions- Brian’s lovable original musical on rival Broadway Producers
95. Wicked (July ’06)- James Somerton’s adaptation of the compelling book on the
Wicked Witch of the West
96. All Alone- Josh P.’s tale of a young homosexual dealing with bigotry
97. A Work of Fiction- Douglass’s quirky tale on a man who claims to Jesus Christ
98. Green River- Ryne’s tale of the Green River Killer
99. Watts- Bryce’s account on the Watts Riot in Los Angeles
100. Tavistock Place- Pat’s character drama on a bombing of a bus in London
Zgamer: Well, look where we are now. After many months of naming baits and dealing with delays, it’s finally time for the Top 10 baits of all time. We will recap the other baits at the end when we finish with the Top 10 (which we will have for the official awards page later). However, now it’s time for tonight’s section. Intro please!
Narrator: You voted for them. You’ve anticipated for them. You’ve spent months waiting for them. Now we will unveil the Top 10 Baits of All Time.
(Sweeping score tied in with clips from various baits on the list including “A Faith of One”, “iLife”, “Sandstorm”, “Once a Hero”, “Fresh Heir Vol. III”, “Luck Clover”, “Recoil”, “Fosse”, “Dominion”, “Balton Productions”, “Brain Damage”, “Gray Daze”, “Pygmalion”, “Glass”, “Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical”, “Negatives”, “E.L.”, “Sweet Black and Blue”, “Dragontown”, “Steamboat Disney”, “Freakshow”, “The Vampire Lestat” and “River City Blue”)
Narrator: And here’s your guide for the night, Zgamer.
(Zgamer walks up to the camera, where he is in the Hall of Baiting)
Zgamer: It’s finally here. We’ve gone through many baits this month, from the compellingly realistic to the genuinely surreal. From baits about political intrigue to baits on forms of mental issues. From biopics to comedies, we’ve covered so many baits on our list. Now we are at the final ten baits of all time, as voted by the baiting community. First off though, I would like to introduce the fellow authors who will comment on the baits on the list. More accurately, they will introduce themselves. These commenters range from previous BOTM winners to other acclaimed authors who have made an impact on the site. So, if you guys would be so kind:
Brian: I'm Brian Erickson. I've been on the site since April of 2006, and, like all of you, I am a movie fanatic. In addition to that, I am an aspiring screenwriter, avid tennis player and am interested in theater. But, let's get to the important thing: the baits. A sample of some of the baits I've written are iLife, Contemporary Comedy, The Road, Devil in the White City and Glitz.
Sergio: (His comments will be subtitled for his convenience so he may better express himself in his native language) My name is Sergio and I'm from Spain. I’ve been in this contest since October 2006 and my first bait was Spirit of Guitar. I found this contest by chance and I'm very happy to be a part of it. I'm an architect and cinema is one of my biggest interests too. I enjoy writing stories, viewing art and designing posters for the contest a lot, I won the best picture award in June 2007 and it was a great surprise for me. I never imagined it would ever happen and it made me very happy. This also gave me strength to improve with my English to write better baits in the future.
Bryce: My name is Bryce. I am the author of such baits as The Guy Who Owned The Store, Watts, Project Sin, The Courtroom, and the recent Field of Desire. I am also an assistant on the GG awards and currently heading the Bait Festival for November. I love writing baits, and I like experimenting with ideas, but when I do go the safe route I will write a story that I love. In simple terms, I like to write baits that I would be glad to write as a screenplay. I think if I wrote a bait I wouldn't like to make a screenplay of, then that bait just doesn't have the passion that is needed to be successful.
Maia: My name is Maia, probably the only woman in the contest right now, and I’m honored to have my baits A Child of Shame and Bootleg included on the Top 100 Baits of All Time countdown. I have been a part of the Bait an Oscar contest for more than a year. During that period I have learned many new things about writing and filmmaking (two of my biggest passions) from my fellow baiters, and I can only hope some of them have learned something from my baits.
D.W.: My name is D.W. Dillon, writer of the World's Longest Suicide, The Bang-Bang Club, Recoil, and Sweet Black & Blue. I'm originally from Chicago where I attended Columbia College of Chicago as a film major, until I moved to Las Vegas where I'm studying Political Science, and in my spare time I continue to write treatments and screenplays, most of which are based off of my well known baits.
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Zgamer: We’ve got a big profile group of commenters tonight and I can hardly contain my joy and gratitude for their participation. Enough stalling though, let’s get on to the main event. I will turn over the time to Michael right now to introduce our first bait.
Michael: Beginning our Top 10 we have one of the most raved about comedies of all-time. Written in July of 2007, Daniel came out of a long streak of writer’s block to release a classic. Ever since it’s debut in the festival, it was easily the favorite to win Best Picture going into the Oscars. However, everyone kept asking themselves, could Daniel win Best Picture twice? That was the big question that night and it proved to be true as A New Agenda came out on top.
Sergio: (Subtitled) This bait got the biggest prize little by little, without being heavily favorited from the beginning, but it was a bait that everybody liked. That is something very difficult to do and it's admirable. Without any doubt this is one of the best comedies in the contest.
Brian: Daniel's simple yet heartwarming dramadey took July of 2007 by storm. It is by far the baitiest comedy the site has ever had, and it very well may be the best. When I first heard the synopsis, I thought that this would be that one bait every month that I love, but no one else does. And now it's being honored as one of the 10 best baits ever written. And oh-so deservedly so.
Narrator: Opening to absolute rave reviews, A New Agenda easily won over the Academy and the Forums. There was always something the baiters found to comment about the bait, from its endearing and emotional synopsis to its witty awards to its well picked director choice. However, most everyone agreed that the bait’s cast was its strongest aspect, filled with great casting choices across the board.
D.W.: This is one of those baits where you could tell the author paid serious attention to, wanting to create a beautiful story. Full of lovable characters, wacky situations and a heartwarming theme. All the elements of a comedic best picture.
Maia: Daniel is the most successful writer in the contest and this James L Brooks comedy proves why. Only a writer with his level of sensibility, heart and technique could bring a trip-movie into this top 10!
Narrator: Starting out its ride with 7 Festival nominations, it would go on to win 4 of the awards, but did not win Best Picture. It received 5 Golden Globe nominations and would win 3, including Best Picture Musical/Comedy. It also earned 3 SAG nominations and a win Best Ensemble. At the end of July it received an enormous 12 Oscar nominations and would win 6 including Best Plot/Synopsis, Best Original Screenplay and BOTM (also including Daniel’s win for Best Author). One of the best dramadeies the contest will ever have.
Bryce: A very touching story, that is equally able to deliver the dramatic plot points and the comedic moments. The cast is beyond brilliant and the crew is just as good. It's the sort of bait that really inspires its readers.
Zgamer: I thought Daniel was going to go under after doing E.L., but all those negative thoughts were dashed once I read A New Agenda. Perhaps without intending to, Daniel has written one of the best and friendliest stories (on both Oscar and audience levels) that the Oscar Igloo has ever seen. It’s the ultimate James L, Brooks film, with the perfect story, cast and characters that would give him plenty more Oscars on his resume. Plus, his style of writing perfectly balanced the mixture of humor and drama that Brooks usually does so well. Now if only Brooks could just stop making stuff like Spanglish and make a movie like this.
Title Card: The #10 bait is…
A NEW AGENDA!
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Zgamer: Biopics are well known for being very powerful Oscar vehicles. Probably because their stories have more impact since they are real events. And as the next bait proved, sometimes the least known stories can be some of the most powerful. If you would Michael.
Michael: Written back in October 2006, D.W. proved how adept he can be when writing biopics with this thrilling bait. Based on the real life stories of the group its named for, this bait showed how powerful the media can be in affecting other but at the same time showed how their own ambitions can be self-destructing as well. With a powerful cast and crew backing it up, The Bang-Bang Club remains one of the site’s best and most underrated biopics of all time.
D.W.: Never have I written a bait before where I was so assured that I wanted to see it as a film. I'm very proud of the casting because it took tremendous research and thought, because I envisioned it in my head of how I wanted to see it and who I wanted to see in it. I'm honored that a bait of mine that was ranked 3rd of the month made the Top Ten.
Zgamer: Wow. I remember reading this back when it was released and not really thinking about it much at first. Then suddenly, I re-read it and I started imagining what the trailer for the bait would look like. That was the sign I needed to realize this was one of the best baits I ever read.
Narrator: The Bang-Bang Club was able to make a good impression despite being up against baits like iLife, Live From New York and Dali. Many praised its great subject, its quality writing and great crew. However, its cast was the most praised aspect, particularly lead star Keifer Sutherland and supporting star Daniel Day-Lewis as real life journalists Kevin Carter and James Nachtwey respectively.
Brian: If you were to discuss all of the baits with true substance, The Bang-Bang Club would probably be #1 on the list. I fail to see how anyone could read the bait and not think that D.W. had put a liberal amount of effort into making a truly unique, and very baity, story. Also, this is one of the only baits that I wholeheartedly believe was based entirely on fact. And to connect fact to storytelling is a crowning achievement on D.W.'s behalf.
Maia: I think this intriguing story needs to become a real film with top Hollywood talent soon. Its emotional and exciting, the way the best stories should be. D.W. at his finest!
Narrator: The Bang-Bang Club enjoyed a pretty good run with awards. While it wasn’t the awards juggernaut some of its other competitors were, it got continual praise for its cast. It garnered an SAG win for Day-Lewis and two GG nominations at the GG’s for him and Sutherland. At the Oscars, it earned 5 Oscar nominations, with a win for Day-Lewis. It also ranked #3 for the month.
Bryce: A brilliant cast, and inspiring directing choice, along with a touching story that is sure to hit some sort of nerve with readers. The author is able to create a realistic atmosphere to help give the readers a great sense of what the bait is all about.
Sergio: (Subtitled) Without a doubt this is a great bait that that really grew better over time. The topic is mature and coherent like its plot, with many great performances from its amazing cast. One of the baits I have seen in my mind as a real film.
Title Card: The #9 bait is…
THE BANG-BANG CLUB!
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Zgamer: Religion. It’s a very controversial topic, yet ironically it can make for some of the most compelling stories. And as Michael will explain, some of our authors can really utilize this subject very well.
Michael: James Somerton is by far one of the most acclaimed authors on the site, which justifies why he has two other baits left in the countdown, but this one is definitely deserving of coming in at 8th place. Starring Kate Winslet and Robin Williams, Midnight Mass was one of James’ first widely loved baits.
Sergio: (Subtitled) I never thought that this bait could be so high in the list, beating out other bait of the month winners, but I think that "almost bait of the month winners" have a lot of sympathy with the voters. This was one of the first baits that I read and I loved it, so I'm happy with its recognition.
D.W.: Often the best writers are the most vulnerable. They put all their feelings out on the table to be judged. They don't discriminate towards their emotions, which is why their art is often the most inspiring. James Somerton is one of these authors and Midnight Mass is a perfect example of an author letting go of the mere thought of criticism.
Narrator: Telling the story of the priest/rapist (Williams) and Winslet as a worried mother everyone fell in love with the captivating story.
Brian- When James began advertising the bait, I was expecting a rip-off of "Doubt." Boy, was I wrong. James took an extremely difficult subject and made an original, compelling and ultimately provocative bait. But what I liked most about the bait was the casting of Robin Williams as the twisted Father MacCaurthy. Very few people would resort to casting a usually comedic actor, but when you really think about it, he is the best choice for the role. Simply an excellent bait.
Maia: I think this is the best bait to tackle religion, immigration and abuse as serious, adult conflicts. It feels human and very powerful; it needs to be made a movie soon!
Narrator: Midnight Mass enjoyed a good amount of awards praise during its release. It garnered three GG wins for best picture, best director and for lead actress Kate Winslet. It also won an SAG award for Winslet. At the Oscars, it earned seven nominations and won two for its poster and for lead actor Robin Williams. It is James Somerton’s first most successful attempt at serious baiting and one his best.
Zgamer: It could have been just a lame remake of Doubt, but James Somerton really gave depth to this bait. The cast is first rate, the crew is spot on and everything has so much quality in it. It took me two reads at first, but this was easily one of my favorite baits of September 06.
Bryce: A brilliant cast, and inspiring directing choice, along with a touching story that is sure to hit some sort of nerve with readers.The author is able to create a realistic atmosphere to help give the readers a great sense of what the bait is all about.
Zgamer: It could have been just a lame remake of Doubt, but James Somerton really gave depth to this bait. The cast is first rate, the crew is spot on and everything has so much quality in it. It took me two reads at first, but this was easily one of my favorite baits of September 06.
Title Card: The #8 bait is…
MIDNIGHT MASS!
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Zgamer: Terrorism. It’s that thing no one likes to talk about, yet we really want to hear about it. However, what really inspires this heinous act? Well, let’s have Michael describe it. Michael!
Michael: In August of 2006 many very acclaimed baits were released that really showcased what amazing work could be done in the contest. So it is a very big accomplishment to have a bait from that month remembered as highly as Maia’s The Arabic Café was. With its incredibly baity story and great cast, it’s a true winner.
Bryce: It is very unique in style and structure, and has a story that could of been taken with much controversy but instead comes off with a great theme and amazing characters. The bait also has a great crew and a great leading role.
Zgamer: This is my absolute favorite bait of all time. Why? Well, when you think about it, it’s the perfect vehicle. The cast is flawless, as they have the balance of star power the bait needs to be considered realistic. The story is compelling and baity, which will give it big points at the Oscars. And simply put, I would pay to watch this if it was made. That’s how good it is and that’s why it is my personal favorite bait of all time.
Narrator: Being released to absolute rave reviews, The Arabic Café was one of the highest acclaimed baits of all-time. Everybody praised its great crew, compelling synopsis (especially given it is only a couple lines long) and all-star cast.
Maia: When I wrote this bait, I was hesitant to share a very personal story I had already written as an original screenplay a long time ago but I had to test it. I needed to see if others were able to understand the bait and relate to the inner conflicts of my main characters. I knew this bait was something special but I never expected the accolades it received. I thank everybody who voted for this bait and hopefully the next Best of All Time segment will feature your bait on the Top 10 as well! Keep on writing!
Brian: Maia truly proves that less is more in this groundbreaking bait. With only two sentences in the synopsis, she creates easily the most powerful story the site has ever had. In addition, the bait featured the spot-on casting of Jamie Bell and Naveen Andrews, as well as a unique and very likable feel that many baiters struggle to achieve.
Narrator: The Arabic Café proved to be a good success in the contest’s first precursor: The GG’s. It earned five nominations there and won an award for director Mike Nichols. As Oscar time came, it earned eight nominations, eventually winning awards for its awards campaign, supporting actor Ben Kingsley and a widely predicted win for director Nichols. This remains one of Maia’s best baits and is one of the most compelling stories on a controversial topic ever baited.
Sergio: (Subtitled) It has become one of the most commented and beloved baits of all time. It has a special touch joined to a concise and short synopsis. This bait has stolen the hearts of every contestant because it's clear and direct, without unnecessary adornments. Simply put, it’s just a great and baity story. This bait shows that, sometimes, to win is not the most important thing in this contest.
D.W.: This bait embodies everything a Press Section should be and should accomplish. Well-written, thorough, and introducing characters not even mentioned in the plot which is now considered a negative thing, but works here and works perfectly.
Title Card: The #7 bait is…
THE ARABIC CAFÉ
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Zgamer: I’ve seen a lot of baits on this list and it has been a joy commenting for them. However, I am really excited to have this bait be the next for commenting on this list. Michael, take it away.
Michael: February 2007 was probably the best month of the first half of the year of 2007 and part of this accomplishment is because of the release of Zgamer’s Jackrabbit. Starring Ryan Gosling as the infamous John Dillinger, it’s unique style of writing and fantastic casting led to this bait’s tremendous success.
D.W.: Zgamer pulls no punches with this epic biopic on the life and times of 20s bankrobber John Dillinger. From the carefully constructed plot to the admired casting choices, was a bait destined to be reckoned with, and like the many that tried to challenge fell short in just about every category.
Sergio: (Subtitled) A well thought out bait. With a very interesting plot and a unique atmosphere, Zgamer has elevated this story to the highest. He has shown everyone that he can do great baits, becoming one of the best writers of this site. This is a solid bait with the special touch from a great baiter.
Narrator: Jackrabbit opened to great reviews from the get-go in February. While some found its plot style a little strange, everyone had great things to say about its uniqueness and quality writing. It also earned a lot of acclaim for director Peter Weir and lead star Ryan Gosling, which is surprising given he was in many baits that month.
Brian: In February, I remember being on the festival panel and reading Jackrabbit. And immediately afterwards, I thought "why not just do this month's awards over the phone?" There is no reasonable way to question that this is, indeed, a baity story. It is also a captivating one. The bait came out amidst the "Ryan Gosling can do anything" phase, and yet he received virtually no criticism for being cast as notorious gangster John Dillinger, simply because he was the best choice. Zgamer knew exactly what buttons to push in order to earn his way to a BOTM win. And, in the process, he made an absolutely sensational bait.
Bryce: One of the perfect baits of 2007, zGamer was able to tell a story in an entirely different way. The story's set up keeps readers interesting and gives the story much more layers, but the story itself is very entertaining and once you start you are sucked into this amazing story, and care for the characters and what happens to them.
Narrator: Jackrabbit was the clear favorite to sweep the Oscars in the month of February and it showed as the precursors came around. Jackrabbit started its rise to power with a sweep of the Bait Festival’s top prizes, including best picture. Then it followed it with three GG wins for best picture, director and actor for Gosling. After an SAG win for supporting actor Alec Baldwin, Jackrabbit emerged from the Oscars with nine nominations and eventually won four for Best Plot/Synopsis, Best Tagline, Best Director and BOTM. One of the most unique biopics to be released on the site.
Zgamer: This was a very tricky bait to write. I went through several drafts to make it work and the version I finally picked went through a couple head arrangements to find the right way to distort the timeline. However, this was probably the bait I feel the most satisfied with. I put a lot of effort into it, I spent a long time debating the casting choices and I put a lot of thought into the director pick. And you know what, I am happy with it all.
Maia: I consider it the most groundbreaking bio-bait in the contest and the most accomplished story told by Zgamer, yet.
Title Card: The #6 bait is…
JACKRABBIT!
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Zgamer: We now move from one widely acclaimed biopic to another. This one, however, covers territory that the Academy may feel move at home with. Michael, if you please.
Michael: We now enter the Top 5 baits of all-time and in a normal month of the competition this would be considered the Best Picture category. So let me introduce our number 5 bait of all-time. December 2006 was the month that was destined to prove if the next year of the contest would be as successful as the first. When the baits finally were released, one stood among the crowd to silence any doubts. With its compelling topic, all star cast and unique plot structure, The World’s Longest Suicide remains a pinnacle for the contest’s biopics and one of D.W.’s best to date.
Maia: I love this bait, Its baity and everything this contest should represent!
Bryce: One of the best lead casting choice to come out of the contest, along with a great cast and an inspiring crew. The story is able to have a heart and soul, which is can be hard to do for biopics, and the press section creates a great visual for the bait's overall tone.
Narrator: Being hailed by some as the best biopic of all-time, no one could have expected the raves that the bait drew. It opened to unanimous praise from the readers. Whether it was for its intriguing plot, great director or inspired casting of relatively unknown actor Julian McMahon as legendary actor Montgomery Clift, there was always something to praise.
Brian: The World's Longest Suicide is to biopics as The Wizard of Oz is to children's movies. There is simply no way to beat it, so instead people just attempt to recreate it. However, without D.W.'s mind behind it, it's almost not worth trying. Casting like Julian McMahon as Montgomery Clift and such a concise, vivid synopsis is almost impossible to conceive. And yet, D.W. caught lightning in a bottle (as he has so many other times) with this superior bait.
Sergio: (Subtitled) D.W. is one of the best synopsis writers in the contest and this is probably the best plot because it's new, original and great. I enjoy reading all his baits because everyone has something unique and special within. This is a very complex bait and a great adaptation and it is worthy of being among the best.
Narrator: The World’s Longest Suicide proved to be D.W.’s most successful bait, though it had a rough start. While it did win a GG for lead McMahon, the bait struggled against stiff competition from rivals Ralph’s Food and Drug and The Golden Boys. However, the Oscars were much friendlier to the bait, as it earned eight nominations and went on to win for Best Plot/Synopsis, Best Casting Choice for McMahon, another win for McMahon for Best Actor and BOTM. It will go down in history as one of the site’s best biopics.
D.W. I felt while writing this bait that it had to be as creative and well-written as possible. Being a biopic with a story already in place, I felt the need to dazzle the readers and this is one bait that went through many drafts, until I was completely satisfied with what was written.
Zgamer: People comment Jackrabbit as being the bait that changed how the contest works, but I think that praise should go to this amazing bait. Heck, it was this bait that inspired me to write Jackrabbit, so that’s how influential it is. Simply put, it’s one of the best-written, best-casted and most compelling biopics ever written. Plus, it introduced the baiting world to Julian McMahon, which should give the bait even more credibility.
Title Card: The #5 bait is…
THE WORLD’S LONGEST SUICIDE!
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Zgamer: Where would the Oscars be without controversy? And where would some baits be without a good fan base? Michael will explain this.
Michael: In November of 2006, one author emerged from the crowd to become one of the most acclaimed authors the site’s ever had with one of the best months ever for a single author. With the release of his two baits for that month, James Somerton followed up the success of Midnight Mass with two of the most acclaimed baits ever written. Described by some as the most emotional bait to ever see daylight in the contest, James Somerton really hit a home run with the release of Silence, a story based off of his life. Released in the same month as Somerton’s other hit, The Wall, Silence was a bit overshadowed by the dramatic love story, but Silence has gone down in history as one of the best stories ever told in the contest.
Brian: Silence opened to lukewarm reviews, and over time it has finally gained the respect it deserves, shadowing "Citizen Kane". When I read the synopsis, I was left speechless. There was no doubt in my mind that this would make a highly acclaimed, Oscar-winning and brilliant film. James has often talked about his hopes to become a filmmaker, and if he makes "Silence", he'll become the next Spielberg.
D.W.: First of all, the poster is pretty much a masterpiece of teaseriffic proportions. The synopsis as well is very well constructed and beautifully written, setting the background that paints a picture in your mind. Not only that but it doesn't give everything away and leaves you wondering. The press section fills the holes that the reader is desperately anxious for.
Narrator: Premiering to absolute raves, Silence was one of the first baits that the entire forum seemed to be behind. Although, some were not prepared for its subject matter and thus brought Silence a little under the radar. However, over time the bait has emerged to receive a lot of critical praise from the readers, including some of its detractors. Most everyone agreed its synopsis helped with the success, while others also praised its stellar casting.
Sergio: (Subtitled) The greatest thing that could happen to a bait is to get such a group of loyal and dedicated fans. This story has got a lot of praises and honors and it's great to see people recognize it this way. It's a good story, difficult to forget. The plot is simple but its approach is complex, with a lot of moral exposition.
Zgamer: Definitely one of the best autobiographical baits of all time. James really pulled the wool over our eyes by writing two of the best baits of all time in one month. However, this bait is still able to succeed on its own terms just for its emotional value and its inclusion of one of the best posters of all time.
Narrator: Silence wasn’t a huge awards winner, as it had stiff competition that month, but it did enjoy good success. It earned three nominations at the GG’s, winning all of them for supporting star Kevin Kline, best screenplay and best picture. It also earned two nods at the SAG’s, earning Kline another win. While it only earned one Oscar nomination, it bested other baits by winning the award for Best Plot/Synopsis and placing #9 for the month. It also helped James Somerton win Best Author of the month. This will remain James Somerton’s best fan hit.
Maia: Jamie Summers' story is quite intense but to me, the real power in this bait comes from its fantastic awards section.
Bryce: You can feel how personal the bait is, and that is what makes the bait so great. It has soul, passion, and life behind it and in it's atmosphere and story, and it is probably the best bait on the site to stir up the emotions of it's readers no matter what sexual orientation they may be.
Title Card: The #4 bait is…
SILENCE!
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Zgamer: Humor has never really been a big favorite at the Oscars, but it always appreciates it when people express the serious lives of those behind the humor. Michael will now explain that.
Michael: When I say Best Cast of All-Time, what bait seems to come to mind. You guessed it! This classic bait is definitely one of Pat’s greatest. Pat had the daunting task of adapting a book on the most beloved TV sketch comedy of all time: Saturday Night Live. However, Pat proved in October of 2006 that he is one of the site’s best, as he gave it all the right ingredients needed to be a winning film. With a great directing choice, great writing and one of the best casts ever assembled for a bait, everyone knew Live From New York would become a classic ever since it first came out.
D.W.: Probably the most ambitious comedy to ever bait an Oscar. Vulnerable to a cast and crew that would be held up to tight scrutiny by any SNL fan, this is a bait that is unapologetic, confident and stands on it's own. A a real life soap opera amidst the laughs of the funniest comedians ever.
Zgamer: I am a huge fan of SNL, so it makes me excited when somebody does them justice in the way Pat did. With an inspired directing choice and one of the best casts ever assembled in a bait, this was really the first bait that made Pat one of my favorites on the site.
Narrator: Live From New York became one of October 2006’s most popular baits among the readers, earning praise everywhere it went. While it did get a lot of acclaim for its inspired directing choice and quality writing, the absolutely flawless cast Pat assembled will remain the reason why Live From New York was a hit.
Maia: Its Pat's masterpiece and one of the forum's darlings, deserves to be on this Top 10!
Sergio: (Subtitled) An interesting bait about a TV program that I didn't know about. A big surprise in the list, in my opinion, because this bait hasn't had the buzz like the other inductees. Maybe it was underrated a long time ago, and maybe it's living a second life now. A great adaptation with an amazing cast.
Narrator: Though loved by the readers, Live From New York unfortunately did not make a huge impression on the precursors. It managed to earn five GG and three SAG nominations, but did not win any. However, it proved more successful at the Oscars. With six nominations, Live From New York eventually earned wins for Best Awards Campaign, Best Cast and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also tied for #7 of the month with Zgamer’s Listening. This is easily one of Pat’s most loved baits and a truly underrated classic.
Bryce: A great and inspiring cast, with a perfect directing choice. This is one of those baits that just gets better with every read.
Brian: Live From New York is easily Pat's best bait. Though it is usually acclaimed just for its cast, it is refreshing to see that baiters have remembered that in between the greatest ensemble ever seen in a bait, there was the potential for a fantastic film. There is virtually no way that this bait could be improved upon. And it doesn't need to be improved on whatsoever.
Title Card: The #3 bait is…
LIVE FROM NEW YORK!
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Zgamer: We are now down to our final two baits. Before we name them, I want to thank everybody who made this list possible. There’s Michael, who thought of this contest; Daniel, for his great comments for each of the contest’s section; Johnny Alba, for his support of the list; and mostly, I want to thank the baiting community for their comments and support of the list. Ok I’m done. Let’s continue. Since I said too much already, I will let Michael introduce this bait.
Michael: Steven Spielberg is one of the hardest directors to bait for in the contest, and many previous baits have proven why. However, one writer changed all of that with this classic bait. In November of 2006, James recreated the contest in November when he pulled off the best 1, 2 punch ever to occur in the contest. While Silence helped a lot with this, it is this next bait that was the main reason why. With a realistic choice of Spielberg as the director, an extremely baity topic and a great cast, James Somerton finally wrote the Spielberg vehicle so many tried to do before. This is The Wall.
Brian: November of 2006 was a huge month for James; having written both Silence and The Wall in the same month. I really don't know what to say about The Wall. It's all there on the page. It is clear as day that it would not only make a great movie, but it would also become the highest grossing film of all time and sweep up at the Oscars. Certainly the best love story the site has ever had.
D.W.: This is a bait that succeeded through a thorough press section and a perfect crew. The story is Oscar at it's baitiest, successfully combining politics and love, not to mention a period piece in an era that offers up much intrigue.
Narrator: The Wall emerged as the most unanimously praised bait of November, with hardly any bad grades to detract it. While some criticized some of the cast, everyone agreed that this was the ideal Spielberg vehicle, with the right topic and the quality writing needed to make it work.
Zgamer: James could have easily just sat on the laurels created by Silence in November, but he one-upped that by writing one of the baitiest baits of all time. It made it so much better that it would totally be a project Spielberg would want to do. And that’s saying a lot given the less successful attempts at Spielberg baits (including my own). Easily James best bait yet.
Maia: The Wall is the best Spielberg bait in the contest and that makes it even greater. Its also one of the very few romantic baits in the contest but still, probably the most memorable of all. It's James Somerton's classic and a deserving Top 10.
Narrator: Though it wasn’t a huge success at the precursors, it still gained a lot of attention from them. While it earned no nods at the SAG’s, it did get five from the GG’s with one win for director Spielberg. The Oscars were much more friendly to it, as it earned an astonishing eleven nominations plus an aided nomination for James Somerton for best author. It went on to win two for BOTM and for James Somerton’s absolutely mesmerizing poster. It also helped win James that Best Author award. It will most likely remain for a long time as one of the best baits on the site and James Somerton’s greatest work.
Bryce: The directing choice is brilliant, the same goes for the cast. The story is touching and daring, and is able to show it's theme in a very effective way. The characters are interesting enough to care for, and the bait is beautifully written.
Sergio: (Subtitled) Without a doubt this bait defined the spirit of this contest. It was a great month for a baiter as great as James Somerton is, and now he gets his official recognition. Conceived from the beginning as a winner, it matches all the necessary elements to be a favorite: love story, political/social plot and a popular director with a well-known career. It makes a great base to raise this bait to the highest place in every poll.
Title Card: The #2 bait is…
THE WALL!
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Zgamer: I don’t think I can properly say what I should about this bait. So I think I should let Michael do so.
Michael: I think everyone has one word they are thinking and it has to be one of my favorite words of all-time, Wackos. Written by fairly new author Zgamer back in August of 2006, this bait surprised everyone with its great director choice, intriguing characters and cast and its very unique plot. This is considered Zgamer’s best baits and understandably so.
Maia: Its not only the funniest smart-comedy in the contest ever but it also has a lovely tagline to go along with: Help is a 4 letter word for therapy. That’s were the fun begins…
Sergio: I read it a while after it was released in August 2006. I wasn't in the contest yet and I read it because everybody talked about this bait in the forum. I have to admit that this bait has something special to it and I loved the characters.
Narrator: Wackos opened to great reviews at the beginning of the month. People had a lot to say about this quirky Noah Baumbach comedy, with praise going to its quality writing and especially to its stellar cast, particularly lead star Jeff Daniels and supporting star Amy Adams.
Brian: Since the second I read it, Wackos has been my favorite bait of all time. I have never in nearly 16 months fallen in love with characters in a bait as much as I did with this one. Truly Zgamer's masterpiece, and a story that withholds the test of time, and will continue to do so forever. Why? Because of its fascinating characters. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.
D.W.: I love this bait because it doesn't try to be funny. It doesn't try to go for laughs. You know the humor is there and where it will come inside this story that centers around a shrink who's life is finally challenged and changed by a string of unique patients. A spot on formula for a Baumbach project.
Narrator: Wackos became the contest’s first big winner at the GG’s. With six nominations, the bait went on to win four for lead actor Jeff Daniels, supporting actress Amy Adams, Best Screenplay and Best Picture. The Oscar proved to be on its side too, as it earned nine Oscar nominations including for best picture. It also holds the recognition of being one of the few baits to have two nominations for Most Original Character. It eventually won four awards for Most Original Character (for Jeff Daniels’s character), Best Tagline, Funniest Bait and Best Supporting Actress for Adams. One of the best comedy baits ever written on the site’s and one of Zgamer’s best.
Bryce: A story that fits it's director and has a great cast. The story itself promises laughs, and is also able to tell a very interesting story. It's one of those baits that a lot of people will flock to the theaters to go see.
Zgamer: I am surprised at how much people loved Wackos. Honestly, I think it was one of the baits I spent the least amount of time actually writing it. Of course, I had the idea brewing in my head for about two weeks before my speed write. While Jackrabbit is definitely the bait I feel most satisfied with for its plot, Wackos is the one where I simply love my characters the most. I’m just glad I was able to draw inspiration for this from one of my parent’s friends who has to deal with people like this at his own job (with a few exceptions).
Title Card: The #1 bait of all time is…
WACKOS!
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Michael: Well, I hope you have enjoyed the list we have put together and now back to regular programming on I! I would like to thank a few people…
-Zgamer- For being a fantastic partner on this project
-Daniel- For commenting on almost every section, it was lovely.
-All of our Panelists- Couldn’t have done it without you.
And last and not least
-Johnny- For creating the contest and letting us have so much fun with it.
Michael: And now, a final thought from the man himself: Johnny Alba.
Johnny Alba: "From #100 to #1, these are all the stories that make Bait an Oscar one of the most entertaining features of The Oscar Igloo; I can only express my greatest admiration for each one of our authors. Do not forget that you make this contest and you are the only ones who can keep the fun going! Congratulations to everyone who made this countdown and congratulations to Wackos for giving us a story that, if you follow your dream, we will eventually see on the big screen"
Zgamer: Well, we look forward to next years list. It will be interesting to see how the list changes. And now, here are the Top 100 Baits of All Time as voted by the baiting community (with descriptions on them so you know what they are):
1 Wackos- Zgamer’s quirky story of a psychologist dealing with very peculiar patients
2 The Wall- James Somerton’s emotional tale of two lovers separated by the Berlin Wall
3 Live From New York- Pat’s brilliant adaptation of the same named book detailing the lives of the early Saturday Night Live cast
4 Silence- James Somerton’s emotional autobiography of a tragic beating of a young boy
5 The World’s Longest Suicide- D.W.’s riveting biopic on the life of actor Montgomery Clift
6 Jackrabbit- Zgamer’s unique biopic on the life of gangster John Dillinger
7 The Arabic Café- Maia’s thrilling tale of two people who try to use terrorism for their advantage
8 Midnight Mass- James Somerton’s emotional story of a mother trying to expose a priest as a child molester
9 The Bang-Bang Club- D.W.’s take on the notorious Bang-Bang Club and the influence of the photos on the wars in Africa
10. A New Agenda- Daniel’s touching story of a group of people trying to fulfill a list compiled by a man and his recently deceased wife
11. Dali- Daniel’s unique biopic on surreal artist Salvador Dali
12. The Banality of Evil- Alex S.’s adaptation of “Eichmann in Jerusalem”, dealing with the trial of a Nazi officer
13. River City Blue- Ross’s intelligent thriller dealing with the crime crisis in Memphis, Tennessee
14. Bootleg- Maia’s compelling tale of the bootleg movie crisis
15. iLife- Brian’s witty satire on the influence of technology in the future
16. La Ventana- Brett’s moving story of a dying man observing the lives of others through his window
17. Cielo Drive- Brett and Dpac’s thrilling story of the Manson Family murders
18. Rivalry at 6 PM- Patrick D’s character driven drama of rival radio hosts
19. Sandstorm- Al’s engrossing story of soldiers in the Iraq War
20. Scartennow Juction- Pat’s unique Wes Anderson film on a family dealing with the sudden death of their father
21. Destiny- Harry’s emotional personal account of a boy dealing with suicidal demons
22. Ralph’s Food and Drug- Alex’s story of a controversy over a store managers decision to not carry a pill for abortions
23. Border Man- Pat’s exciting tale of border regulations and interracial relationships
24. Once a Hero- Matthew LaRusso’s biopic of the late Christopher and Dana Reeves
25. Lucky Clover– Sergio’s winning story of the terrorists attacks committed in Ireland
26. Recoil- D.W.’s dramatic tale of a man hunting down a criminal in the Old West
27. Dear, Mr. President- James Somerton’s poignant view on a woman protesting the policy of the War on Terror
28. Fresh Heir Vol. III- Part 3 of Brian’s wildly original political tale
29. Sex in the Oval Office- Brett’s humorous jab at a White House sexual scandal
30. Fosse- Alex’s compelling biopic on Broadway legend Bob Fosse
31. Little Miss Murder- Matt’s thought provoking tale of John Mark Karr’s trial
32. A Faith of One- Zgamer’s emotional drama on the religious conflicts within a small town
33. Ironic Nonfiction- Daniel’s humorous story of a man dealing with his unfortunately circumstances
34. Dominion- Tony’s riveting tale of a young man tormented by a disturbing voice
35. The Awakening- Gabby’s adaptation of the popular book on a woman’s emotional and sexual reawakening
36. Faded Red- Brian Erickson’s compelling biopic on the life of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin
37. Photograph- Pat’s riveting tale on the twisted business of the paparazzi
38. No Way to Treat a First Lady- Al’s humorous look at a First Lady accused of killing the president
39. The Vampire Lestat- James Somerton’s adaptation of the classic book about the “Brat Prince” vampire Lestat
40. Flashes- Tony’s tale of a troubled artist losing touch with reality
41. Rush- Ross’s tale of a photojournalist trapped in a nuclear power conspiracy
42. Freakshow- Tony’s bizarre tale of quirky characters on a reality TV show
43. I Am a Patsy- D.W.’s unique take on the life of Lee Harvey Oswald
44. Doubt- Brian (of Minneapolis)’s adaptation of the Broadway play on the molestation of a Catholic school boy by a priest
45. The Great Fitzgerald- Tom Houseman’s tale on the life of author F. Scott Fitzgerald
46. The Breadwinner- Connor Campbell’s story of a girl trying to survive in a Taliban controlled environment
47. The Valley of Ashes- Zgamer’s artistic tale of a man’s struggle to survive during the Vietnam War
48. Carter- Jordan’s biopic on the life of president Jimmy Carter
49. Imagine- Harry’s emotional biopic on the life of former Beatle John Lennon
50. I, Bergman- Daniel’s biopic on the life of actress Ingrid Bergman
51. Wildflower- Douglass Reese’s story of two troubled girls from different time periods
52. Wicked (March ‘07)- Al’s adaptation of the Musical on the Wicked Witch of the West
53. Steamboat Disney- Daniel’s classic biopic on the life of entertainment giant Walt Disney
54. The Rainbow Album- Jason’s story of a man aspiring to be an entertainer but struggling with AIDS
55. Bruised Boys- Douglass Reese’s controversial tale of two young homosexual boys
56. Jersey Boys- Pat’s adaptation of the musical highlighting the story of the music group Four Seasons
57. Dragontown- James’s intriguing Anime story on a Tokyo crime boss’s attempt to bring demons into the real world
58. Devil in the White City- Brian Erickson’s adaptation of the book dealing with a mysterious city
59. Record Man- Sergio’s humorous tale of a man trying to make it into the world record book
60. Sweet Black and Blue- D.W.’s surreal tale of a bizarre death in Las Vegas
61. The It Girl- D.W.’s biopic on the life of Clara Bow
62. The Iniquity Beyond- Tony’s eerie tale of a family with a dark secret
63. Between Elephants and Mice- Harry’s Woody Allen story about the troubled live of people in Manhattan
64. Internet Connection- Matt’s character drama on people drawn together through the Internet
65. Parvana’s Journey- Connor Campbell’s sequel to the Breadwinner, continuing the tale of Parvana’s attempts of survival
66. The Guy Who Owned the Store- Bryce’s tale of a town under control of the mob
67. E.L.- Daniel’s wonderful story on a woman author dealing with a sudden aphasia deleting her ability to read or write
68. Fresh Heir Vol. I- Part 1 of Brian’s wildly original political tale
69. I Do Solemnly Swear- Jamie Madden’s hilarious tale on a man’s complicated love life
70. A Child of Shame- Maia’s emotional tale on the lives of people surviving the Lebensborn project
71. Negatives- Ben’s hilarious satire dealing with a producer trying to get movie rights on a dying woman
72. Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical- Zgamer and Ryan’s witty musical satire on the celebrity rehab craze
73. The Road- Brian Erickson’s adaptation of the popular book detailing America after a nuclear war
74. Buster- Todd’s account on the life of comedian Buster Keaton
75. Glass- Marcus Dennis’s moving character drama surrounding the death of a homeless man
76. Dinah Was…- Brian (of Minneapolis)’s adaptation of the musical on singer Dinah Washington
77. Pygmalion- Michael’s adaptation of the classic play about the cultivation of an uncultured woman
78. Cigarette Burns- Ben’s quirky satire on an actress succeeding through her attempts to fail
79. Dear Andrea- Matt’s tale of the disturbed Andrea Yates
80. Flowers for Algernon- Connor Campbell’s adaptation of the classic book on a retarded man whose intelligence is tripled surgically
81. Gray Daze- Josh P.’s character tale of a man’s struggle with methamphetamines
82. The 27th Victim- Patrick D’s unique story on a detective tracking down a bizarre serial killer
83. Fresh Heir Vol. II- Part 2 of Brian’s wildly original political tale
84. The Wilder Side of Life- Corey’s biopic on director Billy Wilder
85. The Justices- Alex’s tale of a conspiracy against the Supreme Court Justices
86. Brian Damage- Tom Houseman’s quirky Charlie Kaufman story on a man with part of a woman’s brain in his
87. Standardized Test- Connor Campbell’s comedy on a school trying to cheat the school board for more funding
88. Fred & Ethel- Connor Campbell’s story of the lives of the actors on “I Love Lucy”
89. Glitz- Brian’s quirky satire on the bizarre lives of celebrities
90. Marilyn- Steven’s biopic on the life of Marilyn Monroe
91. Terri- Pat’s account on the Terri Schiavo story
92. The Curious Case of Phineas Gage- D.W.’s wacky tale about a man with a railroad spike through his head
93. Listening- Zgamer’s unique account of the lives of students at a Idaho high school
94. Balton Productions- Brian’s lovable original musical on rival Broadway Producers
95. Wicked (July ’06)- James Somerton’s adaptation of the compelling book on the
Wicked Witch of the West
96. All Alone- Josh P.’s tale of a young homosexual dealing with bigotry
97. A Work of Fiction- Douglass’s quirky tale on a man who claims to Jesus Christ
98. Green River- Ryne’s tale of the Green River Killer
99. Watts- Bryce’s account on the Watts Riot in Los Angeles
100. Tavistock Place- Pat’s character drama on a bombing of a bus in London
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