Zgamer Unearths Relics of the Baiting Past

With all the recent stuff that has been going on with the Igloo as of late, it seems easy to forget the roots of the Bait an Oscar contest. Well, I happen to remember these classic baits and many are still as good today as they were back then. With that, I have decided that, if it's popular enough and if I have the time, to do a consistent update that highlights some of the best of the contest's oldest but greatest baits. This update, I will two from the very first month of the contest. So without further ado, here are some of the best of the golden oldies of Bait and Oscar:

Carter (Written by Jordan)- No one has heard from the writer of this classic bait ever since it won the very first bait of the month, but that doesn't mean the impact this bait had on the contest isn't still intact. Detailing the life of an oft-forgotten president, Carter was truly the first great biopic on he site. Now, keep in mind that the opinion on star power back then was different, so it's understandable that it would have an overstuffed cast since this was when the contest was formed. However, the bait has many great qualities to still make it a classic, among them being an interesting plot, great casting choices, a good director and just a sense of quality. Still one of the few baits to accurately bait Thomas Hayden Church. This is one for the ages.

Once A Hero (Written by Matthew LaRusso)- If Carter was the first great biopic on one person the site had, this was the first best biopic on a couple. Though short on words (like most baits were back then), the depth of this bait, highlighting the life of the late Christopher and Dana Reeves, speaks volumes. It's crew was spot on, the synopsis was very specific and the topic was pure Oscar bait. However, that is not what the bait will be remembered for. This bait will be remembered for having some of the best casting choices/pairings in a bait. To accurately portray the late couple, Matthew casted Brendan Fraiser and Maria Bello as the couple. It was such an inspired casting decision that it's no wonder that they won the awards they did. This was my personal favorite of that month and will continue to remain one of the best biopics on the site.

Feel free to comment here if you wish for me to continue or just have an opinion on the post.

A New Poll Series

We'll be having a new poll series on the site called Alternate Oscars. Basically I'll list the nominees in a category at a previous Oscars and you'll vote on who you would have crowned the winner. I hope it will be fun and give a little insight on how different the "Academy" is from the Fourms.

Also, in the coming weeks I plan to make a couple HUGE announcements on the blog so keep visiting!

My Thoughts: Predicting Who Will Win Best Picture

So now that Daniel has won his 2nd Best Picture title, pretty much anyone is eligible to win Best Picture. That said I thought I would share my thoughts on some of the authors poised to win Best Picture before the year comes to a close...

Tony- I think everyone agrees he is the most overdue for a Best Picture win and I'm betting it will come in the next 5 months.

Josh P.- One of the most underrated authors on the site, but don't be surprised if he wins it by the end of the year.

Harry- He usually has more art kind of baits and I think that will hurt him when trying to win Best Picture. Still, if he releases more mainstream baits, I think he'll win soon.

Pat- As far as repeat winners go he is the most likely to win again according to our poll. I agree with the poll because, correct me if I'm wrong, but he has the most Best Picture nominations of any author.

Brian (Arizona)- Lately he has had baits that have gone under the radar and I don't think he'll win his second until '08.

Zgamer- I wouldn't doubt if he wins by the end of the year, but I don't think any of his video game adaptations will be crowned.

Bryce- He has had solid baits the last couple of months, he just needs that bait that will propel him to his win.

Matt- He's had popular baits in the past, but look if Deep Secret starts getting good buzz, I bet he'll win soon.

James Somerton- If he goes through with leaving the contest, expect him to win in the next couple of months.

D.W.- He has a huge following and he releases solid baits. In a weak month he could easily win.


So here are the 5 I think will win before the end of '07...

1. Tony- It absolutely has to happen (October)
2. Pat- Look for him to win either November or December
3. James Somerton- I bet he'll win September
4. Matt- I think he'll win August because Deep Secrets seems to already have really good buzz
5. Harry- It make have taken awhile, but expect him to write a powerhouse bait that will win everyone over.

A Special First Look at Grey Gardens!

How do I describe my excitement when I saw Grey Gardens sitting in the inbox of my email. I am so excited that Alex decided to keep Christine Ebersole in both of the roles she played in the Broadway production of Grey Gardens. Alex chose Alan Parker to direct, whom you may know from the film Evita. I found the choice a bit off when I first looked at it, but after thinking about it, I don't really know who else would have been a better choice.

Alex chose not to keep Mary Louise Wilson from the acclaimed New York production and I have to say that I don't agree with replacing Wilson with Jill Clayburgh, but none the less she is a bigger name, but I still would have gone with Wilson.

It has a strong synopsis, which may be critiqued for being long, but it still is an easy read. The press section is short, but gets straight to the point, which to me didn't make it seem like a review, but it is well written.

While, I don't agree with all the casting (Hugh Jackman in High School?) there are still some positives (Clarie Danes as "Little" Edie Beale) and it has a strong baity story. I don't think this is going to be the bait that wins Alex his second Best Picture Oscar, but I think it will have a lot of Big 8 nominations. A solid bait, but could have been better. A lock for a Best Picture nominee at the Globes (in the Musical/Comedy category) and Ebersole is a slam dunk for the win. B+

FYC
Best Actress (Christine Ebersole)
Best Supporting Actress (Claire Danes and Jill Clayburgh)
Best Adapted Screenplay

Future Bait Plans

Sorry if when I talk about my baits it annoys you, but I thought I would shed some light on my future projects that will be released in the coming months...

September (2 baits?)
If so I plan on revising Newport (a LOT!) and releasing it as a drama.
I also plan on releasing either You're A Good Man Charlie Brown or Until We Meet Again or All About Steve. These are all 3 completely different baits and here is a little bit about all of them...

Charlie Brown- Animated, Directed by Brad Bird and based on the Broadway Musical of the same name. Tentatively (sp?) features the voice talents of Anthony Rapp, Kristen Chenoweth, Megan Mullally, and David Hyde Pierce.

Until We Meet Again- A holocaust drama about two young loves who are seperated during the holocaust. I am in the middle of reading the book and no casting has been made. Steven Spielberg is in talks to direct and produce.

All About Steve- A comedy starring Sean Hayes. Steve Adams is the biggest thing in modern Hollywood, but when his former acting teacher dies, Steve comes back to his hometown to go to the funeral, take over a part that was once his teacher's, and in turn gets a taste of reality.

In October I plan on releasing a bait called Hex House which is a dramatic acting piece about an old woman, played by Frances McDormand, who kidnaps two young women and puts a "hex" on them and makes them her slaves. Based on a true story.

In November I hope to release an adapatation of Green Grow the Lilacs, which was turned into "Oklahoma" back in the 40's. I plan on releasing it in November because that will be when the state Oklahoma turns 100!

In December I think I am going to release a musical adapatation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, using some of the songs from the Disney version. It will star, Norbert Leo Butz, Patrick Wilson, and Jeremy Irons. Slated to direct is Joel Schumacher.

I know I have a lot of plans, but in January I will release one of the following projects...

Spring Awakening- I haven't seen the musical, but I hope I can adapt it into a film well.

Eden's Kin- A comedy about Adam and Eve's offspring. Directed by Judd Apatow.

The Matchmaker- The play that was adapted into Hello Dolly!

Projects That Will Serve As A Plug In If Those Baits Don't Work Out

• Amen?- A dramedy about life at a local church.
• Untitled Charles Dickens Biopic
• Untitled Project About My Grandma- I hope to chronicle the events of my grandma's life in a comedic way.
• The Sweet Escape- A Musical about escaping the real world.
• Rodgers and Hammerstien Biopic- Worked on it for a while, but nothing has ever been written down.
• Inside/Out- Dramatic Piece about Teen Life
• Untitle White House Chef Bait- Comedic bait about the chef in the White House
• Will Rogers Follies- Baiting the Musical of the Same Name
• The Queen of Air and Darkness- Sequel to The Sword and the Stone
• I Love Beth Cooper- Based on the book by John Doyle Comedy
• Down the Rabbit Hole- A Lewis Carroll biopic
• Who Wrote It?- Comedy about a publishing company
• My Life in Jokes- Chronicles Bob Hope's life, based on the book and starring Kelsey Grammer
• Untitled SNL Presidents Bait- A comedy featuring all the presidents ever made fun of on SNL

I love comments!

My Thoughts: Grey Gardens!

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! I really hope that Alex is still going to release this bait, because the soundtrack is soo fantastic! I'm a big musical person and the soundtrack is really great and gives me chills and has extremely baity plot and performances. Alex, if you need any help I am totally here for you and if you aren't doing the project anymore please let me know because I'll do anything I can to get it to be released. So excited and you have to listen to the following songs from the soundtrack (these are my favorites)...

1. Revolutionary Costume For Today- Absolutely great, you can listen to it for free at the official site for the Broadway show.
2. Peas in a Pod- The lyrics really sell this one and it just has a homely kind of feel to me.
3. Grey Gardens- Something about it is so simple it's moving.
4. Will You?- The most emotional and heartfelt song in the show and it gives me chills just thinking about it.
5. Hominy Grits- Just a fun song.
6. Tomorrow's Woman (The Off-Broadway Album)- One of my favorite songs on the cd, disappointed it didn't make it to the Broadway show.

It is filled with emotion and I hope that it will be released. Check out the album, it is really really good.

Zgamer's August and September Baits (September Bait w/Bryce and Sergio)

The new trailers are here. Here are the links to The Zone of Zgamer and our thread for the September thread.

Thread for Septmeber Bait
http://www.network54.com/Forum/523328/thread/1185990023/last-1186003032/A+Bait+from+a+galaxy+far+far+away...

The Zone of Zgamer
http://thezoneofzgamer.blogspot.com/