This post is brought to
you by Nicole from The Madlab Post...
It’s time for Alphabet Soup - The Word Scramble Puzzle of A to Z Wizards!
Did you know? - Although
thousands of movies are made each year, many of them are never shown in a
public theater before being exhibited on television or other entertainment
platforms. The black-and-white romance film “For Lovers Only” was released on
iTunes and VOD cable; Disney’s animated film “The Return of Jafar” was a
direct-to-video release as opposed to “Aladdin,” earned over $500 million in
box office revenue worldwide.
So
today, T is for Theatrical Titles -- let’s play!
Unscramble the following
titles of movies starting with Letter T that received a theatrical release. The
first commenter who has unscrambled all of them, or who has unscrambled the
most at best, wins this week’s Alphabet Soup game. Answers and
the name of the winner will be posted here at the A to Z blog during next
week’s “Friday Fun Time.”
1
eT
toinTrehrma
2
orfearssmTrn
3
reanpotrTsr
The
4
Titgainnrspto
5
Tdngael
6
rakesT
7
odineu
TrrcThp
8
rsiTo
Tina at Life is Good currently leads as the Alphabet Wizard, based on her win from the previous Jumbled Jungle of Js word scramble. Will any of you succeed in topping her unscrambling wizardry this weekend? We shall find out!
Need some extra blogging
motivation? Sign up for the Monday Movie Meme, a weekly writing and memory
activity that will have you thinking about movies in a whole new light. New
topics are posted every Monday!
These A to Z Challenge blogging ideas are brought to you by Nicole from The Madlab Post...
It’s time for The Alphabet Remix - A Writing Prompt Idea Engine Treating A to Z Blogging Avoidance Disorders
Just because several other bloggers have written about the same topic, for the same letter during the Blogging from A to Z Challenge does not mean you cannot blog about this same subject too. There are many ways to avoid looking like you just jumped on the bandwagon of A to Z participants who chose a common or popular topic that is now being blogged into the ground because everyone is talking about the same thing in the same way. Instead of choosing a different subject, especially if the popular or common topic interests you, try putting a spin on it by writing posts that are related to the subject but has enough variety to stand out among the crowd.
If you are a comic book, film, Robert Downey Jr. or superhero fan and notice that many, if not most A to Z Challenge bloggers wrote a movie review for The Avengers as their Letter A post, then don’t just dismiss the idea of using The Avengers as your subject of choice. Instead, try writing a comparison of all of The Avengers, pitting them against each other in a hypothetical battle. Write about who you think would win in a fight between Iron Man and Captain America.
Still stumped for ideas? Here are some examples, based on Actresses named Jennifer, that you can use to get your blogging juices flowing for the 2013 A to Z Challenge -- and turn this common name into unexpected blog post ideas.
Jennifer Garner Jokes Post a joke about the actress and then ask your readers if they think it’s funny or not. Don’t have time to go searching for celebrity humor? That’s fine. Here is one from Daily Comedy:
Jennifer Garner recently filed a restraining order against a man who’s been following her around.
The man...Ben Affleck!
Also, challenge readers to rewrite the joke and see who comes up with the most clever or funniest one.
You could also post a joke that was made by the actress and then share your thoughts on whether you think she was funny or not. When asked if she would post in a bikini, Garner jokingly responded to David Letterman, “Not enough double-sided tape in the world to keep everything in place.”
Judge and Jury: Controversial Remarks by Jennifers of Hollywood Nope, this ain’t no James Patterson novel that I’m talking about today. The literary great can, however, be used as motivation for you to re-cast one of his Alex Cross movies or write a blog post that lists actors who you think would be the right fit for a film adaptation of Judge and Jury. Now getting back to this alphabet remix, consider blogging about a comment made by one of the famous Jennifers in Hollywood and share your thoughts on it. Also, open the discussion up to your readers.
When talking about juggling work, motherhood and marriage, Jennifer Lopez said “So you are going to be either a bad mom and be a really good career woman and wife; or a good mom and career woman and a bad wife; or a good mom and a good wife and your career is gonna suck. I want to get a T-shirt that says, 'Bullsh--!” -- Do YOU agree or disagree that these are the choices for women?
While discussing her squirrel-skinning scene in “Winter’s Bone,” actress and “Hunger Games” star Jennifer Lawrence told Rolling Stone Magazine “I should say it wasn’t real, for PETA. But screw PETA” -- which prompted a response from the animal rights organization. -- Should we concern ourselves with fictional depictions of animal abuse or is PETA out of line?
Jazzy Juice about Jennifer Hudson While other A to Z Challengers are listing their favorite Jennifer Hudson songs or favorite movies featuring this actress (which is fine to do, by the way), you can take a different approach to the subject matter and teach readers something about her that they didn’t know by sharing trivia facts or related news while also adding your thoughts to make it unique.
Did you know that Jennifer Hudson has her own holiday? That’s right. In 2007, the mayor of Chicago declare March 6th as “Jennifer Hudson Day.” So, write about how you would celebrate this holiday or better yet, if you could give a local celebrity his or her own holiday, who would it be and why?
Did you also know that Jennifer Hudson turned down the leading role of an abused teenager in the drama film “Precious” because she didn’t want to put on anymore weight? -- then later said the character just wasn't meant for her. In her book about weight loss, Hudson said that although she liked the script, she didn’t want another role that had something to do with her weight, after working on “Dreamgirls.” As a result, Hollywood newcomer Gabourey Sidibe was case as the “Precious” lead. That isn’t the only time this Academy Award winning actress turned down a big offer. Hudson also turned down an invitation to perform at President Obama’s inauguration, which would have been her first time in the spotlight following the murder of her mother, brother and nephew.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Before we wrap today’s A to Z blog post up, join me for some Friday Fun Time housekeeping. The WINNER of last week’s Alphabet Soup game is...
Tina’s Alphabet Soup Prize Package Includes: bragging rights, the title of 'Alphabet Wizard,' the option of selecting my next Monday Movie Meme topic* AND most importantly, the authority to choose the letter for the next Alphabet Soup game. *Must be a topic/theme that has not been previously covered.
Congratulations to Tina for unscrambling all 10 names of actors and actresses whose first name begins with the letter J! I also want to give a special shout out to Delores at The Tormented Scribe for also taking a chance and playing this game by unscrambling at least one of the names on the puzzle. Delores, you are a true sport! For those of you who played and for those of you who missed it, here are the answers to last week’s Alphabet Soup:
1. Jhcaknsooa Jus - Joshua Jackson
2. otkeacaJnsn J - Janet Jackson
3. ernnnH fidoeuJs - Jennifer Hudson
4. nferCylonJen ine - Jennifer Connely
5. tosifei nnAJrnne - Jennifer Aniston
6. errCJy mia - Jim Carrey
7. eeortJtl nuSelm - Jurnee Smollett
8. JrnOCo lelnry - Jerry O’Connell
9. NlckoncJiohas - Jack Nicholson
10. kck acaBJl - Jack Black
Need some extra blogging motivation? Sign up for the Monday Movie Meme, a weekly writing and memory activity that will have you thinking about movies in a whole new light. New topics are posted every Monday! NICOLE Read The Madlab Post. Find/Follow/RT @MadlabPost on Twitter.
This post is brought to
you by Nicole from The Madlab Post...
It’s time for Alphabet Soup - The Word Scramble Puzzle for A to Z Wizards!
Unscramble the following
names of movie actors and actresses whose first name starts with letter J. The first commenter who has unscrambled all of them, or the most at best, wins this week’s Alphabet
Soup game. Answers and the name of the winner will be posted here at
the A to Z blog during next week’s “Friday Fun Time.” Word to the wise:
Don’t let the spaces in these names fool you!
1
Jhcaknsooa Jus
2
otkeacaJnsn J
3
ernnnH fidoeuJs
4
nferCylonJen ine
5
tosifei nnAJrnne
6
errCJy mia
7
eeortJtl nuSelm
8
JrnOCo lelnry
9
NlckoncJiohas
10
kck acaBJl
Have an alphabetized
weekend, everyone!
Need some extra blogging
motivation? Sign up for the Monday Movie Meme, a weekly writing and memory
activity that will have you thinking about movies in a whole new light. New
topics are posted every Monday!
Now that you're signed up for April you've got 2 months to get ready for it. This is a great time to make a video to enter into the A to Z Video Promo Contest. Make a short video about the A to Z April Challenge and submit it to us. Check the above tabs for more details. And to provide some helpful tips on video ideas we have Nicole from The Madlab Post with us.
Easy Production Ideas for A to Z Video Challenge Entries – Part 1
Contrary to what some bloggers who are Blogging from A to Z in April may believe, making a video for the A to Z Promo Contest that is open now, is pretty easy. It’s 2012! Meaning, you don’t need rolls of 8mm film and conversion equipment to submit something to the A to Z Video Challenge. All you need is a video recording device. Don’t have a camcorder? That’s ok too.
In this day and age, you probably own at least one gadget that has the capabilities to give you a two minute long video recording, such as an iPhone, iPod, Digital Camera (you know, the ones you use to take digital photos of your vacation or kid’s birthday party with? If you have a newer model, as in the last 5 years or so, it should have a video recording feature), Flipcam, Android phone with video capability, DSLR with video capability or a webcam…yes, I said a webcam, but before you either get your undies in a bunch or start losing them to get ready for your closeup because you’re such an exhibitionist, read on as I unpack a box of the simplest ways for Bloggers participating in the A to Z challenge to make a video promo for this event….webcam not included!
It’s all in the Live Shots
Make a video that features everything you want all in one shot, or rather, one recording. You just press the record button, record all you need to get in the video…in 2 minutes or less, of course, and be done with it. It does not matter what you choose to be the subject of your live shot nor does it matter what you record, so long as everything is included to convey the message that you want to get across to viewers.
You can record yourself talking to the camera, similar to the style in which one would record a live video podcast or TV contest entry. For those of you who are camera shy, like me, you also have the option to let the world or your surroundings speak for you. Record your pets or an area of beautiful scenery in your town and then signage to convey the message of your video. Want music? Play a song on your radio in the background while recording the video. Don’t have a radio? Fine. Put a CD into your DVD player and turn on the TV to let the sound play through the speakers in the background. Problem solved!
Have kids? Great! Let them be the star of the live shot and instruct them to talk about the A to Z challenge or the alphabet in general. You can also use props to spice up your live shot so that it doesn’t look like a talking head from the local news broadcast, boring viewers to death. That is of course, unless you want to have a talking head video as your live shot. There are ways to make this work without being boring.
You can either record a simple video testimonial, talking about your previous experience with the A to Z challenge, why you plan to blog from A to Z in April or what your exact blogging strategy is to complete the challenge and come out on the other side in one piece…OR…you can find one of those silly Bobble head toys (they make a lot of them for NFL players) and record the bobble head while you act as the voice in the background. The live shot approach works well for those using digital cameras or video camcorders that can be easily connected to a computer for sending to a hard drive and/or then uploading to YouTube or other online video website of your choosing.
Stay tuned for more ideas for the folks among you who want to take it a step further and get all fancy with recorded footage! In the meantime, if you need inspiration or need to see examples of how simple yet powerful one shot or live shot video recordings can be, just check out some of the “My Secrets” uploads on YouTube. This one made by Kaline Bran almost moved me to tears.
