Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Contests, Challenges and a Rant on The Crow

I got good news this week: my flash fiction submission was accepted for the Sunday Snaps anthology! That was my very first attempt at flash fiction (and the only one so far), so I'm excited! Okay, so I would have been excited either way. The anthology is due to be published in September 2011, and all proceeds will go to charity. More on that when there are updates. In the meantime, submissions are still being accepted through June 6. Click here for submission guidelines. She is accepting flash fiction and poetry of between 50-1500 words.

I also wanted to let everyone know of a poetry contest. It is through Poetic Asides on the Writer's Digest site. It is technically a challenge more than a contest, but his favorite will be published in Writer's Digest magazine, so I consider that a contest. You only have until May 30, 2011 to submit, so get writing! Do check the guidelines first, though, as this is for a specific poem style called The Bop. He does have a link with more information on that.

I and the wonderful and energetic Tina of Life is Good have decided to continue the A to Z Challenge and visit all of the blogs who signed up. I made it through quite a few, but not the whole list. Alex J. Cavanaugh is in for the challenge and we're waiting to see if Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out will be willing to post about it. We're also looking for someone who likes to create badges who might be willing to create one for this.

Before my rant involving The Crow, I found a Write 1 Sub 1 Challenge that I'll be taking part in. Go here for more information. It is a challenge to write one piece (short story is what I'm doing, but I'm thinking you could do poetry or flash fiction or whatever you please) and submit one piece in a specific time frame. I will be doing monthly right now, starting in June, but they also have a weekly option. There are badges to put on your blog to show you are participating. I figure it is a good way to get hopping on writing short fiction, as I've allowed myself to become completely involved in my WIP and have really neglected other forms of writing. Let me know if you'll be participating!

Finally, my rant. Ed Pressman and Juan Carlos Fresnadillo are making a reboot of The Crow. The original, starring Brandon Lee. From the sound of it, Bradley Cooper of The Hangover is in talks to play the Crow character. Tossing aside my hatred of the term "reboot" these days (are there original ideas anymore or is Hollywood just a money mill?), I don't think The Crow is yet at a place where it needs to be rebooted or remade. Make it a sequel, fine, but a reboot of the original, why?? To me, The Crow is a bit of a cult classic in itself and should not be redone. Brandon Lee will forever be The Crow to me. Plus, Bradley Cooper? I love him in comedies, but as The Crow? You can read more about this at cinemablend.com.

How do you feel about the remake of The Crow? Anyone out there have as big a crush as I did on Brandon Lee? And is anyone up for the continued A to Z Challenge of visiting the blogs or the Write 1 Submit 1 Challenge?

Happy Writing!

12 comments:

MTeacress said...

I admit, I haven't ever heard of the The Crow. I'll have to look into it. :)

Stephanie said...

All I can say is WOW! The Crow is hubby's alltime fav....not gonna be too happy about a "reboot". And yeah....I love me some Bradley Cooper....but I'm not seeing him in this type of role.

Julie Flanders said...

Congratulations on your acceptance into the anthology, that's wonderful!

Great idea to continue the Challenge. I would be glad to get involved and visit the blogs I missed. Thanks too for sharing the Write 1 Submit 1 Challenge, I have to check that out. Sounds like an excellent idea!

I have to admit, I've never seen The Crow. But I don't care for Bradley Cooper, so the remake still gets a thumbs down from me! :D

Andrew Leon said...

I had heard about The Crow remake. It doesn't bother me that they want to redo that one. It has been a while since it was released, and the sequels rather ruined it as a franchise. Like with Batman, except the first Burton Batman was crap, too. At any rate, when WB wanted to bring Batman back, they couldn't just pick up where the previous movies left off, because they'd been so bad. The Crow is the same. If they want to bring it back, and, evidently, they do, they have to start over.
As for Bradley Cooper... I've loved him ever since Alias. He was the best part of that show, and it went down hill after he left it (not that that was because of him, but it's still true). I'm not really seeing him as The Crow, though. I suppose this is where he's going since he Reynolds got chosen over him for Green Lantern, though. I don't know, maybe he'll surprise us.

The remake I do have an issue with is Spider-Man. Really? Spider-Man needs a re-boot? What kind of crazy talk is that? Big deal that they lost all the principals and the director, make a sequel. We don't need the origin over again already.

j.a. kazimer said...

Oh congrats on the flash fiction!!!!! I can't wait to read it.

The Crow...hmmm... I had a super crush on Brandon Lee too. His death was so tragic, and stupid. If I was Cooper I'd stay far away from The Crow. It's bad karma.

Al Penwasser said...

Luckily, I never had a crush on Brandon Lee. But, I'm with you on reboots. Seems like a serious creativity vacuum in Hollywood.

M.J. Fifield said...

I've never seen The Crow but I'm familiar with it and I'm really very surprised they want to remake or reboot or whatever they want to call it that film.

And I agree that there are entirely too many remakes going on in Hollywood.

Alana said...

Hope you enjoy the five words prompt for your son! thanks for stopping by my blog.

Can't comment on The Crow because I am probably one of few people who never watched it.

Re. the A to Z though, congrats on committing to visit each one! Is there a link somewhere to commit to visit each, or is it something that you two have just put out there so far to Alex and Arlee? Now that the stress of near-daily posting is done, I definitely plan to head back to the list and visit each blog, a few at a time. If there's a sign-up, let me know - I'm in!

(Alana @ writercize)

Aurora Smith said...

the crow brings me back to highschool.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Michelle, I recommend it if you like a dark fantasy sort of movie. And only the Brandon Lee one!

Stephanie, it's one of my faves, as well, which I guess is why it irritates me!

Julie, thank you! We'll do a linky signup for the continuing A to Z soon.

Andrew, I agree on Spiderman. I just don't understand why they have to remake/reboot things that are still valid/enjoyed and aren't that old. Maybe it's just making me feel old to have movies of my teens and 20's already being rebooted??

J.A., thanks! Ah, finally, someone else who liked him. Random fact: his sister's name is Shannon and my little brother's name is Brandon. Totally pointless, but I'm saying it anyway.

Al, are you positive? Not even a little bit? And yes, vacuum is an apt description.

M.J., way too many!

Alana, we will put up a linky soon for the A to Z soon. I can't wait to try out the five word prompt for him and see how he likes it!

Aurora, I don't remember if it's high school or shortly thereafter, but I do know I worked at the theater when it came out and I'd sit in on all my breaks. When I finally got a day off and got to watch the full thing, I ordered a pizza in and had one of the ushers bring it in to me, LOL.

Ah, it was 94, so high school: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109506/

Arlee Bird said...

I've finally added my link to your list (don't know if it's working though). Sorry I haven't really followed up on this, but as you are probably aware I've been doing a lot of gallivanting of late and keep getting behinder and behinder.

I believe I mentioned your Challenge on a post in May, but perhaps I didn't feature it as much as you might have liked. I will try to add another mention of this, but I think some readers have grown weary of all of my A to Z talk on my blog.

Thanks for running with this and I am going to attempt to continue to visit blogs on the list, but it's been difficult just getting caught up to reciprocating on the comments I've been receiving.

You and Tina have been doing a great job. Keep the momentum going! I'll try to get back with you soon.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Shannon Lawrence said...

Arlee, I understand about the gallivanting and getting behinder and behinder, for sure. Your mention was great! Thank you for that. I was crazy to think I'd have more time for things in the summer, but I figure I wasn't the only one.