Action Against Movie Piracy

In August, the top 10 most coveted films in movie piracy world were Bruno, Inglorious Bastards, District 9, State of Play, The Hangover, Management, The Boat That Rocked, 17 Again, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Fighting.

Despite a lot of MPAA belly-aching that pirated copies of movies are severely cutting into their profit margins, the Box Office numbers suggest that people still really love going to the movies with their friends. For instance, Final Destination took in $28.3 million in its opening weekend; Inglorious Bastards - $19.6 million; and District 9 - $10.7 million.

Another overseas movie piracy proposal comes from Britain and France. In Europe, they're proposing mandates for Internet Service Providers to help fight illegal music downloads and movie downloads. Suspected online pirates will have their accounts slowed down and possibly even have their Internet access blocked.

"Digital piracy is a serious problem and a real threat to the U.K.'s creative industries," explains Geoff Taylor, chief executive of BPI, a group working to prevent illegal downloads of new music. "The solution to the piracy problem must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive."

Even though the U.S. Business Software Alliance supports imposing sanctions on those guilty of illegal downloads, it seems unlikely that such a heavy-handed strategy would be employed in America, just as the President and Vice President have announced efforts to expand broadband services to rural areas. Even so, it's an interesting suggestion to watch in the future.

Movie piracy continues to be a major headache for everyone in the entertainment industry. There seems to be little possibility of outsmarting every bootlegger around the world or stamping out every download of new movies.

Yet perhaps true movie lovers can be appealed to on a moral level. "I hear periodically, 'Well, Tom Cruise has enough money' or 'Tom Hanks has enough money,' " says John Malcolm director of worldwide anti-piracy operations for the Motion Picture Association of America.

"I would say to movie lovers, stick around and watch all of the credits. When you see the hundreds of names scrolling across the screen, those are the people whose talents contributed to making that movie, and they need to make a living."

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Movie Trailer Makers

In 1916, Paramount became the first motion picture company to hire an in-house team of trailer makers. They saw great potential in splicing together the best scenes of their films to promote upcoming movies.

However, most movie houses outsourced the job to a group of NY ad executives at the National Screening Service. As a result, many trailers from the twenties through the sixties are very similar to one another.

In the sixties, more movie producers deviated from the structured NSS formula and sought to create their own divisions of trailers clips producers. Richard Kahn of Columbia House explained, "It's like the ebb and flow of the ocean: The whole question of whether someone should do these in-house or job them out varies with the attitudes of those in charge."

Some people wonder why we call it a movie "trailer," if it's shown before the movie. In the past, mini-films were shown before new movies to keep audiences entertained and trailers were shown at the conclusion of a film to encourage viewers to leave.

Over time, movie trailers became an independent art form that began to attract viewers as much as the movies themselves. Theater owners then began showcasing previews first to entice audiences to come back for more.

Many motion picture preview innovators surfaced over the years. Alfred Hitchcock previews were known for their wit and suspense, while Andrew J. Kuehn previews began a new standard of quick editing and thought-provoking narration.

You'll note that many of the trailers for new movies have extremely fast cutting between scenes. Andrew J. Kuehn explains, "When MTV came along... it recognized that the retention, the ability of the audience to observe, had grown faster because of television: It's not a matter of lack of attention span, it's a matter of how much information people can grasp at the same time."

He added, "In the process you accomplished two things: One, you can get more information across. Two, you can hide your flaws more easily." Thus, the modern trailer was born.

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Finding A Free Online Music Guide

The age of digging through CD bins at the local music store may be long gone. Our store has become much bigger and offers many more modes for listening. Do we want these songs physically on our computers, taking up hard drive space but linking to our ipods?

Do we want to stream new music online as we browse websites? Do we want music downloads from websites or from our peers? Or do we want to make play-lists of our favorite songs to post on our social networking pages? As you can see, it takes a music guide to get you through this muck of online music options.

Another great music guide resource for streaming songs is Jamendo (www.jamendo.com). This site offers the largest catalog of music under Creative Commons licenses worldwide, which means that you'll find entire albums and songs available for free.

The benefit of using this new music site is that you can download, rate, review, comment and share all the songs for free and you can even put songs on your iPhone. The downside is that you probably haven't heard of any of these artists and you'll need to have an open mind about finding new artists. Even so, using genre tags can help you discover music downloads you'll dig.

Another indie artist music guide is Amie Street (www.amiestreet.com). This recommendation website works off your preferences and allows you to import data from your iTunes library, your Last FM feed, your Pandora radio preferences and favorite music from Facebook.

After analyzing your music preferences, the site will offer similar recommendations, allowing you to rate those recommendations. The benefit is that you can find a lot of new music and buy music legally.

The downside is just that you have to buy many of the tracks, although some come as cheap as 2¢ apiece.

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Finding Movie Trailers

With movie tickets edging past $10 in many markets, you may be wondering, "Should I run out and see this film, or should I just wait until it comes out on video?" This decision isn't always easy, you know. Going to the movies is a great activity for dates or for hanging out with friends, but you can't possibly see every new film to come out.

Watching trailers is the best way to know for sure which movies are worth investing in at full cost. Typically, you can catch trailers clips when you're at the movies seeing another flick, but there are many different websites where you can preview upcoming movies too.

At www.reelzchannel.com, you can check out trailers for movies that are "In Theaters Now," "Coming Soon To Theaters," "New On DVD," "New Movie Trailers," "Now On TV" or "Classic and Vintage Trailers."

The easy category organization makes it a breeze to scroll down and find new movies by looking at titles and DVD cover images. You'll also get clips so you can link to the previews in your blog, in an email or on your social networking page.

At the "Find a Movie" tab, you can look up movie theaters and times nearby, as well as retrieve maps on how to get there. You can search pay per view movies here too.

The website www.youtube.com also has trailers of upcoming movies. You can search by genre, alphabetical order, latest, most popular, in theaters, opening soon or studio releases.

Many people like YouTube because they can quickly and easily pull up all the official, as well as user-created trailers and extended previews available. They can post comments, save the videos in a list, rate them and get codes to share the videos with friends.

When most people think of "videos news," they think of YouYube, which is a great source for any sort of video. While you can't buy your tickets here, you can easily spend hours sifting through movie previews.

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Much Anticipated New Movies Coming Soon

Don't you just love the thrill of a much-anticipated "coming soon to a theater near you" announcement? Sometimes there are sequels that we've been dreaming of, while other times there are TV series remakes that we've been pining for.

Some people follow actors they love, while others keep an eye on certain filmmakers or screenwriters. Whether you love action, horror, dramas or comedies, there is a motion picture coming out for you in the next year.

You'll also find a number of top movies coming soon to a home theater near you as well. This month you can be on the look-out for movies TV shows releases like The Office, C.S.I., It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Law and Order, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.

Finally, those who missed "X-men Origins: Wolverine" in theaters can catch it on DVD. Other recent DVD rentals available include State of Play, Disney's Earth, Sugar, Duplicity, Fighting, Sunshine Cleaning, The Last House on the Left, Tyson, The Informers, I Love You Man, 17 Again and The Mutant Chronicles.

As you know, some of the best films coming soon will be books movies transitions. September will see the release of "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," a children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett, starring the voices of Mr. T, James Caan, Bruce Farrell, Andy Samberg, Tracy Morgan and Anna Faris.

Another adaptation out is "The Informant," which was originally a book by Kurt Eichenwald and now stars Matt Damon and Scott Bakula. "Coco Before Chanel," a book by Edmonde Charles-Roux, has now made it to the big screen as well, which explores the true story of fashionista Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

In October, "The Road," "Where The Wild Things Are," "Shutter Island," "The Vampire's Assistant" and "The Box" are exciting books-turned-into-movies. For more information, check out www.bookreporter.com.

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DVDs For Consumers

The motion picture distribution industry may very well be in its death throes. Blockbuster posted a net loss of $36.9 million last quarter, with a 22% drop in sales. Initially they were outmatched by Netflix, which allowed consumers the ability to rent a video from their computers and either watch movies online or have them shipped to their home the next day.

The post office loved this idea because the program kept their business churning, at a time when they were seeing enormous losses. Not to be outdone, Blockbuster quickly set up their own version of Netflix with a service called "Blockbuster Online," which got rid of late fees and also allowed users the added convenience of being able to turn their movies in at the store if they so desired.

Now DVDs are renting like hot cakes from red kiosks that can be found in grocery and convenience stores and movie giants are seething.

In response to a relatively dismal quarter, posting just a $1.02 billion profit, Blockbuster has decided to make some changes. They're on-board with the motion picture companies' idea to delay cheap rentals for 30 days after films are released on DVD. After all, Blockbuster does sell DVDs, as well as rent them.

They're also planning to expand their popular DVD-by-mail service to rival that of Netflix's and deploy 2,500 DVD rental kiosks like Redbox has. (Although, Redbox kiosks will grow to nearly 22,000 by the year's end!) It seems that Blockbuster is always one step behind its competitors, which may be a sign that the aging giant will soon be extinct.

There may be other ways to work with a "window" of opportunity for DVDs. Sony, for instance, is working on a pay-per-view movie service called "Bravia TV," which would allow consumers to get movies instantly beamed to their television set just after theater releases but before rental releases.

While consumer demand is encouraging more films to be delivered in a quick, convenient method, there are several problems with this business model. For one, not all TV sets are equipped with the technology to handle this new ordering method.

Secondly, how many Americans are willing to spend $40 to see a movie, when they could just wait another month and spend $5 to rent it or buy it immediately for $20?

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Downloading Pirated Films

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Popularity Of Office Movies On DVD

Some of the top movies to enjoy "cult classic" status are the office movies. You know the type, disgruntled worker, loathsome bosses, annoying coworkers, too many days where nothing seems to go right.

Eventually, something's got to give, right? Even those of us who profess to like our jobs will eventually encounter a day that leaves us reeling and wishing we could unleash our fury upon the world.

The sympathetic characters in these entertainment movies are wimps gone wild. Their final stand-off at the workplace often represents everything we wish we could be. In short, these unlikely heroes make us laugh and inspire us, which is why office flicks are our favorite.

In American Beauty (1999), another one of the beloved office movies, Lester Burnham (played by Kevin Spacey) decides he's had it with his pathetic job and life. After quitting his job during a dramatic scene, he returns home to nonchalantly say, "I blackmailed [my boss] for almost sixty thousand dollars.

Pass the asparagus." The goal, of course, is to find a way to negotiate a handsome severance so you can still survive without working, which Lester does. For the most part, this twisted saga is more about life at home than at the office, but even so, there's something about this film that will appeal to the office movie lover and that puts it among the top movies.

American Psycho (2000), starring Christian Bale, is a chilling satire of life as an executive banker during the eighties, which was adapted from a novel by Bret Easton Ellis. As with most of the office movies, it can be hard to maintain a facade when there is so much frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

From snorting cocaine in yuppie bars and meeting for lunch with his vapid fiancé to comparing business cards and apartments with his cohorts, there seems to be little room for true personal expression.

Living a duality, the dark secret life of America's biggest bosses juxtaposed with the frivolous office talk, is enough to drive any man insane. Like other books movies, the storyline is well-written and toned down from the novel version.

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Taking Advantage Of Laptop Rental Options

If your company is hosting an upcoming event, such as a sales meeting or trade show and you are the one responsible for transporting and setting up the computers and other electronics, then you may want to avoid the hassle of dealing with the transport of computers by utilizing the laptop rental option.

Any type of business travel is hectic even at the best of times. It only makes sense to arrange for as much that can be done locally in the area of your destination. When you rent the electronics computers that you will need, it makes the process so much easier; you may even begin to enjoy yourself, which is something almost unheard of when it comes to putting on trade shows and presentations.

A single or multiple laptop rental allows you the luxury of not worrying about how to get desktop computers packed and ready for travel, much less having to set them up when you get there, only to pack them away when the event is over.

By choosing the laptop rental option, you will have access to the latest "techno wizardry" equipment available and still ensure cost effectiveness. The present economy is causing many businesses to rethink their marketing strategies; however, savvy business owners know that cutting out their marketing is not a wise move.

Instead, they try to market more efficiently. Rental equipment for a large presentation or meeting is one more step towards saving money.

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Long And Short Term Laptop Rentals

Their portability is one of the main attractions for most people when it comes to laptop computers. With the increase in the number of Wi-Fi hot spots available you can access the Internet from almost anywhere. It may be from an outdoor cafe, your hotel room, the zoo or sitting in the airport.

If you travel quite a bit, then a laptop can be especially useful. However, if you only need one for a small amount of pleasure or business travel, then you may want to check out laptop rentals rather than purchasing one, as it may be more cost effective for you.

One reason to be sure to check out several different stores is to be sure that they not only have short term laptop rentals, but that they also provide the best deal available for your needs.

Also keep in mind that some stores may require a deposit so be sure to inquire about their policy on this. Many of them will also rent laptop accessories should you have the need for them as well.

If you do decide on the rent-to own-option, then there are many different plans available for laptop rentals and one is the 90 day option. Be careful though, as often times these will also include an additional fee.

However, the decision to rent a computer in this way does have some advantages and one is that if it needs to be repaired you will not be charged for the repairs, unless, of course, you were responsible for the problem.

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Popularity Of Laptops

Although many consider laptops the "pencils" of the twenty first century, they are certainly more useful than only being used as a way to document our thoughts and ideas with drawings and words.

Once considered a very expensive luxury, the laptop is becoming the personal computing platform of choice for many. They are being used more not only because of the technological advances but due to the changes in work habits as well.

Laptop computers sales and rentals are expected to account for over half of the worldwide PC shipments by 2011; replacing desktop computers for both professional and personal use.

This surge in the sales of laptops is due to a few different things, such as the extension and evolution of the WAN technology, as well as other technical advances, and steadily decreasing prices.

In 2002, the price for a laptop was approximately double the amount for a desktop PC. However, by 2007, the cost difference between PC's and laptops decreased to about $300 to $500, making a laptop more affordable to the average consumer.

Many claim that the laptop does not have the power to complete all that is required; however, since many IT professionals have migrated over to laptop use, this claim seems to be redundant.

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Computer LCD Monitors

Used to view the visual output, monitors are the most prominent feature of desktop computers. They come in a variety of sizes, from a meager 12.1 inches all the way up to a 37 inch wide-screen, so what you buy will depend upon your personal needs and wants.

A major advantage of LCD screens, thanks to the increasing advances in computers technology, is that the image appears the same at every angle, while with the original cathode type you could only view image content when facing directly at the screen.

The computer controls the video card it uses to reformat the output, which in turn will make it compatible for the monitors being used. Then it will display symbols and text characters, such as graphics and icons, alphanumerically so that video and images are then comprehensible to the human eye.

The preferred choice of monitors today are the LCD screens, as they provide a much brighter and clearer picture that is much better for your eyes. On the rounded screens, the color planes tend to be misregistered; causing what is considered subpixeling that produces a poorer quality image.

The LCD screens are digital and most of the major manufacturers are incorporating the use of this technology, as it means a much clearer and brighter picture quality. The result is clearer images, thus making your work flow faster and smoother, which means you can complete your projects much sooner.

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More Cost Effective With Computer Rental

You may want to consider an alternative to just waiting if you have to send your computer out for repairs. Consider checking out a computer rental. It is really not such a bad idea, especially if you rely on your computer in order to make money.

The concept is much like taking your car in for repairs, as you may need to rent a car to get back and forth to school and/or work during the time yours is out of commission, in order to continue with your daily routine.

If you travel and have to put on demonstrations or presentations, then a rental computer may be more cost effective for those occasions. Often times, in addition to just offering a computer rental, places will offer additional equipment, such as projectors and additional monitors if necessary. This avoids having to haul a bunch of extra equipment around with you.

If you opt for a rental, then you will get the chance to check out newer models of notebook computers, laptops or personal computers. You may find that you actually like where the USB ports are on the newer laptops or the great monitors available for the desktop models.

A computer rental allows you to actually use newer and different models before deciding on what to buy.

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Audio Visual Rentals Help To Reduce Equipment Costs

Computers, projectors and other audio visual rentals can be a great idea for businesses, companies and corporations that want to make a major impression at corporate events, meetings, presentations and trade shows.

Computer equipment rentals are a great alternative to purchasing the different accessories that may be necessary in your line of work. Some of the advantages include no large monetary investment, no maintenance or repairs and you do not have to pack, unpack, set up the equipment and then repack when you travel.

Smart businesses are choosing from a wide range of projectors and other audio visual rentals with the help of the skilled sales people and technicians. These types of rentals are normally available for both short and long terms, with short term usually defined as daily or weekly commitments.

Whereas, long term rentals are generally done on monthly commitments, yet some of the long term contracts for renting these types of computers accessories can be for up to 36 months.

A rent to own contract is another option normally available when considering audio visual rentals, thus allowing you to actually own the equipment at the end of the rental term. Of course there are other equipment rentals available or you can even choose a rental computer in order to try out the many different models that are available.

This allows you to try several and decide which one will suit your needs before you have to make a large monetary investment.

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