Hooray for Winners!

I am officially closing the window for entries into our latest giant contest, coming up with a better movie for the cast of The Kingdom to appear in. Well, the competition was fierce, but since 50% of the entries submitted also included a vote that we publically recognize Mark’s brilliant work on this subject, there was no way to not honor him and still live with any kind of integrity. As well as eternal fame and glory, Mark will also be named as the honoree in the gift of Flock of Chicks through Heifer International. Gabe, thanks for trying. You are also kind of a winner.

For those of you who missed his work, a fantastic pitch with a graceful nod to the upcoming Dylan biopic I’m Not There (or maybe he invented it, and they just beat him to filming), here it is. I would see this in a theater, and then I would rent it again later. In a boat. With a goat.

The Kingdom (2009)
A Mark Film, reviewed by Mark

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More Things I Don’t Have Time to Write About: Red, White & Blonde

1. If you like this guy,

you’ll love this guy!

(If you also like contemporary solo cello americana).

2. Radiohead is paving the way for online buskers everywhere. Derek Webb will surely be among the most hefty footnotes, though: Radiohead: Pay What You Want (LA Times) To the future!

3. I let the 10 year anniversary of Rich Mullins’ death pass without comment. Not that I have more to say about it, but that guy still does me all kinds of good. He says something like this in an interview I saw once, although I pulled this quote from an internet source:

“If my life is motivated by an ambition to leave a legacy, what I would
probably leave is a legacy of ambition. But, if my life is motivated
by the power of God’s Spirit in me and the awareness of the indwelling
Christ, if I allow his presence to guide my motives, that’s the
only time I think we really leave a great legacy. I hope I would
leave a legacy of joy – a legacy of real compassion.”

4. Entries are streaming in for our huge Fall 2007 movie pitch contest! Keep editing, but post them by Friday (multiple entries allowed) if you want to be considered for our prize of 6 thousand pounds of gold bullion!*

5. Speaking of big, dumb, and pandering: I submitted another piece of bottomless flapdoodle to Gabe, pretty much the best thing I ever wrote, and he published it at the world renowned Gather ‘Round Children. But even better than that: the rest of the website!

*Probably not an actual prize.

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Pitching for Prizes

I am bothered by the promotional blitz leading up to Universal’s Middle Eastern action-thriller The Kingdom, for many reasons. Some are tied to hunches I have about the film and deeply held convictions about God and peace and stuff. Another is that it looks like a very promising cast in a big, dumb, pandering movie.*

So, in the brutally competitive spirit of this site, you are invited to battle for the most interesting film pitch with this cast. The movie that makes me want to spend money to get into a dark theater wins. Second prize will be awarded for anything I would put in my Netflix Queue.

Write a brief description of characters and plot, with a summary and themes, or write up something in the style of movie trailer narration. Employ at least the lead actors from The Kingdom in the lead roles, but feel free to add supporting cast, or replace production staff at whim.

Entries that involve Jaime Foxx cross-dressing or undercover as a white person will be immediately disqualified (Collateral, Ray, Dreamgirls). The film also stars Jennifer Garner (Alias, 13 Going on 30, Daredevil), Chris Cooper (Adaptation, The Bourne Supremacy, Breach), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), and a bunch of other people (okay, Jeremy Piven).

Submit your entry in the comments to this post. May the good Lord take a liking to ya.

Prizes may include one or none of the following: 1/4 pound of Coffee Klatch Sumatra beans; $5 gift certificate to Audio Lunchbox; 1/4 flock of chicks donated in your name through Heifer Int’l.

*If you’re excited about this film, I don’t hold it against you. Like I said, it’s a great cast. I could be convinced. But not for the purposes of winning this competition.

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