Since I have raved about Netflix in the past, it’s only fair that I’m honest about the service’s shortcomings as well. The one thing that is really jacked up about Netflix is its priority settings:

In determining priority for shipping and inventory allocation, we may utilize many different factors such as the number and type of DVDs you rent through our service, the subscription plan you select, and other uses of our service by you. For example, if all other factors are the same, we give priority to those members who receive the fewest DVDs through our service.

So, let me get this straight…the more you pay, the less pull you have priority-wise? Isn’t that sort of taking advantage of your best customers? As someone who always gets four, five or six DVDs at a time, I think this just sucks. Looks like I’m never getting Spaced or any new release on Blu-Ray. Thanks a lot, Netflix.

I also did get to see Tropic Thunder, and will have a review on that up sometime this week…

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UPDATE: Looks like I waited a little too long. Amazon is sold out at 7:33 PM CST. Guess I will be waiting for Blu-Ray.

Can I keep my impulses in check, or will I pull the trigger on this awesome deal? Man, my DVD addiction is bad. The only thing making me trigger shy is that I know they are coming out with 007 titles on Blu-Ray later this year. I’m thinking I’ll wait, but if you love Bond you might want to buy now–the deal will be over at midnight. Especially if you don’t have a Blu-Ray player.

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Recently, First Showing had its The Dark Knight sequel idea contest. Since I had just done a post on where TDK should go next, I edited it down to less than 500 words (497, so barely) and entered. It didn’t win, but I feel like it’s still worth posting. Judging anything is subjective, so you might enjoy it. Definitely head over there and check out the winners, too–good stuff. Oh, also, I’m going to be hosting a similar contest soon, with the winner getting a new Blu-Ray DVD. One clue: it’s not a Batman contest. Make sure to come back and check out the contest next week.

My TDK sequel mock treatment is after the jump:

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Cynthia Whitcomb–author, screenwriter and the first lecturer I ever saw speak on the topic–gave me the first bit of screenwriting advice I ever received at the Sante Fe Screenwriting Conference. Her advice: watch a movie everyday. EVERYDAY. She says that’s pretty much what it takes to learn film frontwards and backwards. This is also how Quentin Tarantino picked up the trade.

I agree. I probably have averaged a movie a day since that time, and my understanding of film now blows away what I knew then (going to film school also helped, at least I hope considering what I paid). When you digest film on a daily basis, you get to the point where cinematic storytelling almost becomes instinctive. It’s not just the good movies either–bad movies can teach you just as much. That way you can learn from other’s mistakes, not just your own.

For this to work, you not only have to be a film sponge–you must also pay close attention. Watch the clock on your DVD player and make a mental checklist of what is happening when. Take notes. Reverse engineer films after watching them the right way. Have discussion groups with your cinephile friends, or just talk about film over coffee with whoever will listen. Decide what works, and what doesn’t. Digest film, but like a good meal you actually want to taste, take your time with it and digest it right.

You also have to read plenty of scripts, but I think watching film is every bit as important.

After the jump are four great sites that will help you digest as much film as possible:

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