Getting Down to Business
 

I am honored to have been selected by V to be the new HDC President. The position doesn't necessarily entail authority, but was a great gesture from a friend and I want to make it mean something. I haven't been around much, since I've been growing my career and networking, but I want to try and participate and enrich the forum more this year. I've got a few ideas, you can tell me if they suck, you can tell me to go to hell or whatever, but I thought I should honor the spirit of V's request.

1.) Movie Court
There used to be a feature in Empire Magazine that I...appropriated for my movie blog Dollarbin Massacre. An underdog movie is chosen and two people argue its merits, whether civilly or idiotically (as Dollarbin Massacre likes to do every now and again). One member, appointed the judge will then decide, once all the information is presented, whether the movie sucks or not.

2.) Top 100 Books

We've done lists of all genres of movies, but HDC is not entirely about films. I think it might be good to compile a list of influential and relevant works of horror in print, from Gilgamesh to Splatterpunk.

3.) HDC Sampler

HDC Idol a few years ago was fun. But let's let our members put their money where their mouth is and let their talent represent itself. Let's make an ebook. Art, stories, poems, maybe an essay or two, made into an ebook that any HDC member can download and enjoy for their very own. Good exposure, a good chance to work with an editor and possibly a lot of fun.I'll donate my time to this, provided I can get a coeditor or two.

4.) Something in the New Members Section

I think it might be cool to beef this up so we can encourage the new blood to shine. Maybe an interview that they can fill out if they so choose, maybe a Q and A, maybe a thread where older members talk about experiences here and what to expect and such.

5.) Film club

This was a great idea. We should go back to doing it, even if only some people manage to participate. With Netflix, Hulu, Youtube and Crackle, there's no reason we can't give it a go.

6.) Favorite Soup Thread

Tell me what soups you like to eat. Maybe I've done this. I don't know.

Sounds good, dude.

I like your enthusiasm and ideas. Except for nr. 6 of course.

Keep it up.

I especially like the Court and the eBook idea. I think that's the sort of thing the Encyclopaedia was trying to go for a few years ago, but yeah, certainly I'd love to be a part of that.

You've already got me excited, I can't wait for some of these ideas to come into play. Looking forward to participate!

Sounds good.

I can't speak for any of the old ideas that you want to bring back but I've lurked here for a little while before signing up. I couldn't/can't understand how some of you have such huge postcounts without there being an era of really good discussion that I have obviously missed...just going by recent activity.

Anything that will make the place somewhere that will make people want to actually log-in rather than simply read is a good thing. There is potential; right now there are four Registered Users and 56 guests...get them in here and posting!

:p

I like 2, 3 & 6.

I'd be happy to participate/contribute to all three.

I like the Movie Court idea along with doing something in the new member section.

Not real fussed on the other ideas to be honest but I'm sure other people will get some joy out of it.

I love ideas 2 and 4. I would like to do decade lists for the 90s, 80s, 70s, and 60s as well, but there might not be enough enthusiasm for that.

screw these ideas, Mr. President....why don't you concentrate on getting people jobs. The economy is shit and even worse......a beer tax is being imposed...fuck everything else..just leave my beer alone. :mad:

To add to my earlier point, I'd like to see point two explored a bit further.

I've never really bothered with horror books beyond the obvious and I'd like to learn about some more obscure stuff. Even just to get some pointers on good books, so I'm not wasting my time. I don't mind sitting through two hours of a shit film, but I feel obliged to read a book cover to cover and that can take some time.

Your opinions have been heard. I will lift HDC's beer tax. And as for creating jobs, I hereby name you my administration's Secretary of Zymurgy.

Thanks for speaking up. Those numbers ain't great. The site waxes and wanes. Usually on account of new members like yourself showing up, stirring things up and getting us older members as excited as we can be. I want to do something to keep the energy rolling.

Good to hear.

Thanks! And yeah, nobody wants to talk about soup. I'll scrap that one.

I think the issue in the decade lists is that we've treaded on a lot of that ground before. Works for casual discussion, but anything more formal is a lot of energy we've already thrown out. I thought of the book list because it's a section that gets sorely neglected. Good to know you like the new member's section idea, If you have any thoughts on that, please let me know.

Hey- I said I liked that one!

Soup is the food of the gods!

But you were right initially- you DID do that thread already.

1.) Movie Court

Would this be like a debate team thing? Could be quite interesting, maybe it could be merged with idea #5 Film Club, get a film someone likes & dislikes, encourage others to watch and then they can lead each side of the argument. Could be a bugger to arrange though.

2.) Top 100 Books

Defo, I would amend it slightly though as some of the best horror fiction I know are specific short stories as opposed to books. Would it include graphic novels also?

3.) HDC Sampler

Yes, there are some talented people on this site, lets give them a more prominent place to show off a little.

4.) Something in the New Members Section

Anything to encourage more noobs is a good idea.

5.) Film club

See #1

6.) Favorite Soup Thread

Lets mix it up a little to include a versus contest against chowders.

They all sound great ideas, I would like to see a forum just for amateur film makers, members could offer or seek advice on budgets, locations, acting, directing, special effects and make up or any other advice needed.
I use Tomato soup for my fake blood and Scotch Broth makes very good vomit, I'm sure a soup thread would come in really handy.:o

Very nice ideas, loved no. 1, 2 & 3 most. Carry on, Mr. President.:)

Thanks for the new title....I'm fermenting as I type.

now if you could do something about these dead birds and fish.

I already am. What do you think the favorite soup thread's for?

YUMMY

http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopp...-head-soup.jpg

That soup looks like something from Fear Factor.

Like the top 100 books, I think that will help the new member section. Anyone into horror movies that wants to read the lierary versions will probably just google top 100 or scariest ever, which means this website should come up as the the first available website, which should lead the new members, like it or not....

Sampler thread is cool and never thought there'd be a soup thread but love that.

i like the book idea - I wonder if (and this is probably crazy) but if we shouldn't put out press releases about top 100 lists - or at least spread the word on lists, forums, etc.

Also - along the book idea - since we seem to have a continuous stream of students looking for help with their research papers - what if we made a list of 'best sources in the study of horror' or something. not sure there is enough for a top 100 but maybe a top 10 or 20?

I agreed with the Prez = time to start using the traffic (instead of just abusing them)

Hey Prez! Even if there hasn't been great response to the HDC Sampler, are we going to do any of your other projects?

Yeah!!:( I really wanted to do that book list.

'We got ourselves a reader...'

Not especially.

The President hasn't logged on for 11 days. Come on Doc!!

Having seen what has happened in Egypt, he's probably hiding out in Sharm El-Sheikh in fear of the masses rising up against this oppressive regime....

Its a Bill Hicks bit...funny as hell (about 1min in):

I see. I wish he was exaggerating.:(

These sound like great ideas I hope you get the support from them :)

Sorry for my absence. The beginning of this month has been busy and trying. Had a book to edit, multiple short stories to write and a number of other things. In March, I want to start on either the book list or the movie court thread.