DVD WRITING CAMPAIGN - WEEK ONE - "Entertainment Weekly"

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 22-Aug-2006 2:30 AM
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Originally posted by: theredbaron
...without it sounding like a rabid, emotive piece of propaganda.

Oh. Did I sound rabid?

Author: Mielr
Time: 22-Aug-2006 3:18 AM
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Originally posted by: darkhelmet
Since EW is naturally only interested in publishing letters that relate to their publication in specific ways, I've amassed the link list from EW.com below to enable us letter writers to reference an article that we can use as a springboard for our September DVD questions about the shoddy, substandard treatment that the "OOT-as-bonus-material-only" is getting.

I hope the list gives everyone something to reference and maybe a little inspiration to fight the good fight.

Here it is:

Specific Articles:

DVD Reviewer Speaking Against Yet Another SW DVD Release This September:
http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1193583_1_0_,00.html

That particular link is very helpful- I've been looking for something to anchor my email to- and that looks like a winner. Thanks very much, darkhelmet.

Author: theredbaron
Time: 22-Aug-2006 4:48 AM
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Originally posted by: darkhelmet

Originally posted by: theredbaron
...without it sounding like a rabid, emotive piece of propaganda.

Oh. Did I sound rabid?

I wasn't taking a stab at anyone, much less you, so as far as I know, no you don't sound rabid. All I'm saying is that when appealing to people, try not to resort to overly emotive language to win them over. It can undermine the logic in your argument.

MTFBWY. Always.

http://www.myspace.com/red_ajax

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 22-Aug-2006 5:37 PM
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theredbaron, point taken. Just having a little fun.

All, I've PM'd a number of people now, and we are gathering a little more support, but we could still use A LOT more. Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your enemies, but, most of all, tell someone!

The thread has all the info they'll need to make their Entertainment Weekly letters ready to send.

Author: fedtho
Time: 22-Aug-2006 7:31 PM
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Author: fedtho
Time: 22-Aug-2006 7:55 PM
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OOPS.

Gosh, I was away from my computer until tonight. I'm sorry I missed this - I understand EW comes out tomorrow - and also that not that many people participated.

Originally posted by: darkhelmet
In the same article, Lucas claims that this release will indicate whether or not DVD buyers really wanted the originals on DVD. People will always want the original of any important film on the latest, greatest home format; just look at the original King Kong released this year from Warner Home Video!

That is a very good point I should use in my own letter... uhm, only it might be suspicious if we all point to the original King Kong. Maybe I'll find something similar.

Again, Mielr, SORRY I missed the first genuine attempt for a massive-specifically-targeted-mailing !

Please don't be discouraged. I was just thinking that, if this one hasn't lived up to our expectations in terms of written mails, we might extend this attempt by another week; that would give people like me (hoping there are some

) the opportunity to catch up, so EW would get some more letters.

I'd also like to stress that the ones I've read here are of high QUALITY; I'm pretty convinced that a "small" number of well written letters, stressing out the same points and adressed to the one single medium, might just have a similar effect as a load of telegrams.

What do you think?

Author: Mielr
Time: 22-Aug-2006 9:26 PM
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I was already thinking that maybe we should extend this EW thread for another week, and start an new one next week instead. Since this is a new thing, it may take a while for everybody to get on board. If that's OK with everyone, maybe that's what we should do.

Author: Mike O
Time: 23-Aug-2006 1:34 AM
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I was thinking more along the lines of a month, if necessary. Does anyone know Mr. Sylvester and think that we could get his help? Along with Mr. Vuerta and Mr. Bulk, I find him one of the most intimidating people here, so I don't want to bug him

.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 24-Aug-2006 12:19 AM
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Originally posted by: Mielr
I was already thinking that maybe we should extend this EW thread for another week, and start an new one next week instead. Since this is a new thing, it may take a while for everybody to get on board. If that's OK with everyone, maybe that's what we should do.

Mielr, yeah, let's extend it. EW is a great target. I've had one person who I PM'd tell me that they'd like to help but that they were currently busy.

How about announcing the writing targets the Friday before the writing week, so the campaign doesn't get lost in the shuffle of a new or mid-week? The new thread could be something like "Such-and-such Magazine - New Writing Target as of Monday, 08/28/06".

What do you think?

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 24-Aug-2006 12:21 AM
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Originally posted by: fedtho
That is a very good point I should use in my own letter... uhm, only it might be suspicious if we all point to the original King Kong. Maybe I'll find something similar.

Thanks, fedtho.

I think we just need to write from the heart with good examples and logic.

Author: Mielr
Time: 24-Aug-2006 2:19 AM
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Originally posted by: darkhelmet

Originally posted by: Mielr
I was already thinking that maybe we should extend this EW thread for another week, and start an new one next week instead. Since this is a new thing, it may take a while for everybody to get on board. If that's OK with everyone, maybe that's what we should do.

Mielr, yeah, let's extend it. EW is a great target. I've had one person who I PM'd tell me that they'd like to help but that they were currently busy.

How about announcing the writing targets the Friday before the writing week, so the campaign doesn't get lost in the shuffle of a new or mid-week? The new thread could be something like "Such-and-such Magazine - New Writing Target as of Monday, 08/28/06".

What do you think?

Ok so, then we'll announce the new writing campaign target here on Fri, and start the new thread on Monday (right?)

Please everyone try to send your EW email by Monday.

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 24-Aug-2006 2:48 AM
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Originally posted by: Mike O
I was thinking more along the lines of a month, if necessary. Does anyone know Mr. Sylvester and think that we could get his help? Along with Mr. Vuerta and Mr. Bulk, I find him one of the most intimidating people here, so I don't want to bug him

.

Hey, Mike. A month would put us past the DVD release, so it most likely wouldn't be big news to the magazines anymore.

Now, if someone had a seedy inside scoop on the decision process inside Lucasfilm that resulted in NOT putting the OOT on its own release, then that might make it into print after-the-fact.

As far as the Mr's you mentioned, I think someone already PM'd Jay, didn't they? In the previous thread ("Addresses and Contacts")? I don't think I know the other two gentlemen.

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 24-Aug-2006 2:51 AM
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Originally posted by: Mielr
Ok so, then we'll announce the new writing campaign target here on Fri, and start the new thread on Monday (right?)

Please everyone try to send your EW email by Monday.

Sounds great, Mielr! Everyone, tell your family, tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell anyone!

Author: Mielr
Time: 24-Aug-2006 5:00 PM
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I've just sent my email to EW, as an "open letter to George Lucas". It's basically the same letter I sent to Lynne Hale, just directed at Lucas himself, instead.

Author: Mike O
Time: 25-Aug-2006 2:57 PM
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Originally posted by: darkhelmet

Originally posted by: Mike O
I was thinking more along the lines of a month, if necessary. Does anyone know Mr. Sylvester and think that we could get his help? Along with Mr. Vuerta and Mr. Bulk, I find him one of the most intimidating people here, so I don't want to bug him

.

Hey, Mike. A month would put us past the DVD release, so it most likely wouldn't be big news to the magazines anymore.

Now, if someone had a seedy inside scoop on the decision process inside Lucasfilm that resulted in NOT putting the OOT on its own release, then that might make it into print after-the-fact.

As far as the Mr's you mentioned, I think someone already PM'd Jay, didn't they? In the previous thread ("Addresses and Contacts")? I don't think I know the other two gentlemen.

I was hoping that we could get the new out so that we could make some noise before the 30th Box next year.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Mielr
Time: 25-Aug-2006 6:47 PM
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OK, I just wanted to let everyone know that the new target thread will start on Monday, August 28th. We will be writing to Sound and Vision magazine. They are probably the most popular A/V magazine in the US, and have done several Star Wars-related features over the years. There are a lot of SW fans there, particularly David Ranada who writes the tech page. He visited Skywalker Ranch a couple of years ago and wrote a lengthy feature artiticle for the magazine. We'll start the S&V thread on Monday and I'll give you all the contact info you'll need, so please continue to get your letters in to Entertainment Weekly until then, if you haven't already done so.

Thanks everybody!!!!!

Author: Mike O
Time: 26-Aug-2006 3:04 PM
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Let's keep it up!

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 27-Aug-2006 12:43 AM
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Originally posted by: Mike O
I was hoping that we could get the new out so that we could make some noise before the 30th Box next year.

I think that goal might confuse the goal of the thread, but continuing to write various places after the DVD release regarding the 30th box set couldn't hurt.

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 27-Aug-2006 2:08 AM
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Thanks, Mielr, for heading up this crazy thread!

Thanks everyone for your emails to Entertainment Weekly!

Like Mike said, "Let's keep it up!"

Week Two's thread for Sound and Vision Magazine can be found here.