The Fire Relief Fund: My Red Cross Film Tour at a Glance

So I went on tour with my film not too long ago, hoping to sell a lot of DVDs while raising awareness for disaster relief and building an audience for future work. Adjustments had to be made along the way and this initiative raised more than $100 for the American Red Cross. The experience taught me some things about fundraising, charities, people and communities. Here is an overview of what went down to provide blankets, a hotel night stay, groceries, toiletries and/or other immediate needs for a handful of people who are displaced by home fires that claimed everything they owned.

F is for Fundraising 

That's all I have for today. How is YOUR Tuesday going so far?

Enjoy these Extras from My A to Z Co-Host Intro!

So far this month we’ve discussed real life superheroes, depression, child abuse and some foolish behaviors douchebags at the movie theater. Today’s post is all about the bonus material from my A to Z Challenge Co-Host Introductions including the Fifty Shades of Nicole piece I wrote for the A-Z Blog in March.

Do you like to watch special features usually seen on movie DVDs, such as outtakes, trailers and the like? Well, E is for Extras, as I present to you six videos of extra content where I tell you some random things about me, based on prompts from men and women who served as assets in my Mighty Minion Bureau.

The topics in these videos range from blog design, Harry Potter hauntings, drug dealers and British films to how I financed my movie. Plus we’re just getting started; more will be added to this playlist in the coming weeks. Enjoy!

*If the video player isn't showing up in your browser, Click Here to Watch my playlist directly on YouTube.

All this talk about Extras has me thinking of the toys, etc. that come with kids meals at McDonalds. I wonder why nothing usually comes with the meals for adults! So answer me this…

E is for EXTRAS

Would YOU be more likely to buy a value meal/combo at Chipotle, Subway, Burger King, etc. if it came with a DVD movie?

How to Dodge those Douchebags at the Movie Theater

Your movie going experience doesn't have to be a nightmare.

The first time I recall hearing term “Douchebag” was during a conversation with some Penn State University students. Shout out to the Nittany Lions! Anyway, I understand that it usually describes rude men who are acting like tools. Whatever the case may be, today I’m gladly deeming those at movie theaters whose mothers didn’t teach them any home training, as well as folks who are just downright jerks, equal opportunity recipients of the this title. Yes, that means it refers to everyone including women, as no one in this camp is excluded, given their tendency to behave badly at the Cineplex.

To those of you who are growing tired of visiting the movie theater only to regret it because people in some of the seats, or rows, nearby are acting a fool, I understand your plight. To those of you who would rather skip the movies altogether and opt for Redbox, Netflix, Hulu Plus, iTunes, Roku or some other new invention that allows you to see Tom Cruise do his thing in the latest installment of Mission Impossible from the comfort of your living room, I get it. To anyone who bounces back and forth through various forms of media consumption including being selective about the movies you are willing to fork over gas, ticket money and babysitting fees for, I’m with you.

In an attempt to help make our nights out at the movies as enjoyable as they can be, here are some ways to dodge those douchebags that ruin things for everybody else.

Patronize movie theaters that enforce strict policies on behaviors that drive you nuts. If you’re not interesting in being around children then perhaps cinema houses like the Ritz theaters in Pennsylvania -- which have an age requirement prohibiting anyone under six years old to enter -- might be right up your alley. If you can’t stand the way people don’t show courtesy to others when using their cell phones in public, then theaters with some kind of no-texting or no-talking policy such as the Alamo Drafthouse (which also bans late arrivals, among other policies) in Texas, California, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, and more, could be your favorite go-to spot.

D is for DouchebagsIf our legal system has taught us anything, it’s that order comes from more than just some legislator’s stamp of approval on a bill. Don’t just take signage on the walls of a movie theater as indication that they don’t allow people to act a fool on the premises. Ask around and if possible, go check out a screening yourself just to get a first-hand account on how they roll at that particular location.

Mind the hours and days you visit the multiplex. This should go without saying but the time and day of the week you decide to venture out for a motion picture show will likely determine how pleasant your experience will be or not. If you don’t like being around people who tend to create their own soundtrack to the movie while it’s playing on screen, then steer clear of late night showings and opening weekends. Catch a show during the mid-week and early afternoon hours; even get tickets late morning showtimes if they are available.

If at all possible (as in, the movie you want to see is showing there), select small theater houses over multiplexes. Smaller cinemas can only accommodate one or two screens, which reduce the chances for every Tom, Dick and Harry to show their asses while you’re trying to enjoy your two hours of action. Another upside about smaller theaters is that they tend to attract well-meaning family types who are seeking some much needed relaxation time; as well as film snobs who like to soak in every little detail of a scene so they can critique it later with their friends during Sunday brunch. These folks are serious about their movie-going experience and will not tolerate unnecessary shenanigans, so you’ll have the comfort of knowing you’re in good company.

None of these tips guarantee that you’ll always be able to attend a movie screening that is free of obnoxious people. However, these ideas are a starting point to help you enjoy your night out at the cinema without having to listen to cell phone alerts or screaming babies.

What tricks do YOU have up your sleeve for dodging annoying people at the movie theater?