Getting in the Game – A DVD Box Set Quest

Rainbow Sangria, mixed by Tipsy BartenderThe life of my military homecoming film “ABYSS: The Greatest Proposal Ever” must go on after its Red Cross run, if this movie stands any chance at growing an audience.

I wonder if repackaging the DVD into a bundled experience of sorts would make it more appealing to men and women who have a hard time wrapping their head around supporting a 20-minute, low-budget buddy drama, produced by an indie writer/director who they never heard of until now.

So I’m toying around with the idea of making a boxed gift set that contains a drinking card game featuring questions about friendship, weddings, relationships, jobs and conflict, all based on themes in my movie. I picture this game serving as a good ice breaker during social gatherings while also providing opportunities for people to discuss funny and even hot topics while learning about, and hopefully understanding, the perspectives of those in their inner circle.

On the most basic level, players in my movie game would pick a card from the pile, read the question on that card aloud, and then guess what the other person’s answer is to said question. If the answer is incorrect, then he or she must drink one shot but if it’s correct, then the other person must do a shot. Seems simple enough, right?! What I’m having trouble figuring out, however, is whether the questions on these game cards should be in multiple choice or yes/no form.

Would you loan money to your best friend, for his or her wedding plans?

Would you loan your car to a friend for 9 months?

Would you pay to bail a friend out of jail?

If you joined the military, in which branch would you serve?

G is for Guessing GamesOne of the reasons for going the gaming route for creating a DVD box set also comes from an understanding that casting a smaller, yet targeted, net might be more beneficial than trying to promote my movie to every Tom, Dick and Harry who enjoys home entertainment.

If I do this card game thing, I figure the film’s ideal market could include groomsmen who are planning bachelor parties, people hosting surprise birthday parties for their besties, and summer BBQ gatherings.

Oh the joys of trying to get more (or find the) people to watch indie films! *sigh*

Which types of questions do YOU think are better suited for game play, yes/no OR multiple choice?

What was the last drinking game YOU played?

Private Parties, Purple Rain Style! #atozchallenge #atoz #superbowl #halftime #movies

“I never meant to cause you any sorrow. I never meant to cause you any pain. I only wanted to see you laughing. I only wanted to see you laughing in that purple rain”

“Purple Rain” by Prince is always welcome whenever and wherever I’m listening to music -- that could be in the bathroom, while working on the computer and during bedtime. Although I haven’t seen Prince in concert, I did enjoy watching his Superbowl XLI Halftime Show, in 2007. Those who remember this particular football game featuring the Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicaco Bears may also recall the rainy weather everyone endured at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Prince closed out his Superbowl performance that day with none other than “Purple Rain” -- singing and playing his guitar in the Miami downpour, amidst an enthusiastic crowd. Mother nature, the NFL nor Prince could not have timed this event any better -- well, maybe Mother nature knew what she was doing. Prince quickly turned what could have been a downer, into a very memorable show for football audiences in attendance and watching on television. The song is on the soundtrack for his movie of the same name -- “Purple Rain,” a drama also starring musician Morris Day.

So in honor of Prince, the “Purple Rain” movie and Tina at Life is Good’s halftime locker room talk for the A to Z Challenge, here are some group party and private party ideas -- complete with a Purple Rain Cocktail recipe, that you can enjoy regardless of whether a rainy day is in the forecast for your town.

The Purple Rain Group Party - Rated PG-13

Host an 80s theme Sweet 16 party where you all play karaoke games and then have a costume contest based on the "Purple Rain" movie. Turn the party location into a nightclub setting that resembles First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. You could also "book" guests as a fun method your RSVP method, which also doubles as a guarantee that those in attendance will participate in the karaoke performances.

-and-

The Purple Rain Private Party - Rated R (for Adults)

Learn the choreography from the scene where Apollonia 6 performs their song titled "Sex Shooter" at First Avenue nightclub and then treat your boyfriend or husband (...or girlfriend, if you swing that way) to a "Purple Rain" flashback for Valentine's Day or a surprise evening alone together.

Serve up a Purple Rain cocktail before your bedroom (or living room or wherever!) surprise for your honey. This drink does not appear to be associated with the "Purple Rain" movie but you can still enjoy it nonetheless, since it shares the same name:

1 ½ oz. Gin
Cranberry Juice
1 splash of Blue Curacao
1 splash of sweet and sour mix
1 splash of soda water* 

Fill a tall glass with ice and then pour in the gin. Fill the glass with cranberry juice and then add blue curacao, sweet/sour mix and soda. Shake glass gently (or maybe stir, if you’re prone to making a mess) and then add more blue curacao until the drink has a royal-purple tint to it, and serve.

*I suppose, 7up could be used as an alternative for soda water if you don't have the latter. Purple Rain cocktail recipe courtesy of Drinks Mixer.

Now, everybody together, put up your lighters and wave them in the air....

(Although I couldn't find a clip of Prince's "Purple Rain" performance at the time of this writing, here is another portion of his halftime show, where he covers songs by Jimi Hendrix and The Foo Fighters)

Which one of the Purple Rain parties listed here would YOU be likely to attend?

Would YOU drink the Purple Rain cocktail?

What is YOUR favorite Prince song?

5 Harry Potter Cocktail Recipes for Ron Weasley Fans #movies #drinks #entertaining

Red is the new Black today, as we take a look at Harry Potter cocktails inspired by Ron Weasley. I found a few Weasley-based cocktail recipes that are suitable for both men and women, making your party plans, weekend getaway or evening wind-down routine a little more enjoyable.

The Weasley by Nerds Need Drinking Games Too
The Weasley cocktail has a lot of variation to it, allowing you to adjust the recipe to fit your juice preferences (cranberry, pomegranate, cherry, etc.) or favorite character (Ron, Ginny, Molly, Fred, George, etc.) in the Weasley family. For the sake of this post, however, I’m sharing the main recipe with you because it’s based on Ron -- the most important of the Weasleys, after all!

Ingredients for The Weasley:
Gin
Cranberry Juice
Ginger Ale

The Weasley Instructions:
Pour four shots of gin into a glass and then add eight shots of cranberry juice. Add four shots of ginger ale and then stir to complete this Harry Potter cocktail.

The Ronald Weasley by Ashley Bryce and Liana Cole at The Little Pink Blog
Not to be confused with The Ron Weasley, which we’ll cover later in this post, The Ronald Weasley is a peach lemonade concoction that Bryce and Cole say is “best for this brave comrade who secretly hopes for his own glory.”

Ingredients for The Ronald Weasley cocktail:
Vodka
Peach Schnapps
Dash of grenadine
Lemonade
Peach half
Lemon slice
Maraschino cherry

The Ronald Weasley instructions:
Fill a glass with ice and then add 1½ ounce of vodka, ½ ounce of peach schnapps and grenadine. Cut the peach into slices and add it to the drink mixture. Fill the remaining part of the glass with lemonade and then garnish with one slice each of a peach and lemon. Top it off with a cherry.

Weasley’s Wicked Brew by Donna Pilato
Can you say “Ginger snap”? I’m guessing that Pilato’s ‘Wicked Brew has a bit of a kick to it, so this may be one of those Harry Potter cocktails that Ron Weasley fans who like spicy drinks would enjoy. The sake base seems interesting.

Ingredients for Weasley’s Wicked Brew:
Sake
Ginger Ale
Fresh Ginger
Lemon Peel
Basil

Weasley’s Wicked Brew instructions:
Grate the fresh ginger into a cocktail shaker and then add two ounces of sake. Muddle the ginger and sake mixture together and then add four ounces of ginger ale and ice. Shake it up and then strain it into a tall glass. Garnish with basil, wrapped inside the lemon peel.

The Ron Weasley by Coryanne Ettiene
If you’ve read this far, you should know by now that while it may sound the same, this particular Harry Potter cocktail is a whole different ballgame from The Ronald Weasley mentioned earlier in this post. Ettiene’s drink looks good and easy to make, but I’m a little lost on the recipe. I mean, what is Campari? I never heard of it nor have I ever (I think) drank it. As the saying goes, we learn something new everyday!

Ingredients for The Ron Weasley cocktail:
Gin
Campari
Grapefruit Juice
Ice

The Ron Weasley instructions:
Add ice, two ounces of gin, 1½ ounces of Campari and three ounces of grapefruit juice to a tall glass. Stir and serve.*

*Madlab Sidebar: Is this one of the simplest Harry Potter cocktail recipes, or what?!!

Last but most certainly not least, I bring to you...

The Ron Weasley by The Backyard Bartender
Ok, so while it as the same name and a similar ingredient as Ettiene’s drink above, this Harry Potter cocktail recipe appears to be stronger. The style of The Ron Weasley is also very old-school, according to The Backyard Bartender, whose concoction reflects certain traits that she noticed in Ron -- “manly, a little bit rough - and a little bit bitter.” Therefore, it may not be suitable for lightweight drinkers.

To lessen the confusion between all of the Harry Potter cocktail recipes that I listed here, however, let’s refer to this one as “The Ron Weasley No. 2” -- fair enough?

Ingredients for The Ron Weasley (No. 2):
Rye whiskey
Cherry brandy
Campari
Sweet Vermouth
Fresh orange juice

The Ron Weasley (No. 2) Instructions:
Add 1½ ounce whiskey, ¾ ounces of cherry brandy, ½ ounce of campari, ½ ounce of sweet vermouth and 1 ounce of orange juice to a pint sized glass filled with ice. Stir for thirty seconds and then strain into a cocktail glass for your drinking pleasure.

So there you have it -- 5 Harry Potter Cocktail Recipes based on Ron Weasley, our January 2012 King Dong!

See you all tomorrow.

In the meantime, let me know what you’re drinking from this list. Cheers!

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